Wildfire
Bad news: the U.S. is experiencing more frequent and intense wildfires. Good news: policy informed by science, evidence, and Indigenous perspectives can lessen the disastrous effects.
Despite growing federal spending on suppression, wildfires continue to grow in size and severity in the United States. Science, data, technology, and talent have huge potential to enhance proactive wildland fire management and empower communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfires. Our team is working to build a more fire-resilient nation through policy development and analysis, fellowships, and issue education. Learn more about our work below.
From California to New Jersey, wildfires are taking a toll—costing the United States up to $424 billion annually and displacing tens of thousands of people. Congress needs solutions.
This year’s Red Sky Summit was an opportunity to further consider what the role of fire tech can and should be – and how public policy can support its development, scaling, and application.
FAS supports the bipartisan Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act under review in the House, just as we supported the earlier Senate version. Rep. David Min (D-CA) and Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) are leading the bill.
The current wildfire management system is inadequate in the face of increasingly severe and damaging wildfires. Change is urgently needed
Environmental policy,
Land management,
Regulatory policy
