Wildfire Coordination Act

This bill creates a permanent Wildfire Science and Technology Advisory Board to turn wildfire research into real-world tools and practices. The board will help federal agencies pick which research to use, move promising ideas into the field, and share what works through newsletters, websites, webinars, and workshops. It brings in experts from public health, weather, and predictive modeling, and looks at both natural areas and neighborhoods at risk of fire .

The board includes leaders or designees from Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, the Forest Service, FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, NOAA, National Park Service, NIST, USGS, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, NSF, NASA, CDC, and EPA, plus up to 18 non-federal members such as state, local, and Tribal representatives; fire departments; private partners; researchers; and technical experts. Members are unpaid but can have travel costs covered. The chair rotates each year among key agencies. A report to Congress is due within two years on progress, barriers, and recommendations. The bill authorizes $10 million, available until spent, with agencies allowed to add other available funds to support the board’s work .

• Key points
  • Who is affected: Federal wildfire and land agencies; state, local, and Tribal governments; fire departments; researchers; public health and weather experts; communities in fire-prone areas .
  • What changes: A standing board coordinates how wildfire science gets used in daily operations and spreads best practices to practitioners and communities .
  • When: The board is permanent, and a public report is due within two years of enactment; funding is available until used .