OLYMPIA — A bill to extend a successful wildfire program sponsored by 13th District Representative Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, was signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Friday. A second bill sponsored by Dent and signed by Ferguson streamlines some of the processes for state timber sales. Both go into effect June 11.  

Dent said both bills received bipartisan support. 

“Public safety and responsible land management shouldn’t be partisan issues,” Dent said in a press release. “These bills reflect a shared commitment to protecting Washington’s communities and making sure our state resources are managed effectively for the future.” 

The Aviation Assistance Funding Program allows the Washington Department of Natural Resources to help local fire agencies use air assets when fighting wildland fires without waiting for state fire mobilization to be declared. House Bill 2104 makes it a permanent program. 

State fire mobilization allows a local fire agency to request assistance from fire agencies throughout the state, rather than being restricted to agencies with mutual aid agreements.  

In a separate interview, Dent said he worked with legislators to establish the original program in 2023. Getting legislation approved requires some compromise, and a sunset clause for the original program was part of the compromise for that bill. 

There was a lot of speculation this wouldn’t work,” Dent said. “It has worked.” 

Dent said waiting for a fire to get serious enough to require state fire mobilization meant it was more difficult to fight. Those fires are also more expensive.  

“(Since the bill was passed) we haven’t had a fire (requiring state fire mobilization) that cost less than a million bucks,” Dent said.  

The key to lessening wildfire destruction, he said, is getting firefighters to the fire lines as soon as possible, while fires are still manageable.  

“Initial attack is everything,” he said. 

House Bill 2348 helps streamline the process for certain state timber sales managed by DNR, Dent said. It increases the options available for advertising timber sales and removes some requirements if no bids are offered during the initial sale.  

“This bill brings more clarity and consistency to how we manage and sell state lands,” Dent said. “It helps ensure our natural resources are managed responsibly while supporting the industries and communities that depend on them.”

    Two firefighters mopping up flames on the Swawilla Fire last year. That blaze was one of the largest wildfires last year. One of the bills signed into law late last week, sponsored by local State Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, helps ensure that state assets are provided to local firefighters to help prevent fires from getting out of control.