Members of the Congressional Western Caucus issued a statement condemning obstruction of active fire management policies by Senate Democrats. The statement says the 2018 deadly and destructive wildfire season has further solidified the need for active forest management provisions found in the House-passed farm bill. The group sent a letter to the farm bill conference committee urging the inclusion. However, farm bill conference committee members reported Wednesday afternoon that leadership decided against any sweeping forestry title reforms, which has been the latest hold up in the farm bill debate. More than 52,000 wildfires have burned more than 8.5 million acres this year alone. The caucus, currently comprised of all Republicans, is open to all political parties. Opposition to the House plan has said that active forest management could “devastate forests” and “wipe out plants and animals.”