Wildfires, once sporadic and isolated, have escalated into frequent and devastating events, impacting not only remote forested regions but also urban communities.

This alarming trend is evident as wildfires recently raged on both coasts, even in areas historically unscathed by such disasters.

Related article: Northeast U.S. States in the Wildfire Spotlight

Congress has several important pieces of legislation to consider during the lame-duck session. Urgent legislative action is essential to address the growing wildfire crisis.

In 2024 alone, nearly 50,000 wildfires have scorched over 8 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. California bears the brunt, with nearly 1.3 million homes classified as high-risk—far outpacing other states. Between 2011 and 2020, over 22,000 new homes were built in high-risk wildfire zones across the U.S., with more than 10,000 in California, as reported by CAPE Analytics and HazardHub.

The financial toll has been staggering. Swiss Re reported in late 2023 that global wildfire losses over the past decade exceeded $60 billion—more than five times higher than in prior decades—primarily driven by California’s fires. These escalating losses primarily driven by the accumulation of asset values in high-climate risk regions resulting from more people moving into and building in areas with high natural disaster risk, including wildfire, are a key factor driving up insurance costs and limiting availability for many Americans.

The risk is widespread. Approximately 80 million U.S. properties, or 1 in 6 people, will face some wildfire threat by 2050, according to the First Street Foundation wildfire model. (Source: “The 5th National Risk Assessment: Fueling the Flames,” May 6, 2022)

And the danger doesn’t end when the flames are extinguished. Burned areas are highly susceptible to flooding and debris flows during heavy rainfall in the years immediately following a fire.

Recognizing the severity of this growing threat, Congress established the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission in 2021. Comprised of federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector stakeholders, the Commission was tasked with devising strategies to make communities more resilient to wildfires.

Last year, the Commission delivered its final report to Congress, offering a roadmap to break the destructive cycle of wildfire risk, damage, and loss. The report emphasized the need for proactive planning, risk reduction, mitigation efforts, and workforce investments to curb the escalating threat.

Since then, bipartisan efforts have made headway in crafting legislation aligned with the Commission’s findings. However, additional action is needed during this lame-duck session of Congress to ensure these proposals reach the President’s desk and become law.

One promising measure is the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 8790), introduced by House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA). This bill, passed by the House, aims to accelerate forest management efforts and establish a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program to enhance coordination between federal agencies and reduce wildfire risk in vulnerable communities.

Meanwhile, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led by Chair Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY), has been working on a bipartisan package of forest management bills, including The Promoting Effective Forest Management Act (S. 2867), that could move forward during this session.

Improving wildfire prediction and weather forecasting is also a priority. The Fire Weather Development Act (H.R. 4866), passed by the House and introduced by Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) and Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), seeks to advance accurate fire weather forecasts to better predict and respond to wildfires. A similar Senate measure, the Fire Ready Nation Act (S. 4343), introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX), would establish a fire weather services program within NOAA to improve wildfire risk communication and forecasting tools.

These bills require final action in one or both chambers before being signed into law. The lame-duck session provides Congress with a crucial opportunity to act on these bipartisan solutions, safeguarding lives, property, and the environment from the devastating effects of wildfires.

The stakes are too high to delay. Congress must act now.

Featured photo: AP Photo/Noah Berger