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Panel backs bill to create casualty assistance program for wildland firefighters
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Summary
Witnesses and members endorsed HR 4671 to establish a DOI casualty assistance program modeled on Forest Service practices, arguing it would improve family support, travel reimbursement, and long-term case management for injured or deceased wildland firefighters and urging complementary measures to reduce exposures.
At a subcommittee hearing on Nov. 30, experts and members expressed bipartisan support for H.R. 4671, the Ensuring Casualty Assistance for Our Firefighters Act, which would establish a Department of the Interior casualty assistance program for wildland firefighters and their families.
Dr. Matt Ron, director and research lead at the Wildfire Conservancy, told members the bill fills a ‘‘painful gap’’ in federal wildfire operations by providing trained personnel for family assistance, travel reimbursement and long-term case management. He urged Congress to pair casualty assistance with policies that reduce hazardous exposures — modern respiratory protection, decontamination protocols and longitudinal medical monitoring — citing elevated cancer and cardiac risks for wildland crews.
Representative Joe Neguse and Rep. Marilyn Strickland (speakers on earlier panels) and health professionals emphasized the need for medical surveillance, exposure documentation and integration across DOI and USDA Forest Service programs. Committee members asked for clarifications on program scope and urged inclusion of occupational illness surveillance and screening protocols in statutory language.
Witnesses described the bill as a foundational administrative support that remains incomplete without parallel investments in PPE modernization and exposure prevention. The hearing record will remain open for member questions; the subcommittee did not vote on the measure.
