Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and Senate Democrats on Thursday introduced legislation to reduce Washington’s wildfire risk and create healthier forests.
The new proposal establishes a dedicated revenue source and raises $62.5 million annually to pay for wildfire suppression and prevention.
For the current legislative session, the wildland fire protection plan funding requests include two additional helicopters, 30 new full-time firefighters, more specialized firefighter training, the expansion of camp crews, and community outreach specialists throughout the state to help educate residents about how to prevent wildfires and protect their neighborhoods.
“Never before have our wildland firefighters had to ask for so much, but never before have we faced a wildfire crisis of this magnitude,” Franz said. “In the face of this crisis, we need bold, forward-thinking investments to keep our forests healthy, our air clean, and our communities safe from fire.”