Rising Cost of Wildfire Protection

Headwaters Economics has released a report on the Rising Cost of Wildfire Protection in the Western United States. The organization, along with Ross W. Gorte formerly of the Congressional Research Service, "produced this report to better understand and address why wildfires are becoming more severe and expensive."

Wildfires are becoming increasingly detrimental, with six of the worst fire seasons since 1960 occurring after 2000. Three of these fires - in 2006, 2007, and 2012 - consumed more than 9 million acres. These larger fires are likely the result of two factors: "a widespread build-up of fuels, due to historic management practices, and changing climatic conditions, with resulting hotter, drier weather."

However, with the increasing development of private lands near fire-prone areas, wildfire protection is also becoming more expensive. "Wildfire protection now accounts for nearly half of the Forest Service annual budget, and more than 10 percent of the budget for all Department of the Interior agencies. These figures do not include the $1-$2 billion spent by states on wildfire protection or an untold amount spent by local governments."

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