Funds appropriated to this program are used for fire control expenditures of two kinds, neither of which is predictable with any degree of certainty. The fund covers fire suppression salaries (which vary with the severity of the fire season) and supplies and services required on a case-by-case basis with each fire suppression effort. The appropriation is also used to match county payments into the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund (WFSF) pursuant to UCA 65A-8-204. They also pay half of county fire suppression costs in excess of the county's approved fire suppression budget (for counties not in the Insurance Fund).
The Suppression Fund provides the flexibility to pay for wildland fire supplies and services as the cost is incurred. Many of the supplies and services are provided by local merchants and contractors. The suppression fund allows payment to local vendors in a reasonable time frame.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.