Title
Supervisor Turnboo recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign a letter of support for HR 6903, which is proposed in the House of Representatives by Congressman McClintock and Congressman LaMalfa. The proposed bill would direct the United States Forest Service to immediately suppress wildfires on national forest system lands and put an end to the policy of letting fires burn. (Cont. 4/5/2022, item 27)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
HR 6903 would require the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to the maximum extent practicable to use all available resources to carry out wildfire suppression with the purpose of extinguishing wildfires detected on National Forest System lands not later the twenty-four hours after a wildfire is detected. It would also require immediate suppress of any prescribed fire that exceeds prescription. It would not inhibit the suppression efforts of State or local firefighting agencies that are authorized to respond to wildfire on National Forest System land, may only use fire as a resource management tool if the fire is a prescribed fire that complies with applicable law and regulations and may only initiate a backfire or burnout during a wildfire by order of the responsible incident commander. Therefore, it is imperative for the safety of El Dorado County residents and the County's livelihood that the Board support HR 6903 to put an end to the policy of letting fires burn.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decide not to support HR 6903.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk to have letter signed by the Chair and return to District II for distribution.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Todd White (530) 621-5651
todd.white@edcgov.us