A substantive revision, v2 renames the bill to 'Western Wildfire Support Act of 2026' and extends several deadlines by one year. Key changes include broadening definitions for 'fireshed' and 'Federal land', expanding coordination requirements for strategic planning, and significantly altering the scope and funding mechanisms for post-fire recovery, including the deletion of the 'Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction' section.
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
- Committees
- Energy and Natural Resources Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 17, 2026
Bottom line
This bill aims to enhance the federal government's capacity to prevent, detect, suppress, and recover from wildfires, particularly in Western states, through improved coordination, technology, and funding mechanisms.
What it actually does
This bill significantly updates and expands federal efforts related to wildfire management, encompassing preparation, detection, suppression, and post-fire recovery. It mandates enhanced transparency for federal wildfire spending, improves coordination with state and local entities, and promotes the adoption of advanced technologies for detection and response. The bill also establishes permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams and a dedicated account for long-term burned area rehabilitation.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that the bill is a critical step towards modernizing the nation's wildfire response, ensuring greater accountability for federal spending, and improving the safety and effectiveness of firefighters. They contend that proactive planning, rapid detection, and robust post-fire recovery are essential for protecting communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources from the increasing threat of catastrophic wildfires.
Opponents contend
While direct opposition to wildfire preparedness is uncommon, potential critics might raise concerns about the overall cost of implementing the bill's provisions without a clear CBO score, or question the balance between federal and local control in land management and emergency response. Some might also scrutinize specific technological deployments for privacy implications or operational effectiveness.
The bill is moderately complex due to its amendments to existing law, detailed requirements, and cross-references, necessitating careful reading to fully grasp its scope and implications.
Title I, Sec. 101
Enhanced Wildland Fire Management Account Reporting
This section amends existing law to require more detailed annual reports on federal wildfire spending, including funds from emergency accounts. It specifically mandates an analysis of costs (ground operations, aircraft, personnel, support, administrative) for each 'catastrophic wildfire,' which is defined by acreage burned (50,000-100,000+ acres with high severity), suppression costs ($50 million or more), or impact on residences/lives.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue that this provision will significantly improve transparency and accountability in federal wildfire spending, allowing for better resource allocation and more efficient management of taxpayer dollars.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against this provision, though some might argue that the detailed reporting requirements could create an undue administrative burden on agencies without a proportional increase in operational efficiency.
Tradeoffs
The tradeoff involves balancing the desire for comprehensive financial transparency with the potential for increased administrative overhead for federal agencies responsible for wildfire management.
Title I, Sec. 102
Reimbursement for Wildfires Caused by Military Training
This section requires the Secretary of Defense to enter into agreements with state agencies for mutual aid in fire suppression, specifically for fires caused by military training or operations. These agreements must ensure that state agencies are reimbursed for the direct costs of fire suppression services they provide in such incidents, with funding coming from the Department of Defense's operation and maintenance appropriations.
Title I, Sec. 103
Strategic Wildland Fire Management Planning
This section mandates that the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture review and update spatial fire management policies for all 'firesheds' (areas where ignition threatens communities) on federal land by September 30, 2027. These policies must incorporate the latest science, identify wildfire and smoke risks, align with existing land management plans, define operational control locations, specify high-risk areas for firefighters, and describe severe fire weather conditions. It also requires involving relevant employees in land management plan revisions.
Title I, Sec. 104
Study on Integrating Local Firefighters into Wildfire Response
This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the U.S. Fire Administration, to conduct a study within one year on training gaps for structural firefighters in high wildfire risk areas. The report to Congress must summarize existing coordination, analyze differences in response practices (single structure vs. community wildfire), identify National Fire Academy training gaps, estimate costs to address these gaps, and examine the costs and methods for integrating state, local, and Tribal firefighters into federal wildfire response.
Title II, Sec. 201
Expedited Wildfire Detection and Assessment
This section requires the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment (sensors, cameras) in high-risk areas, expand the use of satellite data, and streamline permitting for installation and maintenance. It also mandates the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for assessing incipient fires to determine initial response actions and a review of procurement requirements for modern detection technology.
Title II, Sec. 202
Support for Slip-on Tanker Units
This section amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to extend financial assistance for acquiring firefighting 'slip-on tanker units' to Indian Tribes, in addition to local governments. It requires the Secretary of Interior to submit annual reports (until October 1, 2029) on the program's implementation, detailing units purchased, requests received, and barriers to participation. The Secretaries are also directed to incorporate mobilized slip-on tanker units into resource tracking systems and collaborate on necessary training for operators.
Title II, Sec. 203
Research and Development of Unmanned Aircraft System Fire Applications
This section directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, through the Joint Fire Science Program, to collaborate with universities and research institutions on research and development (R&D) for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) applications in wildfire response. It also permits the testing of these developed UAS at FAA-approved unmanned aircraft test ranges, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Title II, Sec. 204
Study on Unauthorized Drone Incursions on Wildfire Suppression
This section mandates a study by the Secretary of Agriculture (via the Forest Service Chief), in consultation with Interior and FAA, on the impact of unauthorized unmanned aircraft (drones) on wildfire suppression efforts. The study must quantify incidents and their effects on suppression time, aerial firefighting delays, and federal costs over five years. It will also evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of various countermeasures, including non-kinetic and kinetic counter-UAS equipment and educational campaigns. A report is due to Congress within two years.
Title II, Sec. 205
Study on Modernizing Wildfire Response Technologies
This section requires the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to conduct a study on three key areas: necessary improvements to radio communications systems and infrastructure for wildland fire operations; real-time or near-real-time situational awareness tools for firefighters, including interoperability standards and remote sensing capabilities; and wildland fire and smoke predictive modeling, assessing data needs, computing power, artificial intelligence feasibility, and applications for prescribed fire. A report is due to Congress within two years.
Title III, Sec. 301
Funding for Online Guides for Post-Wildfire Assistance
This section amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide funding and technical assistance to state agencies. This assistance is for establishing, updating, or operating websites that provide information on post-wildfire recovery funding and resources for communities and individuals impacted by catastrophic wildfires. These websites must be state-managed, suitable for residents, and include lists of federal, state, and local assistance, as well as technical guides for mitigating impacts and preparing for sequential hazards like post-wildfire flooding. State agencies must cooperate with various federal departments.
Title III, Sec. 302
Permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams
This section requires the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to establish, to the maximum extent practicable, permanent Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams within 180 days of enactment. These teams are tasked with coordinating immediate post-fire emergency response and stabilization efforts. Their responsibilities include surveying burn severity, conducting risk assessments to identify threats to critical values, and mitigating these risks through actions like removing hazardous trees and materials, preventing erosion, and controlling invasive species. BAER Teams are expected to coordinate efforts for up to one year post-containment and may monitor/maintain stabilization efforts for up to five years.
Title III, Sec. 303
Burned Area Rehabilitation Account
This section establishes a 'Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account' within the Wildland Fire Management account for the Department of Agriculture, available to both the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture. It mandates that Presidential budget requests include amounts for this account starting in FY2026. Funds are to be used for rehabilitation projects on federal land (and non-federal land with landowner consent) impacted by wildfire or post-wildfire flooding. Projects include ecosystem restoration (revegetation, reforestation, watershed restoration, invasive species mitigation, wildlife habitat restoration) and repair of critical infrastructure. Projects must start after containment and be completed within five years. The Secretaries can enter agreements with non-federal entities, with a non-federal cost share of up to 20%. Funding prioritization will be based on landscape and watershed benefits.
The short title of the bill was changed from 'Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025' to 'Western Wildfire Support Act of 2026' in the reported version.
Sec. 1, (a) Short Title
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice, indicating the year the bill is expected to pass or be enacted, rather than an evasive tactic.
Case for: The updated year reflects the current legislative session and provides an accurate reference for the bill's eventual enactment.
Case against: No specific case against, as it's a procedural update.
Estimated impact: No direct policy impact, purely procedural.
The definition of 'National Forest System' in the amended text now explicitly excludes 'any forest reserve not created from the public domain.' The original text only excluded national grasslands and land utilization projects, and National Forest System land east of the 100th meridian.
Sec. 2, (6)(B)(ii)
Why it matters:This could be a technical clarification or a deliberate narrowing of the scope of lands covered by certain provisions of the bill, potentially to avoid applying new rules to specific types of forest reserves. It is likely a technical adjustment.
Case for: This clarification ensures that the bill's provisions apply only to the intended scope of National Forest System lands, avoiding unintended consequences for other types of federal forest reserves.
Case against: Depending on the specific forest reserves affected, this exclusion could limit the application of beneficial wildfire support activities to areas that might also need them.
Estimated impact: Potentially alters the applicability of the bill's provisions to a subset of National Forest System lands, impacting their management and eligibility for certain programs.
The original bill included a Sec. 304 titled 'Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction,' which established the 'Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize' and an advisory board. This entire section was removed in the reported version of the bill.
Sec. 302 (original) and Sec. 303 (amended)
Why it matters:The removal of this section suggests a shift in legislative priorities or a decision to pursue this initiative through other means or at a later time. It could be due to cost concerns, jurisdictional issues, or a focus on more immediate operational aspects of wildfire management.
Case for: Removing this provision might streamline the bill, focusing resources on core wildfire response and recovery efforts, or it could be pursued as a separate, more targeted initiative.
Case against: The deletion eliminates a potential avenue for fostering innovation in a critical area of post-fire recovery, as invasive species often proliferate after wildfires and hinder ecosystem restoration.
Estimated impact: Eliminates a new federal prize competition and advisory board aimed at technological innovation for invasive species management, potentially reducing incentives for private sector engagement in this area.
The 'Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account' was originally established solely for the Department of Agriculture with an authorization of appropriations 'not to exceed $100,000,000.' The amended text establishes the account 'under the Wildland Fire Management account for the Department of Agriculture, which shall be available to the Secretaries' (Interior and Agriculture), and removes the $100,000,000 cap.
Sec. 303(a) (amended)
Why it matters:The expansion to both Secretaries likely reflects a desire for greater flexibility and interagency cooperation in rehabilitation efforts. The removal of the cap could be a strategic move to allow for more robust funding in response to the increasing scale of wildfires, rather than being constrained by an arbitrary limit. This is a substantive change, not merely technical.
Case for: Expanding the account's availability to both Interior and Agriculture Secretaries ensures a more coordinated and comprehensive federal approach to burned area rehabilitation across all federal lands. Removing the cap allows for funding levels to be responsive to actual needs, which can vary significantly year to year based on wildfire severity.
Case against: Removing the spending cap could lead to higher, potentially uncapped, federal expenditures for rehabilitation, which might concern fiscal conservatives if not accompanied by clear oversight and prioritization mechanisms.
Estimated impact: Potentially increases federal spending on burned area rehabilitation significantly, as the previous $100 million annual cap is removed, and expands the scope of agencies that can utilize the fund.