In the wake of the Slide Fire, Sedona residents have been left with questions regarding how such a fire was started, how it could be prevented and what purpose the forest serves the community.

These questions were the central topic of the first of what will be four Sedona Philosophy Circle Summer Conversations, scheduled to run through the month of June.

Organized by Andrea Houchard and Matthew Goodwin of Northern Arizona University’s philosophy department, the new series of conversations started on Monday, June 9, at 4 p.m. in West Sedona, where a group of residents joined and discussed the obligations that the community may or may not have following the containment of the fire.

The group shared their own views on the fire, and conversed about the differences in approaches, particularly in regard to the ideas of conservation and preservation.

For the full story, as well as Michael Rinker’s related article, see the Friday, June 13, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.