Fighting fires—and corruption

Earlier this summer, a small wildfire smoldered in the Cumberland Island Wilderness near Willow Pond. It likely would have fizzled out on its own, and there were no nearby structures for at least two miles.

Cumberland Island adopted a fire management plan in 2004 that mandates full fire suppression, even in the wilderness. Several fire crews and two helicopters were brought in and paid for two full weeks. Saltwater was dumped onto the wetlands. Chainsaws were used in the wilderness to cut down trees along several trails. Tens of thousands in taxpayer dollars were squandered unnecessarily to battle a brush fire.