The U.S. House of Representatives passed on Monday legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA) to develop advanced technology to improve wildfire response.
The bipartisan legislation, the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operation (ACERO) Act, would help to develop the use of unmanned aircraft technology to improve aerial responses to wildfires, including in low-visibility conditions when manned aircraft are not able to fly. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.
“Today’s unanimous passage of the ACERO Act is an important step toward modernizing our wildfire response and equipping our firefighters with the advanced tools they need to safely protect our communities,” Fong said. “By leveraging cutting-edge technology developed at NASA Armstrong here in our community, my bipartisan legislation delivers real solutions that will save lives and property across the country. I’m grateful for the strong support the ACERO Act received here in the House and urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass it as soon as possible.”
Currently, federal and state agencies are limited by communications systems when it comes to responding to wildfires using aerial technology. The ACERO Act would leverage technologies from NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in California to improve the management of airspace and ensure the safe coordination of manned and unmanned aerial technology during wildfires. The legislation would direct NASA to enhance airspace management and integrate advanced technologies, as well as ensure accountability by requiring annual progress reports to Congress through 2030. The legislation would also prohibit NASA from procuring drones from foreign adversaries like China.
The legislation is supported by several wildfire stakeholders.
“The Kern County Fire Department has long recognized that aerial support is not a luxury on wildland incidents, it is a necessity,” Fire Chief Aaron Duncan, Kern County Fire Department, said. “For decades, we have invested in our air operations program, and more recently, we’ve expanded our Unmanned Aerial Systems capabilities because we have seen firsthand how technology can enhance situational awareness, firefighter safety, and operational effectiveness. As UAS technology continues to advance and the integration between manned and unmanned aircraft increases, it is critical that we establish consistent standards for training, coordination, and data sharing across agencies.”