1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Today I take pen in hand and urge your support for the Fire Ready Nation Act S. 306 recently introduced. This rare piece of bipartisan legislation will provide critical resources to strengthen our nation's ability to forecast, prevent, and combat wildfires in the era of climate-change charged fires — that have become increasingly frequent and destructive. The 2024 fire season alone saw over 8.8 million acres burned across the United States. The recent devastating California wildfires, estimated to have caused $135-150 billion in damage, highlight the urgent need for improved wildfire preparedness and response capabilities. The Fire Ready Nation Act takes important steps by establishing a permanent Fire Weather Services program within NOAA, funding research for new forecasting technologies, and creating a Fire Weather Testbed for deploying innovative tools like unmanned aircraft for data collection. The bill also has provisions for improving inter-agency coordination, and ensuring fair compensation for frontline Incident Meteorologists assisting firefighters. Many states will benefit from such programs. With climate change exacerbating the wildfire threat, this legislation is crucial for protecting communities, saving lives and property, and mitigating the immense economic costs of these disasters. I urge swift passage of the Fire Ready Nation Act S.306, to enhance our nation's readiness against the growing wildfire risk. Summer and the ever longer fire season are upon us. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.