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DNR seeks more forestry staff, increased wildfire preparedness funding; highlights training gains
Summary
Department of Natural Resources officials told the House Finance Committee they plan to add staff for forest management and fire response, cited improved recruitment after incentive pay, and requested expanded receipt authority to support aircraft and aviation fleet costs.
The Department of Natural Resources told the House Finance Committee that its proposed FY26 budget would expand forestry staffing and increase fire‑preparedness funding to reduce reliance on out‑of‑state resources.
Deputy Commissioner Brent Goodrum described a package of requests that would add positions in the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection to support timber sales, forest infrastructure and wildfire response. He said the division's top priorities include expanding access to state forests and increasing the availability of timber sales to support local sawmills and value‑added manufacturers.
The department said it manages about 47 million acres of forests on state land and around 2.1 million acres of legislatively designated state forests. Division leaders reported 33.6 million board feet of new timber sales appraised at $2.9 million and about 25.2 million board feet harvested from state lands last year, numbers the department said support roughly 1,200 jobs and $58 million in economic activity.
On wildfire response, Goodrum told the committee the division now has 220 wildland fire and resource technicians and has focused on recruitment and training. He credited the governor's 30 percent mission‑critical and hazard incentive pay for improving staffing: "Year over year, applicants for our 3 primary crews ... increased 12 fold from 2024 to 2025 after these changes were made," Goodrum said. He added that vacancies dropped about 5.2 percent year over year.
Goodrum said the division is implementing a strategic plan to reach preparedness level 3 of a five‑level guide so Alaska can rely less on importing crews from other states or provinces. He also sought expanded statutory designated program receipt authority to collect revenues from parties using the division's aviation fleet and to maintain aviation readiness.
Representative Hannan pressed whether the budget restores or adds a Haines forester. Commissioner John Boyle replied the department currently has a long‑serving forester in Haines, Greg Palmerian, and said the additional position is intended to provide workload relief and mentorship: "Greg's incredible history and working knowledge ... we wanna have an opportunity for him to impart that wisdom to a a younger forester so that they can glean from from his experience and and be prepared to, take on that mantle," Boyle said.
Why it matters: DNR's proposals link forest management, timber sales and local economic activity to wildfire preparedness; lawmakers asked for returns on investment and for more detail on how the staffing and receipt changes will reduce longer‑term suppression costs.
Department staff said they will provide additional follow‑up information to the committee on specific requests and expected outcomes.
