President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at reducing the impacts wildfires have on Americans and ensure firefighters have the resources needed to respond effectively.
During a White House signing ceremony, the president highlighted the intensity with which wildfires have spread in recent years and the need for the federal government to do more.
General President Edward Kelly of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), who joined Trump in the Oval Office ceremony, underscored the critical role firefighters play in wildfire response and the need to improve coordination between local, state and federal partners.
Kelly shared: “No one knows better than our IAFF members the toll these fires are having across the country.
“We must ensure firefighters have the resources, training, and coordination needed to safely combat wildfires and protect their communities.
“We will now use every tool at our disposal to work with the administration to ensure that the health and safety of firefighters is at the forefront of the roll-out of this executive order.”
“I want to thank President Trump and his team for prioritizing this incredibly important issue.”
The executive order, Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response, directs the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to consolidate their wildland fire programs and recommend additional measures to modernize the nation’s wildland firefighting efforts.
The departments also have 90 days to “expand and strengthen” local and state partnerships to improve wildfire response.
The executive order states: “Firefighters across the country are forced to rely on outdated technology and face challenges in quickly responding to wildfires because of unnecessary regulation and bureaucracy.”
In addition to improved response, the order identifies the need to develop and expand land management practices to reduce wildfires. The threat from wildfires has grown significantly in recent years.
States like Texas, Oregon and California collectively saw millions of acres burned from large-scale wildfires last year, devastating communities and claiming numerous lives. Earlier this year, wildfires engulfed the greater Los Angeles area, killing at least 30 people and destroying entire neighborhoods.
The IAFF’s Responding to the Interface program has played a key role in training structural firefighters to operate safely and effectively in this evolving environment.
Kelly continued: “Today’s executive order is a major step forward in our shared mission to reduce wildfire threats across the country and keep our communities safe.
“Prioritizing IAFF member health and safety, as well as providing cutting-edge preparedness training, are non-negotiable. It’s time to get to work.”
The IAFF has shared the update that President Trump has signed an executive order to strengthen US wildfire response.
The order was signed during a White House ceremony, with IAFF General President Edward Kelly in attendance.
