An air tanker drops retardant while trying to stop the Oak Fire from progressing in Mariposa County, Calif., on Sunday, July 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Forest restoration and wildfire mitigation would get federal support under a new bill in Congress. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, along with colleagues from California and Montana, introduced a bipartisan bill this week they say will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the West. The Wildfire Emergency Act would allow the Forest Service to leverage private financing to accelerate forest restoration projects and expand a grant program to help low-income households fireproof their homes. It would also establish a prescribed fire training center and create a program to ensure critical facilities maintain power during wildfire disruptions.