According to a press release from the USDA, the cost of fighting wildfires in 2017 alone totaled over $2 billion, making 2017 the most expensive year on record.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a press release spending on wildfire suppression in recent years has increased from 15 percent to 55 percent, and the money is taken from funds intended for forest management practices such as prescribed burning, harvesting and insect control.
Supporters say the legislation is a positive step toward putting more funding and focus toward wildfire prevention instead of suppression. In a November USDA press release, Perdue said, “Proper, proactive management of our national forests is essential so that we may preserve them as functional, productive forests that support the environment, economic development and tourism.
At the same time, we must care for our forests in a manner which mitigates the severity of the inevitable wildfires. To that point, this legislation helps facilitate the conversation about Forest Service funding, which continues to be a problem as we face escalating costs in battling wildfires. For too long, the Forest Service has had to borrow from prevention programs in order to fight fires, meaning that we risk leaving a heavy fuel load in the forests for future fires to burn.”
The bill’s solution to the funding problem states wildfires will be treated like other natural disasters and the Forest Service and BLM can turn to FEMA for funds when their wildfire budget runs out.
According to the House Committee on Natural Resources, the bill will also promote quick resolution of obstructive litigation and give agencies greater leeway to maintain forests and cut down on the risk of wildfires.
The bill is headed to the Senate to await further consideration. 
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Carrie Veselka
- Associate Editor
- Progressive Cattleman
- Email Carrie Veselka
