Press Release: Bipartisan National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 Aims to Combat Wildfire Threats in North Carolina
This week, U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 alongside Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA) and David Valadao (R-CA). This legislation seeks to mitigate the catastrophic wildfire risks throughout the United States by enhancing hazardous fuels management through prescribed burns.
The National Prescribed Fire Act encourages the expansion of controlled burns during cooler, wetter months, aiming to cultivate a skilled workforce in fire management while improving smoke management tools and streamlining permitting processes for winter burns. The bill stipulates that federal land designated for prescribed burns will increase by 10% annually over the next decade, enhancing wildfire prevention efforts.
Senator Budd emphasized the critical need for such measures in North Carolina, recognized as the state most susceptible to wildfires. Following Hurricane Helene, which left extensive downed trees and debris, the risk of wildfires has escalated significantly. Budd stated, "By enabling the Forest Service to better conduct controlled burns of unchecked vegetation, we can protect our forests from catastrophic wildfires."
With over 822,000 acres of timber and debris from Hurricane Helene now presenting a higher fire risk, the North Carolina Forest Service is already responding to a spike in wildfires—over 4,193 incidents consuming more than 26,000 acres thus far this year. The opportunity for prescribed burns is an essential strategy in addressing these burgeoning threats, particularly as drought conditions persist in key regions.
The National Prescribed Fire Act, with its proactive approaches to wildfire management, signifies a crucial step towards safeguarding North Carolina’s forests and communities from the devastating impacts of wildfires.
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