05/19/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/19/2022 13:23
Fire Ready Nation Act of 2022 would codify NOAA's role in forecasting, tracking and controlling wildfires
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced bipartisan legislation to codify and strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) authority and capacity to help prevent, forecast and fight wildfires. The Fire Ready Nation Act of 2022 will establish a fire weather services program within NOAA, authorizing engagement in wildfire response activities and providing funding for science and technologies to forecast weather conditions that cause and spread wildfires.
"Washington state wildfires are growing more severe, burning hundreds of thousands of acres and threatening lives and property every year," said Senator Cantwell. "With the 2022 fire season right around the corner, we need to maximize every tool available to prevent, track and fight wildfires. This bill will help our federal weather tracking agency -- NOAA -- deploy new technology that will boost computing power to improve wildfire forecasting and identify the impacts of changing weather conditions. It will test a new drone pilot program designed to gather critical fire information and survey post-fire damage - even at night - without endangering the lives of a pilot or crew members. And it will ensure NOAA has the resources to support our specially-trained forecasters serving alongside wildfire response teams."
"As wildfires have repeatedly ravaged the West, we need to ensure that adequate tools are available to forecast, track, and respond to disasters," Senator Sullivan said. "This bill supports and enhance the existing mission while filling unmet operational needs, increasing collaboration with international partners, and identifying needed improvements to our forecasting systems."
NOAA is already a major player in wildfire preparedness and response. However, the agency has no defined statutory authority or mandate for its wildfire services and activities. And while NOAA is a world leader in wildfire forecasting, better coordination and funding for new high-tech initiatives would help improve forecasting.
Here's how NOAA helps now:
Here's what S. 4237, The Fire Ready Nation Act of 2022, would do: