H.R. 3924 — Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act

This section expresses the sense of Congress that wildfire management requires a whole-of-government, multi-jurisdictional approach involving Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments in planning, decision-making, and response; endorses the purpose of the quadrennial fire review to forecast wildland fire challenges over a 20-year period and inform long-term strategies; and recognizes the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (April 2014, updated January 2023) for its three goals of resilient landscapes, fire-adapted communities, and safe and effective response, as well as the September 2023 report of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission for its consensus recommendations.

This section requires the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, and Homeland Security, acting jointly through qualified agencies (i.e., Forest Service, Department of the Interior, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and United States Fire Administration), to conduct a quadrennial review of the comprehensive wildfire environment in the United States. The review must include (1) a quantitative analysis of changes to built and natural environments since the prior review and their impacts on pre-fire mitigation, wildfire incident response, and proactive recovery; and (2) an analysis of wildfire-public health intersections, coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Not later than 12 months after enactment of this Act, and every four years thereafter through 20 years, the Secretaries must submit a joint report to relevant congressional committees (i.e., House Committees on Natural Resources, Homeland Security, and Science, Space, and Technology; Senate Committees on Energy and Natural Resources, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation) containing (1) review results and related administrative actions and outcomes; (2) a summary of anticipated wildfire challenges over the subsequent 20-year period and significant long-term wildland fire management challenges; (3) recommendations for necessary federal legislation and administrative actions; (4) an evaluation of progress toward the three goals in the 2014 National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (as updated in 2023) and recommendations in the 2023 Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission report; and (5) projected future scenarios to inform realignment of programs, strategies, capabilities, and workforce.