Fire departments wait over a year to be paid back after responding to fires on federal lands
This critical legislation addresses a key recommendation in the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report on fighting the wildfire crisis
January 18, 2025 - WASHINGTON – On Friday, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) introduced his first bill of the 119th Congress, the bipartisan Fire Department Repayment Act with Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) to ensure local departments are fairly and quickly compensated for fighting fires on federal lands.
In part due to a shortage of wildland firefighters, local fire departments are often asked to respond to fires on federal lands, which can be very costly between staff pay and equipment costs. As firefighters — including dozens from the Valley — fight wildfires in Southern California, Harder is working across the aisle to get local fire departments the funding they need to keep families safe.
“As the wildfire crisis keeps getting longer and more severe, local firefighters are being asked to do more and more dangerous work to keep our families safe,” said Rep.Harder. “When fires break out on federal land, local firefighters answer the call, whether or not they were reimbursed for the last fire. The federal government should be making it easier for firefighters to do their jobs, not skipping out on the bill. This legislation forces the federal government to do the right thing and get our fire departments paid ASAP.”
“Our local firefighters are out there risking their lives every day to protect us from increasingly severe wildfires, and it’s time the federal government holds up its end of the bargain,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “Fire departments shouldn’t have to chase down reimbursement for their critical work on federal lands. This legislation guarantees they’re compensated promptly, so they can continue their essential work without worrying about when they’ll get paid.”
This continues Rep. Harder’s work to support firefighters and address the wildfire crisis.
Rep. Harder’s Fire Department Repayment Act ensures that the agreements local fire departments enter with the federal government are completed more transparently and in a timely manner, helping give fire departments clarity about when and how much they will be reimbursed for wildfire costs. Specifically, the bill:
- Establishes standard operating procedures for fire suppression costs agreements;
- Reviews and modifies fire suppression costs agreements as necessary;
- Ensures the fire suppression costs agreements align with cooperative fire protection agreements; and
- Expedites reviews of standard operating procedures.
Source: Congressman Josh Harder