FIRE Act

Gabe Evans

Republican · CO · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Adam Gray (D-CA-13)· 2025-12-09
• Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ-9)· 2025-12-09
• Jeff Crank (R-CO-5)· 2026-02-04

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

2026-04-27

Source: Congress.gov

Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events Act or the FIRE Act This bill modifies the definition of exceptional events under the Clean Air Act and requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise its regulations regarding exceptional events or actions to mitigate wildfire risk. Generally, the EPA must exclude data from use in determinations of exceedances and violations of national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) if a state demonstrates that an exceptional event caused a specific air pollution concentration. The bill provides that events caused by human activity that are intended to mirror the occurrence or reoccurrence of a natural event are exceptional events. Additionally, the bill no longer excludes from consideration as an exceptional event (1) meteorological events involving high temperatures or a lack of precipitation, or (2) stagnation of air masses that does not ordinarily occur. The bill requires the EPA to revise regulations regarding the reviewing and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by actions to mitigate wildfire risk. The bill also requires the EPA to conduct regional modeling and analysis when multiple states submit petitions regarding the same exceptional event or action to mitigate wildfire risk.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 6387 Engrossed in House (EH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6387 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the Clean Air Act to require revisions to regulations governing the review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events or actions to mitigate wildfire risk. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events Act'' or the ``FIRE Act''. SEC. 2. AIR QUALITY MONITORING DATA INFLUENCED BY EXCEPTIONAL EVENTS OR ACTIONS TO MITIGATE WILDFIRE RISK. Section 319(b) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7619(b)) is amended-- (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``Or Actions To Mitigate Wildfire Risk'' after ``Events''; (2) in paragraph (1)-- (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Definition of exceptional event'' and inserting ``Definitions''; (B) in subparagraph (A), by redesignating clauses (i) through (iv), as subclauses (I) through (IV), respectively; (C) by striking ``(A)'' and all that follows through ``an event that--'' and inserting the following: ``(A) Exceptional event.-- ``(i) In general.--The term `exceptional event' means an event that--''; (D) by amending subclause (III) of subparagraph (A)(i), as redesignated, to read as follows: ``(III) is an event that is-- ``(aa) a natural event; ``(bb) caused by a human activity that is intended to mirror the occurrence or reoccurrence of a natural event; or ``(cc) caused by a human activity that is unlikely to recur; and''; (E) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: ``(ii) Exclusions.--In this subsection, the term `exceptional event' does not include-- ``(I) ordinarily occurring stagnation of air masses; ``(II) meteorological inversions; or ``(III) air pollution relating to source noncompliance.''; and (F) by adding at the end the following: ``(B) Action to mitigate wildfire risk.--The term `action to mitigate wildfire risk' means a prescribed fire or similar measure, undertaken in accordance with State approved practices, to reduce the risk and severity of wildfires.''; (3) in paragraph (2)-- (A) in subparagraph (A)-- (i) by striking ``March 1, 2006'' and inserting ``18 months after the date of enactment of the FIRE Act''; (ii) by inserting ``revisions to'' before ``regulations''; and (iii) by adding ``or actions to mitigate wildfire risk'' before the period at the end; (B) in subparagraph (B)-- (i) by inserting ``including proposed revisions to regulations,'' after ``subparagraph (A),''; (ii) by inserting ``or action to mitigate wildfire risk'' after ``an exceptional event''; and (iii) by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and inserting ``this section''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(C) Regional analysis.--When more than one State notifies the Administrator of its intent to submit a petition pursuant to this section for an exceptional event or an action to mitigate wildfire risk for the same air quality event, or, if the Administrator determines such a multistate air quality event has occurred, the Administrator shall conduct regional modeling and analysis sufficient to satisfy the demonstration required for an exceptional event or an action to mitigate wildfire risk petition for such air quality event. ``(D) Transparency.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of the FIRE Act, the Administrator shall establish, and thereafter update monthly, a public website describing the status of all petitions submitted pursuant to this section for exceptional events and actions to mitigate wildfire risk.''; (4) in paragraph (3)(A)-- (A) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (v) as clauses (iii) through (vi), respectively; and (B) by inserting after clause (i) the following: ``(ii) the principle that actions to mitigate…

wildfire risk can play an important role in reducing the magnitude and frequency of wildfires;''; (5) in paragraph (3)(B)-- (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``or action to mitigate wildfire risk'' before ``must be''; (B) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows: ``(ii) a clear causal relationship must exist, or be reasonably expected to exist, between the measured exceedances of a national ambient air quality standard and the exceptional event or action to mitigate wildfire risk to demonstrate that the exceptional event or action to mitigate wildfire risk caused a specific air pollution concentration at a particular air quality monitoring location;''; and (C) by amending clause (iv) to read as follows: ``(iv) there are criteria and procedures for the Governor of a State to petition the Administrator to exclude air quality monitoring data that is directly due to exceptional events or actions to mitigate wildfire risk from use in determinations by the Administrator with respect to-- ``(I) area or source exceedances or violations of the national ambient air quality standards; ``(II) the designation, redesignation, classification, or reclassification of an area; ``(III) the demonstration by a State of attainment of a national ambient air quality standard; ``(IV) attainment determinations; ``(V) attainment date extensions; ``(VI) finding a State implementation plan to be inadequate; or ``(VII) preconstruction demonstrations under section 165(a)(3).''; and (6) by striking paragraph (4). Passed the House of Representatives April 22, 2026. Attest: Clerk. 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6387 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the Clean Air Act to require revisions to regulations governing the review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events or actions to mitigate wildfire risk.

• HR7764National Threat Evaluation and Reporting Program Reassignment and Funding Reform Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-14
• HR7574ELO Realignment and Strategic Engagement Reform Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-14
• HR1681Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act
  Passed House · 2026-04-21
• HR6943Veterans Burial Allowance and Reimbursement Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-03-26