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1 1 (May 2, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govehbr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con gressional H search Servt Informing helegisI tive d bate s'no 1914 S Updated May 2, 2022 Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery Wildfires are unplanned fires. Wildfires can have some beneficial impacts on an ecosystem, but they often threaten homes and communities, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. Wildfires are sometimes caused by lightning strikes and may occur when a prescribed burn escapes control or through other human activities (deliberate or accidental). Annually from 2012 to 2021, there were an average of 61,289 wildfires, with an average of 7.4 million acres impacted and an average of 8,000 structures burned. In 2021, 58,968 wildfires impacted 7.1 million acres and burned nearly 6,000 structures nationwide, 60% (3,577) of which were residences. Congress and other stakeholders have considered options for federal support and assistance to address wildfire suppression during a fire, post-wildfire recovery, and land management activities to reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfires, among other issues. During a Fire The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations. The Forest Service (FS), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), manages wildfire response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. Federal responsibility for wildfire suppression is intended to protect lives, property, and resources on federal lands. Federal wildfire policy is to evaluate the risks to firefighter and public safety and welfare-and to natural, ecological, and cultural values to be protected-to determine the appropriate response to wildfire. Depending on the risk assessment, the federal response may range from active suppression to monitoring, as supported by the area's land and resource management plans. States are responsible for suppressing wildfires on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, although the response may be managed jointly for comingled land ownership, including federal lands. The federal government supports the states in several ways. Many states have partnerships with federal agencies to provide wildfire suppression services through cooperative fire protection agreements. These agreements authorize federal and state partners to share resources-such as aviation equipment and personnel-during a wildfire season, allowing for a coordinated interagency response that deploys resources to areas of greatest critical need. The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group, located at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, ID, coordinates and allocates federal, state, and private forces (as well as the military, when called upon) and resources at a national level. Geographic Area Coordination Centers coordinate and allocate resources at 10 regional levels. The cost of these resources is then reimbursed as specified in the cooperative fire protection master agreement, which often lists several different methods to apportion costs, each with different financial impacts. A state also may request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security for wildfires that began on state or private lands. If a wildfire were burning out of control and threatened to become a major disaster, a governor could request an emergency declaration. However, the most frequent assistance provided at this stage from FEMA is through Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs), as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act; 42 U.S.C. §§5271 et seq.). Once issued, an FMAG declaration authorizes various forms of federal assistance (e.g., equipment; personnel; and grants to state, local, and tribal governments) for the control, management, and mitigation of any fire on certain public or private forestland or grassland that might become a major disaster. The grants may reimburse up to 75% of allowable suppression costs for eligible fires. FMAG declarations, unlike some major disaster declarations, do not authorize assistance to individuals and households. A state or tribe may request that the President declare a wildfire a major disaster under the Stafford Act, authorizing other assistance and recovery programs, including assistance to individuals and households. The federal government also supports state and local efforts to evacuate areas threatened by wildfires. A presidential declaration triggers federal aid to protect property and public health and safety while attempting to preserve state autonomy and responsibility. The National Planning Frameworks, required to be created in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, guide FEMA on how to assist state and local agencies with emergencies and disasters, including wildfires. Information on active wildfires may be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov. COVID-9 Pandemic Considerations The COVID-19 pandemic presents several interrelated challenges for wildland fire management. Wildland fire response typically involves activities and conditions that can facilitate the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. For example, wildland firefighters and other support personnel work and live in close proximity to one another during an active fire, and fire crews often travel to and from different states over the course of a fire season. In addition, exposure to wildfire smoke may increase the occurrence or seriousness of respiratory infections. More information on wildland firefighters and COVID-19 risk is

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