Senate Passes Firefighter Safety Legislation
Legislation requires independent investigationof Forest Service firefighter fatalities
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Wednesday night unanimously passed legislation requiring independent investigations of Forest Service fire fatalities. Under the bill, the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture is required to investigate forest and wildland fire fatalities in the line of duty that result from entrapment or burnover.
The Senate passed House Bill 3971 sponsored by U.S. Representative Doc Hastings. The legislation was originally authored by Senator Maria Cantwell and passed the Senate earlier this year as an amendment to the Farm Bill. It is now headed to the President's desk.
"Passing this legislation is a big step forward in improving the oversight and accountability of the Forest Service," Cantwell said. "Fire safety rules and regulations are more likely to be enforced when they know that someone is looking over their shoulder."
The legislation requires that the USDA's Inspector General provide a report of each investigation to both Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. The legislation will take effect immediately upon the President's signature.
Cantwell said the legislation is a first step. She said the Senate still needed to work on firefighting training and funding issues and as well as changes to forest management practices that will allow sensible hazardous fuel reduction to reduce the risk of forest fire.
"Doc has shown great leadership on this firefighter safety legislation in the House," Cantwell said.
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