Three of the four state bills that have been tooled to prevent the catastrophic wildfire seasons we saw in 2014 and 2015 will take effect this week.
State Rep. Tom Dent and Sen. Judy Warnick of Moses Lake were an influence on these bills which passed during the 2017 legislative session.
House Bill 1711 requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to prioritize money spent on forest treatment to prevent fires. Senate Bill 5546 mandates the state to identify fire-prone lands and create a plan for forest treatment goals by 2023. The third bill, 5198, requires the DNR to present new reports regarding fire retardants, foams and gels, as well as an appropriate way to apply them.