Cost of fighting wildfires could top $1 billion

Elias Funez/The Modesto Bee via AP, File

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2013 file photo, Big Bear firefighter Jon Curtis keeps a close eye on a ‘slop over’ fire that jumped Hwy 120 just east of Hardin Flat Road while fighting the Rim Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest. Criminal charges have been dropped against a hunter accused of starting the massive wildfire that burned the Stanislaus and part of Yosemite National Park, federal prosecutors announced Friday, May 1, 2015. Two key witnesses have unexpectedly died since the indictment was handed down last year against Matthew Emerald, prosecutors say. The blaze burned for two months, scorching 400 acres and cost $125 million in to fight.

Associated Press

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 | 9:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY — Federal officials are going to spend more than $1 billion to fight wildfires this year.

The Nevada Appeal reports the U.S. Forest Service announced Tuesday that the potential for wildfires this summer is high, and fighting those fires could cost between $794 million and $1.225 billion.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said during a Senate hearing that the north central and western parts of the country are more vulnerable than usual to wildland fires this year.

This continues a decade-long trend of high costs, and means the forest service may look to bond management programs to leverage funding.

Funding reforms may be imminent under President Barack Obama's budget proposal, which aligns with the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act.