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House Natural Resources Committee reports HR 178 after heated debate over suppression mandate
Summary
The House Natural Resources Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordered HR 178, the "Put Out the Fire Act," reported to the House after members debated whether an aggressive initial suppression mandate would save communities or undermine managed-fire tools and firefighter safety.
The House Committee on Natural Resources on July 22 adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordered reported H.R. 178, the Put Out the Fire Act, a bill directing federal land managers to pursue aggressive initial attack on wildfires that threaten high‑risk areas.
The measure, introduced and led on the floor of the committee by Representative Tom McClintock, would require the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to prioritize rapid suppression in exceptionally hot, dry or volatile conditions and when the National Interagency Fire Center has declared a level 5 national preparedness status. McClintock said the bill ‘‘restores the 10 A.M. rule’’ and would ensure that small ignitions are extinguished before they can grow into catastrophic fires.
Supporters said the bill restores a longstanding firefighting…
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