Arizona legislature to hold special wildfire funding session

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - The Arizona legislature will convene in special sessions this week to consider adding $100 million in funding for fighting wildfires.

This session will also discuss how to boost the amount of money available to clear hazardous brush and deal with the damage of flooding from fire-ravaged mountains.

Governor Doug Ducey formally called for the special session on Monday after announcing that he planned the session last week when touring two of the large fires burning in south-central Arizona.

House Speaker Rusty Bowers is on board to increase funding and is considering increasing the numbers for funding. It is expected to include $25 million to pay for state prisoners to clear brush under direction of state forestry officials and $75 million for the fire fund to help affected people and property owners recover and prepare for the fallout of multiple large fires.

The special session will run for three days beginning Tuesday along with the regular session that has been stalled over the inability of lawmakers to reach a deal on the overall state budget.