Idaho Boosts 2016 Wildfire Protection Budget by $920,000

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials boosted the state's wildfire protection budget on Tuesday by about 10 percent for the 2016 fire season following one of the state's worst fire seasons on record in 2015.

The Idaho Land Board voted 5-0 to spend an additional $920,000 aimed at preventing small fires from getting big and keeping firefighters available during wildfire seasons that are lasting longer.

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says bolstering the state's Forest and Range Fire Protection budget will save money by reducing the number of giant fires that can cost millions of dollars to fight.

The money still has to be approved by the Idaho Legislature in the upcoming session starting in January as part of the state's budget process.