Aviation assurance funding

AN ACT Relating to aviation assurance funding in response to 1
wildland fires; amending 2023 c 457 s 1 (uncodified); and repealing 2
2023 c 457 s 5 (uncodified). 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. 2023 c 457 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as 5
follows: 6
(1) Local and tribal fire departments in the state of Washington 7
serve as frontline responders to wildland fires. The fire chief of 8
each local fire department with jurisdiction over wildland fires is 9
tasked with making rapid decisions, especially during the summer 10
months when weather conditions can cause fires to rapidly enlarge. 11
Flashy fuels, especially during times of low humidity, can be ignited 12
by a single spark and erupt into a rapidly moving incident that can 13
quickly destroy rangelands, ripe dryland crops, and timberlands.14
(2) Local fire departments need immediate access to local 15
aviation resources that are certified to fly and drop fire retardants 16
and water to suppress or extinguish wildland fires quickly. The use 17
of aviation assets has proven to be a valuable tool to prevent many 18
wildland fires from growing large and requiring the response of state 19
mobilization and prevent the deployment of state and federal fire 20
agencies and their mobilization partner agencies. 21
H-2428.1
HOUSE BILL 2104
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Dent, Springer, Ryu, Engell, Low, Simmons,
Richards, Barnard, Keaton, Reed, Dye, Reeves, Shavers, McClintock,
Thai, and Graham
Prefiled 12/08/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Agriculture & Natural Resources.
p. 1 HB 2104
(3) Further, the strategic use of aviation assets in initial 1
attack, or at times when conditions on the ground may warrant 2
additional air support, can prevent fires from becoming 3
uncontrollable. Local fire departments that use aviation assets on 4
initial attack can prevent most fires from requiring a state 5
mobilization. Providing financial assurances for local fire 6
departments to deploy aviation assets ((will provide )) provides 7
greater protection to our state's natural resources, air quality, and 8
communities. 9
(4) The legislature finds that the pilot program for local 10
aviation resources enacted in 2023 has created valuable efficiencies 11
in the wildland fire response framework. Strengthening initial 12
response options can benefit both local jurisdictions and provide 13
cost savings to the state. The legislature intends to build upon the 14
success of this initial effort by removing the expiration date, 15
thereby making the program permanent.16
(5) The legislature intends to continue to provide suppression 17
funding to the department of natural resources to support local fire 18
departments in the use of aviation resources certified and trained to 19
operate in wildland fires and drop fire retardant or water to 20
suppress or extinguish fires as an initial attack strategy. 21
Deployment and air operations command ((will be )) are conducted at 22
the direction of trained air operations commanders.23
(((5))) (6) The legislature intends to continue to authorize the 24
department of natural resources to provide aviation resources to 25
local fire departments statewide for use during the initial attack of 26
wildland fires in order to provide assurance that local fire 27
departments will have sufficient financial capacity to effectively 28
control wildland fires throughout the length of the fire season. 29
Having assurance that local fire departments can afford to use 30
aircraft under conditions that would warrant their use and at the 31
discretion of the local fire department chief ((will incentivize )) 32
incentivizes the use of aircraft more quickly in order to rapidly 33
suppress the fire and minimize damage to lands, resources, and 34
structures, while protecting regional air quality.35
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. 2023 c 457 s 5 (uncodified) is repealed.36
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p. 2 HB 2104