News release
Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce, joined Rep. Dave Min, D-Irvine, to introduce the Building Resiliency and Understanding of Shrublands to Halt (BRUSH) Fires Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the growing threat of wildfires in shrubland ecosystems across the Western United States, according to a news release from Whitesides’ office.
Shrublands, which dominate much of Southern California and other arid regions, burn more frequently and with greater impact on homes and urban areas than forested areas, the release said. Despite this, most federal wildfire mitigation efforts have historically focused on forests — leaving communities in shrubland regions vulnerable and under-resourced, the release said.
“The BRUSH Act is about bringing science, strategy, and support to the landscapes that need it most,” Whitesides said in the release. “Too often, shrubland fires are overlooked in national wildfire policy, even though they threaten millions of people, homes, and ecosystems in California and beyond. This bill will give land managers the tools, data, and partnerships they need to protect lives and prevent brush fires from becoming catastrophic disasters.”
The BRUSH Act would direct the U.S. Forest Service, in coordination with relevant federal agencies, to study the effectiveness of wildfire mitigation practices in shrubland ecosystems. The study would assess fuel treatment strategies, invasive species control, ignition prevention, local partnerships, and more. USFS would then report back to Congress with findings and recommendations to better align federal actions with ecosystem-specific best practices.
This legislation is supported by a coalition of environmental and fire safety organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, California Fire Chiefs Association, Endangered Habitats League, California Chaparral Institute, and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
