FIRE Act

To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to maintain a program that improves wildfire forecasting and detection, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fire Information and Reaction Enhancement Act FIRE Act 2. Wildfire forecasting and detection (a) Program for wildfire forecasting and detection (1) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in collaboration with such representatives of the United States weather industry and academic entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, shall establish and maintain a program within the Administration to improve wildfire forecasting and detection. (2) Goals The goals of the program established and maintained under paragraph (1) shall be to develop and extend accurate wildfire forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, property, and damage to the economy, with a focus on— (A) improving the prediction of intensification and spread of wildfires; (B) improving the forecast and communication of smoke dispersion from wildfires; (C) improving information dissemination and risk communication to create more effective watch and warning products; and (D) improving the early detection of wildfires to contain the growth of wildfires and mitigate damages. (3) Elements In order to meet the goals described in paragraph (2), the Administrator may conduct development, testing, and deployment activities related to— (A) advanced satellite detection products; (B) grid-based assessments and outlooks of fuel moisture and danger levels; (C) coupled atmosphere and fire modeling systems; (D) systems to link long-term weather predictions to achievable land management decisions; and (E) improved spatial and temporal resolution observations in high latitudes. (b) Program for weather research testbeds (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (in this section referred to as the Assistant Administrator (2) Resources In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1), the Assistant Administrator may not use the resources of the cooperative institutes of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in existence as of the date of enactment of this Act for the testbeds described in such paragraph. (3) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 to carry out the program established under paragraph (1).

Summary: Fire Information and Reaction Enhancement Act or the FIRE Act This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in collaboration with the U.S. weather industry and such academic entities as NOAA considers appropriate, to establish a program within NOAA to improve wildfire forecasting and detection. The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of NOAA shall establish a program to create one or more weather research testbeds, in partnership with industry and academic partners, to develop improved detection of and forecast capabilities for wildfire events and the effects of those events.