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Bill would direct state to act sooner on fires near federal boundaries; DNRC urges clearer coordination
Summary
House Bill 130 directs the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to pursue faster, coordinated initial attack on wildfires that threaten private property near federal lands. DNRC and multiple stakeholders testified in support; lawmakers questioned liability and interagency coordination.
House Bill 130 would provide legislative direction for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to take “safe and aggressive initial attack” on wildfires that threaten private property, state land and communities when federal response is ambiguous or delayed.
Sponsor Representative Lou Jones framed the proposal as a targeted tool for “boundary fires” — small fires that start near the edge of federal lands where interagency authorization can delay response. Jones said the bill’s wording was developed with agency input to allow DNRC to act more quickly in those specific circumstances.
DNRC director Amanda Kaster testified in support, emphasizing the state’s scope of responsibility and last season’s record of aggressive initial attack: “Last year, we kept 95% of…
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