Reps. Josh Harder (D-Calif), Scott Franklin (R-Fla.), and Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) introduced the Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act on June 10 to address the wildfire threat and combat megafires more effectively through bipartisan-supported measures.
The bill aims to establish a Middle Fire Leaders Academy for swift training and certification of emerging wildfire and fire leaders. It also sets up a grant program for colleges and vocational programs to support fire mitigation, response, and recovery workers.
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The bill’s four-part strategy aims to enhance wildfire prevention and response through key initiatives. It seeks to address firefighter shortages through the academy and grant programs to train and recruit more firefighters.
“As a father of a wildland firefighter, I’m pleased to join Reps. Harder and Neguse in modernizing and innovating our wildfire management approach,” Mr. Franklin remarked. “This comprehensive package will invest in new wildfire mitigation technologies and ensure sustainable solutions to current and future workforce challenges.”
The bill also suggests offering increased benefits and improved working conditions to retain skilled wildland firefighters.
Enhancing fire response time is another priority. The bill plans to utilize updated technology, such as advanced risk maps for predicting wildfire behavior, and establish the Joint Office of Fire Environment Center for better fire response coordination.
Moreover, the bill would introduce a real-time nationwide air quality monitoring and alert system to help mitigate public health issues caused by wildfire smoke.
“From Colorado to California, wildfires have become a widespread issue in the West,” Mr. Neguse stated. “It’s time for a proactive approach to equip our communities with the necessary tools to mitigate the impacts of these fires.”
