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DNR outlines achievements, gaps in Washington wildfire preparedness at committee work session
Summary
Deputy supervisor George Geissler briefed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on implementation of wildfire strategy and HB 1168 investments, highlighting expanded aviation, permanent firefighters, forest health treatments and the need to sustain funding and workforce capacity.
George Geissler, deputy supervisor for wildland fire management and state forester at the Washington Department of Natural Resources, told the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 22 that recent state investments and statutes have expanded early detection, aviation response, and local support but that sustained funding, workforce development and cross‑jurisdiction coordination remain critical.
Geissler framed Washington—s approach around the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy and the state—s 10‑ and 20‑year strategic plans, saying the work combines landscape resilience, community resilience and safe, effective wildland fire response. "A resilient and healthy landscape is resistant to wildland fire," he said.
He credited several legislative measures and account funding, including implementation of House Bill 1168 (establishing an account for wildfire preparedness, prevention and protection) and other bills that expanded aviation access and community resilience programs. Geissler said the state used new aviation contracts and multi‑mission aircraft to detect and suppress fires earlier, and has hired permanent firefighters who also perform fuels mitigation and community outreach when not assigned to incidents.
Geissler described several results: a coordinated expansion of contract aviation and initial‑attack heavy equipment, a program to match federal grants and increase funding for local fire departments, a forest health tracker that maps treatments and funding, and community resilience work that includes wildfire preparedness plans and smoke‑management coordinators.
Witnesses and committee members pressed three themes: training standards, local coordination and prevention. Seamus Petrie of the Washington Public Employees Association urged that anyone participating beyond initial attack have NWCG red‑card qualifications. Leonard Johnson, a local fire chief, said the legislation needs a requirement to coordinate with adjacent fire districts and representation from fire chiefs or the State Fire Marshal in the pilot.
Geissler also raised prevention as an underused pillar, noting that "humans still cause the majority of fires here in Washington State" and urging more public education on avoidable, human‑caused ignitions.
Committee members asked about predictive tools, utility vegetation workgroups, artificial intelligence for early detection and federal coordination. Geissler said DNR is "dabbling" in AI detection cameras and has partnered with detection providers (Pano AI was named) and that Good Neighbor Authority and other state‑federal agreements are being used to accelerate treatments on federal lands.
Geissler warned that sustaining the recent gains will require continued funding, workforce development and coordination among state, local and federal partners. "We are not finished," he said, adding that investments must be maintained to avoid slipping backward.
