Today, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported catastrophic wildfires have burned more than 5 million acres in 2022, double the 10-year average for wildfires. House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"It's devastating to see so much of America up in smoke before we've even reached peak wildfire season. These fires burn hotter, faster, and longer every single year, destroying lives, property, and wildlife at an alarming rate. We are fortunate to have thousands of brave wildland firefighters who put their own lives at risk to control the blazes, but the harsh reality is that this situation will only worsen if we don't take proactive action. Unhealthy forests act as tinderboxes for the slightest spark, yet Democrats repeatedly stonewall critical forest management projects that would immediately mitigate wildfire severity. I just cannot understand how pouring carbon into the atmosphere and reducing communities and wildlife habitats to ash is somehow better for the environment than implementing science-based forest management. How many more acres need to burn before Democrats will finally join us in stopping this devastation?"

Background

As of the morning of July 12, 2022, NIFC's year-to-date statistics reported 5,021,894 U.S. acres burned from wildfires. The 10-year average for wildfires for this point in the year is 2,547,156 acres.

Westerman has championed legislation that would improve national forest health and mitigate wildfire risk, such as the Trillion Trees Act and the Resilient Federal Forests Act. Despite these measures, congressional Democrats have advanced no meaningful action on wildfires this Congress.