Concerns Rise Over Federal Cuts to Wildfire Mitigation in Western U.S.
As the threat of wildfires becomes a year-round phenomenon, leaders in northern Arizona are voicing concerns about federal reductions to wildfire mitigation initiatives. Notable figures, including Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler, Tusayan Mayor Clarinda Vail, and Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett, are among 160 western officials pushing for a review by Attorney General Kris Mayes into the legality of these cutbacks implemented during the Trump administration.
In a united effort, these officials have endorsed a letter facilitated by the Mountain Pact, a group focused on advocating for western communities regarding climate and public land policies. The letter urges state attorneys general to take action against the downsizing of federal fire preparedness, which includes layoffs and voluntary resignations within key agencies like the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service.
This call to action follows the devastation caused by the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, which ravaged over 200,000 acres in the Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park. Coconino County Supervisor Patrice Horstman emphasized, “As climate-induced drought continues ravaging the West, communities like mine are becoming even more vulnerable to devastating fires like this one—and federal cuts to public land management are only making the situation more dire.”
The financial burden of wildfire recovery largely falls on agencies such as the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, prompting several western U.S. senators to seek additional federal support after a destructive fire season. Nationally, data from ProPublica reveals that more than 4,500 U.S. Forest Service firefighting positions, or approximately 27%, were unfilled as of July. Additionally, nationwide hazardous fuels reduction efforts, including prescribed burns and mechanical thinning, have decreased by 38% as of October 1.
The situation in Arizona mirrors these national trends, with the Forest Service working on only half the average acreage treated over the past four years. The letter from western officials highlights the dire nature of the situation, stating, “Wildfire preparedness is a matter of life and death in rural western communities. The impacts of climate change, from increased drought to hotter and more unpredictable weather, are only heightening these risks.”
In a related development, a group of U.S. senators, including Arizona’s Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, have addressed a letter to Forest Service Chief Tim Schultz. The letter, which can be read here, demands clarity on staffing levels and how the agency plans to increase treated acreage in western forests. The senators warn, “The steep decline in hazardous fuels reduction efforts on Forest Service lands poses a serious risk to public safety, public health and the economy.” The letter calls for the Forest Service to collaborate with Congress to rectify deficiencies in wildfire mitigation resources and staffing.
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