BOISE - Just months after Idaho suffered through its worst fire season ever, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and the Idaho Legislature are hoping to beef up measures to minimize the impact - financially and physically - wildfires could have in the future.

Otter wants $10 million for his Governor's Emergency Fund, which he says will be reserved for fighting wildfires in 2008.

In a routine matter, he's also asking for $1.2 million from the state's general fund to replenish part of the Disaster Emergency Relief Fund, which Otter tapped for the rehabilitation and seeding efforts on the 650,000 acres charred in the Murphy Complex Fire.

The money may be used by Otter for "any emergency which was not foreseen or reasonably foreseeable by the Legislature and which may arise in carrying on the essential functions of state government and in protecting the interest of the state which have been impaired by such emergency," according to state law. It has a balance of about $80,000 and has been accessed for three or four years, according to the Division of Financial Management. Otter didn't seek funding for it last year.

Wildfires torched about 1.9 million acres in Idaho last year - more than in any other state, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise. About 9.2 million acres burned nationally, not counting some California wildfires still burning.

Federal land-management officials expect the mega-fire trend to continue as summers become hotter and drier. Authorities blamed the ferocity of this year's large fires on especially hot weather, high winds and a large amount of dry fuel.

Otter and his budget analysts feel that accessing the Governor's Emergency Fund would show more accountability. And unspent money would remain for the future, said spokesman Jon Hanian.

"With the case of fires, it underscored a need for the ability by the governor for an emergency fund," said Hanian.

How the $10 million proposal fares in the Legislature remains to be seen.

On Thursday, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $21.5 million to pay for statewide fire suppression in 2007. Idaho law allows state-protected lands to receive fire-suppression reimbursement after fire seasons.

"For fire, what we have in place - the deficiency grant system - it works," said Rep. Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson, who sits on the committee. "We know that. To create another method, I'll have to get more details on that."

But Brackett, who lost cattle in the Murphy Complex said he's not ruling out that extra money, and called Otter's response to Idaho wildfires "pretty remarkable."

"But it's common with how he does a lot of things," he said. "It's hands on, it's immediate and it's decisive."

Among the 650,000 acres charred by the Murphy Complex fire is the Diamond A Ranch near the Idaho-Nevada border.

The ranch is owned by Gay Simplot, Otter's ex-wife, and is in a trust fund for his children from that marriage.

The rehabilitation efforts didn't include private land and instead only state land, said Idaho Fish and Game Director Cal Groen.

Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 631-793-5717 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com.