Lincoln Commissioners Withdraw from Agreement

LINCOLN COUNTY - The Lincoln County Commissioners have decided to withdraw from the Wyoming Interagency Co-operative Fire Management Agreement.  The Commissioners are concerned with the direction taken, or not taken, in addressing the Healthy Forest Initiative and Healthy Forests Restoration Act.  They said that ailing, rust-colored pines cover the county and that insects and disease are playing a major role in the decline of Wyoming's forest health.  They believe that more needs to be done to prevent the build-up of dry fuel for wildfires.  Of the forest lands within the state, under 20 percent are privately owned, and more than 70 percent of Wyoming's timber harvest comes from those private lands.  The Lincoln County Commissioners are also concerned with the cost of firefighting, which is one of their more significant challenges, and they say it's consuming the overall budget.  They feel that the Forest Service has been unwilling to effectively address the emerging dangers to surrounding lands.  They claim that this is a passive management philosophy, which threatens the health and welfare of Lincoln County residents, as well as the watersheds, views, wildlife habitats, and homes.  The commissioners noted that the forest service has been closing roads and trails with no regard to their value in firefighting and other treatments.  Lincoln County will now withhold the approval of future agreements until they see a change in forest management philosophy.