Fighting Fires Could Cost More Than $1 Billion

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Federal officials are going to spend more than $1 billion to fight wildfires this year.

The Nevada Appeal reports the U.S. Forest Service announced Tuesday that the potential for wildfires this summer is high, and fighting those fires could cost between $794 million and $1.225 billion.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said during a Senate hearing that the north central and western parts of the country are more vulnerable than usual to wildland fires this year.

This continues a decade-long trend of high costs, and means the forest service may look to bond management programs to leverage funding.

Funding reforms may be imminent under President Barack Obama's budget proposal, which aligns with the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act.