Carson City – Noting the large number of catastrophic wildfires that have already occurred this fire season, Governor Jim Gibbons requested a meeting with Governor Butch Otter (Idaho) and Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. (Utah) on Monday, August 6th to discuss joint firefighting and fire prevention efforts among western states and the role that the federal government must play in land management both before and after fire season.  Governor Dave Freudenthal (Wyoming) will also participate in the meeting via telephone.

Governor Gibbons will be accompanied by Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture Donna Rise, Adjutant General for the State of Nevada Cindy Kirkland, and Chief of the Nevada Emergency Management Division Frank Siracusa.

Prevention, preparedness, land maintenance, fire control, and rehabilitation will be discussed throughout the meeting. 

Nevada has already lost over 900,000 acres this fire season, far surpassing mid-season averages from previous years.  Subsequently, the loss of vegetation will have a devastating effect on Nevada’s agriculture industries.  Additionally, the widespread loss of wildlife habitat poses a serious threat to a number of Nevada’s native species including the mule deer and sage grouse populations.   

** There will be media availability immediately following the meeting