PUBLIC LAW 110–376—OCT. 8, 2008 

UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION 

REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008 


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122 STAT. 4056 PUBLIC LAW 110–376—OCT. 8, 2008 

Public Law 110–376 

110th Congress 

An Act 

To reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress makes the following findings: 

(1) The number of lives lost each year because of fire 

has dropped significantly over the last 25 years in the United 

States. However, the United States still has one of the highest 

fire death rates in the industrialized world. In 2006, the 

National Fire Protection Association reported 3,245 civilian 

fire deaths, 16,400 civilian fire injuries, and $11,307,000,000 

in direct losses due to fire. 

(2) Every year, more than 100 firefighters die in the line 

of duty. The United States Fire Administration should continue 

its leadership to help local fire agencies dramatically reduce 

these fatalities. 

(3) The Federal Government should continue to work with 

State and local governments and the fire service community 

to further the promotion of national voluntary consensus standards that increase firefighter safety. 

(4) The United States Fire Administration provides crucial 

support to the 30,300 fire departments of the United States 

through training, emergency incident data collection, fire 

awareness and education, and support of research and development activities for fire prevention, control, and suppression 

technologies. 

(5) The collection of data on fire and other emergency 

incidents is a vital tool both for policy makers and emergency 

responders to identify and develop responses to emerging hazards. Improving the data collection capabilities of the United 

States Fire Administration is essential for accurately tracking 

and responding to the magnitude and nature of the fire problems of the United States. 

(6) The research and development performed by the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology, the United 

States Fire Administration, other government agencies, and 

nongovernmental organizations on fire technologies, techniques, 

and tools advance the capabilities of the fire service of the 

United States to suppress and prevent fires. 

15 USC 2201 

note. 

15 USC 2201 

note. 

United States 

Fire 

Administration 

Reauthorization 

Act of 2008. 

Oct. 8, 2008 

[S. 2606] 


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PUBLIC LAW 110–376—OCT. 8, 2008 122 STAT. 4057 

(7) Because of the essential role of the United States Fire 

Administration and the fire service community in preparing 

for and responding to national and man-made disasters, the 

United States Fire Administration should have a prominent 

place within the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 

the Department of Homeland Security. 

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR UNITED STATES 

FIRE ADMINISTRATION. 

Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control 

Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(g)(1)) is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting a semicolon; and 

(3) by adding after subparagraph (D) the following: ‘‘(E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which $2,520,000 shall be used to carry out section 8(f); ‘‘(F) $72,100,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which $2,595,600 shall be used to carry out section 8(f); ‘‘(G) $74,263,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which $2,673,468 shall be used to carry out section 8(f); and ‘‘(H) $76,490,890 for fiscal year 2012, of which $2,753,672 shall be used to carry out section 8(f).’’. 

SEC. 4. NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY TRAINING PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS AND REPORTS. 

(a) AMENDMENTS TO FIRE ACADEMY TRAINING.—Section 7(d)(1) 

of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 

2206(d)(1)) is amended— 

(1) by amending subparagraph (H) to read as follows: 

‘‘(H) tactics and strategies for dealing with natural 

disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters;’’; 

(2) in subparagraph (K), by striking ‘‘forest’’ and inserting 

‘‘wildland’’; 

(3) in subparagraph (M), by striking ‘‘response’’; 

(4) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (N) as subparagraphs (M) through (R), respectively; and 

(5) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following: 

‘‘(I) tactics and strategies for fighting large-scale fires 

or multiple fires in a general area that cross jurisdictional 

boundaries; 

‘‘(J) tactics and strategies for fighting fires occurring 

at the wildland-urban interface; 

‘‘(K) tactics and strategies for fighting fires involving 

hazardous materials; 

‘‘(L) advanced emergency medical services training;’’. 

(b) ON-SITE TRAINING.—Section 7 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2206) 

is amended— 

(1) in subsection (c)(6), by inserting ‘‘, including on-site 

training’’ after ‘‘United States’’; 

(2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘4 percent’’ and inserting 

‘‘7.5 percent’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(m) ON-SITE TRAINING.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), 

the Administrator may enter into a contract with nationally 


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122 STAT. 4058 PUBLIC LAW 110–376—OCT. 8, 2008 

recognized organizations that have established on-site training 

programs that comply with national voluntary consensus standards for fire service personnel to facilitate the delivery of the 

education and training programs outlined in subsection (d)(1) 

directly to fire service personnel. 

‘‘(2) LIMITATION.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may not enter 

into a contract with an organization described in paragraph 

(1) unless such organization provides training that— 

‘‘(i) leads to certification by a program that is 

accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation 

organization; or 

‘‘(ii) the Administrator determines is of equivalent 

quality to a fire service training program described 

by clause (i). 

‘‘(B) APPROVAL OF UNACCREDITED FIRE SERVICE

TRAINING PROGRAMS.—The Administrator may consider the 

fact that an organization has provided a satisfactory fire 

service training program pursuant to a cooperative agreement with a Federal agency as evidence that such program 

is of equivalent quality to a fire service training program 

described by subparagraph (A)(i). 

‘‘(3) RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.—The amounts 

expended by the Administrator to carry out this subsection 

in any fiscal year shall not exceed 7.5 per centum of the 

amount authorized to be appropriated in such fiscal year pursuant to section 17.’’. 

(c) TRIENNIAL REPORTS.—Such section 7 (15 U.S.C. 2206) is 

further amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(n) TRIENNIAL REPORT.—In the first annual report filed pursuant to section 16 for which the deadline for filing is after the 

expiration of the 18-month period that begins on the date of the 

enactment of the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization 

Act of 2008, and in every third annual report thereafter, the 

Administrator shall include information about changes made to 

the National Fire Academy curriculum, including— 

‘‘(1) the basis for such changes, including a review of the 

incorporation of lessons learned by emergency response personnel after significant emergency events and emergency 

preparedness exercises performed under the National Exercise 

Program; and 

‘‘(2) the desired training outcome of all such changes.’’. 

(d) REPORT ON FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING INCIDENT COMMAND

TRAINING FOR FIRES AT PORTS AND IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United 

States Fire Administration shall submit to Congress a report 

on the feasibility of providing training in incident command 

for appropriate fire service personnel for fires at United States 

ports and in marine environments, including fires on the water 

and aboard vessels. 

(2) CONTENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 

include the following: 

(A) A description of the necessary curriculum for 

training described in paragraph (1). 

(B) A description of existing training programs related 

to incident command in port and maritime environments, 


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PUBLIC LAW 110–376—OCT. 8, 2008 122 STAT. 4059 

including by other Federal agencies, and the feasibility 

and estimated cost of making such training available to 

appropriate fire service personnel. 

(C) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability 

of the United States Fire Administration developing such 

a training course in incident command for appropriate fire 

service personnel for fires at United States ports and in 

marine environments, including fires on the water and 

aboard vessels. 

(D) A description of the delivery options for such a 

course and the estimated cost to the United States Fire 

Administration for developing such a course and providing 

such training for appropriate fire service personnel. 

SEC. 5. NATIONAL FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM UPGRADES. 

(a) INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM DATABASE.—Section 9 of the 

Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2208) 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(d) NATIONAL FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM UPDATE.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall update the 

National Fire Incident Reporting System to ensure that the 

information in the system is available, and can be updated, 

through the Internet and in real time. 

‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Of the amounts made available pursuant 

to subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of section 17(g)(1), the 

Administrator shall use not more than an aggregate amount 

of $5,000,000 during the 3-year period consisting of fiscal years 

2009, 2010, and 2011 to carry out the activities required by 

paragraph (1).’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 9(b)(2) of such Act (15 

U.S.C. 2208(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘assist State,’’ and 

inserting ‘‘assist Federal, State,’’. 

SEC. 6. FIRE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH DISSEMINATION. 

(a) ASSISTANCE TO FIRE SERVICES FOR FIRE PREVENTION AND

CONTROL IN WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE.—Section 8(d) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2207(d)) 

is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(d) RURAL AND WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE ASSISTANCE.— The Administrator may, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Wildland Fire Leadership Council, assist the fire services of the United States, directly 

or through contracts, grants, or other forms of assistance, in sponsoring and encouraging research into approaches, techniques, systems, equipment, and land-use policies to improve fire prevention 

and control in— 

‘‘(1) the rural and remote areas of the United States; and 

‘‘(2) the wildland-urban interface.’’. 

(b) TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH DISSEMINATION.—Section 8 of such 

Act (15 U.S.C. 2207) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(h) PUBLICATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For each fire-related research program 

funded by the Administration, the Administrator shall make 

available to the public on the Internet website of the Administration the following: 

‘‘(A) A description of such research program, including 

the scope, methodology, and goals thereof. 

Public 

information. 

Web site. 


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122 STAT. 4060 PUBLIC LAW 110–376—OCT. 8, 2008 

‘‘(B) Information that identifies the individuals or 

institutions conducting the research program. 

‘‘(C) The amount of funding provided by the Administration for such program. 

‘‘(D) The results or findings of the research program. 

‘‘(2) DEADLINES.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B), the information required by paragraph (1) shall be 

published with respect to a research program as follows: 

‘‘(i) The information described in subparagraphs 

(A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) with respect to such 

research program shall be made available under paragraph (1) not later than 30 days after the Administrator has awarded the funding for such research program. 

‘‘(ii) The information described in subparagraph 

(D) of paragraph (1) with respect to a research program 

shall be made available under paragraph (1) not later 

than 60 days after the date such research program 

has been completed. 

‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—No information shall be required to 

be published under this subsection before the date that 

is 1 year after the date of the enactment of the United 

States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008.’’. 

SEC. 7. ENCOURAGING ADOPTION OF STANDARDS FOR FIREFIGHTER 

HEALTH AND SAFETY. 

The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 

2201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 37. ENCOURAGING ADOPTION OF STANDARDS FOR FIREFIGHTER 

HEALTH AND SAFETY. 

‘‘The Administrator shall promote adoption by fire services 

of national voluntary consensus standards for firefighter health 

and safety, including such standards for firefighter operations, 

training, staffing, and fitness, by— 

‘‘(1) educating fire services about such standards; 

‘‘(2) encouraging the adoption at all levels of government 

of such standards; and 

‘‘(3) making recommendations on other ways in which the 

Federal Government can promote the adoption of such standards by fire services.’’. 

SEC. 8. STATE AND LOCAL FIRE SERVICE REPRESENTATION AT 

NATIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER. 

Section 515 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 

321d) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(c) STATE AND LOCAL FIRE SERVICE REPRESENTATION.— 

‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION.—The Secretary shall, in 

consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire 

Administration, establish a fire service position at the National 

Operations Center established under subsection (b) to ensure 

the effective sharing of information between the Federal 

Government and State and local fire services. 

‘‘(2) DESIGNATION OF POSITION.—The Secretary shall designate, on a rotating basis, a State or local fire service official 

for the position described in paragraph (1). 

15 USC 2234. 


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PUBLIC LAW 110–376—OCT. 8, 2008 122 STAT. 4061 

‘‘(3) MANAGEMENT.—The Secretary shall manage the position established pursuant to paragraph (1) in accordance with 

such rules, regulations, and practices as govern other similar 

rotating positions at the National Operations Center.’’. 

SEC. 9. COORDINATION REGARDING FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL 

AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 21(e) of the Federal Fire Prevention 

and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2218(e)) is amended to read 

as follows: 

‘‘(e) COORDINATION.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent practicable, the Administrator shall use existing programs, data, information, and facilities already available in other Federal Government departments and agencies and, where appropriate, existing research 

organizations, centers, and universities. 

‘‘(2) COORDINATION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS.—The Administrator shall provide liaison at an appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of the activities of the Administrator with Federal, State, and local government agencies and departments and nongovernmental organizations concerned with any matter related to programs of fire 

prevention and control. 

‘‘(3) COORDINATION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROGRAMS.—The Administrator shall provide liaison at an appropriate organizational level to assure coordination of the activities of the Administrator related to emergency medical services 

provided by fire service-based systems with Federal, State, 

and local government agencies and departments and nongovernmental organizations so concerned, as well as those entities 

concerned with emergency medical services generally.’’. 

(b) FIRE SERVICE-BASED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BEST

PRACTICES.—Section 8(c) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2207(c)) is 

amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and 

(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(2) The Administrator is authorized to conduct, directly or 

through contracts or grants, studies of the operations and management aspects of fire service-based emergency medical services and 

coordination between emergency medical services and fire services. 

Such studies may include the optimum protocols for on-scene care, 

the allocation of resources, and the training requirements for fire 

service-based emergency medical services.’’. 

SEC. 10. AMENDMENTS TO DEFINITIONS. 

Section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 

1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘Administration’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Administration, within the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency’’; 

(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 

(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(4) by adding at the end the following: 


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122 STAT. 4062 PUBLIC LAW 110–376—OCT. 8, 2008 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2606 (H.R. 4847): 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 110–559 accompanying H.R. 4847 (Comm. on Science and 

Technology). 

SENATE REPORTS: No. 110–411 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 154 (2008): 

Sept. 18, considered and passed Senate. 

Sept. 22, 24, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

‘‘(9) ‘wildland-urban interface’ has the meaning given such 

term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act 

of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).’’. 

SEC. 11. SUPPORTING THE ADOPTION OF FIRE SPRINKLERS. 

Congress supports the recommendations of the United States 

Fire Administration regarding the adoption of fire sprinklers in 

commercial buildings and educational programs to raise awareness 

of the important of installing fire sprinklers in residential buildings. 

Approved October 8, 2008. 


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