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Interior Dept. Calls For More Collaboration To Protect Communities From Wildfires

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has called for more collaborative action to protect communities from wildfire and better prepare firefighters. She travels to the National Interagency Fire Center in Idaho Tuesday. Jewell plans to discuss efforts to improve wildfire resilience across the country.

As fires continue to burn hotter, drier and longer, Jewell has called on Congress to fix how the federal government budgets for wildland fire suppression. She’s asked lawmakers to treat extreme fire seasons the same as other emergency disasters.

She will also receive an update on implementation of her Rangeland Fire Prevention Order.

One year ago Jewell ordered all rangeland fires across the West to be put out to better protect the sage-grouse. The bird, while not endangered, reflects the health of the vast western sagebrush rangeland.

Laurel Morales was a Fronteras Desk senior field correspondent in Flagstaff from 2011 to 2020.