05/02/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES

                  HJR 15-WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:15:29 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE  CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI  announced the  consideration of  CS FOR                                                               
HOUSE  JOINT  RESOLUTION NO.  15(CRA)  Urging  the Governor,  the                                                               
Department of  Natural Resources,  division of forestry  and fire                                                               
protection, the  Department of  Public Safety,  municipalities of                                                               
the state  and relevant wildfire planning  and response agencies,                                                               
and the  Alaska delegation  in Congress to  prepare for  the 2025                                                               
wildfire season.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:16:02 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE KY HOLLAND, District  9, Alaska State Legislature,                                                               
Juneau, Alaska, said HJR 15  is the culmination of community work                                                               
done over  the past 4 months  to raise awareness and  concern for                                                               
the 2025  wildfire season. HJR  15 would bring  greater awareness                                                               
to state  agencies and  Alaskans regarding  wildfire preparedness                                                               
and evacuation  plans. He  said it has  been a  rewarding process                                                               
and  expressed gratitude  to the  local and  state agencies  that                                                               
helped  contribute  to  HJR  15. He  shared  that  an  additional                                                               
emergency  helicopter  will be  stationed  in  Anchorage for  100                                                               
days,  beginning May  15, 2025.  This will  provide a  more rapid                                                               
response  in  a  critical  area for  potential  fire  spread.  He                                                               
acknowledged that  many areas  across the state  are at  risk for                                                               
wildfires and said HJR 15  highlights the breadth of that concern                                                               
and the work that can be done to reduce wildfires.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:18:05 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked why some  first-class cities were left off                                                               
the list in HJR 15.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:18:22 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND  replied that this  is a work  in process.                                                               
He explained that the list  of cities began with communities that                                                               
could establish the breadth of  intent; regions were added later.                                                               
He stated  that, if done again,  he would attempt to  display the                                                               
breadth  of  the  regions  without   referring  to  any  specific                                                               
communities.  He  apologized  for  leaving  any  cities  out  and                                                               
emphasized that  the intention was  to convey  that HJR 15  is of                                                               
interest to many areas across the  state. He pointed out that the                                                               
phrasing also indicates  emerging fire danger in  new areas (e.g.                                                               
recent rural tundra fires). He  reiterated that he did not intend                                                               
to suggest  that fire  danger was limited  to specific  areas and                                                               
clarified that HJR 15 was meant to be inclusive.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:19:29 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGHES  briefly  discussed  an amendment  that  she  had                                                               
considered.  She  directed attention  to  the  wildfire maps  and                                                               
expressed surprise that  the Aleutian chain is  included, as well                                                               
as Southeast Alaska.  She briefly discussed how  the wildfires in                                                               
Los Angeles, California have raised  awareness of the devastation                                                               
wildfires can cause in urban  areas. She noted that the Southeast                                                               
region has had a dry winter  and surmised that the Aleutian chain                                                               
has also had  a dry winter. She noted that  the Aleutian chain is                                                               
not  listed in  HJR 15;  however, the  region is  covered by  the                                                               
wildfire map.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:20:36 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  HOLLAND  expressed  appreciation and  agreed.  He                                                               
referenced a recent devastating wildfire  in Hawaii and said that                                                               
fire  was a  significant wakeup  call.  He opined  that fires  in                                                               
Hawaii  and  the  recent  tundra fires  are  an  indication  that                                                               
increased  vigilance   is  necessary,  including  in   areas  not                                                               
previously considered a wildfire risk.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:21:15 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE  CHAIR  WIELECHOWSKI  opened  public testimony  on  HJR  15;                                                               
finding none, he closed public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:21:33 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI solicited the will of the committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:21:37 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  moved to  report CS for  HJR 15(CRA),  work order                                                               
34-LS0726\G, from  committee with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:21:58 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI found no  objection and CSHJR 15(CRA) was                                                               
reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.