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Forestry commission warns of growing wildfire risk; committee confirms three forestry commissioners
Summary
The Tennessee Forestry Commission presented its annual report, flagged growing wildland‑urban interface and volunteer firefighting needs, and the Senate confirmed three appointees to the Forestry Commission.
Tom Midgett, chairman of the Tennessee State Forestry Commission, told the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee that population growth has pushed more Tennesseans into the wildland‑urban interface and increased the risk and human cause of wildfire. The committee then advanced three gubernatorial appointees to the Forestry Commission.
Midgett presented the commission’s fiscal‑year report and thanked Division of Forestry staff for work on timber growth, recreation management of 16 state forests and wildland fire response. He said roughly 87% of the state now sits in the wildland‑urban interface and that about 99% of wildfires statewide are caused by people, sometimes unintentionally. He told the committee the Division of Forestry relies on local volunteer and paid fire departments as first responders, and the commission is working to funnel grants and training to those organizations.
Midgett described recent vandalism and abuse at state forests—he cited an instance at Franklin State Forest that caused about $1 million in equipment and infrastructure damage—and noted that forestry staff do not have law‑enforcement powers; they must call local sheriffs to respond to crimes on state forest land.
Heather Slayton, Tennessee State Forester, and other forestry staff emphasized partnerships with university forestry programs, the Division of Forestry’s role in firefighting, tree improvement programs and outreach to develop future forest managers. Senator Bolling asked about coordination with university forestry schools; Slayton described ongoing partnerships with the University of Tennessee and Auburn University and noted reappointment of Sharon Jean Philippe, a UT professor, who also participates in forestry education programs.
The committee then considered three gubernatorial appointments to the Forestry Commission: Mark Rogers (appointment via Senate Joint Resolution 116), Sharon Jean Philippe (SJR100 reconfirmation) and Jake Allman (SJR112). Each nomination was introduced by sponsors or local officials, each candidate briefly described their background and reasons to serve, and each resolution was recorded by the secretary as receiving nine ayes. The committee moved each appointment to the calendar.
Ending: The committee requested that the Forestry Commission continue work on volunteer fire training and asset protection for state forests, and it advanced the three nominations for full‑Senate consideration.
