WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives has passed legislation to provide federal aid in the event of wildfires.
Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18/19) said the measure would have FEMA directly involved in quelling wildfires.
“FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, oversees hurricanes and storms but actually had no mandate to oversee wildfires at the federal level,” he said. “This is legislation that empowers and requires FEMA to have a national plan to deploy federal resources in the case of a wildfire.Earlier this year in the western Shawangunk mountains, there was a major wildfire and Ryan said firefighters could have used federal assistance, particularly with helicopters to dump water on the spreading fire.
Ryan said it would also make it easier for people who suffered property damage to secure federal aid to rebuild.
