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Senator urges lawmakers to fund wildfire response as state braces for a tough season
Summary
Senator Jeff Golden told the Oregon Senate that an active wildfire season is likely and urged lawmakers to fund wildfire response, citing state website resources and estimating wildfire costs at about $300 million per biennium.
Senator Jeff Golden urged the Oregon State Senate on the floor to prepare for an unusually active wildfire season and to commit funding now to pay for suppression and related costs.
Golden told colleagues that an Oregon Public Broadcasting article and recent weather patterns suggest the state “is in for another destructive wildfire season.” He recommended constituents be directed to the Oregon State Fire Marshal website for resources and warned the Legislature faces a “crucial and difficult conversation” about financing wildfire response.
The senator said the additional costs are substantial, noting the state faces roughly $300 million in new biennium expenses tied to wildfires and that wildfire damages can cost “from 10 to 25 times the cost of suppression.” “We have to fund wildfire,” Golden said. “There is not a pain-free, easy way to do this.”
Golden also said the state spent more than $300 million in one year last year on wildfire-related expenses and that some constituents expect the Legislature to solve the problem without new taxes — an option he said does not exist. He urged colleagues to approach budget decisions with the common interest of constituents in mind.
Sen. Golden recommended lawmakers promote the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s consolidated resources to the public and said the issue will be part of the session’s budget discussions.
The remarks were delivered as part of morning floor remarks; no formal motion or vote on wildfire funding occurred during this session.
