DENVER (AP) — Despite a wet spring over much of the nation, the Obama administration is warning of potentially catastrophic wildfires this summer, especially in the Southwest and Northwest.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell discussed wildfire threats and fire outlook Tuesday in Denver.
Jewell says drought and climate change are increasing wildfire danger.
Federal fire managers say heavy precipitation in May reduced the likelihood of wildfires this month across much of the nation, but the danger will increase from July through September.
The Agriculture and Interior departments say their combined firefighting budget is about $1.4 billion, and firefighting costs could range as high as $1.62 billion.
It wasn’t immediately clear if that was the Agriculture Department’s estimated costs alone or if included both departments.
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