The United States Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie announced a multi-year partnership between the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) called the Chief’s Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership. This partnership will invest $30 million in 13 projects in 12 states across the country [read more]
A broad coalition of conservation, timber, tribal, recreation, sportsmen and employer groups praised Representatives Simpson (R-ID) and Schrader (D-OR) for introducing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2014 (H.R. 3992) that would create an emergency funding process for fire response. This bill ensures funding for both wildfire first responders and for land managers who care [read more]
Wildfires often cause the costliest property damages, causing billions in damage without currently being treated like other large-scale natural disasters. Oregon’s 2013 wildfire season was the most severe in more than 50 years, burning 103,000 acres and costing the state $122 million. To cover the costs of large fires, agencies often have to draw money [read more]
On Thursday night the Senate approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), sending the legislation, which sets out policy for the Pentagon for the next year, to the President’s desk for signature. Importantly, the NDAA includes compromise language around an aircraft transfer act included in last year’s NDAA that would have sent 7 C-27J aircraft [read more]
On Thursday Senators Wyden (D-OR) and Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act, aimed at ending the cycle of fire borrowing at the USDA Forest Service and Department of the Interior. Late in federal fiscal year 2013 the USDA Forest Service transferred more than $600 million from non-fire accounts to cover the cost of [read more]
It's that time of year again! The 2014 Smokey Bear Award nominations are now being accepted. The coveted Smokey Bear award is distributed to outstanding candidates who excel in the area of wildfire prevention educations. Please spread the word to those who may be interested in nominating an individual, agency or organization for an award. [read more]
The Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) Program Committee is pleased to invite nominations of deserving candidates for the 2014 Smokey Bear Awards. Sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), and the Advertising Council, the national Smokey Bear Awards recognize outstanding service in the prevention of human caused wildfires and [read more]
This week's hearing before the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources came months after the Forest Service for the seventh time in a dozen years ran out of money to fight fires, forcing the agency to draw down accounts for research, capital improvements, reforestation and timber planning. Two Republican and two Democratic [read more]
Alongside other leaders of the Fire Suppression Funding Solutions Partner Caucus, NASF sent letters to House and Senate appropriators recognizing their leadership demonstrated through including in the short-term continuing resolution a provision reimbursing the non-fire funds transferred to pay for fire suppression at the USDA Forest Service and Department of the Interior in fiscal year [read more]
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack largely defended the federal government’s management of national forests amid criticisms that massive buildups of hazardous fuels have added to wildfires’ intensity. The secretary blamed this year’s budget sequestration for cutting the agency’s funding and said he’ll be working with congress this fall to establish “a larger and more significant [read more]
