Renzi Fights to Build Consensus on Federal Response to Wildfires

Pushes for More Prevention Instead of Suppression to Stop Wildfires in the West WASHINGTON D.C. Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ-1) is leading the debate in Congress to build consensus on the federal response to forest fires in rural Arizona and across the nation. Renzi is working collaboratively with the forest related community in Washington and Arizona to raise awareness and promote the importance of restoration efforts and improve the health of our nation's forests. Congressman Renzi sponsored the first of several briefings on forest fires in the West on March 2 for members of Congress and their staffs. Congressman Renzi is pushing for cooperation across state and federal agencies and multiple state jurisdictions to improve and enhance forest restoration to prevent the devastating forest fires like the Rodeo-Chediski in northern Arizona and the Los Alamos fire in New Mexico. "It is vital for Congress and the Administration to understand the need for consensus on the federal response to wildfires in Arizona," said Congressman Renzi. "The Forest Service has been very receptive and has responded to Arizona's request for more tankers, and a stepped up deployment for Hot Shot Crews. But we must focus our efforts on prevention if we are to break the cycle of devastating wildfires that have blazed across the West in recent years." Renzi invited Dr. Wally Covington, Forest Ecologist from Northern Arizona University to brief members of Congress and their staffs on forest health and forest fires. Renzi's goal is to build support for aggressive response and increased funding to prevent forest fires by focusing on forest health issues to help prevent or lessen the severity of wildfires in Arizona. "With experts like Dr. Covington, we will help educate other members of Congress so that they understand that we must concentrate on not only fighting fires, but preventing them," Congressman Renzi said. "Currently we invest more money in fire suppression than preventative treatments and this must change. By investing in fire prevention efforts, we can save millions of dollars in the loss of timber, water quality reduction, recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat." "Congressman Renzi has been a staunch supporter for restoring the ecological and economic health of southwestern landscapes," said Dr. Covington, Director of Northern Arizona University's Ecological Restoration Institute. Dr. Covington highlighted a recent opinion poll that cited public support for mechanical thinning as a tool to restore forest health.