S. 91
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2026
Sponsor: Catherine Cortez Masto
1 cosponsor
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025
This bill addresses wildfires by authorizing post-fire recovery activities, supporting adoption of technology, and requiring additional federal coordination.
The bill authorizes federal wildfire response and recovery activities by
- providing statutory authority for Burned Area Emergency Response Teams to coordinate emergency stabilization and erosion planning, and
- establishing an account to fund federal rehabilitation projects in areas impacted by a wildfire (e.g., ecosystem restoration, replacing infrastructure critical for land management).
Additionally, for all hazard types, the bill includes post-disaster assistance in the federal disaster preparedness program and authorizes assistance to states for operating websites to provide information on post-disaster recovery resources.
The bill requires federal agencies to develop and utilize technologies for managing wildfires by
- expediting the permitting and use of wildfire detection equipment (e.g., sensors, cameras);
- providing funding to Indian tribes for slip-on tanker units that convert vehicles into fire engines;
- performing research and development on wildfire response applications of unmanned aircraft systems (e.g., drones);
- studying radio communications systems, situational awareness tools, and wildland fire predictive modeling; and
- administering a prize competition for technological innovation for managing wildfire-related invasive species.
The bill directs federal agencies to plan and coordinate on wildfire management by
- incorporating the best available science and planning tools into spatial fire management policies for federal lands,
- collaborating with state agencies for mutual aid in fire suppression (including reimbursing states for suppressing fires caused by military operations), and
- studying training gaps for integrating structural (e.g., local) firefighters into wildfire response.
Text of the bill
I Preparation
II Wildfire detection and suppression support
III Post-fire recovery support
I Preparation
II Wildfire detection and suppression support
III Post-fire recovery support
Where this section came from
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Jan 14, 2025 · Introduced in Senate Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Jan 14
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Sep 17, 2026 · Reported to Senate Marked up by Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Feb 4 Reported by Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Sep 17 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
(a) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall
, to the maximum extent practicable,
establish 1 or more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (referred to in this section as a BAER Team) to coordinate immediate post-
wildfire
fire
emergency
stabilization
response
and
erosion
stabilization
planning
efforts.
… 2 unchanged passages …
(2)
carry out risk assessments— (A) to determine risks to critical values; and (B) to
identify
post-fire emergency situations;
and
remove
(3) mitigate risks to critical values
,
including— (A) identifying and removing,
as necessary, dead or dying trees that may pose an immediate hazard
to individuals, communities, or critical infrastructure
; (
3
B
)
stabilize
stabilizing
or
remove
removing
hazardous materials resulting from a wildfire that may pose an immediate hazard
to individuals, communities, or the environment
; (
4
C
)
conduct
conducting
emergency landscape stabilization and erosion prevention work, prioritizing efforts that ensure public safety; (
5
D
)
prevent
preventing
the proliferation and spread of invasive species; (
6
E
)
assist
assisting
with informing the public of
hazards resulting from a
post-
wildfire
hazards
; (
7
F
)
collaborate
collaborating
, as necessary, with activities under section 303; and (
8
G
)
conduct
conducting
such other work as the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary
to identify and address imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources
. (c) Duration.
To
A BAER Team— (1) to
the maximum extent practicable,
a BAER Team
shall coordinate
and respond to immediate
post-
wildfire
fire
emergency
stabilization
response
and
erosion
stabilization
planning
efforts
needs
for a period of not more than 1 year after the date of containment of a wildfire
.
; and
(
d
2
)
Funding.
may
The
monitor
Secretary
and
concerned
maintain
may
post-fire
use
emergency
to
response
carry
and
out
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this
efforts
section
for
funds
a
made
period
available
of
by
not
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more
40803(c)(16)
than
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the
years
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the
and
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of
Act
containment
(16
of
U.S.C.
a
6592(c)(16)).
wildfire.
What is a markup?
A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.
(a) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall, to the maximum extent practicable, establish 1 or more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (referred to in this section as a BAER Team) to coordinate immediate post-fire emergency response and stabilization efforts.
(b) Requirements. A BAER Team shall—
(1) survey the landscape affected by a wildfire to determine burn severity;
(2) carry out risk assessments—
(A) to determine risks to critical values; and
(B) to identify post-fire emergency situations; and
(3) mitigate risks to critical values, including—
(A) identifying and removing, as necessary, dead or dying trees that may pose an immediate hazard;
(B) stabilizing or removing hazardous materials resulting from a wildfire that may pose an immediate hazard;
(C) conducting emergency landscape stabilization and erosion prevention work, prioritizing efforts that ensure public safety;
(D) preventing the proliferation and spread of invasive species;
(E) assisting with informing the public of post-wildfire hazards;
(F) collaborating, as necessary, with activities under section 303; and
(G) conducting such other work as the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary to identify and address imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources.
(c) Duration. A BAER Team—
(1) to the maximum extent practicable, shall coordinate post-fire emergency response and stabilization efforts for a period of not more than 1 year after the date of containment of a wildfire; and
(2) may monitor and maintain post-fire emergency response and stabilization efforts for a period of not more than 5 years after the date of containment of a wildfire.