Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined twelve of his colleagues from Washington and Oregon in a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Dr. Neil Jacobs expressing their concern about the heightened risk of a devastating wildfire season, raising questions about the steps the officials have taken to prepare for wildfire season and urging them to use every available tool to prepare for emergencies. 

“Oregon, Washington, and Idaho have all seen uncharacteristically warm weather since November, leading to a lack of snowfall and drought conditions which will limit our region’s water supply for the year to come,” wrote the lawmakers. “We are deeply concerned about the impact these conditions may have on wildfire risk in our states later this year. Drought conditions this winter are likely to lengthen the upcoming wildfire season and stretch federal, state, local, and tribal resources.” 

The lawmakers also point out that staff and funding cuts have raised concerns about federal agencies' ability to prepare, monitor and mitigate wildfire risks. 

“We worry how reduced capacity and ongoing changes at your agencies may combine with winter drought in our region to exacerbate wildfire risk in our communities,” wrote the lawmakers.  

Joining Rep. Larsen in the letter were Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Adam Smith (WA-09), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06). 

“We respectfully ask that you pay careful attention to this year’s winter drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest. While we still might receive much needed precipitation, we strongly encourage you to take every precaution to ensure that you are prepared for what could be a particularly dangerous wildfire season ahead,” the lawmakers concluded. 

Protecting Washington state’s environment is a top priority for Rep. Larsen. In February, Larsen condemned the Trump administration’s rollback of the Endangerment Finding, a key climate regulation that gives the United States government the authority to combat climate change. Last September, Rep. Larsen joined six other members of Washington’s congressional delegation in a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin about how his proposal to eliminate the 2009 Endangerment Finding would harm Washingtonians’ health and welfare by exacerbating wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events. 

The full letter is available HERE and below. 

Dear Secretary Burgum, Chief Shultz, and Administrator Jacobs, 

We write to draw your attention to historically low snowfall in the Pacific Northwest this winter and urge you to take every precaution to mitigate and prepare for a potentially devastating wildfire season ahead. 

Oregon, Washington, and Idaho have all seen uncharacteristically warm weather since November, leading to a lack of snowfall and drought conditions which will limit our region’s water supply for the year to come. Oregon’s snowpack is currently at its lowest ever recorded level, nearly 30% lower than the previous record low. The entire Pacific Northwest is facing similarly stark drought conditions, with Washington experiencing its third lowest snowpack on record and far below average conditions in Idaho.   

We are deeply concerned about the impact these conditions may have on wildfire risk in our states later this year. Drought conditions this winter are likely to lengthen the upcoming wildfire season and stretch federal, state, local, and tribal resources. Low snowfall now may combine with hot and dry summer conditions to “lead to decreased streamflow, dry soils, and dry vegetation, significantly increasing potential for extreme wildfires that spread rapidly, burn with more severity, and are costly to suppress.” 

We are particularly concerned how these conditions may combine with changes at your agencies that have limited the federal government’s capacity to adequately prepare for, monitor, and mitigate wildfire risk. For example, in December many of us wrote to Fire Service Chief Shultz to raise concern about the agency’s poor performance for hazardous fuels reduction last year which resulted in about 50% less work completed compared to fiscal year 2024. Meanwhile, this Administration has implemented significant staff reductions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) including in the National Weather Service and proposed major programmatic changes affecting the agency’s capabilities to monitor weather, map lightning, and track oceanic and atmospheric conditions. The Department of Interior has announced efforts to consolidate wildfire suppression activities under a unified agency without adequate preparation, collaboration, or congressional authorization. 

We worry how reduced capacity and ongoing changes at your agencies may combine with winter drought in our region to exacerbate wildfire risk in our communities. We recognize that the Administration has signaled intentions to increase timber harvests on federal lands. However, commercial harvest is not a comprehensive wildfire strategy and does not address the acute need to prepare for a potentially severe fire season exacerbated by winter drought.  

We ask that you respond to the following questions regarding wildfire preparedness. 

• How are your agencies coordinating with each other to monitor drought in the Pacific Northwest this winter and its implications for wildfire risk later this year? 

• How are you communicating with state, local, and Tribal partners about wildfire risk in advance of fire season? 

• Are you proactively sharing information with state, local, and Tribal partners about any limitations to federal fire mitigation or response capacity this year to allow them to fill gaps? 

• In light of reduced staffing at your agencies, what is your plan to ensure that adequate resources are deployed to the Pacific Northwest later this year to monitor and respond to wildfires? 

• How do you plan to ensure sufficient hazardous fuels reduction activities over the next several months, and how will you prioritize such activities to maximize the benefits for wildfire risk reduction? 

We respectfully ask that you pay careful attention to this year’s winter drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest. While we still might receive much needed precipitation, we strongly encourage you to take every precaution to ensure that you are prepared for what could be a particularly dangerous wildfire season ahead. 

We look forward to your response. 

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