Forest Service to Reduce Wildfire Risk with IRA Funding

On February 20, 2024, USDA announced $500 million to expand the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. $400 million will go towards efforts on 21 designated priority landscapes and $100 million will go to the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, a new program that will use funds from IRA section 23001 for hazardous fuels reduction projects to treat areas at the Wildland-Urban Interface. The program will entail collaboration with Tribes, communities and partners in 24 qualifying states to build local capacity for projects to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.