Fire chiefs, sponsors back making aviation-assurance program permanent

Committee staff reviewed House Bill 2104, which would remove the July 1, 2027 sunset on the Aviation Assurance Funding Program and make the program permanent. The program provides state aviation resources to assist local fire departments with aerial response during initial attack on wildland fires.

Jeff Olson said DNR reported approximately $661,000 in base-budget funding tied to program implementation. Representative Tom Dent, sponsor, told the committee the program enables rapid initial attack that prevents many fires from progressing to state mobilization and that rural departments depend on the resource; he described the original sunset as a temporary measure and advocated removing it.

Noel Harden, fire chief with Sullivan County Fire District and representative of Washington State Fire Chiefs, testified in support and called the aviation program “the single most successful tool we’ve had” for wildland response, saying helicopters and aircraft have saved lives and property. The vice chair reported 67 pro / 1 con public sign-ins.

The committee closed the hearing on HB 2104 without taking a final vote; the bill will be listed for possible executive action at the committee’s next meeting.