Boundary County declared a state of emergency June 2, urging the U.S. Forest Service to address wildfire risks on overgrown national forest land — while also aiming to revive the county’s timber industry.

“This resolution shall serve to formally notify the U.S. Forest Service and other federal partners of the county’s urgent concern and demand for immediate mitigation actions,” county commissioners said in the emergency declaration. “The preservation of property, infrastructure, natural resources and economic activities — including timber, agriculture, and recreation — are significantly threatened by the growing risk of catastrophic wildfire. Observed fuel loads indicate that the accumulation of dead, dry and overgrown vegetation has reached hazardous levels.”

Commissioners said they hop

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