As of this morning, the total number of acres on fire had reached a total of 656,991. The total of acres burnt in the state this year has now reached 840,961 acres. These fires have consumed hundreds of buildings and are threatening literally thousands more.
Entire towns are at risk of burning.
Burns asked that the president immediately have relevant cabinet secretaries reallocate existing funding toward fighting the fires, providing emergency aid to those impacted, and laying the ground work for recovery in the fires' aftermaths. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which funds most federal spending, Burns said he would work to push through any effective relief package. He said that any package must contain a variety of provisions, including economic aid to businesses, agriculture producers and families harmed by the fires, funding to prevent environmental damage in the wake of the fires, and aid to the firefighters themselves. Burns said he hoped to hear from the president soon. Congress will be back in session and able to consider any emergency funding packages on Sept. 5.