OLYMPIA – 24th District state Senator Kevin Van De Wege is sponsoring a measure that would provide dedicated funding to Washington state’s wildfire response.
Van De Wege will present his “Wildfire Prevention and Forest Health Account” bill in the state Senate this session. An accompanying bill will also be presented in the state House.
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz unveiled the plan this week funded by the proposed legislation that would be the largest spend Washington has ever made to expand wildfire response and restoration.
Washington state has a wildfire crisis. This crisis endangers all of us from the east to the west, from our rural to urban parts of our state. And as the leader of our wild fire fighting force in Washington; I know that if we fail to act now we are truly threatening the future of Washington state, our communities our economy, our environment, and our firefighters.
The more than $160 million account would hire 42 full-time firefighters, 15 fire engine leaders and fire trucks, and add helicopter to the firefighting force. It also would set up assistance and resources to help property owners and small forest landowners secure and protect their property from wildfire and set up new training for local fire districts and departments on wildfire fighting.