As wildfires rage across the West, the costs of the fight to protect lives and property are up. But budget cuts imposed by an austerity-minded Congress have meant that funds to protect people are down.

"PORTLAND, Ore. -- It’s costing Oregon $70 million to fight wildfires this summer, compared to the $3 to $7 million for an average summer.

The two largest wildfires in southern Oregon — the Big Windy and Douglas Complex fires — are responsible for almost $60 million of that total. Those costs have mounted as more than 1,000 fire-related personnel have responded to each lightning-caused fire. ...

The cost of Oregon’s firefighting efforts are being calculated on the same day as the U.S. Forest Service announced it’s diverting $600 million from timber, recreation and other areas to fill the nation’s fire-fighting gap.

The nation’s top wildfire-fighting agency was down to $50 million after spending $967 million so far this year, Forest Service spokesman Larry Chambers said Wednesday in an email to the Associated Press."

Portland's KOIN 6 staff reported with AP files August 21, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Wildfire Suppression Efforts Suffer Under Budget Cuts" (Bozeman Daily Chronicle) [3]

"Western Wildfires Tax Firefighting Resources, Push Spending Past $1 Billion" (AP) [4]

"Resources Dwindle To Fight Large Wildfires Across the U.S." (NBC) [5]

"California on Edge as Wildfires Spread" (San Francisco Chronicle) [6]