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Lawmakers press Interior on wildfire staffing and capacity ahead of another fire season
Summary
Committee members and Secretary Burgum clashed over whether Interior has lost wildland firefighters and support personnel, with Republicans and Democrats seeking more data and commitments on readiness for the coming fire season.
Members of the House Natural Resources Committee pressed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum for data and commitments on the department's capacity to respond to wildfires as the country heads into another fire season.
Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), citing concerns about readiness, asked whether Interior had sufficient personnel for what he called "a very difficult wildfire season." Burgum replied that Interior's headcount for wildland firefighters was "about the same" as last year and that…
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