State approves extra money to fight wildfires

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Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999 | 9:32 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- As Nevada experiences its worst range and forest fire season in the past three years, the state Forestry Division has successfully pleaded for extra money to fight the blazes.

The state Board of Examiners on Thursday gave the division $600,000 from a contingency fund and allowed it to ask the Legislative Interim Finance Committee for $1 million more to cover the cost of fires that have burned about 1.5 million acres.

State Forester Roy Trenoweth said the fires have destroyed homes and killed livestock. He told the board that $1.6 million will cover only costs up until this week. And he expects to be back for more emergency money as the fire season progresses.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said he would tour parts of Elko County hit by the fires.

So far the division has incurred $2.2 million in expenses. It expects to be reimbursed $675,605 by the federal government and private land owners, but that money probably won't come in until the spring, Trenoweth said.