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Wildfire ripped through New Mexico and Colorado this week damaging structures, forcing evacuations and closing roads, as Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and National Forest Service Chief Randy Moore traveled to Boulder to announce federal funding to fight wildfires. Moore announced $131 million will go to 10 Western states to start work on wildfire mitigation efforts, while Haaland focused on $5 billion that will help bolster the federal fire response over the next 5 years. The trip is part of a nationwide tour by White House officials to tout funding for rural America that passed in the infrastructure act.
Colorado is expected to receive over $33 million in funding—with $18 million going toward treating up to 10,000 acres across the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and the Pike-San Isabel National Forests. The $5 billion announced by Haaland will help the firefighters contend with extended fire seasons, extreme weather, and fires that strain staffing and resources.
The announcement comes as Western states head into late spring and early summer with below-normal snowpack levels, setting them up for a bad wildfire season. Typically, Western states see a moisture boost from melting snow in the Rocky Mountains, Wasatch Mountains and other mountain ranges. However, USDA and NOAA scientists are pessimistic about snowmelt bringing significant moisture this year.
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What remains most inspiring is that he never faltered in his persistence and optimism. Despite his position on the front lines of conservation—witnessing ecosystem loss, unsustainable development, and political challenges like rollbacks firsthand—he remained steadfast in his belief that a better way forward is possible.”
