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Governor Little Hopes to Add Over 1.3 Million Dollars to Wildfire Protection Fund
DailyFly, 1-9-25
(Idaho State) Since he took office in 2019, Governor Little has partnered with the Idaho Legislature to invest more than $1.5 billion across water resources, outdoor recreation, effective fire management, and agriculture. The Keeping Promises plan continues to secure our future and maintain our most precious resources with the following recommendations:
- $100 million for fire management. $60 million in supplemental funding to replenish the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund that was depleted by the 2024 fire season. The Governor also recommends $40 million, the five-year average of fire suppression expenditures, in ongoing funding to ensure Idaho is prepared to manage and suppress fires quickly before they threaten livestock, ranches, farms, and homes. This funding drives a proactive approach to managing Idaho lands responsibly. The Governor’s plan also includes wildland firefighter bonuses to ensure we can retain, recruit, and support our brave men and women who protect Idaho lives and property.
- $5 million for improved aviation and detection strategies to ensure early fire suppression, building on the Governor’s proactive wildfire strategy to safeguard our communities and natural resources.
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Idaho Governor proposes funding plan to bolster state firefighting resources
KTVB, 1-8-25
BOISE, Idaho — The crackle of wildfire flames is becoming a sound all too familiar in Idaho's growing communities, with the state coming off a year that saw nearly one million acres of land burn.
As the threat of wildfires grows year over year, fire officials are looking for more resources to keep up with the intensifying seasons. A proposed budget aims to make sure the state's firefighting resources are property funded for the future.
Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller said the state spent about $51.5 million fighting wildfires last year, and the price tag of fighting those flames is climbing as fast as the state's population.
"Growth correlates with more human-caused fires," Miller said. "So we certainly have a big situation on our hands. We need to keep going to where we can meet the demands of a growing population and continue our success on keeping fires small - and fighting those fires aggressively, yet safely."
The longer and more aggressive fire seasons bring increased costs, which Idaho Governor Brad Little is trying to address. On Monday, Little highlighted a proposed funding plan in his State of the State address while recognizing some of the state's firefighters.
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Little: ‘Keeping Promises’ at center of 2025 session
Lewiston Tribune 1-8-25
BOISE — School choice, an investment in the state’s natural resources and expanded efforts to address the state’s housing needs were some of the key issues highlighted in Monday’s opening of the legislative session.
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NATURAL RESOURCES
Coming off a historically dry year that was met with an abundance of wildfires, addressing fire prevention and the state’s water needs will be another central focus.
In response to what was witnessed in Idaho’s past fire season — when hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness burned — Little would like to see continued investment into the state’s fire suppression account. He said $1 million in “bonuses to hire and retain wildland firefighters,” as well as collaboration with the Trump administration regarding how wildfires are managed by the government will be pursued in the coming term.
The FY 2026 budget proposes an additional $100 million to be dedicated toward fire management — $60 million of which will be allocated to replenishing the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund, which was depleted during the historic 2024 fire season. The remaining $40 million is an ongoing expenditure for the “five-year average of fire suppression expenditures” that is meant to suppress fires early before they pose threats to agriculture, livestock and homes, according to budget documents.
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Idaho House Speaker wants more tax relief, more budget cuts
Idaho News 2, 1-7-25
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Idaho's House Speaker Mike Moyle shares his reactions to Governor Little's State of the State address.
Moyle appreciates Little's short address and agrees with some points but says priorities need shifting. He says more money for education, roads and transportation is relevant and necessary.
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Western wildfires are one priority the governor has been vocal about. Moyle agrees with keeping the current fund but does not agree with sitting on funds and not using them during years of low-fire activity. He said, "I don't think that we need to turn that account into a piggy bank account."
Moyle also disagrees with holding tax dollars. The House wants more focus on saving Idahoans money.
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There’s only one way into Ponderosa park. That could change, if you’re not in a car
BoiseDev, 1-7-25
Walkers, bicyclists, runners, and cross-country skiers could soon have a new way to enter Ponderosa State Park.
The Payette Land Trust recently received a $300,000 grant to purchase a permanent trail easement on land bordering the park’s southern boundary.
“Currently everyone who wants to enter the park has to go through the main entrance, which might mean walking or biking in a roadway,” said Craig Utter, executive director for the land trust. “Our goal is to provide a safe alternative access route for residents and visitors to the park.”
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Idaho governor calls for funding for public schools, tax cuts and investments in wildfire fighting
Capital Sun, 1-6-25
BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — Idaho Gov. Brad Little began the state’s 2025 legislative session on Monday by calling for additional investments in public schools, new tax cuts and bonuses for wildland firefighters.
When he delivered the annual State of the State address Monday at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Little repeatedly evoked a theme of “keeping promises.”
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“On the heels of a destructive fire season, our keeping promises plan also deploys additional bonuses to hire and retain wildland firefighters,” Little said. “Our firefighters battle dangerous conditions to protect lives, property, and our natural resources. Please recognize a few of these tough Idahoans we have with us today. I am also asking the Legislature to properly fund the fire suppression account so these firefighters know we’ve got their back.”
“Last summer, I called out the feds for not putting out wildfires more aggressively,” Little said. “The state of Idaho leads on fire and forest management where the feds have failed. Idahoans are tired of choking on smoke for weeks on end. I look forward to working with the Trump administration to boldly transform how wildfire and our Western lands are managed.”
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Ham Operator Must Pay in First-Responder Interference Case
Radio World, 1-6-25
A ham radio operator in Idaho must pay a record $34,000 penalty for causing interference with communications during a fire suppression effort.
That’s the ruling from the Federal Communications Commission in the case of Jason Frawley, licensee of amateur station WA7CQ.
When the commission issued its notice of liability 2-1/2 years ago, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wrote: “You can’t interfere with public safety communications. Full stop. So today we propose the largest fine of its type for this interference that put fire suppression and public safety itself at risk.”
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The Forest Service complained about transmissions on 151.145 MHz. According to its case summary, the frequency is in the Public Safety Pool that was being used by the Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands to coordinate the firefighting.
“The complaint stated that the individual had caused radio frequency interference to communications with the U.S. Forest Service firefighter’s fire suppression aircraft,” the FCC wrote.
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Idaho legislative session to focus on education and public lands
Fox28, 1-5-25
BOISE, Idaho – Idaho’s 68th legislative session is set to begin, spanning 94 days. The session will kick off with Governor Brad Little’s State of the State address, where he will outline his agenda for the year.
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Another significant agenda item is the ownership of public lands. Rubel argues that federally owned public land should remain unchanged.
“All those places where people hunt and fish on BLM lands and camp if [Republicans are] successful would end up being privatized so we’re gonna be working very hard to try to keep those public lands and public hands,” Rubel said.
Redman suggests that privatizing some land could enhance state control and management, particularly regarding wildfire issues.]
“63% of Idaho is federally owned. Looking to manage that a little bit better, we have a lot of issues with wildfires and I think that could be a real positive if we could manage that from the state level,” Redman said.
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Posted January 9, 2025
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