Spade Fire Firing Operation Lawsuit 2000

On September 9, 2006, Judge Molloy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, ruled on a tort action against the U.S. Government brought by Allstate Insurance and a group of private landowners who had lost property in a wildland fire suppression operation during the Spade Fire in the Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana during August 2000. Judge Molloy ruled in favor of the government.

From Judge Molloy's ruling:

"Plaintiffs' complaint alleges that Government firefighters destroyed Plaintiffs' property by negligently lighting backfires on August 6, 2000, during firefighting operations in Montana's Bitterroot Valley. Defendant claims immunity from suit under the discretionary function exception to the Federal Tort Claims Act. After review of the pleadings, briefs and submissions, in my view, the Defendant is correct . . ."

Firing, Firing Operation