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Feinstein Requests $1 Billion For Wildfire Relief

California Senator Dianne Feinstein and Washington state Congressman Norm Dicks Friday asked the chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for emergency funds as a result of the wildfir

California Senator Dianne Feinstein and Washington state Congressman Norm Dicks Friday asked the chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for emergency funds as a result of the wildfires. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

The money would include $1 billion for emergency fire suppression, risk reduction and recovery needs required because of the catastrophic wildfires.

In a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, Feinstein and Dicks noted that so far in 2007, fires have scorched 8.7 million acres across the United States, well above the 10-year average of 5.9 million acres.

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They specifically ask for $775 million for suppression, hazardous-fuels reduction, restoration, and reconstruction needs. And $225 million to repay program funds borrowed by the Interior Department and the Forest Service.

Feinstein says she'll hold hearings into fire response and funding in the coming weeks.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.