PUBLIC LANDS -- Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service released an alarming report illustrating the profound impact of rising firefighting costs on national forest conservation, restoration, recreation and management programs.

If you're wondering why the Colville National Forest doesn't have a pro-crew for trail maintenance this season, here's you're answer.

Firefighting costs consume more than  50 percent of the Forest Service’s budget, compared with just 16 percent in 1995.

The costs are expected to comprise two-thirds of the agency’s budget in 10 years if left unaddressed.

The Washington Post has this report on the report:

Report: Wildfire costs now consume one-half of the USFS's budget
The U.S. Forest Service says it spent 16 percent of its budget fighting wildfires in 1995, that this year more than 50 percent of its budget will be spent on that purpose, and that, under current budget conditions, wildfire spending will constitute 67 percent or more of its budget by 2025.

U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack, whose department contains the Forest Service, is calling for a new funding model to fight wildfires, and that he would prefer a "budget cap adjustment," which allows agencies to spend more money on disasters outside spending caps.