Comment from Anonymous
AnonymousSupportIndividual
Summary: The commenter supports the proposal to provide hazard pay for prescribed fire activities. However, they argue that the funding for these operations should be shifted away from taxpayers and toward the oil and gas industry, whom they hold responsible for climate-related fire damages.
I recommend paying hazard pay for the prescribed fire, and there are many more collateral duty jobs that deserve hazard pay. However the estimated 20 million and in fact a larger percentage of the fire budget should not be funded using tax dollars. The increased frequency and severity of fire damages is a direct result of climate change, global warming caused by producing and consuming fossil fuels, therefore the oil and gas industry should pay their fair share for damages and mitigation.
The tax payer should continue to fund some civil operations but it should be less because many outdoor operations are affected by global warming and the polluters are liable for those costs.