Designating May 2025 as "National Wildfire Preparedness Month".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 467 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 467

   Designating May 2025 as ``National Wildfire Preparedness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 3, 2025

 Mrs. Torres of California (for herself, Mr. Valadao, Mr. LaMalfa, and 
 Mr. Obernolte) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating May 2025 as ``National Wildfire Preparedness Month''.

Whereas wildfires across the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the 
        United States territories have increased in scale, complexity, and 
        severity, fire seasons have lengthened in many parts of the United 
        States to encompass the entire year, and wildfire has become a threat in 
        regions of the United States that have little or no history of wildfire;
Whereas, in the United States from 2015 to 2024, an average of 62,435 wildfires 
        burned, consuming on average a total of 7,553,704 acres, which is 
        705,612 acres above the previous 10-year average;
Whereas, in the United States from January 1 to May 2, 2025, 22,759 wildfires 
        burned 988,319 acres, which is above both the 10-year average occurrence 
        of 15,639 wildfires and the average 10-year burned area of 951,468 
        acres;
Whereas, from May 2025 to August 2025, over 60 percent of States in the United 
        States are predicted to be at risk for significant wildfire events, and 
        over 50 percent of States are expected to face above-normal risks for 
        significant wildfire events;
Whereas nearly 85 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by 
        humans;
Whereas Federal wildfire suppression efforts cost over $2,500,000,000 per year, 
        and the total cost of wildfire damage across the United States is 
        estimated to be tens to hundreds of billions of dollars per year;
Whereas significant investments in proactive planning, mitigation, and risk 
        reduction are necessary for the United States to counteract increasingly 
        severe wildfire risk, damage, and loss;
Whereas firefighters are on the front lines and are at an increased risk of 
        developing cancer and respiratory diseases because they are exposed to 
        smoke and hazardous chemicals in the line of duty;
Whereas the effects of long-term exposure to wildfire smoke will harm more 
        people, as particulate pollution triggers asthma attacks, heart attacks, 
        and strokes, and can kill;
Whereas preventative measures exist to help individuals and communities increase 
        their fire resilience through--

    (1) reducing the risk of home ignition by using fire-resistant 
construction materials and maintaining yard vegetation;

    (2) community planning that reduces home wildfire exposure and 
increases access for firefighters;

    (3) evacuation planning and assistance for people and their animals;

    (4) vegetation and forest management; and

    (5) limited use of combustibles during high heat or drier seasons, 
including fireworks, exhaust, and open flames; and

Whereas a nationally designated Wildfire Preparedness Month--

    (1) increases awareness of the threat of wildfires and knowledge of 
lifesaving and fire mitigation practices; and

    (2) promotes educational initiatives, encourages community programming, 
and increases overall knowledge and preparedness: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of ``National 
        Wildfire Preparedness Month'';
            (2) encourages increased awareness of, and preparedness 
        for, the threat of wildfires and subsequent suppression efforts 
        at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal levels of government, 
        including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities, and by 
        nongovernmental organizations and communities; and
            (3) supports resources and educational initiatives that 
        communicate how communities at risk of exposure to wildfire 
        hazards can take preventative measures, including, home 
        hardening, land management practices that reduce or remove 
        highly flammable grasses and shrubs, instituting or enhancing 
        early warning systems, reducing unplanned human ignitions, 
        reducing adverse health impacts from smoke and fire exposure, 
        and safely and efficiently evacuating people and their animals.
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