CHEYENNE, Wyo.; January 23, 2025 –  Governor Gordon is adding a Wheatland stop on his Wildfire Restoration and Recovery Program Community Forum visits on Monday, January 27.

The Governor will visit Gillette, Sheridan and Wheatland to discuss his fire restoration and recovery proposals in the 2025 supplemental budget. The Governor’s budget recommendation, currently before the Wyoming Legislature, is to assist in restoring fire-ravaged lands and serves as a back-stop to the current federal, state, and insurance programs. The forums will also include discussion of additional funding to Wyoming’s Mineral Royalty Grant Program.

The forums are open to community members, county commissioners, municipal leaders and media members. Governor Gordon and other state leaders will present information on the proposed fire mitigation/restoration fund to be used to restore grass, hay, and forage lost due last summer’s fires.

“It is my intention to move as quickly as possible to alleviate the devastation to our Wyoming landscape and assist landowners in their recovery, which is why I have requested funding from the Wyoming State Legislature.  This is a top priority,” Governor Gordon said. 

During the Governor’s State of the State address he reminded legislators that last summer’s wildfires devastated over 850,000 acres and expenditures for fighting fires exceeded $55 million; fully wiping out designated firefighting funds.

“Unlike most years in the past where fires have burned on Forest or BLM Lands, this year about 70% of the damage occurred on private or state lands,” said the Governor, “Local fire departments depend on local tax revenues — which come from property taxes. If we have another summer like the summer of 2024, we must be prepared. We owe it to those we represent to keep our state, communities and livelihoods safe … that is true fiscal responsibility.”

WHAT: Governor Gordon Wildfire Restoration and Recovery Community Forums

DATE:  January 27

WHERE/WHEN:  

    • Sheridan - Sheridan College, Whitney Center for the Arts 235, 9-11 AM
    • Gillette - Gillette College, Main Presentation Hall, 12-2 PM
    • Wheatland - Agriplex, 3:15-5:15 PM