Congressman David Valadao, along with several other lawmakers, has reintroduced the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act. This bipartisan initiative aims to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify that a permit is not required for using fire retardant in combating wildfires.
“California suffers from thousands of wildfires each year, and taking fire retardant away from the U.S. Forest Service is reckless,” stated Congressman Valadao. He emphasized the importance of providing firefighters with all necessary tools to minimize damage.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa added, “Fire retardant is one of the most effective tools we have to stop wildfires from turning into disasters—especially in the West.” He criticized efforts to ban its use as dangerous and stressed that entire forests, homes, wildlife, and human lives are at stake.
The bill comes after a federal court ruling in 2023 that required the U.S. Forest Service to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for aerial application of fire retardants but did not issue an injunction against their use.
Rep. Jimmy Panetta noted that nearly 9 million acres burned nationwide in 2024, highlighting the growing threat of wildfires. He called for fire retardant to remain a critical part of wildfire response strategies.
Other supporters include Reps. Jeff Hurd, Young Kim, Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, Tom McClintock, Vince Fong, Adam Gray, and Jim Costa. Each emphasized various aspects of wildfire prevention and firefighter support within their statements.
“This legislation strengthens our wildfire response…and gives firefighters the support they need,” said Rep. Costa on climate change fueling more intense fires across California.
The act aims to ensure timely access for firefighters by streamlining suppression efforts and eliminating bureaucratic hurdles related to environmental waivers.
