![Mosquito Fire](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/A-spot-fire-on-the-Mosquito-Fire-burns-toward-the-community-of-Foresthill-September-13-2022.-AlertWildfire-image.jpg)
Today the Federal administration’s Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission met for the first time in Salt Lake City, Utah to begin crafting federal policy recommendations and strategies on ways to better prevent, manage, suppress and recover from wildfires across the West.
The establishment of the commission was required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, H.R.3684, signed by the President on November 15, 2021, which became Public Law Number 117-58.
More than 500 applications were received, and 36 non-federal members — 18 primary and 18 alternates — were selected. Along with 11 federal members, the commission will be co-chaired by Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, and FEMA leadership. Commission members represent federal agencies, Tribes, state and local municipalities, and private entities, as directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The selections of the members were made by the three co-chairs of the Commission, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilisack, Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
Of the 47 members of the Commission, there are two, including an alternate, who fill the slot allocated for “wildland firefighter” — Kelly Martin, President of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, and Nathan Miller, Wildland Superintendent for the City of Santa Fe Fire Department, NM. The full list of members as announced by the government in July can be found here.
The legislation which established the Commission required that the first meeting be held no later than February 13, 2022. It also included deliverables in two broad categories, with due dates, two of which were breached months ago:
1. Develop recommendations to mitigate and manage wildland fires
By February 13, 2023 develop a report describing recommendations to prevent, mitigate, suppress, and manage wildland fires; consider protection of human life, short- and long-term forest management; wildland-urban interface; utility corridors; rehab after fires; streamlining environmental reviews; and, recommendations for modernizing and expanding the use of technology, including satellite technology, remote sensing, unmanned aircraft systems, and any other type of emerging technology to prevent, mitigate, suppress, and manage wildland fires.
2. Report on aerial wildland firefighting equipment, strategy, and inventory
By March 30, 2022 prepare an inventory of surplus cargo and passenger aircraft that may be used for wildland firefighting purposes.
By June 28, 2022 develop an assessment of the number of aircraft needed to fight wildland fires through 2030. The report will include an assessment of the federal government’s authorities to provide or sell surplus aircraft to Federal, State, or local organizations to be used for wildland firefighting, and, identify any additional authorities that are needed. The Commission is directed to consider all private and public sector options for accessing necessary aircraft and aircraft parts, including procurement, contracting, retrofitting, and public-private partnerships.
Our take
Since the Commission is already seven months behind the schedule required by legislation, it remains to be seen if the three co-chairs, Secretary Vilisack, Administrator Criswell, and Secretary Haaland are taking their charges seriously.
Since multiple due dates for deliverables have passed, in order to establish confidence among those who are watching that they can produce useful results, they need to admit they are already far behind, and publicise a revised schedule with dates they pledge to honor. It should include the names of persons responsible for each item.
Too often we see federal agencies ignore laws passed by Congress and incur no penalty. In this case, they have an opportunity to do something meaningful. Let’s hope it is not squandered.