According to a fact sheet released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), significant strides have been made to enhance community readiness for wildfires. The DHS, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), supports and strengthens fire and emergency medical services to prepare for, prevent, mitigate, and respond to hazards.
The fact sheet highlights several initiatives and resources aimed at improving fire preparedness. One of these initiatives is FEMA's outreach efforts, which have played a pivotal role in educating stakeholders about accessing DHS resources for extreme heat mitigation. This includes the inaugural Extreme Temperatures Summit hosted by DHS in August 2023, where best practices and strategies to combat extreme heat risks, including wildfires, were shared.
To involve the public in fire prevention, DHS has disseminated valuable resources through FEMA's Ready.gov campaign. These resources offer guidance on preventing, preparing for, and responding to fires at all stages. The USFA has also contributed to these efforts with its nationwide campaign, "The Fire is Everyone's Fight," which provides preparation materials.
The fact sheet also acknowledges the heightened risk associated with lithium-ion batteries and highlights the USFA's efforts to raise public awareness through free materials. Additionally, it introduces the Wildland Firefighter Advanced Personal Protection System, which is designed to enhance thermal protection, reduce heat stress, and improve garment functionality for first responders.
DHS is dedicated to investing in technology and research to advance firefighting capabilities. The fact sheet mentions collaborative efforts to eliminate dangerous polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE). Furthermore, a notable investment of $2.3 million has been made in the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), an interoperable fire information and data analytics platform.
Research and development efforts in wildland firefighter respirator devices are also highlighted in the fact sheet. These devices are designed to protect against gas and particulate hazards under extreme conditions.
Lastly, DHS has integrated unattended flood and wildfire sensors with the Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS) Open Platform for Emergency Networks. This integration enhances data-driven decision-making for local emergency notifications.
Overall, the fact sheet released by DHS emphasizes the ongoing efforts to enhance fire preparedness nationwide. By supporting and strengthening fire and emergency medical services, providing valuable resources to the public, investing in technology and research, and integrating sensor systems, DHS is working towards ensuring communities are ready to prevent, mitigate, and respond to wildfires and other hazards.