/ Modified jun 16, 2021 9:08 p.m.

Arizona lawmakers advance $100M fire fund in special session

Wednesday's committee votes came after hearing dire warnings from state wildfire officials.

360 capitol museum The Arizona State Legislature in Phoenix.
Steve Riggs/AZPM Staff

The Arizona Legislature has advanced bills creating a $100 million fund to respond to a wildfire emergency.

Wednesday's committee votes came after hearing dire warnings from state wildfire officials.

The full Legislature is meeting in a special session called by Gov. Doug Ducey to quickly boost funding for firefighting and recovery efforts in the midst of a historic drought and fires.

The House and Senate are expected to overwhelmingly approve the legislation Thursday. Leaders of rural counties and cities are worried about the fallout from big fires. A

nd there is a brewing fight on the role of climate change in driving the blazes.

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