Western governors urge Congress to ‘act now’ to reform wildfire management

DENVER (KTVZ) -- For many years, Western governors have worked together to develop and implement bipartisan policy that helps mitigate uncharacteristic wildfire. 

On August 28, in correspondence with Congressional leadership, the 20 Governors represented in the Western Governors’ Association expressed their bipartisan support for several recommendations in the final report of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. 

While not every individual Western governor may agree with every commission recommendation, the letter highlights select recommendations and their alignment with Western governors’ policy as it relates to pre-fire risk mitigation, active fire suppression, post-fire recovery, and systemic reforms that affect every phase of the wildland fire management cycle.  

“There is strong consensus that there are many steps the federal government can take to improve actions throughout the wildfire cycle,” read the letter, signed by WGA’s Chair, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and its Vice Chair, Utah Governor Spencer Cox.  “We hope this correspondence can serve as a blueprint for Congressional action.” 

With wildfires in the U.S. burning over 4.5 million acres since January, nearly double the total area burned in 2023, the governors emphasized the urgency with which these reforms must be implemented.

“The wildfire crisis will not abate without Congressional support for aggressive intervention,” the letter read.  “The cost of inaction is unacceptable… We must act now to prevent permanent, widespread loss of our nation’s most critical natural assets and the communities that depend upon them.” 

Read the correspondence for a full breakdown of the governors’ policy recommendations.