Northwest Governors Agree to Share Firefighting Resources in Washington

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Northwest governors agreed Wednesday to share resources in battling what are projected to be huge wildfires in the drought-stricken region this year.

The governors, meeting here, also said they would send a letter to federal officials asking that they be allowed to attack wildfires in the region when they are small, regardless of whether the blazes are on state or federal lands.

''We're going to ask the federal government to allow us to respond immediately, so we do not have issues of jurisdiction,'' said Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who was flanked at a news conference by Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne.

''We want first-strike capability,'' Schweitzer said. ''It might be a state response on federal land.''

Gregoire noted that Washington has already had 55 wildfires this season, but they have been suppressed before they could get large enough to do much damage.

Kempthorne, the lone Republican in the group, several years ago started the custom of having Northwest governors meet to discuss common issues.

At the afternoon meeting, the governors also discussed the drought that covers the region, issues related to the Columbia River system and salmon recovery, and economic development.

The governors seek to cooperate without worrying about state lines or party lines, Kempthorne said.

Kulongoski noted that a federal court hearing in Portland on Wednesday pitted a coalition of environmentalists, sports fishermen and American Indian tribes against the federal government over its operation of Columbia and Snake river dams, which the coalition contends harm salmon.

That is an issue that affects all four states, he said.

The governors also talked about sharing National Guard troops and aircraft during the wildfire season.

Schweitzer noted that half of Montana's National Guard members and many of their aircraft are in Iraq.

The governors would also like the federal government to quickly resolve questions about the airworthiness of the large fire-retardant bombers that were grounded last year for safety reasons. Kempthorne said they would send a joint letter asking the government to resolve the safety questions.

Gregoire joked that Schweitzer had still not paid off with steaks from his ranch after losing their bet on the Montana-Washington game in the NCAA basketball tournament. Schweitzer said he would deliver the steaks personally by riding Amtrak, deftly highlighting the joint issue of keeping the federal passenger rail service operating in the region.

This winter was unusually dry in all four states, raising concerns about a major drought. Earlier this month, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center said drought was expected to persist or intensify over the coming months in most of Oregon and Washington east of the Cascade Range and into Idaho and Montana.

The dry, warm winter has fire managers and forecasters holding their breath. Experts in some areas say they can't remember the last time the mountain snowpack was this low.

In parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, the snowpack is only about 25 percent to 50 percent of normal, with Washington the worst off. The U.S. Drought Monitor, which tracks conditions across the country, shows vast tracts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho to be in ''exceptional drought,'' the worst of five drought categories.

The fire season in the Northwest states could start as soon as late May, but it will depend on spring rains and lightning. Rain in late spring could take the edge off the season, while lightning usually is the biggest wildfire spark.

There's also less federal money for emergency situations if fires get out of control. The emergency funding, which can only be used after suppression money is depleted, dropped severely for 2005, from $699.2 million to just $394.4 million.

Some governors fear fewer National Guard troops will be available to fight fires because of the war in Iraq.

In Washington, where a statewide drought emergency has been declared, Gregoire has been cleared to activate members of the Guard as needed.

Schweitzer has asked the Pentagon to return some of the state's troops and helicopters. Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told Schweitzer in a March 17 letter that he could not direct the early return of soldiers, but that half or more of each state's Guard force would be available to help in disasters.

Blum also said the Pentagon would help Montana acquire troops from other states if needed.