Reps. Garamendi and Whitesides Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Wildfire Response

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA-27), Lance Gooden (R-TX-05), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), and Jason Crow (D-CO-06) introduced the bipartisan Wildfire Response Modernization Act. This bill would expand the United States government's ability to detect, track, and combat new wildfires.

Last year, Reps. Garamendi and Whitesides introduced the FireGuard Reauthorization Act, which authorized the Department of Defense to use their satellites to detect wildfires and distribute information to firefighting efforts on the ground. The program has detected numerous fires in the critical first moments that they break out, and helped firefighters track dangerous wildfires as they spread.

This new legislation would let Space Force purchase non-profit and commercial wildfire data products for the FireGuard program for the very first time, giving FireGuard expanded early detection and continuous monitoring capabilities, helping detect, track, and fight fires as they break out in California and across the country.

FireGuard uses National Guard intelligence analysts embedded with federal and state agencies to provide near real-time wildfire detection and situational awareness. This data improves response times and coordination. Earlier alerts mean faster evacuations, more precise air drops, and safer conditions for firefighters and residents.

"As California's Insurance Commissioner, I saw firsthand the devastating impact wildfires can have on families and communities. Homes were destroyed, lives were upended, and memories built over generations were lost in a matter of hours," said Rep. Garamendi. "For years, firefighters have needed better tools to detect and contain fires before they become catastrophic. This commonsense legislation will help ensure that firefighters have the technology and resources necessary to protect lives, property, and communities.

"FireGuard is one of the most important ways the federal government can utilize technology to fight fires quicker and more effectively, and the program should have access to every piece of data available," said Rep. Whitesides. "Particularly in Southern California, where wildfires have destroyed thousands of lives and livelihoods, the government must meet this challenge head on, using every tool at our disposal. We can make FireGuard, an already successful program, even stronger, by strengthening its partnership with non-profit and commercial sources to improve around-the-clock monitoring, and the potential for even earlier detection."

"Every minute matters in a wildfire," said Rep. Gooden. "This provision puts cutting-edge American technology to work so first responders can detect fires earlier, respond faster, and prevent small fires from destroying lives and communities."

"As states like California face increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, tools like FireGuard help us meet that threat. Using space-based commercial data will only make this program more effective. This is one of the many ways that space benefits Americans every day," said Rep. Carbajal. "We've seen how capable this program has been in early detection and this legislation builds on that success. Protecting our communities from wildfires is not a partisan issue - it's an urgent one, and I'm proud to be co-leading this effort."

"Colorado is facing a high risk of wildfires after one of the warmest and driest winters in history," said Rep. Crow. "By allowing local communities to have fast and accurate data about wildfires, including from space-based satellites, we can better equip local communities to respond to emergencies. I will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect Coloradans this fire season."

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