A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Thursday to establish a new Wildfire Intelligence Agency, aiming to enhance the federal response to wildfires through improved coordination and information-sharing.
The bill, spearheaded by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), comes in response to devastating wildfires that recently swept through Southern California, particularly in the Los Angeles area.
“The scale of the wildfire crisis demands a unified, whole-of-government approach to intelligence sharing and coordination,” Padilla stated.
The proposed agency would collaborate with the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to centralize and streamline wildfire data collection and response efforts.
“Wildfires don’t recognize state borders or jurisdictional boundaries,” said Hickenlooper. “A centralized intelligence center will enhance our ability to respond quickly and facilitate better cooperation between agencies.”
The legislation outlines plans to expand monitoring and imaging capabilities beyond what current land management agencies can achieve. The agency would also coordinate federal wildfire response efforts across state and tribal governments, academic institutions, and private sector entities.
“With Montana’s fire season approaching, we need all hands on deck to prevent catastrophic disasters,” Daines added. “By improving information sharing and resource allocation, we can help communities take preventive measures and respond more effectively to wildfires.”
As lawmakers prepare for potential disputes over emergency funding, the economic toll of recent California wildfires is estimated between $250 billion and $275 billion, according to AccuWeather.
State officials continue to rebuild and reassess wildfire preparedness strategies as they contend with increasingly frequent and severe fire seasons. The largest blazes have now been fully contained.
