S. 91 — Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025

This section revises reporting requirements on Wildland Fire Management accounts of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture (previously limited to a specific fiscal year covered by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018) to require annual reports for each fiscal year on amounts obligated and expended, including any using additional new budget authority under the firefighting emergency adjustment (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(F)), in the preceding fiscal year. The section further revises required inclusions in the reports by (1) replacing analysis of a statistically significant sample of large fires with analysis of each catastrophic wildfire (as defined in new subsection (c)); and (2) replacing cost breakdowns by fire size with breakdowns 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. Finally, the section 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 at 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.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to seek reciprocal fire protection agreements with state agencies under the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act (42 U.S.C. 1856a)—which authorizes federal agencies to enter mutual aid agreements with fire organizations for fire protection on federal property, including waivers of claims and optional reimbursements—for mutual aid in fire suppression services. Such agreements must provide for reimbursement to states for fire suppression services resulting from wildfires caused by military training or other planned Department of Defense (DOD) actions, limited to services directly attributable to the fire; requires state reimbursement applications to include itemized costs; specifies that reimbursements be made from DOD operation and maintenance funds; and deems existing compliant agreements as satisfying these requirements.

This section directs the Secretary concerned (i.e., Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior for federal lands), by September 30, 2026, to review existing spatial fire management policies for each fireshed on federal land and issue, as appropriate, new or revised policies incorporating the best available science and planning tools. Those policies must (1) be reviewed and updated to reflect forest management activities or accessibility changes, within one year after any wildfire in the fireshed, and at least every 10 years; (2) identify 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 control locations and elevated responder risks from 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 prefire planning provisions at the Secretary's discretion. The section further requires, to the maximum extent practicable, inclusion of an employee involved in developing those policies on any team developing or revising a resource management plan 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 to submit a report on the study results to congressional committees not later than one year after enactment of this Act. 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 state, local, or Tribal 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, to the extent practicable, to (1) expedite placement of wildfire detection equipment such as sensors and cameras in areas at risk of wildfire; (2) expand use of satellite data to improve 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 such permitting and procurement requirements in the context of modern technology; and (6) annually provide a forum for companies developing emergent wildland fire technology to engage with wildland fire managers.

This section expands eligibility under the $50 million pilot program for financial assistance to acquire slip-on tanker units (i.e., portable firefighting units mountable on pickup trucks) to include Indian Tribes (from local governments only). It further (1) requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit annual reports to Congress on program implementation—detailing units purchased by state, requests received, and participation barriers—with the first report due October 1, 2026, and the requirement expiring October 1, 2028; and (2) directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, in coordination with recipients and the U.S. Fire Administration, to promulgate mobilization guidance for the units, incorporate them 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 (an interagency partnership funding wildland fire research), to work with universities and other research institutions to conduct research and development on unmanned aircraft system (UAS) applications for wildfire response. The section further authorizes the Secretaries to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator to test such UAS at designated UAS test ranges under 49 U.S.C. 44803 (which supports up to nine federally designated ranges for UAS integration into the national airspace) and authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary.

This section directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (through the Forest Service Chief), to conduct a study on the effects of drone incursions—defined as 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 incursions that interfered with suppression efforts and their estimated effects on suppression time, aerial firefighting delays, 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 seizure (e.g., with nets), and public education. Not later than 18 months after enactment, the Administrator must submit a report on the findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and specified congressional agriculture and natural resources committees.

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/timelines for the most feasible option; (2) real-time or near-real-time situational awareness tools for operational firefighters, including interoperability standards, remote sensing requirements, and cost comparisons between commercial and internally developed systems; and (3) wildland fire predictive modeling, including data and computing needs, 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 amends the disaster preparedness program under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131(a)) to explicitly include post-disaster assistance as an authorized component. It further authorizes the 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 suitable for state residents that list (1) federal, state, and local post-disaster recovery funding or assistance available to communities or impacted individuals and (2) technical guides on costs and benefits of community mitigation alternatives for sequential hazards (e.g., flooding after wildfire); such websites must be updated at least every 180 days and developed in cooperation with the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development, SBA, and FEMA.

This section establishes one or more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (BAER Teams) within the Department of the Interior or Department of Agriculture—not later than 180 days after enactment—to coordinate immediate post-wildfire emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts. Each BAER Team must (1) survey burn severity; (2) identify and remove hazardous trees; (3) stabilize or remove hazardous materials; (4) conduct emergency stabilization and erosion prevention, prioritizing public safety; (5) prevent invasive species spread; (6) inform the public of hazards; (7) collaborate with section 303 activities; and (8) perform other necessary work, with operations limited to one year after wildfire containment to the maximum extent practicable. (As background, BAER assessments mitigate post-fire risks such as flooding, erosion, and debris flows on federal lands.) The Secretaries may use funds available under section 40803(c)(16) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(16)) for these activities.

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. The account funds rehabilitation projects on sites impacted by wildfire or post-wildfire flooding—primarily on federal land but potentially including non-federal land—to restore ecosystem functions where natural regeneration is unlikely (i.e., revegetation and reforestation with site preparation and salvage harvesting; watershed restoration; invasive species mitigation; wildlife habitat restoration) or to repair or replace infrastructure critical for land management. Projects must begin after wildfire containment and be completed within five years; the Secretary of Agriculture may enter cost-sharing agreements with non-federal entities (requiring up to 20% non-federal share, which may be in-kind); and funding must be prioritized nationwide based on downstream effects on water resources. For FY2026 and thereafter, the Secretary must request funds through the President's budget in the National Forest System appropriation. Starting in FY2027, the Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress on burned area recovery work funded by this account, the Act of June 9, 1930 (authorizing emergency rehabilitation of national forest lands), and the Reforestation Trust Fund (16 U.S.C. 1606a(a), funded by tariffs on wood products and related imports).

This section establishes the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related invasive species under the federal prize competition authority (15 U.S.C. 3719), to encourage technological innovation advancing the National Invasive Species Council's mission and to award one or more prizes annually for qualifying advancements. The Secretary of the Interior must establish the prize not later than 180 days after enactment, administered through the council's Executive Director; creates a Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board of at least nine expert members to select topics, issue problem statements, consult stakeholders, and advise on implementation (complying with existing requirements); requires appointment of at least three judges to select winners (subject to the Secretary's determination that no entry merits an award); and mandates a report to Congress within 60 days of each award describing board activities, winners, and selection basis. The board and authority terminate on December 31, 2028. This section also makes conforming amendments to redesignate an existing prize paragraph as (9) and update related funding and administration provisions to incorporate the new prize.