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To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to suppress wildfires, and for other purposes.
12/29/2022, 9:48 PM
Summary of Bill HR 6903
Specifically, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and implement a comprehensive wildfire suppression plan that includes measures such as increasing funding for firefighting resources, improving coordination between federal, state, and local agencies, and conducting research on wildfire prevention techniques.
Additionally, the bill allocates funding for the training of firefighters and the acquisition of equipment necessary for effective wildfire suppression efforts. It also includes provisions for the restoration and rehabilitation of areas affected by wildfires, as well as measures to mitigate the environmental impact of wildfires. Overall, Bill 117 hr 6903 seeks to enhance the government's ability to respond to wildfires and protect communities and natural resources from the devastating effects of these disasters.
Congressional Summary of HR 6903
This bill sets out requirements for wildfire suppression and management activities carried out by the Forest Service.
Within 24 hours of detecting a wildfire on Forest Service land, the service must use (to the maximum extent practicable) all available resources to extinguish the wildfire. Additionally, the service may not inhibit the firefighting activities of state and local agencies that are authorized to respond to wildfires on Forest Service land.
Further, the service may not initiate a backfire or burnout as part of a fire suppression strategy unless ordered by the responsible incident commander and must control any initiated fire until it is extinguished. An individual who is harmed by an improperly initiated or controlled backfire or burnout may sue the United States.
The bill also limits the service's use of prescribed fires (i.e., the controlled application of fire by a team of experts under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire). The service must comply with all applicable laws and regulations concerning prescribed fires and must immediately suppress (to the maximum extent practicable) a prescribed fire that exceeds its prescription.
