ESA Working Group

Wildfires in our national forests damage or destroy an average of nearly 4 million acres across the United States each year. Over the last month, eight fires spanning nine counties in Central Washington have and are continuing to ravage more than 355,000 acres of land, including private property. The Carlton Complex fire alone consumed over 260,000 acres in Okanogan County and is recorded as the largest wildfire in our state’s history. This means more than half a million acres in Central Washington have been burned in just the past two years.

I recently toured the devastating damage caused by the Carlton Complex fire, which has left over 300 families without homes and cost local, state, and federal agencies an estimated $74 million. I had the opportunity to meet with local residents, the U.S. Forest Service, firefighters, and other first responders on the ground in Okanogan County and hear firsthand the firefighting and rebuilding challenges these rural communities are facing.

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Sadly, poor management of federal forestland was a major contributor to the expansion of the Carlton Complex fire. Each year, Washington’s national forests grow three times faster than they die. Recently, the threat of lawsuits have prevented the U.S. Forest Service from conducting reasonable projects to salvage valuable timber, remove dead or diseased trees, and get rid of ash and sediment that destroy habitats for endangered species. Without these responsible activities to remove excess growth, our national forests have become increasingly susceptible to catastrophic wildfires that threaten our homes, public safety, water supply, and the economic livelihood of our communities.

As we have seen so tragically in Okanogan County, the lack of proper land management by the federal government has serious implications for nearby communities. The most effective way to keep our forests healthy is by active management of our federal forests. In May, the House of Representatives took action to reduce the risk of these catastrophic wildfires by passing the “Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act,” a bill I authored that would restore active and responsible management in federal forests.

Our forests, communities, and species deserve better than being placed at continual and increasing risk of catastrophic wildfires. I urge federal land managers to work with local officials, tribes, and interest groups to find better solutions that will improve forest health, including harvesting timber to protect these lands and local economies.

My staff and I are in close communication with the federal, state, and local authorities on the ground in Okanogan County. I joined Senators Murray and Cantwell and Congressman Dave Reichert in sending a letter to President Obama requesting long-term federal assistance to help these communities respond, rebuild, and cope with this tragedy. We are committed to ensuring the necessary resources are available to respond to this devastating fire. Furthermore, a thorough review must be conducted, once the Carlton Complex fire is fully contained, to learn how this fire grew so rapidly and what can be done differently to protect us from these devastating wildfires in the future.

Our hearts go out to the victims of the recent wildfires in our area. The outpouring of support for these communities does not go unnoticed. There is no question that the rebuilding process will be a long one. We extend our deepest gratitude to the thousands of firefighters, first responders, volunteers, and local officials that are helping residents recover and get back on their feet. Anyone interested in helping wildfire relief efforts is encouraged to contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-REDCROSS or by going to redcross.org/donate.