The committee will compile a list of citizen recommendations to consider during public hearings across the state in the spring. The deadline for submitting ideas for inclusion on the list is Feb. 1.
The Montana Legislature, during its September 2007 special session, created the Fire Suppression Interim Committee to investigate:
- Efficient use of firefighting resources
- Impacts of firefighting on private land
- Effective use of private resources to fight fires
- Forest management policies and their impact on wildfire numbers, firefighter safety, and effectiveness of fire suppression efforts.
"Wildfires affect so many aspects of our lives, including health, safety, tourism, and the economy," said Sen. John Cobb, R-Augusta, who chairs the committee. "So we need to consider whether there may be better ways to respond to them."
Cobb noted that the Associated Press recently named the 2007 wildfire season as the top story of the year, reporting that 1,763 fires burned about 740,000 acres across the state.
The cost of fighting the fires surpassed $100 million for the first time in many years.
"We'd like to hear some concrete ideas for improving state management," Cobb said. "Nothing is off the table at this point. We're open to looking at our policies, practices and funding."
Once comments are collected the committee will have meetings across the state to give the public a chance to comment on them.
Meetings will be scheduled in Miles City, Libby, Thompson Falls, Lewistown, Hamilton, Choteau, Seeley Lake, and possibly other communities.
"Not every idea we get will necessarily be on the list, but there will be a wide variety for us to review before we decide whether to recommend new laws related to fire suppression," Cobb said.
The committee is required by state law to finish its study by Sept. 15 and report its findings to the 2009 Legislature.
Montanans can submit comments by e-mail to lheisel@mt.gov; by regular mail to Fire Suppression Committee, c/o Leanne Heisel, Legislative Services Division, P.O. Box 201706, Helena MT 59620-1706; or online at http://www.leg.mt.gov/interimstudies.htm, click "Fire Suppression" and link to the Fire Suppression Interim Committee Web page.
Other members of the committee are Sens. Ken Hansen, D-Harlem; Rick Laible, R-Darby; Dave Lewis, R-Helena; Gerald Pease, D-Lodge Grass, and Carol Williams, D-Missoula, and Reps. D-Steve Bolstad, Jim Keane, D-Butte; Krayton Kerns, D-Laurel; Rick Ripley, R-Wolf Creek; Chas Vincent, R-Libby, and Bill Wilson, D-Great Falls.
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