Missoula County fire districts have strong relationships with our State and Federal land management partners with respect to fire suppression and cooperative action both during initial attack and extended operations and currently have mechanisms to seek reimbursement for responding to and suppressing fires on state or federal lands within Missoula County. Bill seems unnecessary. It is likely being opposed by County Fire Wardens association and MT Fire Chief's association
Missoula County should oppose HB 481 Missoula County has a long history of strong working relationships with State, Federal and Tribal agencies when it comes to suppressing wildfires. Through the County Coop program, agreements are in place to quickly and effectively respond to fires that pose a threat to citizens and property regardless of land ownership or boundaries on a map. These agreements also detail how reimbursements and payment for suppression costs will be handled. The County Coop program is predicated on the notion that agreements should be in place before a fire occurs, not during or immediately after. There is a strong sense of “give and take” within these cooperative agreements that, in almost all situations, are a far better deal to the County than the cooperating Federal and State agencies. HB 481 would threaten if not undermine the County Coop program which would result in a financial burden to local government. Please oppose HB 481. Missoula County Fire Warden
Missoula County opposes HB 481 – Authorize local government to take action on wildfires, being heard in Senate Natural Resources this afternoon. Missoula County has a long history of strong working relationships with state, federal and tribal agencies when it comes to suppressing wildfires. Through the County Coop program, agreements are in place to quickly and effectively respond to fires that pose a threat to citizens and property, regardless of land ownership or boundaries on a map. These agreements also detail how reimbursements and payment for suppression costs will be handled. The County Coop program is predicated on the notion that agreements should be in place before a fire occurs, not during or immediately after. HB 481 would threaten the County’s Coop program, which would result in a financial burden to local government. Please oppose HB 481.
Missoula County fire districts have strong relationships with our State and Federal land management partners with respect to fire suppression and cooperative action both during initial attack and extended operations and currently have mechanisms to seek reimbursement for responding to and suppressing fires on state or federal lands within Missoula County. Bill seems unnecessary. It is likely being opposed by County Fire Wardens association and MT Fire Chief's association
ReplyDeleteMissoula County should oppose HB 481
ReplyDeleteMissoula County has a long history of strong working relationships with State, Federal and Tribal agencies when it comes to suppressing wildfires. Through the County Coop program, agreements are in place to quickly and effectively respond to fires that pose a threat to citizens and property regardless of land ownership or boundaries on a map. These agreements also detail how reimbursements and payment for suppression costs will be handled. The County Coop program is predicated on the notion that agreements should be in place before a fire occurs, not during or immediately after. There is a strong sense of “give and take” within these cooperative agreements that, in almost all situations, are a far better deal to the County than the cooperating Federal and State agencies.
HB 481 would threaten if not undermine the County Coop program which would result in a financial burden to local government. Please oppose HB 481.
Missoula County Fire Warden
Sending today at 3 p.m.:
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 481 – Authorize local government to take action on wildfires, being heard in Senate Natural Resources this afternoon. Missoula County has a long history of strong working relationships with state, federal and tribal agencies when it comes to suppressing wildfires. Through the County Coop program, agreements are in place to quickly and effectively respond to fires that pose a threat to citizens and property, regardless of land ownership or boundaries on a map. These agreements also detail how reimbursements and payment for suppression costs will be handled. The County Coop program is predicated on the notion that agreements should be in place before a fire occurs, not during or immediately after. HB 481 would threaten the County’s Coop program, which would result in a financial burden to local government.
Please oppose HB 481.