FIRE Act

H.R. 6387, the Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act, would amend the Clean Air Act to change how air quality monitoring data is handled when influenced by wildfires or wildfire mitigation actions like prescribed burns. The bill would allow states to petition the Environmental Protection Agency to exclude air quality data affected by these exceptional events from certain regulatory determinations. This could provide relief to states struggling to meet federal ozone standards when pollution comes from sources outside their control, such as wildfire smoke or prescribed fire mitigation efforts.

The bill seeks to provide clarity and predictability for air quality planning while reducing regulatory burdens on manufacturers and communities. It would require the EPA to establish new regulations within 18 months of enactment that define what qualifies as an exceptional event and establish procedures for states to petition for data exclusions. The legislation maintains that there must be a clear causal relationship between recorded pollution levels and the exceptional events or mitigation actions. If enacted, the bill could reduce compliance costs for businesses in areas affected by wildfires while maintaining environmental protections.