Wildfire And Forest Health Bill Receives Hearing In Washington Legislature

Last fall’s wildfires were invoked Friday at a hearing for a new forest health bill in the Washington legislature. The bill is proposed at the request of Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, who reminded members of a House committee that 2020 was the worst wildfire season in years in Washington. More than 80,000 acres burned, about three-fourths of that around Labor Day when high winds blew several wildfires around the state out of control. Franz said the conditions that made that week so destructive have been present for years. “When it comes to wildfire, we cannot afford to keep kicking the can down the road, hoping that next year will be different from the last. We cannot afford to be making hope and luck our strategy to protect our communities and our firefighters," she said. Read On