FIRE Act
Bill: H.R.5010 | Sponsor: Rep. Garcia, Mike (R-CA)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

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 their impacts.

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 Representatives 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'' or the ``FIRE Act''.

SEC. 2. WILDFIRE FORECASTING AND DETECTION.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, in collaboration with the United States 
weather industry and such academic entities as the Administrator 
considers appropriate, shall establish and maintain a program within 
such Administration to improve wildfire forecasting and detection.
    (b) Goals.--The goals of the program maintained under subsection 
(a) 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--
            (1) improving the prediction of intensification and spread 
        of wildfires;
            (2) improving the forecast and communication of smoke 
        dispersion from wildfires;
            (3) improving information dissemination and risk 
        communication to create more effective watch and warning 
        products; and
            (4) improving the early detection of wildfires to contain 
        their growth and mitigate damages.
    (c) Elements.--In order to meet the goals outlined in subsection 
(b), the Administrator is authorized to conduct development, testing, 
and deployment activities related to--
            (1) advanced satellite detection products;
            (2) grid-based assessments and outlooks of fuel moisture 
        and danger levels;
            (3) coupled atmosphere and fire modeling systems;
            (4) systems to link climate predictions to achievable land 
        management decisions; and
            (5) improved spatial and temporal resolution observations 
        in high latitudes.
    (d) Construction Authorization.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for the 
        Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 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 their impacts.
            (2) Resources.--In carrying out the program under paragraph 
        (1), the Assistant Administrator may not take resources for 
        such testbeds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration cooperative institutes in existence as of the 
        date of enactment of this Act.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 to carry out the program 
under subsection (d).
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