The omnibus spending bill deal reached in Congress includes language to allow wildfires to be treated as natural disasters and allow firefighting efforts to be paid for through disaster funding rather than entirely out of the Forest Service budget.  Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden says this can help end a vicious cycle of depleting resources for fire prevention to pay for fire suppression.  The bill also includes two-years of funding for counties with national forest lands under the Secure Rural Schools Act, which had not been renewed in recent years.  That provides funding for schools, roads, and other services.  The bill includes an amendment to Forest Service policy in the bill allowing for funds designated for search and recuse efforts to be used for training and acquisition of equipment, which Hood River County Sheriff Matt English says is a move sheriffs have been requesting for years.