Garcia’s wildfire bill clears committee

Politics and government
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News release  

Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, announced that his Fire Weather Development Act passed through the Committee on Science, Space and Technology on a bipartisan basis.  

“This legislation would improve fire weather forecasting, detection and collaboration to better support communities vulnerable to wildfires,” said a news release from the congressman’s office. 

“This bill will strengthen our nation’s fire weather capabilities across the board,” Garcia said in the release. “The human-to-wildland interface is growing, especially in North L.A. suburbs such as the ones in (the 27th Congressional District). It’s critical that we invest in revolutionizing the way we forecast fire weather, coordinate government agencies, use modern technologies, and disseminate information to firefighters and civilians. This bipartisan bill will do exactly that, complementing the groundwork laid out in my Fire Information and Reaction Enhancement Act.” 

Garcia characterized the bill as a “critical force multiplier” for firefighters. 

“It will establish a modern program to improve emergency communications; streamline data collection for local communities; improve research and monitoring tools, including the use of unmanned drone technology; and so much more,” he said in the release. “Last year, there were almost 69,000 wildfires that burned nearly 7.6 million acres across the country. This bill is a common-sense, necessary step toward better protecting American lives and property, and I’m proud to introduce it alongside my colleagues from both sides of the aisle.” 

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