Washington Legislature Restores Wildfire Funding After Deep Cuts

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Washington State Legislature approved restoration of wildfire prevention and response funding in its latest budget, reversing a $60 million cut from the previous biennium and recommitting to the 2021 blueprint of House Bill 1168. That unanimous measure pledged $500 million over eight years -- or $125 million per biennium -- for forest restoration, wildfire suppression and community resilience, including prescribed burns, thinning and equipment for swift fire response. Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the operating budget on May 20, allocating $60 million for the coming two years plus access to $118 million in unspent funds from prior appropriations, according to Rep. June Robinson, D-Everett.

Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dave Upthegrove hailed the move after decrying the prior session's "massive" reduction, which dropped funding from an average $120 million per biennium to $60 million. The cuts threatened capabilities amid escalating wildfire threats, with DNR spending $43 million in fiscal year 2024 alone on prevention. Upthegrove noted the state also draws roughly $200 million annually in federal grants, including $197 million announced in 2023 by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for Community Wildfire Defense Grants across 22 states, benefiting Washington projects on state, private and Tribal lands.

Voter pressure fueled the reversal: A Nature Conservancy poll found 70% statewide support for full restoration -- 50% strongly -- spanning Democrats, Republicans, independents and regions from Western Washington to Eastern communities like the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Cody Desautel, the tribe's executive director, called it a "salient concern," with 64% opposing last year's cut and 60% favoring lawmakers who back full funding. The funding targets high-risk areas, reducing post-fire recovery costs and enhancing resilience as climate-driven blazes intensify.