United against wildfire
"We will not let the Evergreen State become the Wildfire State,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark.
“We must confront the reality of a longer, more difficult fire season. That's why I am making an urgent request now to the Legislature for more people, equipment and training to fight Washington's fires.”
After consecutive years of record wildfire damage, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking legislators for help controlling future wildfires.
The agency is asking the Legislature for an additional $24,279,000 to equip and train more in-state wildland firefighters and make forests and communities more resistant to the megablazes that have swept Washington. DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands.
The funding package would provide aid to local fire districts, modernize communication equipment, add aviation experts to dispatch helicopters and airplanes and train local, tribal, state and contracted firefighters to work together. Funding also would be aimed at improving the health of Washington’s forests and strengthening fire prevention programs.
More than 1,500 wildfires burned 1,005,423 acres in Washington this summer. Battling those blazes cost Washington $164 million.
With $27.2 million budgeted by the legislature for wildfire response in 2015, DNR is also asking the legislature for an allotment to pay the $137 million in excess costs. In January, the legislature approved a budget supplement to cover more than $70 million in costs from the then-record 2014 wildfire season.
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Joined by firefighting partners, tribal leaders, private forest landowners, environmental advocates, and elected officials from communities affected by wildfire, Commissioner Goldmark unveiled DNR’s funding request at events in Spokane and Issaquah this week. Joining Commissioner Goldmark were representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Eastside Fire and Rescue, Forterra, Kittitas County, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Sustainable Northwest, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Lands, Washington Environmental Council, Washington Forest Protection Association, Washington State Fire Chiefs, Spokane Valley Fire Department and several Spokane County fire districts.
“The Washington Fire Chiefs support and endorse this proposal by the DNR because we believe the critical nature of our wildfire threat requires aggressive actions. These recommendations outline a plan for the opportunity of success at a time when it is most needed. It provides an opportunity for different outcomes in all aspects related to the wildfire problem. This includes prevention, training, preparedness and response. As partners and fire professionals, we believe it takes different actions to create different outcomes. We feel this alone will not achieve the desired end. We do, however, feel this is a proactive and critical first step. DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands.” Dave LaFave, Washington Fire Chiefs
“I don’t know if $24 million is enough. We need better coordination because we predict more is coming, and we don’t have a whole lot left to burn on our reservation.” Mel Tonasket, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
“As a Kittitas County Commissioner, where there has been five major fire incidents in the last four years, I am very concerned for the safety of our local responders who are almost exclusively volunteers and the safety of our rural residents who have seen what a rapidly-spreading wildfire can do in a matter of minutes. It is a responsibility I feel to support improvement of every aspect of fire prevention, training and suppression.” Gary Berndt, Kittitas County Commissioner
speaks about DNR's request for increased firefighting
funding with tribal and firefighting partners at the site
of the Rutter Canyon Fire north of Spokane Wednesday.
“We stand here in support of Commissioner Goldmark’s request with a profound understanding of the importance of healthy and working forests. As an association that represents private landowners across the state, we have an appreciation of the threat presented by wildfires and the importance of reducing that threat.” Mark Doumit, Washington Forest Protection Association
“Following another record setting fire season, it is critical for the safety, health and resilience of our communities that we increase investments in wildfire fighting capacity as part of a holistic approach that includes forestland conservation and restoration.” Leda Chahim, Forterra
“In the short term, significantly more suppression resources are needed. In the long term, we must reduce the fire risk in our dry forests by thinning, reducing fuels, and reintroducing controlled burns. These steps will also help to return our forests to a healthy, sustainable, and fire-resistant condition.” Clay Sprague, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
“We need big equipment, we need aircraft, we need dozers and we need a lot of hand crews and engines coming in behind that – those resources to mop the fire up.” Jack Cates, Spokane Fire District 9
"After two devastating fire seasons, it is clear that Washington needs additional resources to ensure the protection of life, property, and the state's natural resources. This package is a comprehensive and thoughtful approach that will meet the need for future wildfire prevention and effective response." Dylan Kruse, Sustainable Northwest
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