Local Congresswoman Co-Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Wildfire Detection

In response to deadly wildfires across Southern California, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents Pasadena, and two other California representatives, introduced legislation Monday to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s capabilities in detecting and forecasting wildfires.

The Fire Information and Reaction Enhancement (FIRE) Act, introduced by Chu and co-sponsored by Representatives Young Kim (CA District 40) and Julia Brownley (District 26), directs the NOAA to focus its assets on wildfire management and rapidly share critical information with land managers and firefighters.

The Eaton Fire, which has swept through Altadena and northern Pasadena in Chu’s District, has destroyed more than 9,500 structures and left 20,000 people homeless.

“The Southern California wildfires this month are on track to become one of the costliest and devastating natural disasters in our country’s history,” Chu said. “As climate change causes longer, more severe fire seasons in California each year, we need to leverage all the tools at our disposal to keep communities safe.”

Rep. Kim cited the Airport Fire from last fall, which consumed nearly 24,000 acres across Orange and Riverside Counties, as evidence for the urgent need for enhanced detection capabilities.

“Early detection and quick, secure communication can be the difference between life and death during a wildfire,” Kim said in support of the legislation.

The bill would authorize NOAA to develop new technology for predicting wildfire intensification, forecasting smoke dispersion, improving information dissemination, and enabling early detection to contain fires’ growth and mitigate losses.

“In recent years, wildfires have surged in frequency and intensity across California, and today, communities in Southern California are once again facing the devastating impacts of these fires,” Brownley said.

The legislation authorizes construction of a “fire-weather testbed” to develop new technologies for predicting wildfire intensification and forecasting smoke dispersion patterns.

“It is critically important that we invest in better technologies for wildfire mitigation, detection, and response to combat this growing danger,” Brownley added.

The FIRE Act previously passed the House as part of the Fire Weather Development Act of 2024, demonstrating ongoing legislative momentum for wildfire prevention measures.