Kirkpatrick Amendment Helps Communities Get Wildfire Assistance

The US House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act. The amendment was introduced by First District Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick. It is intended to help cut through red tape to make it easier for cities and towns to receive federal funds to combat wildfires. The amendment allows communities in wildfire prone areras that make a good faith effort to prepare for the season to access necessary resources by allowing them to be declared “fire ready.” This makes them eligible for Firefighting Capability Grants.
Under the original terms of the bill, communities would have had to meet five different criteria. The FLAME Act establishes a fund dedicated solely to suppressing wildfires, which has taken up nearly half the Forest Service’s budget in recent years, forcing cuts in other vital programs. The bill now goes to the US Senate.