2018 Wildfire Season Already Very Active

All ready this year, 1.6 billion acres have been lost across the U.S. because of wildfires.

"2018 will rival last year's history season when the federal government spent $2.9 Billion fighting fires," said Interim Chief of the USDA's Forest Service Vicky Christiansen.  She made those comments recently before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  She also thanked senators for the increased funding and other tools that Congress has given the Forest Service.

"It's our time to deliver and we are making steady progress."

Especially in making forest improvements to help prevent fires or reduce their impacts by harvesting dead trees or moving other hazardous fuels in high-risk areas.

"At this point, we have increased the number of acres we've treated by 36%" Christiansen said.  "We have harvested nearly 30% more timber than we did last year."

Timber that can be sold and timber that won't fuel a major fire.​