Bipartisan legislation removes regulatory burden on proactive forest management efforts to mitigate wildfires
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led his EPW colleagues—including Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Boozman (R-AR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ)—in introducing the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA). The bipartisan legislation would streamline states’ use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. It also promotes the efficient use of state air quality resources and provides certainty that states will not be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires.
“If we’re serious about reducing the size and severity of wildfires, we need to stop punishing local authorities for doing the right thing to improve forest health and remove hazardous fuels,” said Senator Curtis. “By removing unnecessary regulatory burdens on prescribed burns, our legislation helps ensure states and localities can take proactive measures to help keep our forests and communities safe from the threat of wildfires.”
“I am very proud to cosponsor this legislation, which will help reduce the impact of wildfires on our land, our air, and our people,” said Chair Capito. “Wildfires have ravaged many parts of our country over the past several years, and change is necessary to ensure that states can successfully prevent the most dangerous and damaging fires. States should have the right to use known prevention practices, including prescribed fires, to mitigate potential catastrophes and care for their land. This bill gives states another tool in their toolbox, and will reduce barriers to successfully managing wildfires and protecting communities nationwide.”
“When the 2020 Labor Day fires swept across Oregon, I drove over 600 miles and never once escaped the thick, dark smoke that blanketed our state. As Oregonians face yet another record-breaking fire season this year, we need to tackle this crisis at every stage,” said Senator Merkley. “Our bipartisan bill supports more prescribed fire on the landscape—an essential forest management activity—while giving our communities the resources to plan and prepare for smoke events. Climate chaos is fueling more severe wildfires, and I’ll keep fighting to ensure Oregon and communities nationwide have the tools they need to protect public health and save lives.”
“In light of the devastating wildfires we now see far too often, Congress should do everything it can to encourage better forest management practices. Prescribed burns are an important way to prevent large-scale fires that threaten homes and property while damaging natural resources,” said Senator Boozman. “I am proud to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this legislation to ensure controlled burns do not generate an adverse Clean Air Act impact or penalize states taking proactive mitigation steps.”
“We know prescribed burns help prevent catastrophic wildfires and save lives,” said Senator Padilla. “This bipartisan bill cuts red tape so California and the whole country can make greater use of this proven, cost-effective tool to protect communities before the next major wildfire. It’s a commonsense step that prioritizes prevention instead of waiting to respond after disaster strikes.”
“Arizona knows the damage catastrophic wildfires can do to our communities and forests. Prescribed burns are one of the best ways to reduce that risk before a fire gets out of control, and states shouldn’t be penalized for taking action,” said Senator Kelly. “This bipartisan effort will help prevent larger, more destructive wildfires, keep our forests healthier, and better protect families from the smoke and pollution they leave behind.”
Background:
Utah fire seasons typically begin in July and end in October. Not even through the first month of the 2026 fire season, Utah has already experienced 594 total wildfires with 379,929 acres burned in 2026—more than the past three years combined.
While topography and natural weather conditions like a historic drought and an increasingly arid, hot climate contribute to an increase in the number of fires and their intensity, land managers can effectively influence fire behavior through proactive measures like prescribed burns. This reduces the number of hazardous fuels, the dry vegetation that catches fire easily—helping protect forests, properties, and communities along the wildland-urban interface.
Implementing these measures has become increasingly burdensome, with environmental reviews for even the smallest projects taking up to four years. Moreover, land managers can be deterred from prescribed burns due to existing environmental penalties. Yet, by avoiding these controlled burns, catastrophic wildfires become practically guaranteed and emit far more carbon than proactive management ever would.
The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act would:
- Make it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions;
- Protect ecosystems and wildlife habitat;
- Provide certainty that states won’t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires;
- Promote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and
- Make our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.
A one-pager on the bill is available here, and the full bill text is available here.