Firefighting To Cost More Than Expected
Federal agencies project it will cost $1.8 billion to fight wildfires this season. But they’re short about $470 million, according to a Congressionally mandated report.
The Interior Department and the Forest Service will have to borrow that money from other programs in order to protect people, homes and forests. That includes borrowing money from wildfire prevention programs. The Forest Service has had to shift money to firefighting seven of the last 12 years. It has reduced foresters and other staff by more than 30 percent and more than doubled the number of firefighters.
The agencies have to forecast spending three times a year. The latest is the highest in several years. Drought conditions in the West point to a dangerous fire season. Last year 34 firefighters died in the line of duty as fires destroyed more than a thousand homes across the country.
