Summary

Recognizes that wildfires have grown in scale, severity, and geographic reach across the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories and presents recent statistics and projections showing above-average fire activity. Notes human causes for most wildfires, large federal suppression costs, wide-ranging health harms from smoke (including risks to firefighters), and the need for greater investment in proactive planning, mitigation, and community resilience.

Key Points

• Finds wildfires have increased in scale, complexity, and severity nationwide and in U.S. territories.
• Cites 2015–2024 averages of ~62,435 fires and ~7.55 million acres burned per year, above prior 10‑year averages.
• Provides partial 2025 data showing above‑average fire counts and acres burned for the Jan–May period.
• Projects that over 60% of States face risk of significant wildfire events (May–Aug 2025) and over 50% face above‑normal risk.
• States nearly 85% of wildland fires are human‑caused.
• Notes federal wildfire suppression costs exceed $2.5 billion annually and total damages reach tens to hundreds of billions each year.
• Highlights elevated health risks for firefighters (cancer, respiratory disease) and public health harms from smoke exposure.
• Emphasizes the need for significant investments in proactive planning, mitigation, and community resilience.
• Identifies existing preventive measures individuals and communities can take to reduce wildfire risk.
• Acts as declaratory findings and awareness-raising; contains no funding or legal mandates.

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