Bills target wildfire response, recovery

U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced two bills seeking to support efforts in California and nationwide to extinguish fires faster.

The Fire Suppression Improvement Act would also protect communities from post-fire flooding and expand Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) to support the pre-deployment of assets in advance of major wildfires.

The Post Fire Flooding and Debris Flow Act would address mitigating and preventing post-wildfire flooding and debris flows eligible under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), allowing for state and local governments to act expeditiously amid storms to protect lives, property, and public infrastructure.

“Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires in the West, and federal policies must adapt to these new challenges,” Feinstein said. “Our bills would provide states more flexibility in the use of federal emergency funds, allowing them to help mitigate fires before they happen and protect communities from floods and mudslides after a wildfire.”

Padilla said the threat from wildfires is constant and increasingly devastating in California and states across the western United States.

“As we enter another dangerous fire season under record-breaking drought conditions, it’s more urgent than ever that we act quickly to pre-deploy assets to stop fires when they break out and ensure our state and local community leaders have the tools to protect communities after they happen,” Padilla said.