In seven years as Washington’s public lands commissioner, Hilary Franz has been a powerful advocate for the Department of Natural Resources that she oversees.
So it is no surprise that Franz makes a compelling argument in urging lawmakers to restore cuts to the department’s wildfire preparedness and response budget. She suggests that if the state does not restore $36 million in funding that was eliminated last year, the department will need to shrink or cut community assistance funds, reduce the amount of land treated with prescribed burns or reduce staff.
Wildfires are a growing threat throughout the state, due to a combination of our vast forestland and climate change that has made those forests more susceptible to blazes. They are of such concern that The Columbian is hosting a community conversation about wildfires in Southwest Washington from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Kiggins Theatre, featuring a panel of experts including Franz.
Facing that threat, Franz has wisely focused on preventing fires as much as on suppressing them. An ounce of prevention … as they say.
That is where the debate over funding comes in. As Franz wrote in an email to The Seattle Times: “Failing to restore this funding would be catastrophic for fire districts, forest health programs, and the counties which rely on the Wildfire Ready Neighbors program. … It would disproportionately affect rural and underserved communities. The Legislature must uphold the unanimous promise it made to current and future Washington residents. Otherwise, we might need a bit more luck in future fire seasons.”
In 2021, the Legislature committed $500 million through 2029 for wildfire preparedness and response. The Department of Natural Resources has invested that funding in several areas: New technology, including cameras and aircraft to more quickly spot and respond to fires; assistance to rural fire districts; the hiring of firefighters; and help for rural landowners in reducing the risk to their properties. Since 2021, more than 2,000 homeowners have signed up for the Wildfire Ready Neighbors program.
But because some of the funding was earmarked for contracts but not yet spent, lawmakers last year reduced the investment.
That should be quickly rectified. Meanwhile, the request from Franz also highlights an often overlooked machination of state government.
Washington has statewide elections for nine executive officials — starting with governor and including positions such as lieutenant governor and superintendent of schools. In comparison, Oregon has five elected executive offices and Idaho has seven.
Part of the job for statewide executives is advocating for funding, and it is unlikely that any elected official has ever argued that their department needs less money. That dynamic requires diligence from legislators to ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely and efficiently.
With that being said, it is easy to conclude that wildfire prevention and suppression is a wise investment in Washington. Although 2023 was a relatively tame year for fires in the state, the Gray Fire and Oregon Road Fire in Spokane County combined to burn 20,000 acres of grassland, destroying more than 350 homes and damaging another 400. And as Clark County residents have learned in recent years, smoke from fires can wreak havoc on urban areas.
In addition to warranting a robust discussion in Southwest Washington, the threat of wildfires calls for robust funding throughout the state.
