Washington Governor to Sign Aerial Firefighting Bill

The new law gives local fire chiefs authority to call in aerial assets to fight wildfires.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 6:00am

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Washington Governor Brad Ferguson is expected to sign a bill on Friday that gives local fire chiefs the authority to call in aerial assets to fight wildfires. The bill, known as House Bill 2104, passed the state legislature unanimously and removes a previous sunset clause, making the law permanent.

Why it matters

Wildfires have become an increasingly pressing issue in Washington state in recent years, with the state experiencing some of its largest and most destructive blazes on record. This new law is aimed at giving local fire departments more tools to quickly respond to and contain wildfires before they grow out of control.

The details

House Bill 2104 was largely pushed by local Representative Mary Dye and Asotin County Fire Chief Noel Hardin, who testified to the bill's usefulness after last year's successful use of aerial assets to fight the Evans Road Fire and the Clayton Road Fire in Garfield County.

  • Governor Ferguson is expected to sign the bill on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • The original bill had a sunset clause set for July 1, 2027, but the new version removes that expiration date.

The players

Governor Brad Ferguson

The governor of Washington state who is expected to sign the aerial firefighting bill into law.

Representative Mary Dye

A local state representative who was a key proponent of the aerial firefighting bill.

Noel Hardin

The Asotin County Fire Chief who testified in support of the bill, citing its usefulness in fighting recent wildfires.

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What they’re saying

“The new law gives local fire chiefs authority to call in aerial assets to fight wildfires.”

— Representative Mary Dye

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This new law is an important step in equipping Washington's local fire departments with the resources they need to quickly respond to and contain wildfires, which have become an increasingly pressing issue in the state.