Bighorn National Forest

For many years, the Forest Service and other public land management agencies have recognized the problems with fuel build-up, and the potential for extreme wildfires due to fire exclusion during the past century.

During the summer of 2000, more than 7 million acres of public and private land burned. This expedited the creation of a National Fire Plan to address fuel build-up concerns.

In the fall of 2000, Congress appropriated $1.8 billion for projects and activities in the National Fire Plan, which include:

• Additional firefighters to adequately prepare for early fire suppression;
• Rehabilitating and restoring areas burned by the fires of 2000;
• Hazardous fuel reduction to reduce future fire risks to urban wildland interface communities;

• Work with communities to ensure adequate protection from wildland fires;

• Accountability for implementing and monitoring the National Fire Plan.