Ross Andreson / AP
Smoke billows from a wildfire Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, that briefly trapped eight hikers atop Lamoille Canyon, about 12 miles southeast of Elko.
Published Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 | 1:18 p.m.
Updated Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 | 4:12 p.m.
Nevada is set to receive $57 million through two federal spending laws to help mitigate wildfires, U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s office announced today.
In a news release, Cortez Masto said the money was secured through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act and will be used to invest in “high-risk communities and improve fuels management” along 3.4 million acres of the Sierra and Elko Fronts.
“These resources will help reduce dangerous overgrowth that fuels wildfires, invest in projects that prioritize Nevadans’ safety, and protect businesses across the state,” she said in a statement.
Between the two laws, more than $8 billion has been secured for the U.S. Department of the Interior to support wildfire risk reduction, and a separate $10 million for wildfire detection equipment, according to the release.
Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will also allow for federal firefighters to receive pay increases.
Fellow U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen voiced her approval for securing federal funding.
“Wildfires pose an immediate and serious threat to the safety and health of communities in Nevada,” she said in a statement.
“I’ve been working to ensure that our state, public land managers, and firefighters have the resources needed to keep our communities safe. ... I’m proud to have helped secure this funding to combat wildfires in Northern Nevada, build up our resiliency, and help reduce the risk of future fires.”
