After several catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, a group of US congressmen introduced the Fix Our Forests Act on January 16, following the passing of the bill in the House of Representatives. H.R.471 was proposed by 56 members of both parties (39 Republicans, 17 Democrats), including 20 representatives from California. The state has experienced its largest wildfires in history in recent years (2020-2024).
The proposal H.R.471 was passed by the House of Representatives on the 23rd with a vote of 279-141. While a similar forest restoration bill passed in the House in the previous session with a 268-151 vote, it faced obstacles in the Senate’s Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
According to a press release, Chairman of the Western Caucus in Congress and Congressman for California’s 1st District, Doug LaMalfa, stated, “With wildfires raging in my home state of California, the need for proactive forest management to reduce wildfire risk has never been more urgent.” The Fix Our Forests Act will implement critical measures to “reduce bureaucracy and unnecessary litigation, which are obstacles to good forestry projects and healthy forests.”
Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and Congressman for Arkansas’ 4th District, Bruce Westerman, mentioned, “It is time to engage everyone and use scientifically proven methods to restore forest health, protect communities at the wildland-urban interface from wildfires. This legislation will make our forests more resilient, ensuring responsible use and management for future generations.”
Congressman Kevin Kiley from California’s 3rd District highlighted, “Restoring forest health not only protects trees but also safeguards our communities, wildlife, and future generations’ water sources. It will enhance resistance to catastrophic wildfires and protect communities by speeding up environmental analysis, reducing frivolous lawsuits, and accelerating forest recovery projects on a larger scale. The Fix Our Forests Act will provide vital tools for agencies to immediately implement the most crucial forest management projects.”
According to the Times of San Diego, Congressman Scott Peters from California’s 50th District, a Democrat and initiator of the bill, stated, “The wildfire crisis we see in California and throughout the West is not just a result of inaction, but also a product of decades of misguided land management that turned our forests, wildlands, and hills into tinderboxes.”
As of October 2024, the top nine largest wildfires in California occurred between 2017 and 2024, with a total burned area of 4,625,251 acres. The wildfires include the August Complex in 2020, Dixie Fire in July 2021, Mendocino Complex in July 2018, Park Fire in July 2024, and others like SCU Lightning Complex, Creek Fire, LNU Lightning Complex, and North Complex Fire in August 2020, with the ninth being the 2017 Thomas Fire.
Although recent wildfires in Los Angeles did not cover the largest area, they caused significant damage in terms of destroyed homes and fatalities. As of January 30th, the three major fires had burned a total of 47,894 acres. The Palisades fire destroyed 6,837 buildings, damaged 1,017, and resulted in 12 fatalities; the Eaton fire destroyed 9,418 buildings, damaged 1,037, and claimed 17 lives.
Local officials in California also support the Fix Our Forests Act, hoping to address the state’s severe wildfire crisis. Robert Dugan, Chairman of the Placer County Water Agency, stated, “This bill promotes proactive forest management to enhance community resilience against wildfires. This bipartisan legislation will expedite environmental review in high-risk ‘fire zones’ and streamline environmental consultations, allowing the agency to accelerate critical forest and watershed restoration projects.”
Heidi Hall, Supervisor of Nevada County, mentioned, “Nevada County has witnessed devastating losses from catastrophic wildfires, highlighting the urgent need for proactive policies and solutions. Taking bold wildfire mitigation measures is crucial for protecting residents, reducing future risks, and ensuring stability in the insurance market.” Investing in sustainable solutions today can secure a safer and more resilient future for generations to come. ◇