Was it actually wrong under the circumstances apart from the legal technicalities. Would a sane Federal management have permitted the burns?
Deep ds on who you believe.
The ranchers claim that the fires were backfires, intended to protect their land from wildfires and invasive species. If that’s true, then a sane BLM would have permitted the fires.
The prosecution claims that the fires were intended to cover up evidence of another crime. If that’s true, then obviously no sane BLM would permit the fire.