Crosscut Now
May 12, 2021 - WA's $328M push to prevent wildfires
5/12/2021 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Inside Washington’s $328M push to prevent disastrous wildfires.
The state Legislature is considering a massive investment to step up firefighting, improve forests and secure communities near the fire lines.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS
Crosscut Now
May 12, 2021 - WA's $328M push to prevent wildfires
5/12/2021 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
The state Legislature is considering a massive investment to step up firefighting, improve forests and secure communities near the fire lines.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(reverent orchestral music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.
(soft ethereal music) After a devastating 2020 wildfire season, Washington legislators have committed to fight fire with money, a lot of money.
The push, led by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, will see the state hire 100 additional firefighters and replace antique firefighting equipment.
New aircraft, bulldozers, and camera systems will be purchased.
A forest restoration workforce will be created to make state lands less combustible.
And communities in Eastern Washington will be better protected from fire.
Climate change means that wildfires are here to stay and spending money won't change that.
But fire officials and the Department of Natural Resources will now have more money for forest management to prevent mega-fires by clearing underbrush and to do controlled burning.
The firefighting bill was passed unanimously by both houses of the State Legislature.
I'm Starla Sampaco.
Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS