OLYMPIA, Wash. – Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove held a press conference on Wednesday to address the Labor Mountain and Lower Sugarloaf fires and discuss how wildfire season is evolving in Washington.

Upthegrove urged the legislature to restore funding for wildfire prevention and response. He emphasized the need for forest thinning, prescribed burns, new firefighting equipment and other preventative measures.

Upthegrove highlighted the financial burden of wildfires, stating they cost an average of $1 million a day to combat. The impacts of wildfires extend beyond Central Washington.

"We're again seeing this in eastern and western Washington, this is an all of Washington problem," Upthegrove said.

Upthegrove emphasized the importance of investing in preparation and preventi

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