Wyoming forester: 1,560 wildfires in 2025, $21 million obligated from emergency suppression account; aviation assets credited with saving large costs

Kelly Norris, Wyoming State Forester, told the Joint Appropriations Committee that “so far in 2025, Wyoming has had 1,560 wildfires that burned approximately 209,870 acres.” She said these totals are still growing and that late‑season fire weather remains a risk.

Norris reported the state has 18 Emergency Fire Suppression Account (EFSA) approved incidents in 2025 and that roughly $21,000,000 has been obligated to cover suppression costs so far this year. She told the committee that final cost shares are still being worked by local fire districts, counties, state and federal agencies and that earlier estimates for 2024 ($54 million) closed out lower — about $37,000,000 — once final invoices and cost‑shares were processed.

Assistant fire management officer Jared…