Wildfire Coordination Act Creates Permanent Advisory Board to Turn Science into Firefighting Action, Funded by $10 Million

The newly proposed Wildfire Coordination Act is all about making sure that the millions spent on wildfire research actually make it out of the lab and into the field. Basically, the bill establishes a brand-new, permanent group called the Wildfire Science and Technology Advisory Board, run by the Department of the Interior.

This isn’t just another committee; it’s designed to be the essential translator. The Board’s main job is to figure out the best way to take research findings—like new predictive models, better fire behavior knowledge, or new mitigation techniques—and put them into practice across the Federal Government. They will set priorities for which research gets operationalized first, and they are specifically required to connect the dots between wildfire science, public health, and weather modeling. If you live in an area prone to fire, this means the science being developed should theoretically lead to faster, smarter, and more integrated responses, affecting everything from evacuation warnings to prescribed burn policies.

The Science-to-Street Translator

Think of the Board as the ultimate project manager for federal firefighting efforts. They are tasked with connecting researchers to the people on the ground—fire departments, land managers, and local governments. For example, if a university develops a new satellite-based system that can detect subtle changes in forest moisture weeks before a fire starts, the Board’s role is to ensure that system is adopted and used by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, not just written up in an academic journal. They also have to create public-facing tools—like online portals and workshops—to share best practices with everyone who needs them.

To ensure this coordination actually happens, the Board is stacked with heavy hitters. Federal members include the heads of nearly every agency that touches fire or land management: Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, FEMA, NOAA, the CDC, and the EPA. Crucially, the Board must also include up to 18 non-Federal members, specifically requiring representation from State, local, and Tribal governments, fire departments, private sector groups, and experts in meteorology and public health. This mandatory inclusion of local and tribal voices is key, ensuring that the research being prioritized actually works in the diverse landscapes and communities where fires happen.

The Money and the Fine Print

The Act authorizes up to $10 million in funding for the Board’s operations. A significant detail here is that this money is authorized to not expire until it’s spent, which gives the Board stability and flexibility that many government programs lack. On top of that, federal agencies can temporarily assign their own staff to the Board without needing reimbursement, providing a significant boost in manpower.

One small, but notable, detail is in the Board’s operational rules. The Chairperson (a rotating role between the Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce) has the authority to hire staff and set their pay up to Level V of the Executive Schedule without following normal government classification rules. While this grants flexibility to attract top talent quickly—a potential benefit—it also gives the Chairperson considerable latitude in setting compensation outside of standard federal pay scales, which is an area that warrants attention to ensure fiscal responsibility.

Overall, the Wildfire Coordination Act is a structural bill aimed squarely at fixing a common problem: the gap between scientific knowledge and operational reality. By establishing a permanent, well-funded, and broadly represented body, the bill attempts to create a dedicated pipeline that moves wildfire science from the whiteboard to the fire line.