The decision by government and law enforcement officials to absolve the two people who ignited last summer’s Takhini Bridge wildfire of all blame isn’t sitting well with some people.

Brad Cathers of the Yukon Party, whose Lake Laberge riding encompasses the area west of Whitehorse, is one of them.

He isn’t happy there aren’t any consequences for the two people, who were target-shooting using exploding targets when the blaze started last July 8.

He told the Star Wednesday afternoon he and his constituents in the area expected there would be accountability following the investigation.

Instead, there was none.

The individuals will not be publicly identified, they will not be charged with an offence, and they will not have to contribute to the significant fire suppression costs.

“This report confirms what had been widely thought,” he said, referring to the cause of the fire, which was officially released this week.

Hundreds of his constituents were affected by the fire, Cathers added.

“There were lots of costs and stress,” he pointed out. “This is a case where many were disappointed there were no consequences.”

The fire threatened properties, which were placed under an evacuation alert, and could have closed the Alaska Highway – during the peak of the tourism season.

Cathers said he is puzzled by the fact the aYukon government wasn’t initially making it clear whether the two target shooters were on the hook for paying any of the costs of the firefighting.

The operation lasted longer than a week, diverting crews from battling fires in other parts of the territory.

Many of his constituents also want an answer to the question of the two individuals’ financial accountability for their actions, he said.

Cathers noted there’s a difference between criminal charges being laid, and accountability under civil law.

Under the circumstances of using exploding targets in the extreme hot, dry conditions, Cathers said, common sense says the two people responsible should have known better.

“A reasonable person should know better,” he said. “This was quite serious.”

He said wildland firefighters told him containing the fire was a near thing.

He plans on asking the government to clarify the situation.

John Tonin, a spokesperson for the Department of Community Services, told the Star, “The two responsible for the fire will not be assessed any costs for the cleanup effort.

“While it might seem appropriate for the individuals responsible to pay for the impacts of the wildfire they ignited, this can only occur when laws are broken and a conviction determines costs can be recuperated, which did not happen in this particular investigation.”

Cathers compared the situation to someone letting a bonfire get out of control and sparking the wildfire.

Under those circumstances, he suggested the people responsible would have been held accountable and be responsible for at least some of the costs.

Yukoners commenting on the territorial government’s Facebook page aren’t any happier.

Ashley Russell wrote, “Wow. Shooting explosives during a no-burn extreme heat wave. Great to know I can go be careless and affect others’ lives and nothing will happen.

“The Yukon courts just prove over and over that laws mean absolutely nothing here. Sickening.”

Lenore Morris of the Yukon Green Party had similar sentiments.

“To be fair, it’s not the courts, it’s the RCMP, who lay or don’t lay charges. But I 100 per cent agree with your sentiment. Outrageous.”

Rob McPhie didn’t mince words either.

“You think they would have, let’s say, laws in place where people couldn’t use exploding targets on hot, windy, dry summer days. Kinda like a fire ban!

“How ridiculous.”