OLYMPIA, WA — A bipartisan proposal in the Washington Legislature would make permanent a program allowing rural fire districts to request aircraft early during wildfire responses.

House Bill 2104, sponsored by Tom Dent of Moses Lake and other lawmakers, seeks to remove the expiration date on a pilot program created in 2023 that gives local and tribal fire departments financial assurance to deploy aerial firefighting resources during initial attack.

Dent said early use of aircraft can stop fires before they grow into major incidents, reducing the need for costly state mobilizations that can exceed $1 million. According to Dent, quick aerial response often costs a fraction of that amount and helps keep small rural fire departments financially stable.

The bill states the pilot program has improved wildfire response efficiency and produced cost savings for the state by preventing fires from escalating. It would continue authorizing the Washington Department of Natural Resources to support local fire departments with certified aviation resources for early wildfire suppression.

Dent said the goal of the 2026 legislative session is to remove the sunset clause and make the program permanent before it expires. The session begins January 12.