USDA Announces $500 Million to Confront the Wildfire Crisis as Part of Investing in America Agenda

Ruidoso, New Mexico, February 20, 2024 - Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is investing nearly $500 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expand work on the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy to reduce risk to communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources from the nation’s ongoing wildfire crisis, which is exacerbated by climate change.

This significant investment, totaling $2.4 billion, underscores the Administration's commitment to addressing the wildfire crisis, particularly in regions like Ruidoso and the Lincoln National Forest, where the threat of wildfires is a constant concern. As climate change continues escalating the challenges of wildfires, proactive measures are essential to safeguarding our communities and natural landscapes.

Approximately $400 million of the allocated funds will be directed towards ongoing efforts in priority landscapes identified in the strategy, with an additional $100 million designated for a new initiative - the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program. This program aims to extend the reach of wildfire risk reduction efforts beyond the priority landscapes, including areas where national forests interface with residential communities, known as the Wildland-Urban Interface.

Ruidoso and its surrounding areas, nestled within the Lincoln National Forest, stand to benefit significantly from this investment. The Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program will empower local stakeholders, including Tribes, communities, and partners, to implement projects to reduce wildfire risk and enhance forest health. By addressing wildfire risk in high-risk areas, this program will protect communities and infrastructure, safeguard water quality, and support adjacent landowners.

By prioritizing investments in wildfire risk reduction, the Biden Administration aims to enhance long-term fire preparedness and mitigate the impact of wildfires on communities and ecosystems.

In 2023, the Forest Service, in collaboration with various partners, achieved significant milestones in hazardous fuels reduction, including a record-breaking 4.3 million acres treated nationwide. These efforts underscore the effectiveness of proactive wildfire management strategies in reducing the risk posed by wildfires to communities and critical infrastructure.

The Village of Ruidoso applauds the commitment to confronting the wildfire crisis and looks forward to collaborating with federal agencies and local stakeholders to implement wildfire risk reduction initiatives that will safeguard our community and natural heritage.

For more information on the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program and eligibility criteria, please visit the program webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildfire-crisis?.