The first bill Gov. Jay Inslee signed this legislative session was a supplemental budget that helped pay a $218 million tab accrued from fighting last summer’s wildfires and responding to other natural disasters, such as the devastating Oso landslide.
Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, who oversees the state’s Department of Natural Resources, said this year’s bill could be hefty once again.
“With a warming climate and changing precipitation patterns … I don’t think there’s going to be a norm with weather events,” Goldmark told The Columbian’s editorial board Thursday.
Although nature is unpredictable, Goldmark’s agency is bracing for another extreme wildfire season. And the one way to keep the bill to the state and federal government down later, Goldmark said, is funnel money into preventative measures now.
Goldmark is requesting $4.5 million from the Legislature this session to help with firefighting efforts and another $6.6 million to help with mapping efforts to prevent the human and environmental costs when natural disasters such as mudslides occur.
Goldmark knows he’s asking the Legislature for money at a time when requests are many. State lawmakers are under court order to adequately fund the state’s public schools and to increase beds for mental health patients. Lawmakers are nearing the end of a 105-day legislative session, scheduled to adjourn April 26, and are in the midst of budget negotiations.
The Senate’s budget proposal did not include Goldmark’s requests and the House included about 60 percent of them.
Last summer, wildfires raged across the state, scorching homes and destroying public lands. The Carlton Complex Fire, the biggest in the state’s history, burned more than 250,000 acres. Goldmark said although he’s not in the business of predicting the weather, this winter has been dry, snowpack levels are low and this summer is likely to bring another busy fire season.
In Clark County, DNR manages the 90,000-acre Yacolt Burn State Forest. A century ago, it was part of more than 240,000 acres that burned; the Yacolt Burn was the state’s largest recorded wildfire until last summer.
The money Goldmark is requesting would help fund more fire engines, helicopters, advance training and staff.
“We know weather and fire conditions are changing and we need to train our staff accordingly,” Goldmark said.
The $6.6 million he’s asked for would help the state with laser mapping, known as lidar, to help analyze where possible future landslides could occur.
Goldmark, who took office in the spring of 2009, said for too long he’s been a good steward to “limited resources.” When he first took office, his annual budget of $300 million was slashed by $30 million and he oversaw massive layoffs.
“There’s a limit to how long I can stand on the sidelines,” Goldmark said.
The limit ends when “public safety is threatened.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
