The Washington Bill that gives local fire chiefs authority to call in aerial assets to fight a wildfire passed the Senate yesterday. It already made its way through the House. Both chambers passed it without opposition. The original bill had an end date of July 1st next year. The new bill removes that sunset clause.
The bill was largely pushed by local Representative Mary Dye and Asotin County Fire Chief Noel Hardin who testified to it’s usefulness, citing last year’s successes, saying that “…this aviation support program has been the single most successful tool of my career.”
House Bill 2104 is now headed for Governor Ferguson’s desk for his signature before becoming law.
