[Timesink]

Your federal government employees at work!

[AlaskaErik]

This federal employee has done more damage in one fell swoop than ELF has done during its entire history. Good going, you moron!

[stands2reason]

That @#$%&*@#!!!!!!!!!!!</font size>

[hoosierham]

There is too much land under Federal control; it should be auctioned off and or homesteaded, because a private owner will take interest in maintaining the property.

[wafflehouse]

wow, can this story get any stupider?

[Mamzelle]

Don't forget that there are some dead firefighters for her to answer. This is homicide, now.

Have you ever heard of Munchehousen's Syndrome? (I'm sure I'm not spelling that right...) I think I remember reading that it tends to afflict a lot of neurotic women. They stage catastrophes for the sympathy , attn, and commotion they cause. Usually combined with masochism and self-injury, but they also can hurt their children in contrived illnesses and accidents.

Put that in your Wimmin's Studies...

[bmwcyle]

Hell hath no fury...

[maica]

The complaint provided no details, but the official said investigators were persuaded by the amount of underbrush placed in a way that appeared that it had been used to set a fire.

---

I thought is was impossible for a person - self-important enough to think she was entitled to burn ANYTHING in an area where she was being paid to prohibit fire - to start a fire and then WALK AWAY while it was still smoldering.
That was yesterday's story.
Deliberately starting it makes much more sense.
Maybe she should be granted bail!

[forester]

Ms. Barton, a seasonal employee of the Forest Service for 18 years

That is a long time to be a seasonal, I wonder why she never got picked up full time. I think that your intial reaction was correct - namely, is she a member of AFSEEE?

[TLBSHOW]

Must be a liberal women!

[ValerieUSA]

Her burning letter story is just another lie. She set the fire on purpose. Only a dope would have believed this lame story.
No man is going to write such a long "get lost" letter that a forester with a shovel couldn't put out the fire as it burned. No woman is going to angrily set a letter ablaze, only to walk away and let it smolder... the satisfaction is in watching it burn until it is gone.

[thucydides]

The story about the letter being burned carefully in the fireplace ring was obviously nonsense, even before it was revealed that this was a backup story. One wonders about the real motivation. Women are rarely pyromaniacs. Perhaps it was enviro-wacko sabotage, or a desire to get the Forest Service budget increased.

[gwynapnudd]

The abused woman defense is already kicking into gear. They always find some way to blame the ex-husband.

Ex-husband letter blamed for fire

[DemoSmear]

Army joins firefighting effort.

NOTE: above link also contains information for volunteering, donations and assorted Hayman Fire information.

[pyx]

Investigators have not determined why Ms. Barton would have ignited a fire at a time when a ban against open fires was in effect because of persistent warm and dry weather.

Ms. Barton should be investigated for any ties to ENVIRO-WHACKO groups.

[Kryptonite]

I think that if she did it intentionally, adversely affected citizens can sue the USA! I'm not certain but doubt there is immunity for intentional acts on the part of gov. employees.

[Drew68]

Ms. Barton, a seasonal employee of the Forest Service for 18 years

Is it possible that she started the fire in an effort to heighten the concern over fires and possibly receive a full time position or at least some overtime pay driving around looking for illegal campfires?

I've read it is rare but not at all uncommon for firefighters to start fires in order to receive overtime and hazard pay.

[The Raven]

Insanity defense!