Wildfires are burning hotter and more frequently than ever. So far this year, wildfires have scorched almost 8 million acres across the country, a stark contrast from the 2.7 million acres burned last year. These fires have devastated thousands of homes, businesses, and communities.

The federal government has committed significant resources to combat wildfires. From suppression, recovery, and mitigation activities to research on wildfire behavior and the development of new technologies, these expenditures add up to billions of dollars annually, spread across numerous federal agencies and programs. To best address the rising threat of wildfires, we must ensure our limited resources get to the places where they are most needed.

Federal investments can help communities prepare for future wildfires. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) appropriated more than $7.3 billion to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Department of the Interior, much of which is dedicated to wildfire risk mitigation and ecosystem recovery programs. Recent trends in the USFS budget also show an increasing percentage dedicated to wildfire—up to 57% in fiscal year (FY) 2020. This unprecedented level of funding can make it difficult to track where federal dollars are flowing and how they are being used.

As is always the case, massive federal spending—without proper oversight—leaves room for inefficiency and waste. Much of federal wildfire spending is opaque, which can stymie communities’ efforts to access the resources they need and prevent policymakers from directing federal dollars to where they are most needed. Increased transparency benefits both communities and taxpayers.

To help “clear the smoke,” Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) launched a new database this week to uncover and analyze federal wildfire spending. This tool allows the public to explore more than $900 billion in federal appropriations from FY2015 to FY2024 for programs or line items that directly or indirectly address wildfires. While the data is not exhaustive, the database will help identify gaps in publicly available spending information, provide insights into how federal dollars are being spent, and offer areas for improvement.

Our analysis of historical wildfire spending underscores the need to increase investments in wildfire mitigation. Risk mitigation is critical for protecting communities and reducing future federal wildfire costs. Yet our research indicates that of the $59.7 billion appropriated over the last decade to address wildfires, only 17% has been directed toward mitigation. By contrast, wildfire response (and preparation for response, like training and equipment) accounts for 72% of wildfire spending. In the wake of disasters, federal funding for wildfire response and recovery are necessary. However, a more balanced approach between suppression and mitigation funding can provide communities with the tools and resources to better reduce wildfire risks and effects, potentially lowering the cost of suppression and recovery in the future.

The database also highlights the need for more work to improve transparency in federal wildfire spending. TCS catalogued 88 programs and line items, totaling $897 billion in appropriations, for programs that may—but do not necessarily—fund wildfire-related activities. These include programs likely to impact wildfire behavior, such as forest health and resource management, and those that address wildfires within broader mandates, such as natural disaster programs. However, many of these programs lack publicly available information on wildfire-specific spending or, in some cases, any program-level appropriations information at all.

Developing wildfire budget crosscuts could clarify federal spending trends. Greater transparency would reveal how taxpayer dollars are distributed geographically, across which programs, for what policy goals, and over what timeframes. This would provide stakeholders with the tools needed to evaluate the priorities and effectiveness of these expenditures.

The database’s findings support recommendations made by TCS, allied partner organizations, and the inter-agency Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. As wildfire costs continue to grow, billions of taxpayer dollars are being added to wildfire management. It is critical that these funds are properly tracked and evaluated to ensure that people and property are kept out of harm’s way.

By establishing budgetary structures to improve transparency, oversight, and accountability, we can better direct federal resources to protect communities and save taxpayer dollars in the long run.