“Montanans can color code our forest: Green is a healthy forest, rust orange is a mountain pine beetle kill and black or gray is a recent wildfire scar,” said Rehberg a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “A sick forest full of thousands of dead trees means there’s too much fuel for the fires.  It’s vitally important to prevent infestations where possible and manage them when it’s already too late.  The FLAME Act allows the Forest Service manage forests and fight fires without wrecking its budget.”

Over the last three years, the Forest Service has spent approximately $225 million for wildfire suppression in Montana alone.  That includes $136 million in FY 2007, a particularly bad year.  This amount does not account for costs incurred by private losses.

“The FLAME Act is long overdue, and the infestation language is a crucial step to beginning to turn our forests back to healthy green,” said Rehberg.  “To the folks – and the forests – in Western Montana, help is on the way.”