News

On March 26, the United States House of Representatives voted 412-3 to pass HR 1404, the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement (FLAME) Act. Introduced by Congressman Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV), the FLAME Act calls for a supplemental funding source for catastrophic emergency wildland fire suppression activities on federal land.

 

Wildland costs have soared in recent years and placed a heavy burden on other federally-funded programs, including vital fire prevention activities. Forty-eight percent of the U.S. Forest Service budget is currently consumed by wildland fire suppression costs. The “Flame Fund” would alleviate financial pressure and free up funds for other essential programs. Ultimately the amount of money in the fund will be decided by appropriators; however, the bill states it is the intent of Congress that the fund should contain at least the average amount federal agencies have spent on emergency wildland fire suppression over the past five fiscal years.

 

The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop cohesive wildland fire management strategies and to establish a grant program within these departments to assist communities. The grants could be used to purchase equipment, provide training, develop community wildfire protection plans, and educate the public.

 

Similar legislation passed the House last year but never came up in the Senate. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced the FLAME Act’s companion bill (S 561) this year.