Wildfire safety starts where people live, not in our forests.
On January 7, 2026— the first anniversary of the catastrophic Los Angeles County fires—Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced a bill investing in proven, science-based solutions that protect homes and communities. The Senate’s bipartisan Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act (CPWRA) builds on H.R. 582 introduced in the House last January by Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA). The CPWRA addresses urgent gaps in community-level preparedness by investing up to $1 billion annually through fiscal year 2029 in science-based measures such as home and infrastructure hardening, evacuation planning, and applying community-scale defensible space across contiguous areas.
Addressing Critical Needs
Many communities, especially those located in high fire-risk areas, struggle to access funding for basic safety measures. These measures include tailored planning for wildfire, hardening homes and infrastructure, improving evacuation readiness, and educating residents about how to reduce risk. This bill helps bridge these gaps by supporting collaborative, locally driven initiatives that work alongside existing federal programs.
Key Provisions that Empower Local Action
The bill establishes the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Grant Program, to be administered by the U.S. Fire Administration, and creates a grant framework to support community wildfire plans. These plans would be developed in coordination with community members, local governments, tribal nations, fire departments, first responders, and relevant state agencies, and would incorporate strategies such as early detection planning, enhanced access for responders, and considerations for vulnerable populations.
Up to $1 billion per year would be authorized through fiscal year 2029 for planning and implementing grants. Grants of up to $250,000 would support communities in developing or updating community wildfire plans, with flexible cost-sharing to assist smaller or underserved areas. Project grants of up to $10 million would be available for efforts aligned with approved plans, with a 25% non-federal match.
Eligible projects include the following:
- Home and critical infrastructure hardening (fire-resistant materials, defensible space within 100 feet of structures or per strict state standards)
- Neighborhood-wide defensible space projects that work across property lines
- Improvements to detection, communication, evacuation plans, and responder access.
- Local capacity building, strategic land use planning and community education
- Integration with existing tools like hazard maps and Community Wildfire Protection Plans.
Priority is given to high-risk areas identified on state or federal wildfire hazard maps. Recipients are encouraged to use local workers and contractors, including through programs like conservation corps, to help support community economies and ensure projects reflect local expertise.
Why This Approach Matters
In recent decades, significant federal investments have focused almost exclusively on backcountry wildfire suppression and forest management. These approaches are ineffective against wind-driven wildfires, which continue to threaten communities with devastating results. By prioritizing community-first measures like those in the Community Protection Wildfire Resilience Act, we can deliver real solutions to these high-risk communities and shift away from a forest-focused approach that often carries negative consequences for the environment. Science shows that applying community-scale defensible space across property boundaries creates a higher probability that homes and structures will be saved during wildfire events.
A Path Forward
If enacted, the CPWA would enhance federal support for community-driven preparedness, improve coordination across agencies, help safeguard homes, infrastructure, and vulnerable populations in high-risk regions. All while putting power and resources directly into community hands. It represents an important step towards building long-term resilience.
For residents in wildfire-prone areas like Ventura County, this bipartisan initiative represents an opportunity to advocate for enhanced local tools and resources. As the bill progresses through Congress, continued dialogue among stakeholders is key to refining and advancing wildlife preparedness. We encourage our community members to stay informed and engaged as this bipartisan effort moves forward. Together, we can advocate for solutions that protect communities and our wild spaces.