WA turns the corner on wildfire, but program in danger

Last week those of us who live in North-Central and Northeastern Washington were reminded of the devastation wildfire can bring. As several thousand acres burned in scattered fires across our part of the state, the smoke hung over Stevens County, where I live, almost like it was 2020 again.

Except it wasn’t. It was a pale reminder of the agony we faced several summers ago, as wildfires dozens of times larger raged across the state, and smoke filled our skies through August and September. Have you noticed our wildfires aren’t as damaging as they used to be? We’re getting to them faster, contain...