The Arizona Legislature has wrapped up its study on wildfire and the federal response to the damage fires can cause, which includes severe flooding.

The House committee brought in state and federal experts to examine the post-fire impacts the blazes can have on local ranches and communities, such as burned fences and flash floods, which may not be reimbursed.

The panel recently issued its final report and heard from a number of experts, including Melanie Colavito of the Ecological Restoration Institute at NAU.

She said thinning fuels in the state’s forests can reduce the damage that wildfires cause.

“It is an estimate, but we do know that those proactive treatments do save a substantial amount of money,” Colavito said.

The committee plans to distribute its findings to other western states to see if they might influence federal policy on post-fire relief.