Congresswoman Torres Introduces Resolution to Designate May 3-9, 2026 as National Wildfire Preparedness Week

Congresswoman Torres Introduces Resolution to Designate May 3-9, 2026 as National Wildfire Preparedness Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), alongside 27 House members, introduced a resolution to designate May 3 through May 9, 2026 as National Wildfire Preparedness Week. The resolution raises awareness of fire safety and prevention while encouraging individuals, families, and communities to take proactive steps to reduce risks and safeguard properties.

"Wildfires are one of the most dangerous natural disasters facing our nation, and after seeing thousands of Californians lose their homes in recent years, we must take decisive action to protect our communities," said Congresswoman Torres. "By establishing National Wildfire Preparedness Week, we can educate the public on the essential role every resident plays in preventing the loss of life and property. This resolution highlights the critical preventative measures and resources needed to prepare, respond, and recover, while ensuring we continue to advocate for the brave first responders who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe."

The resolution highlights that nearly 85% of wildfires are caused by human activity, stressing the importance of preventative measures such as vegetation management, proper evacuation planning, and limiting the use of combustibles during high-heat seasons. It also calls for increased financial support for communities impacted by wildfires to ensure resources are available for both immediate response and long-term recovery.

The resolution comes as 2026 national fire activity has already outpaced previous years and in response to the growing scale of wildfire damage. In 2025 alone, nearly 78,000 fires consumed over 5.1 million acres of land in the United States, with California suffering from more than 8,000 fires. As of April 30, 2026, 24,066 fires have burned 1,848,2101 acres this year, already above the 10-year average for acres. Congresswoman Torres is urging all Americans to utilize resources like ReadyForWildfire.org to learn about proactive steps for the upcoming season.

The resolution was cosponsored by 27 other members: Aguilar (CA-33); Barragán (CA-44); Bera (CA-06); Bonamici (OR-01); Brownley (CA-26); Carbajal (CA-24); Case (HI-01); Chu (CA-28); Cisneros (CA-31); Costa (CA-21); Garamendi (CA-08); Huffman (CA-02); Jacobs (CA-51); Khanna (CA-17); Levin (CA-49); Min (CA-47); Mullin (CA-15); Neguse (CO-02); Panetta (CA-19); Peters (CA-50); Pettersen (CO-07); Salinas (OR-05); Simon (CA-12); Takano (CA-39); Thompson (CA-04); Tokuda (HI-02); Whitesides (CA-27).

Full resolution

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