President Bush has signed into law the bill authored by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., that would allow South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado to share resources and help each other fight wildland fires.

In order for states to officially work together under such an agreement, congressional approval is required, according to a news release from Thune's office.

The Senate passed the bill July 13.

The House passed the bill July 30.

The bill was also supported by Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, D-S.D.

"The states of South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado can now join forces in fighting forest fires," Thune said in a news release. "This creates an interstate pact in which South Dakota could count on the help of other states when conditions reach crisis level. This type of pact is particularly important when we consider the severe drought conditions that our region has been dealing with over the last six years."

State Wildland Fire Coordinator Joe Lowe said earlier this month that the bill would help the South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression Division gain resources that might not be otherwise available.

South Dakota will now be able to draw resources from the other states in the compact, which would be named the Great Plains Interstate Fire Compact. After those resources were exhausted, the state could draw from the seven other compacts that exist throughout the nation.

In the current system, South Dakota resources are ordered at a local, regional and then nationwide level.

Because some of the other compacts include Canadian provinces, the law will make it easier to get Canadian planes that red tape might have previously prevented, Lowe said.

The bill also was supported by Gov. Mike Rounds. The South Dakota State Legislature ratified the agreement in 2006. Wyoming and Colorado have also ratified it.

North Dakota can enter the agreement pending its ratification.