Preventing and responding to wildfires is a basic, core responsibility of government
The No. 1 priority for DNR and Commissioner Upthegrove during the 2026 Legislative session is working with legislators to restore the $60 million cut from the Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account. Funding from this account supports DNR’s programs to help communities throughout the state prepare for and survive wildfires, improve the health of our forests and ensure DNR has the resources needed for a robust wildfire response.
This critical investment is working. With this funding DNR has:
- Provided $65.3 million in passthrough funds to front-line communities across Washington
- Added 151 fulltime firefighters, foresters, and community protection experts, growing that staff by more than two-thirds since 2020
- Restored 88,893 acres of forests across all lands
- Upgraded 10 DNR helicopters, including two with night-vision capabilities
- Kept more than 93% of fires to ten acres or less every year since 2022
We are making meaningful progress. If these cuts are not restored, that progress could stop. Bottom line: to maintain an adequate wildfire force continue to improve forest health, and support wildfire prone communities, Washington must restore the $60 million cut last year.
“Preventing and responding to catastrophic wildfires is a core,
basic public safety function of government that needs to be prioritized.”
– Commissioner Dave Upthegrove
Learn more about this critical funding. View our dashboard here
If this funding is not restored, the impacts could be severe, potentially including:
- Nearly 50 fewer firefighters—compromising response, restoration efforts, and community-focused projects
- More than 20 additional fulltime staff cuts— impacting forest restoration and critical support for partners across all lands
- Elimination of 90% of pass-through funds to frontline communities currently strengthening wildfire response and forest health
- Complete elimination of wildfire early detection cameras
- Drastic curtailment of DNR’s forest health programs
Learn more, download our fact sheet here (available soon)
