Tagged: Rangeland

Idaho ranchers looking to help fight rangeland fires near their homes received a funding nod from lawmakers this Thursday.

The Idaho Budget committee unanimously approved $400-thousand dollars for more volunteer rangeland fire protection associations. The money was requested by Governor Butch Otter in January.

Idaho currently has one fire association, in Mountain Home. Three more are proposed for Owyhee, Elmore, and Twin Falls counties. Graig Glazier is with the Idaho Department of Lands. He says that’s a good start.

An Idaho legislative committee Tuesday approved a bill to encourage teams of ranchers who would volunteer to fight rangeland fires. 

The first rangeland fire protection association in Idaho formed a year ago in Mountain Home. It allows ranchers to help fight fires alongside firefighters with the Bureau of Land Management.

Six months ago today, a lightning strike ignited one of the largest fires in Oregon’s history. Ranchers who lost cattle and grazing land still haven’t received federal disaster aid.

The Long Draw Fire killed more than 100 cows and calves. And it left federal range land in Southeast Oregon blackened and off limits to grazing for two years.

Rancher Richard Eiguren says that after the fire, it’s costing him five times as much to buy grass and hay to feed his herd.

He says friends and family have struggled to find any suitable land for their animals.