Reducing Wildfire Threats: Funds Should Be Targeted to the Highest Risk Areas

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the efforts to reduce the future risk of catastrophic wildfires to human lives and property, focusing on (1) why conditions on federal forests and rangelands have reached the point that they pose a significant risk to nearby communities and to the ecological sustainability of lands and natural resources; (2) the history and status of efforts by the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to reduce the risk; and (3) budget-related issues that should be addressed to better ensure that the agencies spend effectively and account accurately for funds appropriated to reduce hazardous fuels.