Many factors contribute to rising fire suppression costs, including past suppression policies that resulted in a build-up of fuels, prolonged drought, a changing climate, and increasing wildland-urban interface complexity. While cost containment will not alleviate all of these problems, the federal agencies still can, should, and are undertaking measures to bring fire suppression costs down.

RVCC Key Recommendations:

1. Establish a flexible spending account for emergency wildfire suppresion. Authorizing legislation should include appropriate requirements for use, cost containment controls and incentives, and accountability measures.
2. Restore funding for comprehensive restoration and long term stewardship of federal lands.
3. Enhance funding for community fire assistance programs.