Dear Gov. Matt Mead,

As a homeowner within the Hoback Ranches (HR) subdivision that was affected by the recent Roosevelt Fire in Sublette County I am compelled to write this letter. I am sure you are aware the Roosevelt Fire burned approximately 62,000 acres of public and private land in Sublette County. In addition to extensive vegetative loss within the headwaters and tributaries of the Hoback River, the fire burned a large portion of numerous properties within the HR, destroying 55 homes. My home was not burned, for which I am very thankful; however; about 85 percent of my 40 acres was burned. Fifty-five of my neighbors were not so lucky and are now in the process of picking up the pieces of their lives and making life-changing decisions due to the impacts of this fire.

The HR is a private subdivision that maintains all infrastructure, roads and fences primarily, through a Service Improvement District assessment without any financial assistance from Sublette County, the state or other governmental sources. Fifty-five out of 153 homes are now gone, most roads are compromised due to loss of vegetation that provides soil stability and the majority of the boundary fences are gone.

Outside of the HR, a large portion of the Upper Hoback River watershed is burned, which will affect water quality for the entire Hoback River drainage, as well as the Snake River below the confluence of the Hoback and into Idaho. More than 500 people were evacuated and U.S. Highway 191 was closed for multiple days, which affected not only local business but also statewide commerce. A major power line was burned and power was lost for multiple days to the Kendall Valley and Upper Green River area. The loss of 55 homes is the single largest loss of homes due to a wildfire in the HISTORY of Wyoming.

On Tuesday, Oct. 2, I attended a meeting that included many of your staff and several of your department heads. The primary reason I attended that meeting was to get an answer as to why your office had not declared the impacts of the Roosevelt Fire a disaster since it had destroyed the largest number of homes in state history, let alone all the other impacts to the local economy, grazing, wildlife habitat and water quality.

Prior to the start of the meeting I was dumbfounded when your director of Homeland Security informed me that “I would probably not like what I would hear during the meeting.” At that point it became obvious that a decision at your level had already been made to not call the impacts of this fire a disaster. During the meeting both your director of Homeland Security and State Forester referred to the Roosevelt Fire as a “local disaster.” We were also informed you had been at the fire sometime earlier in the previous week, yet made no public effort to meet with the devastated community. And as of this letter you have still made no public offering of condolence or support for the Hoback Ranches.

I have actually seen comments referencing HR homeowners as “a bunch of millionaires that will just rebuild with all their money.” Although I’m sure there are millionaires that own homes within the HR. I can only speak for myself and most of the neighbors I know and we are not millionaires. I am a retired state employee living on a fixed income that invested a large portion of my life savings to purchase in the HR. For most of us, the dreams we had for our places have now either been lost, disfigured or at best delayed. If the HR does not get adequate assistance to maintain infrastructure our losses will be even greater. Regrettably, all of this damage could had been avoided had the U.S. Forest Service acted in a more prudent manner during the first three days of the fire. But I will not delve into that issue, as it is a subject that should be explored on its own.

Having lived in the West my entire life, I always admired the free spirit and self-sufficiency shown by Wyoming residents. I also understand the reluctance to ask for help from the federal government as most people in Wyoming exhibit a strong sense of pride in being independent and self-sufficient. However, I do believe the proper course of action is to recognize the impacts, current and future, of this fire as what they are – A DISASTER. Whether that designation derives any federal assistance is irrelevant, as it will at least let the people and community know the State of Wyoming recognizes their losses and perhaps, does open some pathways for additional assistance from wherever they may come.