Dent proposes bill to promote local, regional firefighting cooperation

OLYMPIA — Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, proposed a new legislation to establish a pilot project aimed at reducing the high number of wildfire incidents in Washington state. The project involves fostering collaborations between public-private partnerships, local agencies and farmers.

"Personally, I have an issue with wildfires, and I think we should do everything we can to prevent or suppress wildfires. If we can bring in our local folks to push back on them as well, I think it's a good idea," Dent said during a Jan. 12 hearing.

In 2023, Washington marked its second-highest number of fire starts at 1,884, with a total loss of more than 165,000 acres burned according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. 

State legislators are considering House Bill 1971, aimed at enhancing wildfire prevention and response programs through the establishment of Rangeland Fire Protection Associations and collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources. The bill initially would create a three-year pilot project if it passes, with DNR managing three areas east of the Cascades starting in 2025 and going through the 2028 fire season. The pilot project, along with the authorization for RFPA formation and operation, would expire on Jun. 30, 2029. The law would take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the legislative session, if passed.

RFPAs can provide an organized strategy for suppressing wildland fires by leveraging the prompt initial response of individuals residing in the rangeland, Dent has said in interviews with the Columbia Basin Herald, and have been successfully implemented in Idaho.

Under an RFPA, ranchers, volunteers, firefighters and individuals trained in wildfire management collaborate to organize and authorize participation in firefighting activities alongside federal agency firefighters. These volunteers possess the necessary training and legal clearance to address fires on private and state lands, particularly in areas lacking adequate fire protection.

“Rangeland fire protection program, it is not about structure fighting, it’s about managing the land to prevent structures from being destroyed. This is about public and private partnerships working together as a society,” Dent said.

The goal is to have a faster, more organized response that utilizes local knowledge to manage fires better.

"(RFPAs) are able to get to these fires quicker than we are. We definitely support the idea of protecting these areas so that we can have landowners help firefighters get to these fires quicker and do it in a safe way," said Ryan Spiller, representing the Washington Fire Commissioners Association.

The association must identify its service boundaries and operate with liability insurance. Members of an RFPA must be 18 years of age or older, use protective equipment that meets DNR standards and have a basic level of wildland fire training.

The proposed legislation also permits individuals who are not part of a rangeland fire protection association to take action in suppressing fires that pose a threat to their property. 

Witnesses expressed concerns during the hearing that the bill does not outline safety measures enough and needs to define those guidelines. 

"When people are up to the fire, we need to make sure that everyone on the line is qualified. That we are keeping the most effective way of fighting the fire. Making sure that people are safe and manageable, that we are meeting the national standards of safety," said Seamus Petrie, representing the Washington Public Employees Association.

Under the bill, RFPA members must match the level of a Wildland Firefighter 2 outlined by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The organization establishes minimum standards for aircraft, crews and equipment for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents.

Constituents also expressed concerns regarding the lack of clarity in the relationships between landowners and regional authorities. Additionally, adjusting funding to support RFPAs could negatively impact funding for more traditional firefighting agencies like the DNR. 

According to Bud Sizemore from the Washington State Council of Firefighters, RFPAs, in partnership with DNR, will be operating outside of their wheelhouse. As a result, reporting on funding and governance could be a major concern and the state should focus on existing firefighting agencies.

"These would be three separate entities where DNR is not going to be there on a day-to-day basis, not from what I can see,” Sizemore said. “If they were expected to be providing that leadership, providing that level of training. I don't know where those resources come from to be able to do that.” 

During the hearing, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Anacortes, raised the concern that DNR and firefighters may feel competition with one another. She encouraged the bill’s sponsors to find a way to ensure both firefighters and the DNR receive adequate funding to control wildfires.

"Protect the funds, the material, the supplies, the training for firefighters to continue their workforce development and continue the funding of resources to DNR. But don't have them competing against one another here," said Lekanoff.

Oregon and Idaho have already implemented RFPA programs to ensure collaboration among firefighting groups.

A study conducted by the Northwest Fire Science Consortium revealed initial tensions between public and private agencies but improved relationships as the groups worked together fighting fires. The study also showed the ranchers helped manage wildfires through their in-depth knowledge of the land, their equipment on hand, spatial distribution across large landscapes, and their motivation to protect their land. 

"The local people know the landscape, the local people know where the fences are and where the gates are. They can be very effective in the initial attack. They can also be very effective in one where there is DNR or the local fire department or somebody else shows up to fight the fire and takes over the command,” said Dent. “Knowing this information and being able to move quickly really allows us to get those fires knocked down.” 

If the bill is signed into law, DNR must submit a report on the pilot project to the legislature by Nov. 15, 2028, to address safety training, funding governance, operations, effectiveness and communication with other fire protection service agencies 

DNR Legislative Director Brian Considine said the department looks forward to working as the sponsor of the legislation to make adjustments addressing the issues from the hearing and creating more of a targeted approach to the bill.

No specific appropriation details are provided in the bill. A fiscal note was requested Jan. 2.

"It's all about the initial attack, and if we can stop a fire with local volunteers, we've saved resources for DNR and local fire departments," Dent said.