The Arizona Legislature is taking up a bill to reduce wildfire risks in the state’s forests.
Last year’s wildfire season was one of the worst on record.
Nearly a million acres burned on state, federal and tribal lands, and the state forestry director told legislators that next fire season could be early and active.
The bill would provide funding and programs to promote forest thinning, and calls for inmate crews from Arizona prisons to be part of the effort.
Gov. Doug Ducey has expressed his support for the bill, which was approved by a Senate committee Wednesday.
