- In 2019,the U.S. Forest Service spent $1,150,000,000 on fire suppression, alone. The 10 year average is $1,437,746,333.
- Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas are increasingly expanding, therefore the need for wildfire protection areas is increasing.
- Regulations on smoke management are hindering the ability to use fire as a forest management tool (prescribed burning). With short burn windows already in place, using prescribed burning for fuel management and ecological benefits has become limited.
- Fire policies have historically reflected beliefs and values but, in the long run, have not always been successful. Therefore, the current policy must reflect the current issue (high fuel loads due to decades of fire suppression, high costs with increased fire potential, WUI, and mega-fires).
- Education and outreach programs are necessary to teach the public the importance of prescribed burning and building “fire-wise” communities.
