State Budget Director Addresses Montana Fire Suppression Budget Concerns

As Western Montana braces for what many think could be one of its worst fire seasons, Montana Budget Director Dan Villa is confident the state will have the funds needed for fire suppression.

"We're as prepared as we've ever been," Villa said. "We had $43 million in reserve funds for fire suppression. As of last week, we are anticipating another $20 to 30 million in transfers. The worst fire season we have had on record was about a $50 million fire season. We will have more than sufficient funds to cover even more than the worst year we've ever had."

Villa says a bill passed in Governor Steve Bullock’s first term has enabled Montana to be ahead of the curve.

"We have a permanent funding source and were one of the few states in the country to have set aside a permanent funding stream for fire suppression based on additional tax collections above official estimates," Villa said. "We're leading the pack nationally on fire suppression efforts. That’s one of the things that are going to provide us to respond this summer."

Villa isn’t alone in his estimate of the fire suppression budget, state forester Bob Harrington said he is also confident that funding will be adequate.