Harder’s Efforts to Reimburse Local Fire Departments Gains Senate Support
ire Stations in San Joaquin County have waited years to be paid back after responding to wildfires on federal lands
The Ripon Fire Department has waited over two years to be reimbursed over $35,000
WASHINGTON – This week, Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) secured crucial support for his bipartisan Fire Department Repayment Act when U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Rep. Harder introduced the Fire Department Repayment Act the House in May to fix the fire department repayment system and ensure local departments are fairly and quickly compensated for fighting fires on federal lands. Harder first introduced the bill after meeting with local fire chiefs and hearing departments were waiting over a year for the federal funds. In part due to a shortage of firefighters, local fire departments are often asked to respond to and manage fires on federal lands in their area, which can be very costly between staff pay and equipment costs.
“Every day, our local firefighters put everything on the line to keep us safe. Wildfires are only getting bigger and burning longer year after year, and it often falls on our departments to fight these fires on federal lands,” said Rep. Harder. “The federal government is responsible for reimbursing our local fire departments for their service, and they shouldn’t be skipping out on the bill. Local fire departments should be fully and quickly compensated for their work to keep us safe. I’m glad this commonsense bill gaining support in the Senate.”
The Fire Department Repayment Act builds on Rep. Harder’s work to support local firefighters, increase their pay, and manage a lengthening wildfire season. Harder’s bill protects local fire departments by ensuring the agreements they enter with the US Forest Service (USFS) are honored completely, transparently, and in a timely manner to give fire departments clarity about when and how much they will be reimbursed for wildfire costs. Specifically, the Fire Department Repayment Act would:
- Establish standard operating procedures for fire suppression costs agreements;
- Ensure fire suppression costs agreements are reviewed and modified as necessary;
- Make sure these fire suppression costs agreements align with cooperative fire protection agreements; and
- Expedite reviews of standard operating procedures.
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