WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is asking Congress for $615 million to help fight wildfires as the summer season is already prompting blazes across western states.

The White House said Obama will submit the request along with a bigger, $3.7 billion proposal to confront a wave of Central American children crossing the southern border illegally.

The$615 million would go to the Department of Agriculture. White House officials say the money is designed to pay for all wildfire needs in 2014.

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