Senator Wyden questions Oregon wildfire preparedness amid staffing and resource concerns

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a critical hearing on July 11, 2025, focusing on the U.S. Forest Service's budget request for fiscal year 2026. A significant portion of the discussion centered on emergency preparedness for wildfires, particularly in regions like Southern Oregon and Texas Hill Country.

Senator Ron Wyden raised urgent concerns about the current state of emergency preparedness, highlighting that fire officials in Southern Oregon reported being dangerously short on resources. He noted that only one meteorologist was available to provide early warning systems for a vast area, emphasizing the need for timely information to help communities combat increasingly severe wildfires. Wyden criticized the Forest Service's recent organizational changes, suggesting they detracted from the agency's firefighting capabilities during a critical fire season.

In response, Forest Service officials stated that no structural changes to the fire program would be implemented during the current fire season. They assured the committee that staffing levels for firefighters were nearly at maximum capacity, with approximately 11,250 firefighters available, which is about 99% of their typical hiring goal. However, Wyden challenged this assertion, citing reports from Southern Oregon that indicated a lack of necessary resources and support for local fire officials.

The senator also pointed out that the agency had not treated as many acres to reduce wildfire risk this year compared to the last year of the Biden administration, raising questions about the effectiveness of current strategies. He requested written documentation to support the claims of no resource reductions, underscoring the urgency of addressing the preparedness gap as wildfire seasons grow more intense.

The hearing highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the U.S. Forest Service in managing wildfire risks and the need for immediate action to ensure communities are adequately prepared for the fire season ahead.