Congress Holds Oversight Hearing on Wildfire Preparedness
Forest Guild’s Testimony Calls for Federal Wildfire Programs to Better Serve Rural Poor

Washington, DC (June 19, 2007) – In 2006, over 96,000 wildland fires in the U.S. burned approximately 10 million acres. Many rural communities at risk to wildfire are also areas with significant poverty; these communities risk losing more when their homes or their assets burn.

To draw attention to this situation, Forest Guild Southwest Region Director Michael DeBonis testified before Congress today that federal wildfire preparedness programs must provide greater focus and assistance to ensure that low-income communities at risk from wildfire have the resources to take action to reduce that risk. Mr. DeBonis’s testimony was part of the oversight hearing held this morning by the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands entitled “Wildlife Preparedness: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure.”

Press Release | Oral Statement | Submitted Statement