A firefighter clears fuel from the Retreat Fire last September. The fire was one of the largest in Washington during the 2024 wildfire season and Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is trying to find ways to strengthen the initial attack on fires throughout Washington to prevent the damage they cause. The Retreat Fire burned more than 45,000 acres.
February 3, 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.”