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State forestry and fire officials outline heavy fire season costs and implementation steps for WUI fee
Summary
Forestry, Fire and State Lands reported 1,100 fires that burned roughly 164,000 acres this year, preliminary suppression costs of about $191 million (non‑federal state spend ~ $31 million), and described implementation details and outstanding questions on HB 48's Wildland‑Urban Interface fee and county collection arrangements.
Jamie Barnes, with Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL), briefed the appropriations subcommittee on fire season activity, mitigation work and ongoing rule and program implementation related to the Wildland‑Urban Interface (HB 48).
Barnes said the state experienced an extreme fire season driven by drought, wind and dry fuels: roughly 1,100 fires burned about 164,000 acres in the most recent year, with about 702 human‑caused fires accounting for some portion of the acreage. Initial suppression cost estimates total…
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