Rep. Panetta Reintroduces Legislation to Foster Wildfire Risk Reduction and Preparedness

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) reintroduced the Wildfire Emergency Act to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the American West, through forest restoration, investments in critical infrastructure, and training.  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has reintroduced companion legislation.

In 2022, wildfires burned a combined 7.3 million acres across the United States, higher than the 10-year average.  Last year in California, 256 fires burned approximately 362,455 acres, destroying 772 structures, and claiming the lives of nine Californians.  Climate change is making fire seasons worse overall.  According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, extreme conditions are more widespread than at any point in at least 20 years, contributing to increased risk of large severe fires.

“Despite this year’s severe storms, wildfire season will soon be upon us, once again threatening our forests, community, and residents,” said Rep. Panetta.  “Through the Wildfire Emergency Act, we’re ensuring the federal government does its part to reduce the risk of wildfires and provide vulnerable communities the training and resources needed to combat these deadly blazes.  Wildfires pose an immediate threat to the wellbeing of the American West, and we need to be proactive in our efforts to protect lives, land, and livelihoods.”

“Wildfires throughout Western states, particularly California, are becoming deadlier and more destructive because of climate change.  We must recognize this as the new normal and do all we can to help reduce the risk of devastating wildfires,” said Senator Feinstein.  “This bill approaches the problem of wildfires from multiple directions: it accelerates forest restoration programs that reduce the threat of fire, it funds programs to help communities mitigate local fire risks and it invests in technology and firefighter workforce training to better equip us to battle these fires.  Every level of government and the private sector must be involved in this fight, and this bill will go a long way toward helping us prepare for a hotter, drier future.”

Original House co-sponsors of the Wildfire Emergency Act are; Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jim Costa (CA-21), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Barbara Lee (CA-12), John Garamendi (CA-08), and Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10).

Key provisions of the Wildfire Emergency Act include; allowing the U.S. Forest Service to leverage private financing to accelerate forest restoration projects, creating a program to ensure power at critical facilities during wildfire disruptions, expanding a weatherization grant program to help low-income households fireproof their homes, and establishing a fire-training center for the western United States

Specifically, the Wildfire Emergency Act:

• Provides up to $250 million to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration and wildfire resilience projects. These funds would allow large-scale forest restoration efforts on up to 20 landscapes of at least 100,000 acres each to achieve maximum benefit.
  • The U.S. Forest Service would be granted pilot authority to bring together local stakeholders, conservationists and private financing groups to leverage additional funds to implement these projects faster. Each project could receive up to $50 million in new financing under this pilot authority.

• The bill requires a report to Congress on the impact of this pilot authority and any barriers to making the authority permanent.

• Establishes an energy resilience program at the Department of Energy to ensure that critical facilities remain active during wildfire disruptions. Up to $100 million is authorized to make necessary retrofits for this purpose. Backup power would prioritize renewable fuels rather than diesel generators.

• Expands an existing Energy Department weatherization grant program to provide up to $13,000 to low-income households to make wildfire-hardening retrofits including ember-resistant roofs and gutters.
  • In many states, including California, insurance companies will automatically reduce fire insurance premiums for homeowners who harden their homes against wildfire.

• Expedites the placement of wildfire detection equipment on the ground including sensors and cameras, as well as the use of space-based observation to identify new fires faster and help firefighters respond more effectively.

• Authorizes funding for programs to expand the forest conservation and wildland firefighting workforce.

• Establishes a prescribed fire-training center in the West. Currently, the U.S. Forest Service operates just one prescribed fire training center in Florida.

• Authorizes grants to professional organizations, state agencies and academic institutions to support training the next generation of foresters and firefighters. These grants would provide for increased outreach to interested students as well as support training and internships for interested individuals.

• Authorizes up to $50 million to support community grants of up to $50,000 for locally focused land stewardship and conservation.

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