Oklahoma State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-5774

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For Immediate Release: January 12, 2006


Senator Rabon chairs the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Natural Resources and
Regulatory Services hearing on wildfires Tuesday.

Senator Jeff Rabon said testimony at Thursday’s meeting of the Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services points to the need for a supplemental appropriation to help the Department of Agriculture and Rural Fire Departments across the state with the continued cost of fighting wildfires.

“My conversations with the Governor’s staff and the Secretary of Finance is this is no different than a mud slide or flood or tornado...it’s a disaster nonetheless and those things cost money,” said Rabon, D-Hugo.

“Senate Democrats led the push to increase funding for our rural fire departments last year – and the state is in the process of getting them the balance of their Fiscal Year 2006 operational grants.  But it’s going to take much more than that.  We’re committed to making sure they get the funds they need to continue fighting these wildfires,” said Rabon. 

John Burwell of the Forestry division of the Department of Agriculture said that as of the end of December, 97 percent of the division’s budget had been spent. 

“We are flat busted as a division.  We found it necessary to borrow money from the upcoming budget in order to write checks to the fire departments so they can just keep running this year,” said Burwell.  “This situation is not only affecting our agency but it’s also affecting the fire departments in a huge way. They’re going to need a quick fix in order to sustain their operations for the rest of this fiscal year.”

Rabon said that even though the federal emergency declaration would clear the way for funding, the bills are due now. 

“We’re the ones that are going to have to come up with ways to give firefighters, Forestry, rural fire departments and volunteers the tools they need and those tools cost money,” said Rabon, who added that the state’s Rainy Day contained $462 million dollars.  “My goodness, what’s it for if not for this?”

As of November 1, more than 380,000 acres and more than 200 homes and businesses had been destroyed.

Rabon said it was important for people to realize that the crisis is not over.  With significant precipitation in the forecast, more fires are likely.

“In the meantime however, I would make a personal plea for everyone in the state to continue to observe the burn ban and to report anyone violating that ban,” said Rabon.  The statewide hotline for reporting violators is 1-800-522-8666.