President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the impacts wildfires have on Americans and ensure fire fighters 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, who joined Trump in the Oval Office ceremony, underscored the critical role fire fighters play in wildfire response, and the need to improve coordination between local, state, and federal partners.
We will now use every tool at our disposal to work with the administration to ensure that the health and safety of fire fighters is at the forefront of the roll-out of this executive order.
General President Edward Kelly
“No one knows better than our IAFF members the toll these fires are having across the country,” Kelly said. “We must ensure fire fighters 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 fire fighters 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,” he continued.
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.
“Fire fighters across the country are forced to rely on outdated technology and face challenges in quickly responding to wildfires because of unnecessary regulation and bureaucracy,” the executive order says.
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. And 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 fire fighters to operate safely and effectively in this evolving environment.
“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,” said Kelly. “Prioritizing IAFF member health and safety, as well as providing cutting-edge preparedness training, are non-negotiable. It’s time to get to work.”
