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| Wilson to Feds: Tell us before you light a match |
June 16, 2000 |
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WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson’s amendment requiring federal land management agencies to notify state, tribal and local governments of their intention to start a prescribed burn was passed by the House of Representatives late last night. The amendment prohibits the use of any federal funds to conduct a prescribed burn unless they first notify State, tribal, and local government officials.
The Federal Wildland Fire policy adopted in 1995 by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior requires that land management agencies notify State, tribal and local governments. However, at a recent congressional hearing regarding the devastating fire in Los Alamos it was clear this policy was not being followed. During the recent congressional hearing on the Cerro Grande fire, Governor Gary Johnson told the committee that he was never notified about the prescribed burn that burned down over 400 homes and did over $1 billion in damage in Los Alamos. Other witnesses from local governments in New Mexico testified that they usually find out about prescribed burns when a citizen calls 9-1-1 to report a fire.
"Local, state, and tribal governments should all agree before a federal agency lights a match in our forests. At a minimum, other government agencies should at least know about prescribed burn plans that could affect them," said Wilson. “While I am still looking for the federal land management agencies to completely overhaul their prescribed burn and thinning policies, I believe they must at the very least notify local officials prior to starting a fire.
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