Fronteras

Western lawmakers have long complained that the current funding solution needs an update. It’s tied to 10-year wildfire averages. But as fires continue to burn longer and hotter across the western United States, they’ve become more expensive to fight.

Last year the Forest Service and other federal agencies raided $2 billion from non-fire-related accounts to cover costs.

This bill sets aside more than $20 billion over 10 years to pay for the manpower, equipment and other firefighting costs.

That gives agencies $2 billion each year — outside the regular budget — so agency officials don’t have to tap money meant for wildfire prevention.