S. 91

Western Wildfire Support Act of 2026

Sponsor: Catherine Cortez Masto

1 cosponsor
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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

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I Preparation

Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training Since introduced

(a) Mutual aid. In accordance with section 2 of the Act of May 27, 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act), the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into reciprocal agreements with State agencies for mutual aid in furnishing fire suppression services.

(b) Reimbursements. Each reciprocal agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall provide for the reimbursement of the State agency that is a party to the agreement for fire suppression services provided by the State agency as a result of a fire caused by military training or other planned actions carried out by the Department of Defense in support of military operations.

(c) Limitation. Services reimbursable under subsection (b) shall be limited to services directly attributable to the fire for which reimbursement is sought.

(d) Application. Each application from a State agency for reimbursement for services under subsection (b) shall provide an itemized request of the services covered by the application, including the costs of the services.

(e) Funds. Reimbursements under subsection (b) shall be made from amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance.

(f) Existing agreements. An agreement in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be considered an agreement entered into under subsection (a) if the agreement otherwise meets the requirements of such an agreement under this section.

II Wildfire detection and suppression support

III Post-fire recovery support

I Preparation

II Wildfire detection and suppression support

III Post-fire recovery support