Kelly, Rosen, Colleagues Demand More Assistance from FEMA for Wildfire Prevention and Response

Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) joined Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and other Democratic colleagues in demanding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that all communities receive the federal resources they need to respond to and prevent wildfires.

States can request financial assistance from FEMA through Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) to help cover costs relating to emergencies, fire-fighting activities, and administrative costs. After an FMAG is declared, states can request assistance to help impacted communities rebuild and mitigate future wildfire disasters through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire. However, many communities are still waiting for HMGP Post Fire funds from previous wildfire disasters, which has left them vulnerable to current and future wildfire disasters.

This letter furthers Kelly's fight of keeping Americans safe by reducing wildfire risk. Last month, Kelly introduced the bipartisan Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act which helps communities remove highly flammable materials from its forests to reduce the risk of wildfire. This week, Kelly's Wildfire Prevention and Recovery Act, which directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct periodic wildfire risk assessments and study the impacts of wildfires on Corps-managed lands through a pilot program beginning in Arizona, passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee as part of the 2026 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

"Wildfires are one of the most frequently recurring disasters that, while once common only to western states, have recently become a major threat to communities across the country," wrote the senators. "These wildfires can be lethal and destroy critical infrastructure and entire residential communities, negatively affect public health through harmful smoke and air pollutants, and place large economic burdens on urban and rural communities."

"Unfortunately, over 3.1 million acres have already burned across the country since the beginning of this year, which is the second largest number of acres burned in a January to July period in the past 10 years," continued the senators. "Given these recent fires, the persistent drought across multiple states, and the expected above normal wildfire activity, it is imperative that FEMA helps communities quickly respond to wildfires and increase their resilience to future wildfire disasters."

"As we approach the summer months and prepare for above normal wildfire activity, we urge you to ensure FEMA can quickly respond to future wildfires and that FMAG and HMGP Post Fire funds are promptly approved and distributed to communities, including those in rural areas," the senators concluded.

Kelly and Rosen were joined by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

Click here to read the full text of the letter.