Sunday, February 16, 2025
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Budget challenges a hurdle for Dent's regional firefighting bill

OLYMPIA – Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is working on a bill to create a pilot project, aimed at boosting wildfire prevention and responses in rural areas. The project intends to improve firefighting through collaboration between public and private entities. Dent has proposed this legislation since 2017, and although confident in its proposal, the budget deficit presents a significant challenge, he said.  

“I don’t know right now where I will find the money,” said Dent. “There’s a big fiscal note on here and it's inflated. We have to cut that down. It’s not right.”  

Dent consulted with the Washington Department of Natural Resources to possibly reduce the note, claiming funding could come out of the savings generated from the project as they suppress and prevent costly fires.   

During the 2024 wildfire season, a bit more than 300,000 acres were burned according to DNR, which is above the 174,300 acres in 2023 but below the state's 10-year annual average of 470,000 acres. 

If implemented, HB 1048 would require DNR to conduct a five-year pilot project, forming and assessing Rangeland Fire Protection Associations. RFPAs are community volunteer-based organizations similar to rural volunteer fire departments established to protect against local fires in areas outside of public fire districts. The project would take place east of the Cascades, where DNR must develop and publish recommendations concerning the operations and training of those groups that would make up RFPAs.  

“The reality of it is if we have a fire out there, we're going to go fight it anyway,” said Dent in a Jan. 22 hearing. 

Dent explained that RFPAs can serve as first responders, facilitating coordinated and stronger initial attacks as individuals living on the rangeland know how to navigate the topography, providing invaluable knowledge to assist suppression efforts and protect their property.  

RFPAs would allow ranchers, farmers and rural property owners to receive the necessary wildfire training and collaborate alongside state agencies, ultimately improving wildfire prevention, detection, and initial response capabilities in areas with fewer fire protection resources.   

“Big fires are expensive and tragic,” said Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, a former firefighter for Central Mason and co-sponsor of the bill. “Early detection, early deployment of assets, to keep small fires small should be the total mission of our firefighting activities.” 

According to the bill, an RFPA formed under the project requires volunteers over the age of 18 who have completed the basic level of wildfire training and possess personal protective equipment. The association must also have liability insurance and identify the physical boundaries of its wildfire services. 

Seamus Petrie from the Washington Public Employees Association expressed concerns about the level of adequate training. 

Petrie said that, although Wildland Firefighter level 2 training is recommended beyond the required basic training, it suggests an acceptable lower level of skill when Incident Qualification Cards, also known as red cards, are required for firefighters who work beyond initial attack.  

Leonard Johnson, chair of the Washington State Fire Chiefs Association, also expressed concern with the coordination of RFPAs with fire agencies, as most of the included rangeland is adjacent to protected districts.   

Dent said he is working on an amendment to address the level of desired training and there is already a communication requirement between local fire districts and RFPAs outlined in the bill.  

A study done by the Northwest Fire Science Consortium showed that RFPAs already established in Oregon and Idaho overcame conflict and tension with the Bureau of Land Management as they worked and spent time together on and off firelines. The study also revealed that RFPAs can increase their fire preparation, response and professional techniques if given more participation opportunities by organized institutions in exchange for valuable local knowledge.  

DNR Wildfire Communications manager Thomas Kyle-Milward said the department is neutral on the bill; however, the fiscal note may pause the legislation given budget constraints.  

The state faces a projected $12 billion dollar budget shortfall, prompting Gov. Bob Ferguson to require a 6% spending cut across all agencies.  

Griffey acknowledged that while the budget is a significant “boat anchor,” he believes there is great value in investing resources in this policy.  

“(Rangeland) is our food supply. It is dangerous if we let big fires grow bigger. And it is nearly unprotected,” said Griffey. “When you have the big threes like that, it still has to rise to you know, if it gets cut, it should be one of the last concepts that's cut.”  

    Tom Dent, foreground, is the state representative for Washington's 13th district. He has been working on a bill to improve fighting wildfires since 2017.