USDA Prepares for Summer Fire Risk With Full Firefighter Workforce

The Forest Service has reached 99% of its hiring target for firefighters and is “fully operational” for the upcoming fire season, according to a USDA statement released Monday.

This summer is projected to be above average for fire risk. The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group raised the national fire preparedness to Level 4, one below the highest.

This is in addition to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ cancelation last month of the 2001 Roadless Rule, which prevented road construction, timber harvest and reconstruction on almost 60 million acres within the National Forest System, accounting for 30% of all national forests. In the past, Rollins said the rule was “overly restrictive” and not conductive to proper management.

“We are in peak fire season and are rightfully raising the preparedness level to ensure we are protecting our public lands and communities from devastating fires,” Rollins said. “We have begun the process to rescind the failed roadless rule to fix this with common sense policies and have declared a national forest emergency so we can clear out dangerous fuel and protect our forests for the future.”

This article was originally published by Agri-Pulse. Agri-Pulse is a trusted source in Washington, D.C., with the largest editorial team focused on food and farm policy coverage.