Cutter, Jaquez Lewis Bill to Combat Wildfires, Bolster Forestry Workforce Clears Committee

SB23-005 directs Colorado State Forest Service to create workforce development program to help more firefighters protect homes, people & property

DENVER, CO – As part of Colorado Democrats’ ongoing work to reduce the frequency of devastating wildfires, the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee today gave unanimous approval to legislation sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, that will improve Colorado’s forestry workforce.

SB23-005 directs the Colorado State Forest Service to develop educational materials on career opportunities in the industry and create a workforce development program in the State Forest Service.

“For the past several years we’ve experienced the devastating impacts of wildfires in our state, impacting our lives, homes, health, watersheds and economy,” Cutter said. “The increase in frequency and intensity is a direct result of escalating climate change. We’ve done good work over the past several years to provide resources for mitigation and suppression, but resources don’t mean much without the workforce to deploy them. This bill will support programs to quickly get a trained workforce in the field.”

“Over the past few years wildfire season has evolved into a year-round threat, but right now we don’t have the workforce needed to keep us safe,” Jaquez Lewis said. “This bill will improve pathways to critical jobs and help Colorado communities stay safe by training more firefighters who will protect our people and our property from increasingly dangerous wildfires.”

The bill will also bolster the state’s wildfire mitigation capacity development fund and create and expand forestry programs at state colleges. Finally, the bill will work to increase the number of qualified educators at colleges that deliver a wildfire prevention and mitigation program or course.

SB23-005 was developed and recommended by the interim Wildfire Matters Review Committee, and will now move to consideration before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Track the bill’s progress HERE.