By Bill Lucia | Editor
Costs to fight this summer’s wildfires are stacking up. In recent weeks, expenses were around $207 million for 20 fires in Washington that have together burned more than 550,000 acres, according to figures provided by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. This total will be divided among state, local and federal agencies. It includes the fires that devastated neighborhoods in and around Spokane earlier this month. The price is just for firefighting, not disaster recovery.
Also in today’s edition…
Gov. Bob Ferguson and U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner seek a sit-down with President Trump to talk about disaster relief for the fires.
The Trump administration moves to abandon a rule preventing logging and other industrial development on millions of acres of public land across the West.
And, new data shows historic declines in violent crime.
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The Dust Busters Plus fire crew digs a handline in steep terrain on Kaiser Canyon Fire in eastern Washington. (Photo courtesy Hale/AKCIMT/via InciWeb)
By Aspen Ford
Rising firefighting costs come as the state deals with budget strain and as Department of Natural Resources spending on fires is already soaring. In the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, the department spent an estimated $304.8 million on firefighting. This exceeded what the state budgeted by nearly $18 million. To close that gap, the agency will request emergency federal funds. The Department of Natural Resources will likely ask for increased wildfire funding in the next legislative session.
A Cal Fire firefighter works amid the remains of homes destroyed in the Old Trails Fire on Aug. 6, 2026, in Spokane. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
By Jake Goldstein-Street
In a letter Monday, Ferguson and Baumgartner, who represents eastern Washington, told Trump they want to discuss the state’s forthcoming request for federal recovery aid after the fires in Spokane and elsewhere. “Thank you again for your help with the devastating fires in our state and your personal engagement on this disaster,” the Democratic governor and Republican congressman wrote. “We appreciate all that you and your team are doing to provide assistance during this very difficult time.”
By Alex Baumhardt
The Trump administration wants to end more than 25 years of protections for millions of acres of federal public land. Brooke Rollins, head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on Tuesday filed a rule to rescind “in its entirety” the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. It would be a major shift: the current rule prohibits road construction, logging and mining on about 30% of lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. In her announcement, Rollins cited concerns about rising fire risk. American Forest Resource Council, a leading timber industry group, applauded the move. The nonprofit Earthjustice indicated it would likely sue to stop the change. Rollins gave notice last year that the administration was considering rolling back some protections under the rule.
By Amanda Watford
Violent crime in the U.S. fell by an estimated 9.3% in 2025, marking the largest year-to-year decline in the national violent crime rate since the FBI began estimating crime in 1936, according to new data. The estimated murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate also fell 18.1%, to 4.1 killings per 100,000 people — tying the lowest rate since national estimates began and matching 1955 and 1956, according to the FBI.
ICYMI
WA state Senate primary separated by 4 votes, set for recount | by Jake Goldstein-Street
Tacoma lawyer joins WA campaign watchdog commission | by Jerry Cornfield
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