July 15, 2014

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on July 15 to discuss wildfire funding issues and examine more effective ways to prevent wildfires.  Annual U.S. Forest Service (USFS) expenditures on wildfire management have more than tripled since 1991.

Witness Thomas Tidwell, Chief of the USFS, noted that the length of the wildfire season has increased by more than two months since the 1970s and the number of large wildfires, sometimes referred to as “mega-fires,” has grown due to increased temperatures and early snow melts in recent years. Mr. Tidwell highlighted the dangers of extreme wildfires, pointing out the negative effects on the water table and air supply.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) testified to the potential benefits of the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act (WDFA) of 2013 (S. 1875), introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and co-sponsored by Sen. Feinstein. The WDFA would categorize mega-fires as natural disasters and qualify their suppression for emergency management funding. This would allow USFS to focus more money on wildfire prevention techniques.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) also testified at the hearing and highlighted the potential benefits of the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement (FLAME) Act Amendments of 2013 (S. 2953). The FLAME Act would focus more funds towards forest thinning, which Sen. McCain stated would reduce the risk of larger wildfires by removing unhealthy forests.

The committee will continue to hear testimony on both bills.

Source: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources