State fire marshal outlines budget, wildfire response investments in informational hearing on Senate Bill 5538

Mariana Ruiz-Temple, Oregon State Fire Marshal, and agency deputies told the Public Safety Subcommittee on Feb. 19 that the governor's recommended budget for the Department of State Fire Marshal (Senate Bill 5538) focuses on sustaining operations and targeted investments to prepare for future wildfire seasons.

"Our mission is to protect people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials," Ruiz-Temple said as she opened the agency's presentation to the committee.

The briefing by Jonathan Bennett of the Department of Administrative Services's Chief Financial Office said the 2025-27 current service level (CSL) budget for the agency reflects a roughly 55% reduction from the 2023-25 legislatively approved budget because a large share of the earlier biennium's funding was one-time wildfire response and start-up costs. Bennett described the governor's recommended package as maintaining operational funding while prioritizing wildfire preparation and response and several operational investments.

Why it matters: Lawmakers and the fire service say the state must address growing wildfire frequency and the cash-flow strains of responding to large conflagrations while preserving prevention, inspections and hazardous-materials work that protect communities year-round.

Key budget items and programs

- Wildfire response and readiness: The governor's recommendation includes a general-fund deposit to the State Fire Marshal Mobilization Fund intended to ease cash-flow constraints during large incidents and allocations for pre-positioning and mobilization. The administration proposes roughly $15 million for wildfire season costs in the governor's recommended budget (the agency noted a five-year rolling…