Summary

Creates new wildfire workforce programs, improves benefits and support for federal wildland firefighters, and builds a national wildfire smoke monitoring and alert system. It also directs NOAA to produce up‑to‑date wildfire risk maps for wildlands and communities. Within 6–12 months, agencies must launch a Middle Fire Leaders Academy and a competitive grant program for colleges and training providers, update retirement and job‑sharing rules for firefighters, stand up a casualty assistance program, expand smoke sensors and county‑level alerts, upgrade EPA’s AirNow, and have NIOSH issue worker‑safety guidance. Mapping work receives ongoing funding, and casualty assistance is authorized at $1,000,000 annually for FY2026–FY2035.

Key Points

• Launches a Middle Fire Leaders Academy within 1 year and a Wildfire Workforce Grant Program within 6 months.
• Modernizes retirement service/benefits rules and definitions for federal wildland firefighters and allows Tribal job‑sharing.
• Creates a Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program with $1,000,000/year for FY2026–FY2035.
• Builds a national wildfire smoke monitoring, forecasting, and county‑level public alert system.
• Expands smoke sensors, uses satellites, and upgrades EPA’s AirNow public tools.
• Requires NIOSH to assess worker health risks from wildfire smoke and publish best‑practice protections.
• Directs NOAA to produce and regularly update dynamic wildfire risk/hazard maps for wildlands and built areas.
• Authorizes funding for workforce, smoke, and mapping initiatives; amounts mostly set later through appropriations.
• Uses the September 2023 Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission report as a reference point.

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