HR5782-119

What This Bill Does

The Western Wildfire Support Act is a multi-title wildfire operations and recovery bill. It requires more detailed federal reporting on catastrophic wildfire suppression costs, pushes Defense Department reimbursement agreements when military training causes State fire-suppression costs, and makes Interior and Agriculture update strategic fireshed planning based on science, responder risk, community risk, critical infrastructure, and high-value resources. It also studies how structural firefighters can be better integrated with federal wildland firefighting, accelerates wildfire detection equipment, supports slip-on tanker units for local governments and Indian Tribes, funds research on unmanned aircraft systems, studies drone incursions and response-technology modernization, authorizes FEMA cooperative agreements for State post-disaster assistance websites, creates permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams, establishes a Forest Service Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account capped at $100 million per year, and creates a Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for wildfire-related invasive species technology through 2028.

Who Benefits and How

Western communities at wildfire risk benefit because the bill targets earlier detection, better fireshed planning, and faster post-fire stabilization. State fire agencies benefit because DOD must seek reciprocal reimbursement agreements for State suppression costs caused by military training. Local governments and Indian Tribes benefit because the slip-on tanker unit pilot is expanded and agencies must report barriers to participation. Disaster survivors benefit because FEMA may fund State websites that explain federal, State, and local recovery resources after major disasters. Forest Service rehabilitation teams benefit from a dedicated long-term account for reforestation, watershed restoration, invasive-species work, and infrastructure repair.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Interior and Agriculture wildfire managers must complete new fireshed policies, technology reviews, reports, studies, guidance, and post-fire response teams. Defense Department operation and maintenance accounts bear reimbursement costs when military training causes State wildfire suppression expenses. FAA staff must study drone incursions in wildfire-restricted airspace and report options such as counter-drone towers, seizure, and education. Private drone operators face scrutiny because the bill evaluates actions to prevent drones from interfering with aerial firefighting. Federal taxpayers fund new studies, cooperative agreements, BAER teams, rehabilitation projects, unmanned-aircraft research, and annual prizes.

Key Provisions

• Requires annual reporting on obligations and spending from Wildland Fire Management accounts and detailed analysis of catastrophic wildfire costs.
• Requires DOD to seek State reciprocal agreements reimbursing suppression services caused by military training or planned military actions.
• Requires Interior and Agriculture to review and update spatial fire-management policies for every fireshed on federal land.
• Directs wildfire detection equipment, satellite data, permitting, unmanned aircraft use, and emergent technology forums.
• Expands slip-on tanker support to Indian Tribes and requires reporting, mobilization guidance, resource tracking, and training coordination.
• Authorizes State post-disaster assistance websites and establishes BAER Teams for immediate stabilization and erosion planning.
• Establishes a Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account for Forest Service ecosystem restoration and infrastructure repair.
• Creates a wildfire-related invasive species technology advisory board and annual prize competition through 2028.