Gibbons set to meet with governors on wildfires

Gov. Jim Gibbons will fly to Boise, Idaho, on Monday to meet with his counterparts from Idaho and Utah to discuss wildfire issues.

He, Gov. Butch Otter, of Idaho, and Gov. Jon Huntsman, of Utah, will discuss joint firefighting and fire prevention efforts in the West as well as the role they believe the federal government must play in land management both before and after fire season. Gov. Dave Freudenthal, of Wyoming, will participate in the meeting via telephone.

Gibbons will be accompanied by Nevada Agriculture Director Donna Rise, Army National Guard Adjutant General Cindy Kirkland and Emergency Management Chief Frank Siracusa.

More than 900,000 acres have burned in Nevada this fire season, far more than most years by this date. In addition to the loss of vegetation and the impact on agriculture, Gibbons said the loss of wildlife habitat poses a serious threat to a number of Nevada 's native species including the mule deer and sage grouse.