Install
Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025
To increase the preparation of structural firefighters to assist in wildfire and wildland-urban interface fire response efforts and the coordination of firefighting teams across all levels of government, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- Committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became law
Summary
Wildfire Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025
This bill establishes grants, training, and interagency coordination for responding to wildfires and fires in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) (i.e., where undeveloped land or vegetation meets human infrastructure). It also requires measures for protecting the health of firefighters and emergency responders.
The bill establishes an Under Secretary of Agriculture for Fire Coordination to manage coordination of government preparation and response to wildfires and WUI fires. Such office may award grants to fire departments and emergency medical services organizations for training firefighting personnel or obtaining personal protective equipment for responding to such fires.
Also, the Forest Service must establish a national plan with guidelines for training structural (i.e., urban) firefighters to respond to wildfires and WUI fires. The Forest Service may provide grants to certain nonprofit organizations to carry out training programs pursuant to the plan.
Upon request from agencies, the Department of Defense (DOD) may allow its firefighters to conduct operations or assist in responding to wildfires and WUI fires. Agencies must reimburse DOD for such services.
Additionally, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health must perform research and development and report to Congress on protecting the respiratory health of firefighters and identifying certain hazardous substances in areas affected by wildfires and WUI fires. Also, task forces within the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must train each member in peer mental health support and include members who are mental health practitioners.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Actions
- Aug 2, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Aug 1, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Aug 1, 2025 Introduced in House
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