S. 2039 — Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act

This section expresses the sense of Congress that wildfire management requires a whole-of-government, multi-jurisdictional approach that includes Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments in planning, decision-making, and response activities; that the quadrennial fire review must forecast wildland fire management challenges over the subsequent 20 years and inform long-term strategic actions; and that the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (April 2014, as updated January 2023)—with goals of resilient landscapes, fire-adapted communities, and safe/effective response—and the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission's report (September 2023) provide key strategic guidance and recommendations.

This section directs the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, and Homeland Security, acting jointly through qualified agencies (i.e., Forest Service, Department of the Interior, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Fire Administration, and others as determined), 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 most recent 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). This section further requires the Secretaries to jointly submit a report on the review to specified Senate and House committees (1) not later than 1 year after enactment and every 4 years thereafter through 20 years after enactment; containing (1) review results and resulting administrative actions and outcomes; (2) a summary of anticipated wildfire challenges over the next 20 years and the most significant long-term wildland fire management challenges; (3) recommendations for necessary federal legislation and administrative actions; (4) an evaluation of progress toward 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.