To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.
Plain Language Summary
# HR 178 Summary **What the Bill Would Do** HR 178 would require the U.S. Forest Service to aggressively suppress wildfires in high-risk areas within 24 hours of detection, using all available resources. The bill targets Forest Service lands experiencing severe drought, extreme wildfire activity, or located in areas with the highest wildfire exposure. It would also allow state and local fire agencies to assist without Forest Service interference and restrict the use of controlled fires (like backburns) to situations where a fire commander orders them or they're needed to protect firefighter safety. **Who It Affects and Current Status** The bill would primarily impact the Forest Service's wildfire management practices in drought-stricken and high-risk regions.
Firefighters, rural communities near national forests, and state/local fire agencies would be affected by these new requirements. Currently, HR 178 is in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. The bill was introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) and focuses on emergency response and forest management during wildfire crises.
CRS Official Summary
This bill sets out requirements for wildfire suppression and management activities carried out by the Forest Service.These requirements apply to Forest Service land that (1) has a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought intensity rating; (2) has a National Wildland Fire Preparedness level of 5 (i.e., the highest level of wildland fire activity); or (3) is located in a fireshed ranked in the top 10% of wildfire exposure.Within 24 hours of detecting a wildfire on such Forest Service land, the service must use all available resources to extinguish the wildfire. Additionally, the service may not inhibit the firefighting activities of state and local agencies that are authorized to respond to wildfires on the Forest Service land.Further, the service may only initiate a backfire or burnout as part of a fire suppression strategy if it is ordered by the responsible incident commander or is necessary to protect the health and safety of firefighting personnel. The service must use all available resources to control any initiated fire until it is extinguished.The bill also limits the service's use of prescribed fires (i.e., the controlled application of fire by a team of experts under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire). When using prescribed fires as a fire resource management tool, the service must comply with applicable laws and regulations and immediately suppress any prescribed fire that exceeds its prescription.
Latest Action
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-429, Part I.