Fire seasons are starting earlier and lasting later into the fall. More than 8 million acres have burned so far in 2017. Ash and smoke have made air quality unsafe. Tragic loss of life and homes in California reminds us again what’s at stake. The U.S. Forest Service has spent $2.5 billion on fire suppression this year — a historical record. This shift to more severe and expensive fire seasons has been called the new normal, and that is a terrifying prospect. It’s time to change our approach to wildfire:

• The government must change how it funds wildfire suppression…
• Congress must provide relief to help our communities and landscapes recover…
• Congress must get ahead of the problem…
• We must all play our part…