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Media Advisory No. 0057.15 Contact: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, Interior Secretary Jewell, Forest Service Chief Tidwell to Brief Media on Projections for Upcoming Wildfire Season Officials to Stress Need to Change the Way Catastrophic Wildfires are Funded WASHINGTON, June 9, 2015 - TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell will hold a conference call to brief journalists on the growing threat of catastrophic wildfire in the United States, particularly in the West, and to discuss preparations by the Agriculture and Interior departments for the 2015 wildfire season. Secretaries Jewell and Vilsack will participate in the call from Denver, Colorado, following an event at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Vilsack and Jewell will also address President Obama's budget proposal to reform the way wildfire suppression is funded. One percent of the most severe fires make up thirty percent of fire suppression costs. The Administration’s proposed budget would fund catastrophic fires like other natural disasters, rather than forcing the Forest Service to transfer money from other programs that help keep forests healthy and reduce the severity and cost of future wildfires. The Cabinet officials will also discuss the National Cohesive Strategy to foster resilient landscapes and work with communities and partners to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires. PRESS CONFERENCE PARTICIPANT ACCESS: DATE: June 9, 2015 (TUESDAY) TIME: 3:15-3:45 p.m. Mountain time, 5:15-5:45 p.m. Eastern time PARTICIPANT NUMBER: 888-996-4915 PASSCODE: FIRE SEASON (Given Verbally) Trouble number - 202-720-8560 #
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