August 15, 2013

Senators Wyden of Oregon and Crapo and Risch of Idaho to Get Wildfire Briefing at National Interagency Fire Center in Boise on Tuesday, August 20

Portland, OR – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) will visiting the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise Tuesday, August 20, 2013, to thank firefighters for their extremely hard and dangerous work in yet another hazardous season for fighting wildfires. During the visit, the Senators will note that the country can do better in preventing catastrophic fires by using collaborative land management efforts and stronger proactive management on the nation’s public lands.

Wyden, Crapo and Risch say that given the tools, federal agencies can do a better job of reducing the risks of catastrophic wildland fires. They are calling for steps such as an increase local decision-making, stewardship contracting through laws such as the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Act (CFLRA) and a consistent commitment by federal agencies and Congress to make sure those who deal with catastrophic fire and public lands management have the tools and the policy they need for sound and consistent decisions regarding land treatment programs.

Who: Oregon Senator Ron Wyden;
Idaho Senator Mike Crapo;
Idaho Senator Jim Risch
Peter Ditton, Interim Director, National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
Randy Eardley, Communications Director, NIFC

What: Briefing on 2013 Forest Fire Season

When: 12:15 p.m., Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Where: National Interagency Fire Center
3383 S. Development Avenue
Boise, Idaho