Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention And Response

Background Context

• The January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles highlighted inadequate disaster response by state and local governments.
• Slow responses often stem from mismanagement and lack of preparation, with outdated technology hindering firefighting efforts.

Federal Role

• The Federal Government aims to enhance State and local wildfire response by streamlining capabilities and promoting technology-enabled strategies.

Action Items

• Within 90 Days:

  • Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to consolidate wildland fire programs for efficiency.
  • Expand partnerships and agreements to empower coordinated wildfire management across levels of government.
  • Consider modifications to EPA regulations that hinder preventative prescribed burns and fire retardants.
  • Promote innovative uses for woody biomass to reduce wildfire fuel loads.
  • Examine best practices in the electrical power sector to reduce wildfire ignition risks.
  • Review wildfire-related litigation involving electric utility companies to support prevention efforts.

• Within 120 Days:

  • Secretary of Defense to declassify and release historical satellite data to enhance wildfire prevention and prediction.

• Within 180 Days:

  • Develop a technology roadmap to improve wildfire fighting capabilities through advanced tools.
  • Identify and revise rules that hinder wildfire management and establish performance metrics for response efficacy.

• Within 210 Days:

  • Evaluate the prioritization of excess military aircraft for wildfire mitigation purposes.

Implementation and Authority

• The order will be implemented according to applicable law and budget constraints.
• It clarifies that it does not create enforceable rights or benefits against the U.S. or its entities.