SPOKANE, Wash.- The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $500 million push in federal funding to respond to the increasing prevalence of wildfires due to climate change on Feb. 20.
The new funding source, which was explained to the public in a statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, comes just a day after the Biden Administration announced a disaster declaration which will fund wildfire relief efforts in Spokane County.
According to the USDA, the financial resources will be used to strengthen the National Climate Resilience Framework, a White House plan to address wildfire response across the country.
Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Homer Wilkes touted the funding as a win for the US Forest Service, a subagency of the USDA, which began developing a Wildfire Crisis Strategy in 2022.
“This important work is already in motion – we’ve seen the impact on reducing wildfire exposure to communities, as well as critical infrastructure, critical watersheds, socially vulnerable communities, and carbon stocks,” Wilkes said.
The Forest Service is pursuing wildfire preparedness measures in Washington, Idaho and Montana. The agency awarded a $850,000 grant to Gonzaga and Montana State University researchers on Feb. 21 which will explore the impact of wildfires upon the pacific northwest’s drinking water infrastructure.
As Medical Lake recovers from a devastating 2023 fire season, federal entities are prioritizing research and preparedness efforts as 2024’s dry months approach.
