WASHINGTON – Wildfires continue to impact air quality in Washington as the Labor Mountain and Lower Sugarloaf fires burn over 40,000 acres each in Central Washington. According to Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove, recent cuts to wildfire prevention and response funding have left the state in a precarious position.

Upthegrove expressed concern over the reduced funding, emphasizing the need for restoration. “Unless we get money in the supplemental budget, it will greatly impact the next several fire seasons and our ability to keep communities safe,” Upthegrove said.

In 2021, the state legislature committed $125 million to wildfire preparedness and response. However, the latest biennial budget has reduced that commitment to $60 million—$40 million for this fiscal cycle and just

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