Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill aims to improve how the federal government responds to and recovers from wildfires in western states. It would authorize funding for emergency teams to stabilize burned areas, prevent erosion, and restore ecosystems and infrastructure damaged by fires. The bill also requires federal agencies to adopt new wildfire detection technology (like sensors) to help manage fires more effectively, and would establish state websites to help communities find recovery resources after disasters. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily impacts residents and communities in western states prone to wildfires, as well as federal land management agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior.
It also affects first responders and emergency management officials who coordinate wildfire response efforts. **Current Status** As of now, the bill (S. 91) is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) in the 119th Congress. The bill focuses on coordination, technology, and recovery—rather than addressing the causes of wildfires themselves.
CRS Official Summary
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025 This bill addresses wildfires by authorizing post-fire recovery activities, supporting adoption of technology, and requiring additional federal coordination.The bill authorizes federal wildfire response and recovery activities byproviding statutory authority for Burned Area Emergency Response Teams to coordinate emergency stabilization and erosion planning, andestablishing an account to fund federal rehabilitation projects in areas impacted by a wildfire (e.g., ecosystem restoration, replacing infrastructure critical for land management).Additionally, for all hazard types, the bill includes post-disaster assistance in the federal disaster preparedness program and authorizes assistance to states for operating websites to provide information on post-disaster recovery resources.The bill requires federal agencies to develop and utilize technologies for managing wildfires byexpediting the permitting and use of wildfire detection equipment (e.g., sensors, cameras);providing funding to Indian tribes for slip-on tanker units that convert vehicles into fire engines;performing research and development on wildfire response applications of unmanned aircraft systems (e.g., drones);studying radio communications systems, situational awareness tools, and wildland fire predictive modeling; andadministering a prize competition for technological innovation for managing wildfire-related invasive species.The bill directs federal agencies to plan and coordinate on wildfire management byincorporating the best available science and planning tools into spatial fire management policies for federal lands, collaborating with state agencies for mutual aid in fire suppression (including reimbursing states for suppressing fires caused by military operations), and studying training gaps for integrating structural (e.g., local) firefighters into wildfire response.
Latest Action
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.