TUCSON, Ariz. -- With drought conditions pointing toward a fire season in 2006 for Arizona, Gov. Janet Napolitano has asked federal officials to ensure that wildland firefighting and prevention resources remain in place and are not reduced.

"As we head into 2006 and it becomes clear that these serious drought conditions will continue for Arizona and the Southwest, my concern about the 2006 wildland fire season grows," Napolitano said in a letter sent Dec. 30 to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Interior Secretary Gale Norton.

The governor urged the Bush administration officials to plan and prepare for the fire season, "particularly with the key decisions pending before you in regard to allocation of resources." She said she was puzzled by reports that the Bureau of Land Management was planning to reduce the number of vehicles used to fight wildfires.

"My concern grows as I also (am) hearing that both departments intend to reallocate much-needed resources away from fire prevention, preparation and suppression," Napolitano wrote. "This would be a step in the wrong direction."

On Wednesday, the governor said in Phoenix that as part of a budget deficit reduction effort, the federal government planned to move $500 million from fire suppression back into its equivalent of the general fund for other purposes "to make the deficit look lower."

She said she was concerned that Washington "is not focused on the fire danger in the West," though perhaps recent destructive fires in Texas and Oklahoma might result in "some renewed focus."

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B8.