[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 32 (Monday, August 14, 2000)]
[Page 1809]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Impacts of Wildland Fires to Rural Communities

August 8, 2000

Memorandum for the Secretary of Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture

Subject:  Impacts of Wildland Fires to Rural Communities

    We are a little over halfway through the 2000 fire season and all 
indications are that it will be the worst season in 50 years. As of 
August 7, 2000, 63,623 wildland fires have so far this year burned more 
than 4 million acres at a cost of $500 million in firefighting expenses. 
There are up to 300 new fires every day, and Federal, State, and local 
agencies are managing 50 fires over 1,000 acres in size. The current 
weather conditions following the prolonged drought in much of the west 
are drying out millions of acres of forest and rangeland, and the 
National Weather Service's near-term forecast calls for continued hot, 
dry conditions with the probability of additional lightning-caused 
fires.
    Over the last several years, the U.S. Forest Service and the 
Department of the Interior have increased their efforts to protect 
communities, watersheds, and threatened species from the risk of fire, 
including reducing hazardous fuels on at-risk public and private lands.
    In the western National Forests alone, there are more than 56 
million acres at risk. Since 1994 when the Forest Service treated 
approximately 385,000 acres across the United States, the Department of 
Agriculture has increased annual hazardous fuels treatments almost four-
fold. Last year, almost 2 million acres were treated. But there is much 
more to be done. You are currently working to develop a long-term 
strategy to expand Federal efforts to protect communities in the urban-
wildland interface and the underlying ecology of these areas. This long-
term plan will set targeted funding priorities to reduce fire risk in 
fire-dependent ecosystems throughout the country. The plan will focus on 
protecting communities, watersheds, and species and is a critical 
component of any fire management program.
    To help address this issue in the near term, today I am directing 
you to report back to me in 30 days with recommendations on actions that 
may be taken to respond to this year's fires; to reduce the impacts of 
these wildland fires on rural communities; and to ensure sufficient 
firefighting resources in the future. First, the report should consider 
potential responses to this year's fires, including:
<bullet>    A short-term plan for rehabilitation of fire-damaged 
            ecosystems, including means to minimize the introduction of 
            invasive species, reduce threats to water quality, and 
            protect endangered species. The plan should also address the 
            role of natural restoration processes in these efforts.
<bullet>    An assessment of the economic impacts in affected areas.
    Second, the report should focus on the short-term actions that 
Federal agencies, in cooperation with States and local communities, can 
take to reduce immediate hazards to other communities in the wildland-
urban interface. As part of this effort, the report will examine how the 
Federal Government, in cooperation with State and tribal governments, 
and local communities, will prepare for anticipated extreme fire 
conditions in the future, by analyzing fire management planning and 
firefighter personnel and resources.
    You should use this information to review firefighting and 
prevention needs and work with the Office of Management and Budget to 
determine whether there are additional FY 2001 funding needs so that the 
Administration may request, and the Congress may provide, additional 
resources before the end of the fiscal year.
                                            William J. Clinton