Wildfire Prevention at Work!

Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

As wildfire seasons grow longer, hotter, and more unpredictable, one thing has become clear: responding after disaster strikes is not enough. Prevention, preparedness, and rapid response work.  

Over the past several years, the Legislature has built what is now considered a national model for wildfire resilience, rooted in long-term investment and close coordination between state agencies, local responders, and communities most at risk. 

In 2021, the Legislature passed my bill, House Bill 1168, unanimously, establishing an ongoing, $125 million per biennium investment in wildfire preparedness and forest health. This was not a one-time appropriation, but a long-term commitment, and it fundamentally changed how we approach wildfire risk in Washington. 

That work focuses on three core pillars: 

• Early detection and rapid initial attack. When a fire starts, minutes matter. Investing in early detection and ensuring responders can act immediately helps keep small fires from becoming catastrophic ones. 

• Proactive forest health and fuels reduction. Healthy forests are more resilient forests. This includes reducing underbrush, managing overcrowded stands, and restoring natural fire regimes: work that takes years, not months, but pays dividends in reduced fire severity. 

• Community protection and recovery. Supporting at-risk communities so they can better prepare for wildfire, respond when fires occur, and recover afterward is essential, especially in places where wildfire risk is highest. 

There is no county in the nation more at risk than Chelan County, and that reality makes sustained, proactive investment not just prudent, but necessary.

This year, I’m proud to be co-sponsoring House Bill 2104, a bill led by Rep. Dent that makes permanent a successful wildfire response policy first adopted several years ago. This law allows local fire districts, especially rural districts that are almost always first on the scene, to immediately call in additional firefighting resources without getting bogged down in bureaucracy. 

The results speak for themselves. This authority has helped keep roughly 90% of wildfires under 10 acres. 

In 2023, despite being considered a “light” fire year, Washington experienced the largest number of wildfire starts in state history. Most people never heard about them – not because they didn’t happen, but because they were contained quickly and effectively. That’s smart policy at work. 

Another important issue I’m working on this session is water adjudication. House Bill 2544 establishes an expedited process to resolve longstanding water rights claims, following an agreement reached between the Department of Ecology and Tribal governments. 

This approach respects treaty rights, provides greater certainty for water users, and helps communities move forward without decades-long legal delays – an essential step as climate pressures place increasing strain on our water systems. 

Wildfire resilience doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen by accident. It requires long-term planning, stable funding, and trust in the people closest to the ground, from local fire districts to forest managers and tribal partners. 

I remain committed to protecting our communities, our forests, and our shared future through policies that are practical, proven, and grounded in real-world results. 

As always, I value hearing from you. Your input helps guide my work in Olympia, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve the 45th Legislative District. 

In service,