Think Twice Before Opting Out of Paying the Georgia Forestry Commission for Wildfire Protection

The passage of HB 1055 included an increase in the rate paid by counties to the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) to respond to forest fires from four cents per acre to ten cents per acre.  Like many of the fees for services provided by the courts and sheriffs, the state had not increased this rate since it was established in 1967. 

The statute says counties may, not shall, pay the dues.  However, counties should consider if they are adequately prepared to handle a wildfire with local resources before making a decision not to pay.  It is unclear whether GFC will respond to fires in counties that elect not to pay for this service. 

 

ACCG Government Relations Manager Dave Wills recently spoke to Webster County Fire/EMS Chief Darrell Holbrook about this issue and learned that counties should consider the following:

 

• Fire Departments that assume the responsibility for fighting wildfires must provide an additional 8 hours (Wild Land module) of training to firefighters if they have not already taken the course.
• Few, if any, counties have bulldozers equipped with plows for fighting fires. Thus, any wildfires could only be fought in areas with close proximity to roads.  This situation means that large tracts of forests might burn with no capacity for response.  Additionally, many private timber companies that formerly kept specially-equipped bulldozers have reduced or eliminated their inventory of these machines.
• Compared to the tools and gear used to fight structural fires, the equipment needed to fight wild land fires is completely different. The turnout gear, including the boots, is of a different construction, making them lighter. Additionally, the breathing apparatus (BA) uses filters instead of purified air in tanks, and the filters require replacement after every fire in which they are used.

 

The fee paid to GFC is like insurance in that it guarantees assistance in the event that a wildfire occurs in your county.  If a county’s increase in the fee paid is $10,000, for example, it would probably take a loss of just 10 – 15 acres as a result of a wildfire to fully offset that cost in today’s values.  Wildfires can quickly spread and destroy homes and businesses in addition to the valuable timberlands.  While the loss of timber and personal property would accrue to the individual owners, the cost to taxpayers for the insurance is minimal. 

 

Protecting timberlands is an important investment in your community.  These lands help to protect both air and water quality and often provide for outdoor recreational opportunities, drawing visitors into your community and supporting the local economy.   The additional revenues generated from the increase in fees for services provided by the courts and sheriff’s office should surpass the increase in the fee paid to GFC for wildfire assistance.  Counties should consider all of these factors before making a decision on this important issue.

 

Also, counties can set up a special tax district to apply for the fee out of revenues derived from private forestland owners.  Contact Jim Grubiak for more information on setting up a special tax district at jgrubiak@accg.org or (404) 522-5022.