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Fire chiefs urge restoration of wildfire staffing funds as OSFM budget hearing opens
Summary
Fire chiefs, volunteer leaders and local fire marshals urged the Oregon Public Safety Subcommittee on Feb. 20 to restore the wildfire season staffing grant to $6 million per year in Senate Bill 5538, the budget for the Oregon State Fire Marshal's office.
Fire chiefs, volunteer leaders and local fire marshals urged the Oregon Public Safety Subcommittee on Feb. 20 to restore the wildfire season staffing grant to $6 million per year in Senate Bill 5538, the budget for the Oregon State Fire Marshal's office.
The plea came during a public hearing in which multiple fire agency leaders described how the UP staffing grant and other OSFM programs have expanded local response capacity, provided technical assistance and supported statewide mobilizations. "I encourage the committee to support and endorse and pass the budget request, but to do so at the addition of $2,000,000 for the wildfire season staffing grant program," said Brian Stewart, representing the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association.
The nut of the testimony focused on a proposed reduction in the governor's recommended budget. Witnesses said the proposal would fund $10 million for the biennium for the UP staffing (wildfire season staffing) grant—equal to $5 million per year—down…
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