U.S. Representatives Young Kim and Adam Gray have introduced the Wildfire Response and Preparedness (WRAP) Act, aiming to establish a 30-minute national standard response time for wildland fires on federal lands managed by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior.
Congresswoman Kim emphasized the importance of timely responses to wildfires, stating, “Timely response to a wildfire can make the difference between life and death.” She referenced her community’s experience with last year’s Airport Fire in Trabuco Canyon, which burned 23,000 acres across Orange and Riverside Counties. The WRAP Act is intended to provide communities with necessary resources to manage wildfires effectively.
Congressman Gray highlighted California’s frequent encounters with wildfires, saying, “Californians are far too familiar with wildfires tearing through our communities, threatening lives, public health and property.” He expressed pride in introducing this bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting firefighters and preventing catastrophic losses nationwide.
Bob Roper, CEO of the Western Fire Chiefs Association, voiced support for the act’s mission. “The Western Fire Chiefs Association is proud to support the core mission of the Wildfire Response and Preparedness Act – ensuring a robust wildland fire response capability,” he said. Roper stressed the importance of partnerships and resource leveraging in aiding first responders.
Paul Petersen from the United Aerial Firefighters Association also endorsed the bill. “The United Aerial Firefighters Association greatly supports this bill to develop aerial response standards,” he stated, emphasizing its role in ensuring aircraft availability for incident responses.
In parallel efforts, Senators Tim Sheehy and Andy Kim have introduced similar legislation in the Senate.
