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State Priorities

Prescribed fire is one of our most effective tools for reducing the risk of severe and catastrophic wildland fire to our communities and forests and is important for ecosystem function and cultural practices across Washington state. The priorities below would ensure we are able to innovate and expand the use of prescribed fire and ensure this tool is available in Washington State to address our forest health and wildfire issues. WPFC 2025 State Priorities

  • WPFC supports continued investment in The Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account established by the legislature in 2021 with a commitment to fund $500 million over four biennia. We urge the legislature to renew the $125 million per biennium commitment for 2025-27. The investments made since 2021 in prescribed fire, forest health, and community wildfire risk reduction have been critical in expanding the use of prescribed fire through training events, procuring equipment, planning and implementation of prescribed burns, and formation of locally led collaboratives of private landowners and community members, also known as Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs).

  • WPFC supports passage of Prescribed Fire Claims Fund legislation and budget request this session. This pilot, modeled after a similar program in Oregon, would create a prescribed fire claims fund to support liability insurance coverage and add protection for qualified practitioners and certified entities using prescribed fire and cultural burning to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk and increase forest resiliency. Liability risk has proven to be one of the biggest barriers to getting more beneficial fire on the ground in our state (see 2023 DNR report: Washington Prescribed Fire Barriers Assessment Report and Strategic Action Plan).  The Claims Fund would help mitigate this barrier and reduce the disincentive for non-public individuals and entities to conduct prescribed burns. Link to Claims Fund One Pager for more information.

  • WPFC supports investment from Climate Commitment Act revenue in wildfire resilience. Forest health activities including prescribed fire are eligible for funding from the Natural Climate Solutions Account established under the Climate Commitment Act (RCW 70A.65.270) when treatments improve resilience from climate impacts. Specifically, funding may be available for projects and activities that will:

    • Increase forest and community resilience to wildfire in the face of increased seasonal temperatures and drought

    • Improve forest health and reduce vulnerability to changes in hydrology, insect infestation, and other impacts of climate change

    These funds, in addition to funds from The Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account, will assure there are resources to increase and maintain the pace and scale of using prescribed fire.

The Forest Resiliency Burning Pilot Project

With record-breaking years of megafire, and devastated communities across the state, it’s not surprising that fire is on lawmakers’ minds. In the 2016 legislative session, lawmakers explored tools for creating more fire-resilient forests, including the passage of House Bill 2928, the Forest Resiliency Burning Pilot project. The bill provided funding for prescribed fire on at-risk forests, as well as an exploration of current barriers to expanding the role of controlled fire in creating and maintaining fire-resilient forests.

We’re proud to say the Washington Prescribed Fire Council and our partner organizations are at the heart of this landmark effort to expand the use of prescribed fire, reduce megafire risk to communities and restore Washington's forests and streams.

Collaboration is Key

Washington Prescribed Fire Council is a collaborative group working to protect, conserve and expand the safe use of prescribed fire in our state. 

We are grateful to our over 50 member organizations and many committed partners who helped make the Forest Resiliency Burning Pilot a reality. In alignment with our mission and work over the last five years, one of the Council's main roles in the pilot will be opening up lines of communication between the public and fire teams about how controlled burning works, and why it matters. Together, we are putting fire to work for Washington.