In Arizona and across the country, wildfires continue to intensify year over year. The federal government is rolling out a new program to support sawmills and other wood processing facilities close to high-priority forest restoration areas and tribal lands at high risk of wildfires.
Specifically, the Timber Production Expansion Program focuses on areas near national forests and tribal lands at high risk of wildfires.
Businesses can apply for up to $25 million to help build, upgrade or reopen sawmills and other wood processing facilities. And the Department of Agriculture would guarantee up to 90% of that loan.
According to the Department’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service, investing in wood processing facilities in high-risk areas would help thin out vegetation, lower ecological restoration costs and reduce wildfire danger.
The program is also backed by $200 million from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to accommodate for the associated increase in jobs that’s expected to follow.
Applications open on Dec. 26.
-
After being shut down "indefinitely" at the start of April, the registration portal of the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer is operational again. The registry is considered by many to be one of the largest and most promising efforts to further understand cancer risks among firefighters, including wildland firefighters. -
The blaze has grown to 7,052 acres on Thursday with zero containment, according to inciweb.gov, and more than 400 personnel were fighting the fire. -
Federal forecasters are warning that the fire season could be very active across broad swaths of our region this July and August. -
In recent months, the U.S. Senate Budget Committee and the Federal Insurance Office have each released detailed data on insurance premiums, non-renewals and other key metrics. The advocacy groups Public Citizen and The Revolving Door Project brought that data to life with interactive maps. -
A wildfire is spreading in southeastern Arizona. As of Saturday morning, the Bryce Fire has burned 850 acres and is 25% contained.
