Montana’s Ablaze And The Firefighting Money Is Running out

[Goatshoes]

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2017/08/03/460100.htm


Montana’s worst fire season in years is expected to scorch the drought-stricken landscape well into fall, long after the state’s firefighting reserves run out thanks to politicians diverting millions of dollars to fill a budget shortfall.

There is only $12 million left of the $63 million in the firefighting fund in June, and the state is burning through that at a rate of $1.5 million a day, state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation director John Tubbs said .

 

[Ben Lamb]

It's a shame they pulled from that rather than enhance revenues. Lots of blame to go around on that one.

 

[Southern Elk]

A very good example of how expensive it would be to fight fires if management of federal lands were turned over to the state.

 

[Ben Lamb]

There was this in the IR today: http://helenair.com/opinion/columni...al&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share

The Stonewall project was pretty widely supported, IIRC. Only the serial litigant types found problems with increasing aspen and white bark pine diversity in an area with incredible bear & elk populations.

We're caught between political gamesmanship and litigation hell.

Found it: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation & The National Wildlife Federaton both filed as friends of the court, in support of the fuels reduction project. http://www.citizen-times.com/story/...re-logging-prescribed-fire-planned/514789001/

 

[Sytes]

A very good example of how expensive it would be to fight fires if management of federal lands were turned over to the state.

Wha??? California would have no problem with their exceptional budget skillzzzz!

California $156,807,868,000 per capita $4,209.16

Yep, John Muir trail / Pacific Crest trail SOLD to the highest bidder!


Utah, home of the Fed land transfer, is a fantastic beacon of light for effective state budget activity to manage fires as well -

Utah $7,479,978,000 per capita $2,501.

https://ballotpedia.org/Utah_state_budget_and_finances

 

[wytex]

Your smoke is stacked up in our valley right now, Laramie area.
Figured it must be from Montana when the wind shifted around from the North.

Keep those firefighters safe.

 

[Irrelevant]

BC is currently F-ing Washington. Hosers.

 

[idnative1948]

Choking in Boise while I mow the lawn.