This bill would create at least seven regional wildland fire research centers hosted at colleges or universities. The centers must be selected through a competitive process and placed in specified regions (Alaska; California; Northern Rockies; Pacific Northwest; Pacific Islands; Southeast; Southwest). Centers would coordinate research on causes, spread, impacts, mitigation, restoration, and firefighter safety. They would develop models and tools (for fire and smoke prediction, vegetation response, near‑real‑time decision support), data management protocols that follow FAIR principles, and career pathway training programs. A National Center Coordination Board made up of one member from each regional center would set research and data priorities, coordinate across centers and federal agencies, and meet quarterly. Each regional center would have a Regional Advisory Board with federal, state, Tribal, and other local representatives to advise and share operational needs. The bill requires public meetings and two reports to Congress (at 2 and 4 years) describing progress and recommendations.
Proponents in the bill describe these centers as a way to coordinate regional wildland fire research, improve operational tools (models, monitoring, decision support), share data openly, reduce duplication, support land managers with applicable science, address smoke and post‑fire risks, and develop career pathways in fire research.
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