Heinrich Discusses Wildfire Budget Shortfall

During a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich underscored the need to increase wildfire suppression efforts and continued his call for wildfire funding reform. The hearing focused on a review of previous wildfire seasons to inform and improve future federal wildland fire management strategies. In the hearing, Senator Heinrich discussed that the current 10-year average budget to fight wildfires isn’t working effectively. He highlighted that nine out of the last 11 years the Forest Service was 40 percent below actual costs during that period and underscored that climate shifts are causing wildfire seasons to become increasingly unpredictable. November 17, 2015.