So how much do those folks sitting in cars cost?

[Limey]

Yes, it seemed odd to me too. There must be more to the story than what they're telling. You would think there would have to be some collaboration between agency's to share the costs.

[justpeachy]

Through your TKO involvement do you know what agency is paying the 200k a month or is it a combination? Is a contractor being paid to do this?

I haven't heard anything about where the funds are coming from.

[retired jerry]

government agencies and funding defy logic

[BigBear]

Wouldn't it be nice if people could come together and arrive at a mutual agreement of personal responsibility.

There is no bridge crossing the Sandy River because a man was standing on the bridge hoping to take pictures of a flash flood that swept him to his death. USFS was sued for not arriving at the scene, escorting the man off, and dragging the bridge to the shore before the flash flood arrived.

This month, a family is suing because a man climbing Mt. Hood did not receive help soon enough.

Both situations resulted in a tragic death, but there is some dispute over who was responsible: the government or the individual?

The majority of people on oregonhikers.org seem to be asking USFS to remove the barriers to the Gorge trails so they can go hiking in an area full of rock slides and falling trees. Logic dictates that these hikers are fool-hearty and are willing to risk others' lives to go fetch them when something goes wrong.

It's difficult for me to reconcile how USFS can be liable for incidents that had outcomes they had little ability to control, while (some members of) the public are asking for a free-for-all into an area that has very foreseeable issues.

Here's a tee shirt idea: "Let me do what I want...shame on you for letting me do it."

[Guy]

The majority of people on oregonhikers.org seem to be asking USFS to remove the barriers to the Gorge trails so they can go hiking in an area full of rock slides and falling trees. Logic dictates that these hikers are fool-hearty and are willing to risk others' lives to go fetch them when something goes wrong.

Well speaking only for myself here I'm not sure if I'm part of the majority or a vocal minority. I'm not asking for a free for all or for others to risk their lives on my behalf.

Like everything it's not black and white but shades of grey, not every trail is equally dangerous, some are not dangerous at all and my problem is being locked out of everything including areas that did not burn because some "fool hardy" people may choose to enter them.

Also with over 1000 incidents of reported incursions how effective have these 200K a month car sitters been? BTW I know we don't have an answer to this question.

Just my 2 cents.

[retired jerry]

I don't think people have been arguing for more access, just quit wasting money on those folks in cars.

Those suits don't seem to be reasonable - Sandy River bridge, Mt Hood. If there was a recording of a 911 operator being negligent then maybe they'd have a case

[Lurch]

If hazard closures would actually be respected and followed, then there wouldn't be a need for these cars, or closures beyond the literal burn. But they aren't, and some of the comments on OH make that perfectly obvious that even more people wouldn't be following them if it weren't for the risk of citation.