The Utah Legislature has implemented changes to the state's wildfire budget through the passage of H.B. 307, known as Wildfire Funding Amendments. This legislation combines three separate funds into a single entity called the Utah Wildfire Fund to address wildfire prevention, suppression, and mitigation.
Consolidation of wildfire funds
The new fund integrates balances from the Wildland-Urban Interface Prevention Preparedness and Mitigation Fund, the Wildland Fire Preparedness Grants Fund, and the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund. As an expendable special revenue fund, it does not require legislative appropriation for use by the division for authorized statutory purposes.
Mandatory annual prevention spending
A notable feature of H.B. 307 is a requirement for a minimum annual expenditure of $10.0 million from the Utah Wildfire Fund to support wildfire prevention, preparedness, and mitigation efforts.
Shift toward proactive budgeting
Budgeting for wildfire suppression has shifted from a reactionary model to a more proactive approach. During the 2021, 2022, and 2023 General Sessions, the Legislature allocated a total of $155.2 million to fire suppression, which included $10.0 million in ongoing funding. This investment transformed the former Wildland Fire Suppression Fund into a working rainy day fund. During fiscal years 2024 and 2025, interest earned by the fund almost entirely covered the state's share of wildfire costs for the 2024 fire season.
Collaboration with federal agencies
Because nearly two-thirds of Utah is owned by the federal government, the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) collaborates with federal partners such as the United States Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. At the end of each fire season, FFSL settles expenses with these agencies based on land ownership.
Federal funding and grants
Federal funding sources include Fire Management Assistance Grants from FEMA, though the state is currently awaiting payments from previous fire seasons. Additionally, the USFS provides an annual grant through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, which has provided roughly $3.0 million in stable base funding for FFSL staff salaries and pass-through funding to rural fire departments.
Uncertainty regarding future grants
However, uncertainty exists regarding federal grants this year. While the USFS grant is typically paid by May 1, the state has not yet received payment. Furthermore, an executive order issued on June 12 directed the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to create a new agency specifically for wildfires, leaving it unclear if or when the Cooperative Forestry Assistance grant will resume.
