BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at improving fire suppression measures on federal lands within the state.
House Bill 389 seeks to amend current provisions related to uncontrolled fires and establish new guidelines for the use of state resources in firefighting efforts on federal land. Specifically, it reclassifies any forest or range fire burning out of control as a public nuisance — individuals responsible for starting such fires would be held liable for any costs.
One of the key additions in the legislation clarifies the state's policy on forest fires on federal lands. If passed, the governor would have the authority to direct state resources to combat any of these fires, and the state controller would be able to pull money from the general fund to cover firefighting costs.
The cost recovery measures in the bill allow the state to be repaid through civil actions prosecuted by the attorney general, with recovered funds being returned to the general fund.
Idaho News 6 will continue to follow this bill as it moves through the legislature.
