Rey: Better management lowers costs of firefighting Eds: APNewsNow. Will be led.

Missoula, Mont. (AP) U.S. Undersecretary of Agriculture Mark Rey says better forestry management is helping slow the escalating costs of suppressing wildfires.

Ray says that in the 1970s, firefighting accounted for about 14 percent of the U.S. Forest Service budget. Today he says it's about 50 percent.

Ray oversees the Forest Service. He says fuels reduction, thinning and other actions will continue to help, as Congress also seeks alternatives for funding the costs of fighting fires.

Rey addressed a group of about 120 forest industry people Saturday in Missoula.

Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 05-18-08 1557CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list