Earlier this month, President Biden signed a bill reauthorizing the United States Fire Administration (USFA) through September 30, 2028, as reported by FEMA.
For 50 years, the USFA has worked to improve fire safety in America.
The USFA collaborates with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as nongovernmental stakeholders, to enhance public safety.
This includes data collection and analysis, managing national fire and emergency medical service programs, raising public awareness about fire safety, reducing community risks, and offering specialized training through the National Fire Academy.
Established in 1974 by Congress through the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act, the USFA has played a crucial role in reducing fire incidents and fatalities across the nation.
Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator, highlighted the ongoing challenges: “Across the country – and around the world – our communities are experiencing the devastating effects of fire on our most vulnerable populations.”
She also emphasized the growing threat of wildfires: “We are also seeing intensified wildfires that are no longer limited to the west coast or the forests.”
Residential fires and extreme weather-driven wildfires in suburban and wildland urban interface areas are increasing in frequency and destructiveness.
The wildfire that devastated Maui last summer was the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century.
In May, the USFA held its first-ever World Fire Congress in Washington D.C., gathering fire service leaders from 56 countries, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
This event was essential for sharing best practices and strategies for wildfire response, enhancing the ability of all participants to respond effectively.
Looking ahead, the USFA will host its annual U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control in October 2024.
This event will bring together leaders of national fire service organizations to discuss fire challenges in the U.S. and collaborate on solutions.
The summit will include national fire service leaders, federal government members, and a virtual audience of over 4,000 fire service professionals.
With a focus on the Year of Resilience in 2024, FEMA is intensifying efforts to improve response capabilities at all levels.
In January, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced the opening of the application period for the Fiscal Year 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, which awards $324 million to enhance public and firefighter safety.
Since 2001, the AFG has awarded approximately $8.4 billion in grants for fire safety.
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program provides funding to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters in communities.
The reauthorization of the USFA, AFG, and SAFER grants underscores a continued commitment to fire safety in America.
