Being called the worse fire season in three decades.
OR has had 1.9 million acres on fire, WA over 400,000.
The battle to save the small town of Sisters involved dozens of aircraft and thousands of firefighters.
Northern Spokane is lit, 600 structures/homes destroyed, over 5,000 structures in immediate danger, with a week long heat dome w/ strong winds about to ramp up.
The 25% budget reduction in USFS fire fighting has reduced the federal resources being deployed to help the states, and FEMA just turned down federal assistance for the counties/residents impacted by two of the biggest OR fires, stating they 'did not meet required criteria'.
To meet the challenge of what is being projected as the new normal, our states have no choice but to build up the respective forest fire fighting resources, which will require additional taxes.
Meanwhile, we have the hottest month of the summer to still get through.
OR has had 1.9 million acres on fire, WA over 400,000.
The battle to save the small town of Sisters involved dozens of aircraft and thousands of firefighters.
Northern Spokane is lit, 600 structures/homes destroyed, over 5,000 structures in immediate danger, with a week long heat dome w/ strong winds about to ramp up.
The 25% budget reduction in USFS fire fighting has reduced the federal resources being deployed to help the states, and FEMA just turned down federal assistance for the counties/residents impacted by two of the biggest OR fires, stating they 'did not meet required criteria'.
To meet the challenge of what is being projected as the new normal, our states have no choice but to build up the respective forest fire fighting resources, which will require additional taxes.
Meanwhile, we have the hottest month of the summer to still get through.
