The Forest Service just had to divert another $250 million to fight wildfires

Top administration officials wrote Congress on Tuesday to urge it–once again–to change the way it budgets for firefighting in light of the disastrous wildfire season in the western United States. The Agriculture Department just informed lawmakers this week that it will have to transfer $250 million to fighting the forest fires now raging, which brings this fiscal year’s emergency spending total to $700 million...more

Unlike other disaster spending, caused by tornadoes and hurricanes, the federal government must stay within existing budget constraints and divert money from other programs to pay for firefighting.

For one thing, federal agencies don't cause tornadoes or hurricanes.  "...fire seasons have grown longer, and the frequency, size and severity of wildland fires has increased" and for the most part are the result of years of mismanagement.  This should be rewarded?

“With the dramatic growth in wildland fire over the last three decades and an expected doubling again by mid-century, it only makes sense that Congress begin treating catastrophic wildfire as the natural disaster that it is,” the three wrote.

It's going to double again?  Even the Obama officials are predicting worse results under current management.  Are you listening Congress?  Just fiddling with the funding mechanism isn't a fix.  That would show you are more interested in protecting the bureaucrats than the people and resources of the West.  Even if they wanted to, the federal agencies can't manage their way out of this with laws like ESA & NEPA on the books.  Only Congress can fix this. 

Not as much fun as posturing on Planned Parenthood or pontificating on the Iran Nuclear Deal, but you need to get off your duffs and either amend these laws or transfer these lands to the states where we can take care of the problem more efficiently and effectively.