Renzi Calls on Administration Officials to Strategically Place Firefighting Resources Across Rural Arizona

Letter to Sec. Norton and Johanns Highlights Fire Season Needs WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ-1), on January 27, 2006, wrote to Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to express his sincere concerns over the impending fire season and the strategic placement of firefighting resources in Arizona. Renzi called on both Norton and Johannes to detail the size and capability of firefighting aircraft and the number of personnel available to Arizona during the fire season to ensure the federal government is prepared to battle wildfires in the state. "Rural Arizona is facing a perfect storm in our forests with the deadly combination of extended drought, record bark beetle infestation, and forest managers hamstrung by red tape and frivolous legal maneuvers," said Congressman Renzi. "Federal wildfire fighting efforts are essential to the safety of our forests and our communities. We must work together to ensure that the placement of firefighting resources corresponds with the highest threat level in order to better prevent and respond to wildfires in rural Arizona." Congressman Renzi recently introduced the Community Forest Restoration Expansion Act of 2005 (HR 3590) in the House. This legislation expands the tremendously successful Collaborative Forest Restoration Program (CFRP) program currently in place in New Mexico to Arizona. The goals of CFRP are to: · Reduce the threat of high intensity wildfires and insect and disease infestations · Promote healthy watersheds · Improve the functioning of forest ecosystems and enhance biodiversity · Improve forest management techniques through communication and joint problem solving · Improve the use of, or add value to, small diameter trees · Encourage sustainable communities and forests through collaborative partnerships · Develop, demonstrate, and evaluate ecologically sound forest restoration techniques "This program is working in New Mexico and I strongly believe that Arizona's forests deserve the same attention," said Renzi. "Make no mistake, adequate amounts and strategic placement of firefighting resources are vital to our nation's forests, but we have an opportunity to prevent forest fires by improving the health of our forests through this legislation." TEXT OF LETTER: Dear Secretaries Johanns and Norton, I write to you today because of my sincere concerns over the impending fire season. Rural Arizona is facing a perfect storm in our forests with the deadly combination of extended drought, record bark beetle infestation, and forest managers hamstrung by red tape and frivolous legal maneuvers. Arizona has experienced little rain or snowfall during this winter. If the trend continues, this winter will be the driest in centuries, this in turn has led many experts to predict one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent memory. Despite recent snows in northern Arizona, the level of snowpack in the area is less than when the Rodeo-Chedeski catastrophe occurred. As you may remember, Arizona suffered a total of 3,218 fires that burned 629,876 acres within the state during that year. Over the years, you have been a strong supporter of firefighting initiatives in Arizona and throughout the country and I am thankful for your past efforts. As we enter what could be the worst fire season in Arizona's history, I am concerned about the strategic placement of firefighting resources in Arizona. I would appreciate it if you could provide me with detailed information on how you are preparing resources so we can work to prevent another fire season like 2002. Specifically, I would like to see details on the size and capability of firefighting aircraft and the number of personnel available to Arizona during the fire season. Of course, we must also continue our efforts to improve the health of our forests to reduce the risk of fires. For these reasons, I introduced the Community Forest Restoration Expansion Act of 2005 in the House. This legislation expands to Arizona the tremendously successful Collaborative Forest Restoration Program (CFRP) program currently in place in New Mexico. The goals of CFRP are to: · Reduce the threat of high intensity wildfires and insect and disease infestations · Promote healthy watersheds · Improve the functioning of forest ecosystems and enhance biodiversity · Improve forest management techniques through communication and joint problem solving · Improve the use of, or add value to, small diameter trees · Encourage sustainable communities and forests through collaborative partnerships · Develop, demonstrate, and evaluate ecologically sound forest restoration techniques This program is working in New Mexico and I strongly believe that Arizona's forests deserve the same attention. Make no mistake, adequate amounts and strategic placement of firefighting resources are vital to our nation's forests but we have an opportunity to prevent forest fires by improving the health of our forests through CFRP. That's why I urge you to support the Community Forest Restoration Expansion Act of 2005. I would like to extend an invitation to you to visit Arizona to personally witness the extremely dry conditions and to further discuss federal wildfire fighting efforts, the placement of firefighting resources, and our opportunity to prevent wildfires. Thanks you again for your continued efforts on behalf of the citizens of Arizona. I look forward to meeting with you soon to further discuss this issue. Sincerely, Congressman Rick Renzi United States Congressman Arizona's First District