WA lands commissioner wants 100M boost for wildfire funding

Washington's public lands commissioner, Dave Upthegrove, has formally requested an additional $100 million from the Legislature to strengthen wildfire prevention and response initiatives. His budget proposal includes a $60 million boost for wildfire prevention funding and $44. 8 million for firefighting in the fiscal year 2026. Acknowledging the budgetary challenges lawmakers are facing, Upthegrove noted that state revenues have not met expectations despite recent tax increases. In 2021, the Legislature approved a commitment of $500 million over eight years for wildfire preparedness, but this year's funding fell significantly short at just $60 million.

He emphasized that reduced funding limits the Department of Natural Resources' ability to conduct essential fire prevention work, which can include tree thinning and prescribed burns. Without these funds, larger and more costly wildfires could emerge, impacting taxpayers. The governor will unveil his spending plan in December, setting the stage for legislative discussions on the supplemental budget. This request reflects an urgent need as wildfires increase in frequency and severity across the state.