The U.S. Senate today passed the bipartisan Fire Ready Nation Act by unanimous consent, advancing legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s ability to prevent, forecast, and combat wildfires.
The bill, introduced in January by Senator Tim Sheehy (R–Mont.) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D–Wash.), formally establishes the Fire Weather Services program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The program will equip NOAA with the tools and authority needed to better predict wildfire conditions and provide rapid-response forecasting when disasters strike.
“As a former aerial firefighter, one of my top priorities since taking office has been to reform our federal wildland firefighting apparatus to better protect our communities,” Sheehy said. “The Fire Ready Nation Act ensures we can better predict these disasters and respond quickly to prevent the devastation to families, homes, and businesses that is caused by catastrophic wildfire. I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support of this bipartisan bill and proud to see it pass the Senate.”
This marks the second wildfire-focused bill authored by Sheehy to win unanimous Senate approval this year. In June, President Trump signed into law Sheehy’s Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, which expanded resources for aerial firefighting operations.
Under the new legislation, NOAA will be authorized to obtain advanced technologies to improve wildfire weather forecasting, helping fire crews and communities prepare for and respond to dangerous conditions.
While NOAA already contributes significantly to wildfire preparedness and response, the agency has never had a defined legal mandate for its wildfire services. Supporters of the bill say establishing clear statutory authority will eliminate gaps and confusion between agencies during emergencies.
The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.