The Western Wildfire Support Act of 2025 would change how Federal agencies prepare for, detect, suppress, and recover from wildfires on Federal land. It adds reporting rules for Wildland Fire Management spending and defines "catastrophic wildfires." The bill directs the Department of Defense to seek mutual-aid agreements with States and to reimburse State agencies for firefighting when fires are caused by military training. It requires spatial fire management plans for "firesheds," creates permanent Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams, and establishes a Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account. The bill also promotes wildfire detection equipment and satellite data, funds research and testing of unmanned aircraft systems for fire response, studies drone incursions and communications technology, expands a slip-on tanker pilot program to include Indian Tribes, funds online post-disaster guidance websites, and creates a short-term prize competition for technologies that manage wildfire-related invasive species.
If enacted, the bill would require more public reporting about wildfire spending and set standards for when a fire is "catastrophic." Federal agencies would be asked to place more detection tools like cameras and sensors in high-risk areas and to use satellites and drones for early assessment. Local governments and Indian Tribes could be eligible for financial help to buy slip-on tanker units, and some recovery resources would support websites that list post-disaster assistance for residents. The Department of Defense would be expected to reimburse State firefighting agencies for fires caused by military training under reciprocal agreements. The bill also directs studies and research that could lead to new tools for firefighters and more organized post-fire stabilization teams (BAER Teams).
No publicly available information on a total estimated cost or comprehensive budgetary impact is included in the bill text provided.
The bill’s stated aim is to improve Federal activities relating to wildfires. Provisions in the text emphasize greater transparency in wildfire spending, faster and broader use of detection technology, support for local and Tribal firefighting capacity (including slip-on tank units), coordinated planning for firesheds, research into drones and communications, and funding for post-fire stabilization and longer-term ecosystem rehabilitation. The prize competition is intended to spur technological innovation for managing invasive species that spread after fires.
No publicly available information.