USFS funding could affect local contracts

SANDERS COUNTY – Plains/Thompson Falls Forest Service Ranger, Randy Hojem, said the forest service is doing their best to minimize local effects of the budget shortfall the U.S. Forest Service is currently experiencing.

According to sources, the USFS is currently experiencing a lack in funds for fighting wildfires around the nation. So far, the USFS has spent $967 million this year on wildfires, with only $50 million left to spend, an amount that is only sufficient for a handful of days at the peak of wildfire preparedness level.

Due to the lack of funds, the USFS had to pull $600 million from recreation, timber and other areas to help fill the void.

Hojem explained that in this situation the forest service has to potentially pull back some of the funding from different programs to move the funds into fighting wildfires.

“We’re doing our best to minimize local effects of it. Right now it’s going to impact our ability to complete a few projects,” said Hojem.

Hojem stated that prospective contracts the forest service was going to award at the end of their fiscal year, which lands in September, might potentially be affected. The contracts that may see the possible effects are ones that have not been awarded yet.

It is unsure of how much funding will be pulled from various programs; the indicator remains to be how the rest of the fire season pans out.

“It really depends on how deep and how long the fire season goes,” said Hojem. “Right now the Lolo is not as heavily impacted as some other forests are.”