Reducing Catastrophic Wildfires

Dear Friend,

As the 2021 wildfire season comes to an end, I wanted to update you on my recent work to protect our communities. 

This year was another a devastating wildfire season in Washington state, with fires starting early in the spring and continuing to persist even now in central Washington. As the effects of climate change threaten our public lands and local communities, we must do all we can to stop the threat of these devastating fires and restore our forests. 

Earlier this year, I introduced two bills to help prevent catastrophic wildfires in Washington state. In May, I introduced the National Prescribed Fire Act, a bipartisan bill that would invest significant resources in forest maintenance practices we know work - like prescribed burns. These controlled burns are already happening, but at a pace far too slow to get the job done. This bill would accelerate the pace. In July, I introduced the National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act to increase the funding available to the Forest Service to repair damaged forest lands. Both of these bills will result in resilient forests that can better resist catastrophic wildfire.

A recent report from the Washington Department of Natural Resources identified three million acres of forest lands in the state in need of restoration. A significant percentage of those acres are in rural Central Washington. Local fire districts, counties and non-profits are engaging in controlled burns and mechanical thinning as much as possible, but they face daunting barriers, and of course they need their neighbor, the Forest Service, to do its part. That’s why I questioned Forest Service Chief Randy Moore in an Agriculture hearing last month about the 2021 wildland fire year and the ongoing threat of wildfire to communities across the nation. During my questioning, I also invited him to visit our district and see firsthand the wildfire mitigation work being done in our district.

 

Earlier this month, I joined firefighters from throughout our state and The Nature Conservancy for a prescribed burn in Roslyn Urban Forest. I was thrilled to join this event and even tried my hand at the drip torch! It was great to see firsthand this tool for preventing catastrophic fires every summer and one that I have been pushing to increase funding for.

I will continue to advocate for and push for legislation that protects our communities from the devastating effects of wildfires, while protecting and restoring the public lands we hold so dear. 

As always, please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Kim Schrier, M.D.
Member of Congress