Plan to contain future wildfires proposed

The Natural Resources Committee heard testimony Feb. 22 on a bill that would establish new procedures for fighting and preventing wildfires.

LB634, introduced by Hyannis Sen. Al Davis, would direct the Nebraska Forest Service to:
• contract with private aviation companies to place two single engine air tankers at airports near Chadron and Valentine during fire season;
• thin forests to reduce fuel loads, substantially reducing risk to residents, communities and emergency personnel;
• provide expanded training programs for volunteer firefighters, private landowners and communities in order to increase fire suppression effectiveness and safety;
• develop a Nebraska-based Type 3 incident management team that would serve as a comprehensive resource to augment and help manage large wildfire operations;
• expand the federal excess property programs managed by the Nebraska Forest Service to provide volunteer fire districts with fire suppression equipment; and
• rehabilitate forest lands that have been destroyed by wildfires.

Davis indicated in his statement of intent that 2012 was the worst year on record for wild land fires in Nebraska, with nearly 500,000 acres burned, 65 structures lost and at least $12 million in suppression costs.

Mega fires are predicted to occur far more frequently than in the past, Davis said, spreading and growing very rapidly immediately upon ignition and burning over large areas for weeks. They are difficult to control and threaten lives, property, communities and infrastructure statewide, he said.

“If trends continue, we’re going to have serious problems for years to come,” Davis said. “We need this kind of support for our volunteer firefighters, our communities and our state.”

Scott Josiah, director of the Nebraska Forest Service, supported the bill, calling the wildfires in 2012 “a huge wake-up call.”

“We have an emerging forest that is incredibly flammable,” he said. “As these fires become bigger and more intense, we need better incident management.”

No one testified in opposition to the bill and the committee took no immediate action on it.