Public Lands and Wildfire Prevention

The U.S. Department of the Interior, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, announced a holiday affordability effort reducing or waiving Bureau of Land Management fees through Jan. 31, including a “one dollar, one tree” policy setting Christmas tree and firewood permits at $1 each. The plan opens new cutting areas near communities, military bases, tribal lands and rural counties, raises household limits to up to 10 cords and three trees (with flexibility to remove caps), and is framed as both cost relief and hazardous fuel reduction amid wildfire risk.