Senators Push FEMA for Details on Wildfire Mitigation

Two senators are pushing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to detail its efforts to mitigate wildfires.

Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet and Idaho Republican Mike Crapo also want FEMA to identify funding obstacles for current mitigation programs.

The senators said Monday they have added a measure in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to do just that.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and western lawmakers have talked about the need for consistent funding to mitigate wildfire risks.

Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior announced a partnership aimed at better leveraging federal, state and local resources to thin and restore forests around reservoirs and dams. The Western Watershed Enhancement Partnership aims to reduce the risk of wildfires that could harm water supplies.