Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) reintroduced the bipartisan Western Wildfire Support Act, which Cortez Masto first introduced in 2021. This critical legislation would provide comprehensive resources to prevent wildfires, enhance firefighting efforts, and support communities impacted by increasingly severe wildfire seasons.
Over the past 20 years, wildfires have burned more than 8.8 million acres in Nevada, and the average number of acres burned annually has doubled. During fall of last year, the Davis Fire south of Reno burned 5,824 acres in Washoe County. Senator Cortez Masto recently visited the burn scar of this fire to discuss her work supporting fire mitigation efforts.
“Right now, well outside normal fire season, wildfires are devastating the West. The destruction in Southern California is part of a pattern of increasingly dangerous, costly fires, and it’s clear we urgently need more support preventing and combating these blazes,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. My commonsense, bipartisan legislation would invest in proven prevention, mitigation, and recovery efforts our firefighters, businesses, and families need to keep them safe. It’s time for my colleagues to come to the table at get this done.”
“The scenes from the fires in southern California are a tragic symbol of modern wildfire dysfunction. It has long been time for comprehensive reform to wildfire response in our country, and I am proud to be working across the aisle with my colleagues on commonsense solutions like investing in preparedness, cutting-edge technologies, and proper training for the brave first responders on the front lines of these disasters,” said Senator Sheehy. “In the coming weeks, it is critical that we cut through bureaucratic red tape and change the status quo on this issue so we can protect American families and prevent more tragedies.”
The Western Wildfire Support Act authorizes funding for cutting-edge firefighting equipment, creating new training programs for federal and local firefighters, and supporting wildfire recovery efforts throughout impacted landscapes and surrounding areas.Last year,the Western Wildfire Support Act passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support. The bill text, a summary, and a section-by-section can be found on Cortez Masto’s website.
Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts to support Nevada firefighters and combat the wildfire crisis in the West, securing billions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to support wildfire risk reduction and new firefighting equipment. She recently visited the burn scar of the Davis Fire and discussed key resources she’s delivered for wildfires fuels reduction in Northern Nevada. She also ensured all federal wildland firefighters—including many working in Nevada — got a significant pay raise in 2023 and helped designate the Sierra and Elko Fronts as Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscapes for wildfire prevention efforts.
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