Sheridan, WY — Wyoming’s fire‑season officials report a sharp uptick in wildfire ignitions this summer, but a newly‑adopted funding rule is delivering big savings for taxpayers. The state has logged almost twice as many fire starts as it did at the same point in 2024, yet the Emergency Fire Suppression Account (EFSA) has cost only $9 million so far, compared with $37 million under the old system.
More Fires, Fewer Dollars
State Forester Kelly Norris explained that the increase reflects a hotter, drier summer across the high plains. “We’ve had multiple days with 10 to 20 new wildfire starts,” Norris said, noting that coordination with local, state and federal partners has been essential.
Despite the surge, Wyoming’s “all‑hands, all‑lands” approach—bolstered by early winter and spring coordination meetings—has helped the state respond quickly and efficiently. The strategy emphasizes aggressive initial attack, a principle built into the EFSA rule changes adopted by the Wyoming Legislature last year.
Resources on the Ground
As of Sept. 1, Wyoming’s aerial assets have been hard at work. The Wyoming Helitack crew and a medium‑size helicopter have each responded to 30 fires, dropping more than 246,000 gallons of water since early June. Four contracted Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) have tackled 39 fires across 13 counties, delivering over 236,000 gallons of fire‑retardant, much of it loaded at the Thunder Basin SEAT Base at Gillette Airport.
Ground crews are also making a difference. The Gannett Peak Module out of Lander has supported suppression on 11 fires in eight counties, while the Pronghorn Module from Douglas has responded to 22 fires in six counties. The Wyoming Smokebusters inmate handcrew has helped contain 14 fires across eight counties.
Legislative Savings
The EFSA rule changes focus on rapid containment, which shortens incident duration and reduces reliance on costly out‑of‑state resources. In 2024, before the rule change, 24 EFSA fires cost the state $37 million and burned 636,000 acres. This year, 28 EFSA fires have burned roughly 40,000 acres and cost $9 million—a clear indication that the new policy is working.
“Fires are being contained more quickly, incident durations are shorter, and we’re reducing reliance on more expensive out‑of‑state resources while ensuring firefighters have the personnel and aviation support they need to safely suppress fires,” Norris said.
National Context and Local Precautions
The U.S. is currently at National Preparedness Level 5, the highest alert, as major fires in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah draw resources from across the nation. Wyoming residents are urged to stay aware of fire restrictions in their jurisdictions and to practice safe burning practices.
With summer winding down, drought conditions and fire‑weather patterns remain a concern. The state’s proactive stance—grounded in strong inter‑agency partnerships and a fiscally responsible funding model—offers a template for other western states facing similar wildfire challenges.
Original reporting: Sheridan Media (Sheridan WY) — read the source article.
