HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1550

BYRepresentatives K. Wilson,  Bumgarner, Haugen, Cole, Beck and Fuhrman

Revising provisions on forest protection.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (16)

      Signed by Representatives Sutherland, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Amondson, Basich, Belcher, Bumgarner, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Haugen, Meyers, Sayan, Schmidt, Spanel and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES JANUARY 27, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The forest fire protection responsibilities of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) cover approximately 12.5 million acres of state and privately owned land.  On these acres, the Department has the responsibility to "summarily suppress" any uncontrolled fire.  The law specifically excludes from DNR's responsibility the protection of structures such as homes, barns, and fences.  In some areas, the structures are protected by municipal or rural fire districts (RFD's).  In other areas, the landowners have no fire fighting organization to protect the structures.

As the state's population grows, the number of residences in the forested areas increases.  In areas protected by rural fire districts, the responsibilities of the DNR and the RFD may be clouded.  Landowners may pay assessments to both the DNR and the RFD.  Fire responses may not be fully integrated.

An outside 1986 review of the DNR's fire control program identified several issues surrounding the role of the DNR and the RFD's.  Specific recommendations included:  (1) seek out and develop active liaisons with RFD's; (2) adjust the boundaries delineating DNR protected areas; (3) work more actively to let the public know that areas exist where no fire protection is available; (4) implement a special property assessment to offset the higher costs of fighting forest fires in the vicinity of structures; (5) provide training and tool to rural fire fighting forces; (6) aggressively pursue mutual agreements with RFD's.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The DNR is directed to develop procedures which will allow the Department and other fire fighting bodies to jointly redefine areas of geographic responsibility.  By mutual agreement, the fire fighting bodies will identify the boundaries of fire protection zones where the Department shall have responsibility for fighting forest fires.  Forest land excluded from the fire protection zone will not be charged a protection assessment by the Department.

An appropriation of $48,000 is made to provide matching funds on a 50-50 basis with the RFD for the purchase of supplies and equipment for rural fire districts. Only RFD's serving communities with a population of less than 10,000 may receive the matching funds.  If two qualifying RFD's merge, the resultant RFD will still qualify, even if the population exceeds 10,000.  The program is named the Rural Community Fire Protection Program.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Language is added to clarify that DNR will protect forest lands but not lands contained inside RFD's unless mutually agreed upon between DNR and the RFD.

Technical changes are made to smooth the implementation.

When two small RFD's merge, the combined RFD will be eligible to receive state grants under Section 4 even if the size of the combined RFD exceeds the eligibility standards.

Appropriation:    $48,000 is appropriated from the General Fund to the DNR.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Art Stearns, DNR; and Bob Dick, Washington Forest Protection Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Forest fires in urban areas are becoming more frequent and potentially very expensive to fight because of the presence of homes.  The Department, the forest products industry, and the rural fire departments (RFD's) wish to identify zones where DNR and the RFD have the major responsibilities.  In forest protection zones, the DNR will be responsible for all forest fires, resolving a sometimes ambiguous situation.

The appropriation sought will supplement an existing federal program.  The existing program is one of the most cost-effective programs in DNR and can greatly enhance RFD's ability to fight fires.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.