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Officials say drought drove a high-risk season but rapid coordination kept Vermont's fires small
Summary
State fire officials told lawmakers Vermont saw an above-average number of fires during an exceptional drought, but aggressive burn bans, regional coordination and a prepositioned helicopter helped keep total acreage and damages lower than they might have been.
At a Government Operations & Military Affairs briefing, state officials described last season as —high risk— because of the worst drought in over a century, but said proactive measures and regional resource-sharing limited total damage.
Dan Dohler, state forest fire supervisor for the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, told the committee: "This past year, Vermont had 84 fires, for 66 acres." He said the season had 164 days of moderate-or-greater fire danger and that the department was at preparedness level 4 for more than two weeks, an unusually sustained posture.
Dohler said the department's actions included a statewide burn ban, public outreach, training for roughly 550 students and a 50/50 PPE grant program that provided about $40,000 to 33 towns. He also cited regional coordination with neighboring states and the US Forest Service; that cooperation allowed the region to preposition a helicopter which dropped roughly 11,000 gallons of water on an Oct. 4 fire in Williston, averting greater spread and cost.
Officials described the season as atypical because fuels were exceptionally dry and there were more persistent drought conditions; Dohler said Vermont's fuel types make giant Western-style wildfires unlikely but that —complex— urban-interface fires can be costly and dangerous even at modest acreage.
Committee members asked about risks for the upcoming season; Dohler said lingering drought in parts of the state could raise early-season risk if spring fuels remain dry, and the department will continue regional coordination and monitoring to adjust readiness.
The briefing concluded with staff and members agreeing to fold statutory changes into bill drafting and to return with language for the legislative process.
