Washington state bills aim to improve wildfire preparation
Washington state has seen intense wildfires over the past few years, but last year Seattle was home to the world's worst air quality because of wildfires from not only the Evergreen State but also surrounding states.
Several bills have been introduced to bring in funding to help battle wildfires. Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz proposed “Cascading Impacts of Wildfire” legislation — House Bill 1578; Senate Bill 5611. The bill details the agency’s plan to prepare communities for wildfire smoke risks and impacts, expand community resilience efforts statewide and manage post-wildfire risks including landslides and debris flows.
Other bills include House Bill 1498, which touches on concerning aviation assurance funding in response to wildland fires. A public hearing took place Friday when Rep. Mary Dye spoke about the need for funding for more aircraft help during wildfires, which would include the use of planes and helicopters more often.
“This tool is for our local fire districts that will assure that they have the financial ability to deploy aircraft as deemed necessary," said Dye.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/washington-state-bills-aim-to-improve-wildfire-preparation/ar-AA175Dpd