I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 550 
To direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration to maintain a program that improves wildfire forecasting and 
detection, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 26, 2023 
Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California (for himself, Mrs. KIM of California, Ms. CHU, 
and Ms. BROWNLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to maintain a program that 
improves wildfire forecasting and detection, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fire Information and 
Reaction Enhancement Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘FIRE Act 
of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. WILDFIRE FORECASTING AND DETECTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
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(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion, in collaboration with the United States weather 
industry and such academic entities as the Adminis-
trator considers appropriate, shall establish a pro-
gram within such Administration to improve wildfire 
forecasting and detection. 
(2) GOALS.—The goals of the program under 
paragraph (1) shall be to develop and extend accu-
rate wildfire forecasts and warnings in order to re-
duce loss of life, injury, property, and damage to the 
economy, with a focus on improving the following: 
(A) The prediction of intensification and 
spread of wildfires. 
(B) The forecast and communication of 
smoke dispersion from wildfires. 
(C) Information dissemination and risk 
communication to create more effective watch 
and warning products. 
(D) The early detection of wildfires to con-
tain their growth and mitigate damages. 
(3) ELEMENTS.—In order to meet the goals 
specified in paragraph (2), the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is 
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authorized to conduct development, testing, and de-
ployment activities related to the following: 
(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 climate predictions to 
achievable land management decisions. 
(E) Improved spatial and temporal resolu-
tion observations in high latitudes. 
(b) CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the As-
sistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, in partnership with industry 
and academic partners, shall establish a program to 
create one or more weather research testbeds to de-
velop improved detection of and forecast capabilities 
for wildfire events and their impacts. 
(2) RESOURCES.—In carrying out the program 
under paragraph (1), the Assistant Administrator 
for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 
may not utilize resources for such testbeds from the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
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cooperative institutes in existence as of the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 
for fiscal year 2024 to carry out the program under 
paragraph (1). 
Æ 
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