QUILCENE – State Department of Natural Resources officials are pressing fire districts statewide to sign new agreements that redefine agency responsibilities for fighting wild land fires.

But some fire chiefs in Jefferson County are not so enthusiastic about signing new agreements that they say will transfer more responsibilities, which means more costs, to the districts.

“District 2 and District 5 are gravely concerned about this,” said Bob Wilson, chief for Fire District 2 (Quilcene) and Fire District 5 (Discovery Bay).

“One event could be astronomical – it could be a $1 million fire – and we don’t have the funds to fight that.”

For the past couple of years, DNR officials have attempted to standardize wild land fire fighting agreements with fire districts statewide, but they have had trouble getting many to agree to the terms.

“Basically, the old agreements don’t address all the issues that we need to address,” said Susan Trettevik, Resources assistant Olympic regional manager for resources, protection and service.

“The more we can have standard agreements, the easier it is to respond.”

The Olympic region encompasses Jefferson, Clallam and Grays Harbor counties.