Utah Valley Times

U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Enhancing Mitigation and Building Effective Resilience (EMBER) Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at improving wildfire prevention and management across the United States. This bill is based on recommendations from the Wildfire Mitigation and Management Commission, which was established as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“Utah averages 800-1,000 wildfires annually—making our state one of the most wildfire-prone states in the country. With wildfires getting more widespread and destructive, what was once primarily an issue for Western states has become a national priority,” Senator Romney stated. “Senator Kelly and I took many of the recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission—which I ensured became law during bipartisan infrastructure bill negotiations—and turned them into a comprehensive piece of legislation.”

Senator Kelly highlighted the growing threat posed by wildfires: “Wildfires are a significant and growing threat to our communities, environment, and economy. In places like Arizona where families face this threat every year, the federal government must step in to invest in mitigation and establish innovative solutions to reduce risks.”

Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed support for the bill: “There’s a mistaken belief that wildfires are the inevitable result of climate change and there’s nothing we can do except clean up afterwards. The recommendations of the wildfire commission disprove that.” He praised Senator Romney’s efforts in implementing these recommendations through expedited permitting for active forest management among other measures.

Since 2020, Arizona and Utah have experienced over 11,650 reported wildfires resulting in more than 2,260,000 acres burned. Senator Romney has prioritized wildfire mitigation during his time in Congress. The Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission was established under his advocacy as part of broader infrastructure legislation signed into law in 2021.

The EMBER Act incorporates findings from two reports released by the Commission. These reports include strategies for aerial firefighting equipment needs through 2030 and recommend expanding workforce capabilities for mitigating wildland fires among other measures.

Jamie Barnes from Utah Division of Forestry emphasized: “With increasing wildfire risk our communities are facing, it is important for us to prioritize mitigation that targets high-risk areas.” Redge Johnson from Utah’s Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office called it "a holistic approach to better management."

Kathy Holder from Utah Division of Emergency Management commended Senator Romney's leadership: “As a former member of the National Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, I am happy to see the EMBER Act bring many of the Commission’s recommendations to fruition.”

Annie Schmidt from Alliance for Wildfire Resilience remarked on its significance: "The EMBER Act will address some critical issues identified by the Commission." Lucinda Andreani from Coconino County underscored its importance: "Counties bear much devastation resulting from catastrophic wildfires—this bill is a game changer."

Neil Chapman from City of Flagstaff noted how it aligns with federal resources expansion: “Expanding Federal wildfire response...will positively impact how communities enable beneficial fire at a pace that can significantly reduce undesirable wildfire risk.”

The EMBER Act is endorsed by multiple organizations including National Association of Counties, National Association of State Foresters, Coalitions & Collaboratives Inc., Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, Megafire Action.