Officials learn how to get help for wildfires

We are at the beginning of fire season, and a massive wildfire can be very expensive. Understanding how to get available aid makes a big difference in managing fires.

On Wednesday, elected officials attended a wildfire workshop in Bonneville County. The meeting covered the whole Upper Snake Interagency Wildfire Group, which includes a variety of agencies in eastern Idaho.

The key points were cost sharing, resource tracking and disaster declarations.

“Well not to rehash the Charlotte Fire, but the Charlotte Fire certainly brings up the reason for providing this information to the key decision makers regarding a wildland fire incident,” said Spencer Johnston of the U.S. Forest Service.

The Charlotte Fire destroyed 66 homes in the Pocatello area in the summer of 2012.

Johnston says the most important part of the meeting was everyone understanding their role during a large wildfire