H.R. 5782 — Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025

This section revises reporting requirements on Wildland Fire Management accounts under Section 104 of Division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a–2), as follows: (1) requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to submit a report each fiscal year (previously, only for a fiscal year receiving additional new budget authority) on amounts obligated and expended from such accounts in the preceding fiscal year, including any using additional new budget authority under section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (i.e., the firefighting cap adjustment exempting severe-season suppression costs from sequestration); (2) requires analysis of each catastrophic wildfire (previously, a statistically significant sample of large fires); (3) requires wildfire cost data to be reported by total ground-based operations costs, aircraft operations costs, personnel costs, on- and off-incident support costs, administrative costs funded from Wildland Fire Management accounts, and other relevant factors (previously, by fire size); and (4) defines a catastrophic wildfire as one requiring federal firefighting resources that either burns at least 100,000 acres or at least 50,000 acres with 50% or greater high severity and results in total suppression costs of $50 million or more, destruction of one or more primary residences, or death of one or more individuals. (Wildland Fire Management accounts fund federal suppression, preparedness, and related wildland fire activities for the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture.)

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in accordance with the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act, to seek reciprocal agreements with state agencies for mutual aid in fire suppression services. (As background, the Act authorizes federal agencies to enter such agreements with fire organizations for protection of federal property and other areas, including provisions for waivers of claims and possible reimbursements.) Those agreements must require reimbursement to states—from Department of Defense operation and maintenance funds—for costs of fire suppression services directly attributable to fires caused by military training or other planned Department actions in support of military operations, with applications providing itemized service and cost details. Existing agreements meeting these requirements are deemed compliant.

This section directs the Secretary concerned, not later than September 30, 2026, to review existing spatial fire management policies for each fireshed on federal land and issue new or revised policies, as appropriate, incorporating the best available science and planning tools. Such policies must (1) be routinely reviewed and updated to reflect forest management activities or changes in accessibility, within one year after a wildfire in the fireshed, and at least every 10 years; (2) identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to first responders, communities, critical infrastructure, and high-value resources; (3) be consistent with applicable resource management plans; (4) in coordination with relevant states, delineate wildland fire operational delineations identifying potential wildfire control locations and elevated risks to responders due to steep slopes, excess hazardous fuels under severe fire weather, or other hazards; (5) describe severe fire weather conditions for the fireshed; and (6) include other relevant prefire planning provisions at the Secretary's discretion. The section further requires, to the maximum extent practicable, inclusion of an employee involved in developing such policies on teams revising resource management plans for federal land containing one or more firesheds.

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration and in coordination with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, to conduct a study on gaps in training for structural firefighters in high wildfire risk areas and, not later than one year after enactment, to submit a report on the study results to congressional committees. The report must include (1) a summary of existing coordination practices between federal wildland firefighters and state, local, or Tribal firefighters; (2) an analysis of differences in best response practices for state, local, or Tribal firefighters responding to a single-structure fire incident versus a wildfire threatening a community; (3) existing training modules, or gaps therein, available through the National Fire Academy for training such firefighters on wildfire response threatening communities; and (4) an estimated cost and spending plan to address any identified training gaps.

This section directs the Secretary concerned (i.e., Secretary of Agriculture or Interior), to the extent practicable, to (1) expedite placement of wildfire detection equipment such as sensors and cameras in wildfire-prone areas; (2) expand use of satellite data for wildfire detection and response; (3) expedite permitting for installation, maintenance, or removal of such equipment; (4) use unmanned aerial vehicles to assess wildland fires in incipient stages for initial response; (5) review relevant permitting and procurement requirements in the context of modern technology; and (6) annually host a forum for companies developing emergent wildland fire technology to engage with fire managers.

This section amends the $50 million pilot program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (i.e., financial assistance from the Secretary of the Interior to local governments for acquiring slip-on tanker units—portable firefighting tankers mountable on existing trucks—for wildfire suppression) by (1) expanding eligibility to include Indian Tribes (previously, local governments only); (2) requiring the Secretary of the Interior to submit annual implementation reports to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources—detailing units purchased by state, requests received, and participation barriers—with the first report due October 1, 2026, and the requirement sunsetting October 1, 2028; and (3) directing the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, in coordination with recipients and the U.S. Fire Administration, to promulgate mobilization guidance, incorporate units into resource tracking systems as practicable, and collaborate on operator training.

This section directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, acting through the Joint Fire Science Program, to work with universities and other research institutions to conduct research and development on unmanned aircraft system applications for wildfire response. The Secretaries may coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator to test such systems at designated unmanned aircraft system test ranges. This section authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary.

This section directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service), to conduct a study on the effects of drone incursions (i.e., operation of privately owned unmanned aircraft systems in wildfire temporary flight restriction airspace) on wildfire suppression on lands managed by those departments. The study must (1) determine, for each of the five most recent calendar years, the number of interfering drone incursions and their estimated effects on suppression time, delays in aerial firefighting deployment, and federal expenditures; and (2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of preventive measures, including counter-drone radio towers, reasonable force to disable or destroy drones, drone seizures (e.g., with nets), and dissemination of educational materials. Not later than 18 months after enactment, the Administrator must submit a report on the study's findings and recommendations to specified congressional committees, including the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

This section directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to conduct a study on modernizing wildfire response technologies, specifically (1) improvements to radio communications systems and infrastructure during wildland fire or prescribed fire operations, including assessments of existing infrastructure quality and reliability, failure impacts, options comparisons, and costs and timelines for the most feasible option; (2) real-time or near-real-time situational awareness tools for operational firefighters, including interoperability standards with federal, state, local, Tribal, and other partners, remote sensing and mapping requirements, and cost comparisons between commercial and internally developed systems; and (3) wildland fire predictive modeling, including data and computing needs to reduce errors, artificial intelligence feasibility, and models to support prescribed fire ignition. The Secretaries must submit the study results to congressional committees of jurisdiction and make them publicly available not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.

This section (1) adds post-disaster assistance to the list of elements in the President's disaster preparedness program under Section 201(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131(a)), and (2) authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator to enter into cooperative agreements providing funding or technical assistance to state agencies designated under subsection (c) for establishing, updating, or operating state-managed websites listing Federal, state, and local post-disaster recovery funding and assistance sources for communities and individuals, as well as technical guides on mitigation alternatives (e.g., for sequential hazards such as flooding after wildfires). State agencies must cooperate with the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development; the Small Business Administration; and FEMA in developing the websites, which must be updated at least every 180 days and suitable for state residents.

This section directs the Secretary concerned to establish, not later than 180 days after enactment, one or more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams to coordinate immediate post-wildfire emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts for up to one year after wildfire containment (to the maximum extent practicable). BAER Team requirements include (1) surveying burn severity; (2) removing hazardous trees and materials; (3) conducting emergency stabilization and erosion prevention, prioritizing public safety; (4) preventing invasive species proliferation; (5) informing the public of post-fire hazards; (6) collaborating with section 303 activities; and (7) performing other necessary work. Funds made available under section 40803(c)(16) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(16)) may be used for this purpose.

This section establishes in the Treasury the Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account for the Department of Agriculture and authorizes appropriations of up to $100 million annually for FY2025 and each fiscal year thereafter to fund rehabilitation projects—primarily on federal lands but including limited non-federal lands—impacted by wildfires or post-wildfire flooding. Authorized activities include ecosystem restoration (e.g., revegetation and reforestation with site preparation and salvage harvesting; watershed restoration; invasive species mitigation; wildlife habitat restoration) and repair or replacement of infrastructure critical for land management; projects must begin no earlier than wildfire containment and be completed within five years thereafter. The Secretary of Agriculture may enter cost-sharing agreements with non-federal entities (requiring up to a 20% non-federal share, which may be in-kind) and must prioritize projects nationwide based on downstream effects on water resources; for FY2026 and subsequent years, the Secretary must request such funds through the President's budget within the National Forest System appropriation account. (As background, these activities support long-term recovery of National Forest System lands following severe wildfires, complementing short-term efforts under the Act of June 9, 1930 (16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.).) Starting in FY2027, the Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress on burned area recovery funded by this account, the Act of June 9, 1930, and the Reforestation Trust Fund (16 U.S.C. 1606a).

This section establishes under federal prize competition authority (15 U.S.C. 3719) the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related invasive species (i.e., species spread or exacerbated by wildfires) to encourage technological innovations advancing the National Invasive Species Council's mission of coordinating invasive species prevention and control. The Secretary of the Interior must establish the annual prize competition not later than 180 days after enactment, with 1 or more cash prizes awarded by at least 3 judges (subject to Secretary determination that no entries merit an award), administered through the council's executive director, advised by a board of at least 9 experts consulting federal, state, tribal, and other stakeholders on topics and problem statements, and including congressional reports within 60 days of awards; all authority terminates on December 31, 2028. The section makes conforming amendments to redesignate an existing prize paragraph as (9) (from (8)) and update related cross-references and funding provisions.