Suppression costs

The cost of fighting wildfires is trending upward. Data from the National Interagency Fire Center (specifically this table) show that the government’s tab for wildfire suppression varies considerably from year to year, but the inflation-adjusted total has generally been rising. Suppression costs per federal wildlife and acre burned are also increasing. Spending by the U.S. Forest Service and Department of Interior agencies tend to move together.

Visualizing environmental trends