The attorney's office sued the Boy Scouts and its Great Salt Lake Council in 2004 to recoup money spent fighting the fire, which began near the East Fork of the Bear River Scout Reservation and blackened nearly 14,000 acres. The government seeks to recover $14 million.

The Boy Scouts said boys set fires to earn wilderness survival merit badges but put them out properly, according to court documents. The organization says others could be responsible for the blaze.

The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was listed as a defendant in the case because it sponsors the Boy Scout troop blamed for the fire, U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman said.

The Boy Scouts agreed to take full responsibility for damages of the fire if it loses the case and will not attempt to put fault on any sponsoring organization, according to the agreement.

"Nobody wants to go after the Boy Scouts," said Tolman, an Eagle Scout himself and father of a Cub Scout. "They are a great organization, but unfortunately, responsibility sometimes lies with great organizations."

A trial is set for March 5, though the parties have been in discussions for a possible settlement, Tolman said.

The lawyer representing the Boy Scouts, Robert Wallace, could not be reached for comment.

rrizzo@sltrib.com