Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025

This bill aims to improve federal activities related to wildfires by enhancing preparation, detection, suppression, and post-fire recovery efforts. It covers transparency in firefighting accounts, reimbursement for military-caused wildfires, strategic planning, integration of local firefighters, deployment of detection equipment and slip-on tanker units, research on drone incursions and response technologies, and support for post-fire recovery including online guides, emergency teams, a rehabilitation account, and a prize for invasive species reduction.

Sec. 101, Firefighting account transparency: Amends existing law to require annual reports on amounts obligated and expended from Wildland Fire Management accounts, including details on catastrophic wildfires and cost breakdowns by ground, aircraft, personnel, support, and administrative costs.

Sec. 102, Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training: Requires the Secretary of Defense to seek reciprocal agreements with state agencies for mutual fire suppression aid, with reimbursements for services caused by military training, limited to directly attributable services and funded from Department of Defense operation and maintenance appropriations.

Sec. 103, Strategic wildland fire management planning: Directs the Secretary concerned to review and update spatial fire management policies for each fireshed by September 30, 2026, incorporating best science, with requirements for routine updates, risk identification, consistency with resource management plans, and delineation of operational boundaries.

Sec. 104, Study on integrating local firefighters into wildfire response: Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to study training gaps for structural firefighters in high-risk areas and report to Congress, including coordination practices, response differences, existing training modules, and cost estimates to address gaps.

Sec. 201, Wildfire detection equipment: Directs the Secretary concerned to expedite placement of detection equipment like sensors and cameras, expand satellite data use, expedite permitting, use unmanned aerial vehicles for initial assessment, review procurement requirements, and provide an annual forum for technology companies.

Sec. 202, Slip-on tanker units: Amends existing law to include Indian Tribes in financial assistance for slip-on tanker units, requires annual reports from the Secretary of the Interior on purchases and barriers, and directs coordination for integration into wildfire response.

Sec. 203, Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications: Directs the Secretaries to work with universities through the Joint Fire Science Program on research and development of unmanned aircraft systems for wildfire response, with authorization for necessary appropriations.

Sec. 204, Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression: Requires the FAA Administrator to study effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression over the last five years, including interference occurrences, impacts on suppression time and costs, and feasibility of prevention actions like counter-drone towers or seizure.

Sec. 205, Study on modernizing wildfire response technologies: Directs the Secretaries to study improvements to radio communications, real-time situational awareness tools, and wildland fire predictive modeling, including cost analyses and feasibility of artificial intelligence, with a report to be submitted and made publicly available.

Sec. 301, Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance: Amends the Stafford Act to allow FEMA to provide funding or technical assistance to state agencies for websites offering post-disaster recovery information, including lists of federal, state, and local funding sources for communities or individuals.

Sec. 302, Post-fire management and recovery: Requires the Secretary concerned to establish permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams within 180 days to coordinate immediate post-wildfire stabilization and erosion planning, including surveying burn severity, removing hazards, stabilizing landscapes, preventing invasive species, and informing the public.

Sec. 303, Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account: Establishes a Treasury account for the Department of Agriculture, authorizing up to $100 million annually for rehabilitation projects on federal land impacted by wildfire or post-wildfire flooding, including ecosystem restoration and infrastructure repair.

Sec. 304, Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction: Amends existing law to establish the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for management of wildfire-related invasive species, to be awarded annually for technological innovations, with an advisory board established to oversee the prize competition.