Standardising fire risk measurement for local communities

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsResearchWildland Fire

National Fire Risk Atlas to improve risk intelligence

A new Fire Risk Atlas is currently under development to provide the first standardised framework for measuring fire risk in local communities across the United States.

The Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) at UL Research Institutes (ULRI) is leading the effort alongside the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate.

This project focuses on research regarding single-structure fire risk and structure-to-structure fire spread alongside wildland-urban interface vulnerability.

Decision-makers require reliable data to identify emerging threats and guide investments toward effective mitigation.

Local fire departments reported approximately 1.244 million fires in 2024 which resulted in more than 2,200 deaths and $144 billion in property loss.

Wildfires in 2025 consumed over 5.1 million acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures.

The Southern California fires in January 2025 were recorded as being among the most costly fire incidents.

National spending currently remains focused on suppression and response rather than long-term prevention.

Integrating risk intelligence into NERIS

The analytical tools and measurements produced by this research will be integrated into the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS).

NERIS is a platform used by nearly 30,000 fire departments nationwide to support real-time decision-making and the adoption of the latest fire science.

Rebecca Harned, Principal Research Scientist at UL Research Institutes | Fire Safety Research Institute, said: “Despite the increase in destructive fire incidents, resulting in billions of dollars in economic loss annually, we continue to struggle to measure and predict fire risk.

“Yet, accurate and precise risk intelligence is a critical ingredient for empowering communities to take responsibility and invest in prevention and mitigation efforts that make a difference.

“At ULRI, we’ve taken on this challenge by integrating fire behavior science with data science and economics to provide the actionable intelligence on fire risk our public leaders urgently need.”

Advancing wildfire risk modeling science

ULRI has launched the Wildfire Risk Modeling Exercise in 2026 to foster collaboration between over 40 partner organisations.

This convergent experiment aims to identify the strengths of existing models and determine how to ensemble them for greater precision.

The Exercise Planning – Conduct Team includes representatives from CAL FIRE and University of California San Diego’s Wildfire Science – Technology Commons.

Other members include the Gordon – Betty Moore Foundation, FireWERX, Google.org, and the U.S. Department of War’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program.

Public safety agencies will use these validated insights to anticipate threats and prioritise prevention strategies.

New bipartisan bill would create FEMA wildfire resilience grant programme

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsWildland Fire

Wildfire resilience grant programme proposed through FEMA

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Tim Sheehy have announced bipartisan legislation to establish a new Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act grant programme aimed at helping local communities reduce wildfire damage.

In a 7 January 2026 press release from Padilla’s office, the senators said the bill would create a new community hardening grant programme within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and invest $1 billion per year.

The senators said the funding would support Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Plans developed with community members, first responders and relevant state agencies, covering actions such as early detection technology, alerts and warnings, evacuation planning and execution, access for first responders, and measures for vulnerable populations including the elderly and people with disabilities.

The plans would also include hardening critical infrastructure and homes, applying community-scale defensible space across contiguous areas, building local capacity to implement and oversee plans, deploying distributed energy resources such as microgrids with battery storage, strategic land use planning, community education, and coordination with existing wildfire plans including a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

What the bill would fund and how grants would be prioritised

The press release said the bill would provide grants of up to $250,000 to develop a Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Plan and grants of up to $10 million to implement a plan.

It said grants would be prioritised for low-income communities at high risk for fire or wildfire and communities recently impacted by a major wildfire.

The bill would also require a report on federal authorities and programmes to protect communities from wildfires, a study on whether a plan could be used as a certification tool for insurance companies assessing community resilience, ongoing updates to wildfire hazard maps, and an assessment of impediments to emergency radio communications across departments and agencies.

The senators said the bill would also add home hardening as an allowable project under the U.S. Forest Service’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant programme and allow structure hardening to be covered under existing community wildfire protection programmes.

Backers in Congress and endorsements cited in the release

Padilla and Sheehy described themselves as co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus and said Representatives Jared Huffman and Jay Obernolte are leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Padilla said: “One year ago today, Pacific Palisades and Altadena families lost loved ones, homes, businesses, places of worship, and so much more as their neighborhoods were reduced to rubble.

“These catastrophic disasters serve as a stark reminder that megafires can devastate both forested and urban areas.

“That’s why I’m working across the aisle with Senator Sheehy to deliver lifesaving federal support to help mitigate the growing risk of catastrophic wildfires and harden our communities and critical infrastructure against disasters.”

Sheehy said: “To keep American cities and towns from burning to the ground and save lives, we must be proactive in aggressively hardening communities against the year-round threat of catastrophic wildfire.

“The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act delivers the tools needed to better safeguard people, homes, and property from disaster, and I’m proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense effort to make America more wildfire resilient.”

The press release said the bill is endorsed by groups including CalWild, Earthjustice, the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Silvix Resources, Trust for Public Land, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The Wilderness Society and John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute.

FEMA Reform white paper sets out IAFC recommendations for US response system

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

IAFC sets out FEMA Reform priorities

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has released a white paper on FEMA Reform setting out recommendations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council in the US.

The report was issued on Friday 31 October 2025 and focuses on how FEMA should organise its work to support local fire and emergency medical services (EMS) departments.

According to IAFC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council was created by President Trump through Executive Order 14180, Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

IAFC stated that Chief Josh Waldo, IAFC President for 2024–2025, established a dedicated task force to provide recommendations to the federal FEMA Review Council.

The organisation explained that this work comes as the Trump Administration develops proposals to change FEMA and the wider homeland security framework.

IAFC reported that the task force’s purpose is to shape reforms so that FEMA’s operations meet the needs of local fire departments.

The report stresses that local fire and EMS departments are first on scene at incidents and last to leave.

It adds that FEMA’s role is to assist these local responders by supplying resources that support an effective all-hazards response.

Task force draws on IAFC committees

IAFC said Fire Chief Jim Schwartz chaired the DHS/FEMA Reform Task Force formed to develop the white paper.

The task force brought together representatives from IAFC components including the EMS Section, Metro Chiefs and Volunteer and Combination Officers Section.

IAFC added that terrorism and security issues were represented through the Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee and Emergency Management Committee.

Urban operations were covered by the Urban Search and Rescue Committee and Communications Committee.

Wildland and hazardous materials risks were represented through the Wildland Fire Policy Committee and Hazardous Materials Committee.

The report underlines the importance of the US Fire Administration (USFA) in collecting and processing national data through systems such as the new National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS).

It also points to USFA’s role in preparing senior leaders through the National Fire Academy.

The task force recommends consolidating federal EMS programmes, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, within USFA.

The report further calls for the position of US Fire Administrator to be elevated to Deputy FEMA Administrator.

Data, leadership and EMS consolidation

IAFC’s paper states that FEMA must remain focused on helping local fire and EMS departments prepare for all hazards, rather than limiting attention to specific incident types.

The report notes that systems such as NERIS enable national-level data collection and analysis to underpin decision-making and leadership development.

According to IAFC, moving federal EMS programmes into USFA would align data, training and operational support for EMS with fire service structures.

The task force argues that this approach would reflect the central role EMS plays in many fire departments’ missions.

The white paper also links leadership development at the National Fire Academy to future decision-making capacity within FEMA and USFA.

IAFC sets out these structural proposals as part of its broader FEMA Reform recommendations for the Review Council.

Grants and mutual aid in focus

IAFC’s report examines FEMA’s role in response as well as preparedness.

The paper highlights the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) System as a core FEMA responsibility during disasters and national emergencies.

It stresses the importance of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in providing a standard framework and shared terminology for multi-agency operations.

The report states that improving the national mutual aid system is necessary to coordinate and deploy the closest available resources to escalating disasters.

It notes that better reimbursement of local agencies is needed when they provide staffing and equipment to incidents outside their home state or jurisdiction.

The task force emphasises the value of FEMA-administered grants such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) programme, including Fire Prevention and Safety grants, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programme.

According to IAFC, these grants build local fire department capabilities that are deployed to all hazards.

The report adds that the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) support investments in training, equipment, intelligence and specialist responses for terrorism risks.

IAFC states that as the Trump Administration places more responsibility on state and local governments for disaster response, it must maintain funding for these grant programmes so local fire and EMS departments can meet that challenge.

Next steps for federal review council

IAFC said Chief Schwartz previewed the report at a FEMA Reform Council listening session in Asheville, North Carolina, on 22 September.

The paper was approved by the IAFC Board of Directors and sent to the FEMA Review Council’s staff on 24 October.

IAFC confirmed that it will continue to advocate for local fire and EMS needs as the FEMA reform process progresses at federal level.

Fire Chief Jim Schwartz, Chair of the IAFC DHS/FEMA Reform Task Force, said: “FEMA is an essential partner with fire and EMS agencies across the country before, during, and after a disaster.

“While much of the current discussion has been on disaster aid, we cannot ignore the crucial investment in preparedness as a major contributor to our effectiveness.”

Fire Chief Josh Waldo, IAFC President (2024–2025), said: “Fire and EMS departments are the backbone of the nation’s emergency response system.

“I created the IAFC DHS/FEMA Reform Task Force to make sure that local fire and EMS chiefs have a voice in the Trump Administration’s efforts to reform FEMA.

“I thank Chief Schwartz and the members of the task force for developing recommendations that we can take to our elected leaders in Washington,”

Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford, IAFC President and Board Chair, said: “As the Trump Administration considers FEMA reform, it is important that any changes they propose meet the needs of the nation’s fire and EMS departments.

“FEMA provides essential training and funding to local fire departments and provides NIMS as a framework for the response to national emergencies.

“Resources like the National US&R System and the U.S. Fire Administration must be preserved.

“I look forward to taking the FEMA Reform task force’s message to the Trump Administration and Congress to make sure that local fire and EMS departments voices are heard in this national dialogue.”

Implications for US fire and EMS leadership

The IAFC report on FEMA Reform focuses directly on how federal structures, programmes and grants shape the daily work of US local fire and EMS departments.

Fire chiefs and senior officers are central to this discussion, as the task force’s recommendations address FEMA’s support role, leadership development at the National Fire Academy and the proposed elevation of the US Fire Administrator.

Emergency and disaster response managers are affected through the report’s treatment of the National Urban Search and Rescue System, NIMS and mutual aid arrangements for deploying the nearest available resources.

Government departments working on homeland security and emergency management will need to consider IAFC’s call for consistent funding across AFG, SAFER, SHSGP and UASI to sustain training, equipment and specialist capabilities.

Training officers and instructors are directly linked to the report’s emphasis on USFA and the National Fire Academy as platforms for data-driven leadership and EMS integration.

Procurement officers and grant managers in fire and EMS departments may need to align local investment plans with any future federal decisions informed by the IAFC task force’s recommendations.

What the federal shutdown means for fire prevention and response

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured News

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit postponed amid federal shutdown

National Fire Academy closure halts annual gathering

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) have postponed the fourth annual U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The one-day summit was scheduled to take place on Monday 7 October at the National Fire Academy campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The organisers confirmed that the campus has been closed as part of the wider government shutdown, leaving them no option but to postpone the event.

The summit, launched in 2022, brings together senior fire and emergency service leaders from across the United States to discuss national fire prevention strategies, data-driven fire safety initiatives and the state of the country’s emergency response systems.

The USFA and NFFF said they are working to identify possible new dates later in the year, dependent on when the government resumes normal operations.

They have encouraged prospective attendees to check the USFA’s official website for updates once the shutdown ends.

Federal shutdown affects agency operations and safety programmes

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) reported that as of midnight on Tuesday 1 October, federal funding lapsed for most U.S. agencies after Congress failed to approve the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

While some agencies deemed essential – including the U.S. military and Transportation Security Administration – continue operating without pay, others have partially or fully ceased activity.

The IAFC said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has closed the National Fire Academy until further notice.

FEMA confirmed that approximately 21,000 of its nearly 25,000 employees are classed as exempt or excepted and will remain on duty, allowing disaster response operations and payments to continue.

However, FEMA’s grant processing and approval functions are paused for the duration of the shutdown.

Awardees of fully funded grants can continue their work but will not be reimbursed until operations resume.

Projects that require prior federal approval must pause entirely until furloughed employees are reinstated.

Public health and emergency support agencies face disruption

According to the IAFC, multiple federal departments responsible for public safety, health and environmental management are affected by the funding lapse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has furloughed most of its staff, with only 35% continuing to work on limited emergency prevention and response functions.

The WTC Health Program remains operational through mandatory spending, but fire service priority offices within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are closed.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has placed most of its staff on furlough, with only commissioned Public Health Service officers maintaining existing grant disbursements.

New grants, responses to funding requests and programme guidance will be delayed until normal operations resume.

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will continue to run its Secretary’s Operations Center and deploy Disaster Medical Assistance Teams where required, but routine planning and training activities are suspended.

Wildfire and hazardous materials work also impacted

The shutdown has also affected several agencies central to wildfire and hazardous materials management.

The U.S. Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture, will retain about 15,600 staff to continue responding to wildfires and protecting life and property.

However, around 12,700 employees have been furloughed, and work on hazardous fuels reduction and prescribed burns will be reduced.

State-level grants for wildfire preparedness and equipment acquisition are expected to be delayed, potentially affecting local and volunteer fire departments dependent on reimbursement for ongoing work.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said 3,300 fire management staff remain on duty under the Wildland Fire Management account, while another 1,000 will continue performing essential suppression and emergency services work if funding balances are exhausted.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will continue emergency investigations and enforcement of safety regulations.

However, its outreach, training, standards development and grant-funded emergency responder support programmes are paused until appropriations are restored.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The postponement of the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit and the closure of the National Fire Academy suspend a major annual platform for collaboration among national, state and local fire leaders.

The shutdown also affects ongoing training, coordination and funding across the fire and emergency services network, with FEMA grants, NIOSH research and Forest Service reimbursements delayed.

Fire chiefs, emergency managers, training coordinators and wildfire response officers may face short-term constraints in planning, funding or preparedness activities.

Those managing grant-funded initiatives or multi-agency collaborations may experience administrative delays and reduced federal engagement until operations fully resume.

This article was informed by information from the following sources: the U.S. Fire Administration; the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

FEMA official resigns following delays in Texas flood rescue response

by AmericasFloodingPeopleSearch and Rescue

Urban search leader steps down over deployment delay

Ken Pagurek, chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) branch, has resigned following reported delays in the agency’s deployment during the recent floods in Texas.

According to CNN, Pagurek’s resignation came after internal frustration with new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies that delayed rescue operations by over 72 hours.

The delay followed a new requirement that all FEMA contracts exceeding $100,000 must receive personal sign-off from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Sources told CNN that the Texas response was the final straw in a wider pattern of challenges faced by Pagurek under the Trump administration.

In his resignation letter, obtained by CNN, Pagurek did not cite the Texas floods but stated he was returning to the Philadelphia Fire Department.

FEMA response times questioned after flooding in Texas

The CNN report stated that FEMA’s elite rescue teams were not deployed until several days after the flooding began.

Officials within FEMA attributed the delay to new internal cost controls introduced by Secretary Noem, which required personal approval for larger contracts.

Noem’s office defended the response, stating that other DHS assets, including the Coast Guard and Border Patrol, were used before FEMA resources were authorised.

A DHS spokesperson told CNN: “It is laughable that a career public employee… would choose to resign over our refusal to hastily approve a six-figure deployment contract without basic financial oversight.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office reported that the state deployed more than 2,100 personnel from 20 agencies in response.

President Donald Trump supported the federal response and endorsed the policy of shifting disaster response responsibilities to individual states.

FEMA director defends agency at Congressional hearing

Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson defended the agency’s response during a hearing of the House transportation and infrastructure committee.

According to the Guardian, Richardson described FEMA’s handling of the Texas floods as “a model how disasters should be handled”.

Representative Greg Stanton criticised the response as both “incompetence” and “indifference”, suggesting lives may have been lost as a result.

Richardson denied wrongdoing, stating that the agency was realigning with its original mission to support state-led responses.

He was unable to confirm whether FEMA would continue to exist under current reforms, saying only that “the president wants better emergency management”.

FEMA launches new task force for rapid funding

CNN reported that FEMA is creating a Disaster Funding Adjudication Task Force to speed up internal approval of critical emergency contracts.

Internal memos obtained by CNN show that the task force is designed to process requests within hours to avoid operational delays during federally declared disasters.

However, despite the new process, all approvals will still be subject to Richardson and then Noem, raising questions about the system’s effectiveness.

A FEMA official told CNN: “It’s just a shotgun approach to guidance that we are constantly reacting to… to make sure we can answer the bell when it’s rung.”

The DHS responded by questioning the policy relevance of the internal memos.

Congressional concerns and proposed FEMA reforms

Members of Congress raised concerns about FEMA’s direction and accountability.

Representative Rick Larsen cited 518 statutory mandates FEMA must follow, claiming the agency was not in compliance.

Richardson replied that FEMA had identified eight mission-essential tasks it prioritises based on its own analysis.

Representative Dina Titus said the $100,000 contract approval threshold constituted bureaucracy, not oversight.

A bipartisan bill to reform FEMA, including proposals to centralise disaster funding information, was announced during the hearing.

The Environmental Defense Fund has expressed support for the legislation, citing the increasing severity of disasters.

FEMA official resigns following delays in Texas flood rescue response: Summary

Ken Pagurek has resigned as chief of FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue branch.

CNN reported the resignation followed delays in FEMA deployment during Texas floods.

The delay was attributed to a DHS rule requiring Kristi Noem’s personal approval of contracts over $100,000.

Pagurek’s resignation letter did not reference the flood but cited personal reflection.

FEMA is launching a new task force to speed emergency contract approvals.

The task force will still require Richardson and Noem’s sign-off.

DHS defended the process as responsible financial oversight.

Richardson called FEMA’s flood response a “model” at a congressional hearing.

Congressional representatives criticised the response and FEMA’s current leadership.

A bipartisan FEMA reform bill was announced during the hearing.

Richardson denied FEMA made errors and said states should take more responsibility.

President Trump supports reducing FEMA’s role in disaster management.

FEMA has been under internal strain with multiple resignations.

Richardson denied claims that calls to FEMA’s disaster hotline went unanswered.

The Guardian reported that Democrats challenged FEMA’s climate and disaster readiness.

Richardson said FEMA would respond to disasters “regardless of their origin”.

FEMA response questioned as Western governors discuss wildfire recovery

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsFlooding

Governors debate FEMA and post-fire flood policy in the United States

Governors from four Western U.S. states have announced plans to formalise a shared approach to wildfire recovery, citing challenges with FEMA and the growing impacts of post-fire flooding.

According to Source NM, the announcement was made during a panel discussion at the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The panel, titled “Flood After Fire – Enhancing Safety in Post-Fire Landscapes,” featured state governors alongside emergency response officials and a federal landslide scientist.

The governors from New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming described post-fire flooding as an increasingly widespread issue linked to hotter and larger wildfires across the region.

Source NM reported that New Mexico’s ongoing recovery from the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire continues to be disrupted by severe flooding across the 534-square-mile burn scar, affecting communities and infrastructure including the Las Vegas water treatment plant.

State leaders share wildfire flood concerns

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said: “The first thing I thought when I drove into that community had nothing to do with the fire or the homes burned.”

He added: “What I realised was, for the next five or six years, things are going to be pretty awful for those people because of the mudslides and the runoff, the sediment that comes down.”

Source NM reported that similar issues were discussed by other governors, who said even moderate rainfall on burned terrain now results in dangerous floods and debris flows.

According to the publication, the New Mexico burn areas remain at high risk, with parts of both the northern and southern regions under active flood warnings.

At the time of the WGA event, six wildfires were burning across the state.

FEMA’s performance and future role raised by participants

Although no Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives were present, the agency’s performance and uncertain future were repeatedly mentioned.

Source NM noted that FEMA was referenced more than ten times during the panel, often in the context of its limitations in addressing secondary wildfire impacts.

New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján had recently written to FEMA with criticisms of its existing policies.

In their letter, the senators said: “The agency has repeatedly struggled to respond effectively.”

They added: “Cascading disasters such as landslides, flooding and water system failures that compound damage and slow recovery continue to be overlooked.”

According to Source NM, the senators urged FEMA to update its procedures for post-fire disaster response.

Expert calls for formal agreement between Western states

Collin Haffey, a post-fire recovery leader formerly with the New Mexico Forestry Division, participated in the panel discussion.

Haffey said: “If I’m trying to build my portion of the railroad track to meet them, I don’t know how far to go.”

He added: “And I think that that lack of communication down to the local level is putting lives and recovery at risk.”

Haffey told attendees that coordination between states often depends on personal relationships, not institutional systems.

He said: “We have these peer-to-peer networks because I have their cell phone numbers.”

He added: “But that’s not necessarily the best.”

According to Source NM, Haffey called for the WGA to establish a formal agreement that would strengthen regional coordination independent of federal agency involvement.

New WGA chair supports regional wildfire recovery partnership

Spencer Cox was confirmed as the new chair of the Western Governors’ Association during the same meeting.

In response to Haffey’s remarks, Cox said: “Even if we weren’t, you know, seeing FEMA reform and changes happening there, we should have been doing this anyway.”

He added: “And so let’s do it anyway.”

Source NM reported that Cox committed to leading the development of a regional partnership between Western states to improve preparedness and response to post-fire flooding.

Participants did not outline a formal structure during the meeting but agreed to begin shaping a cooperative framework.

Discussions are expected to continue under Cox’s leadership as chair of the WGA.

FEMA response questioned as Western governors discuss wildfire recovery: Summary

Governors from Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming met at the Western Governors’ Association meeting in Santa Fe.

They announced plans to create a regional partnership for wildfire recovery.

The announcement was prompted by ongoing challenges with post-fire flooding and uncertainty around FEMA.

The event was titled “Flood After Fire – Enhancing Safety in Post-Fire Landscapes.”

It included input from emergency officials and a federal landslide expert.

FEMA was not represented at the event but was discussed more than ten times.

New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján criticised FEMA’s post-fire policies.

They said the agency had failed to address landslides, flooding and system failures.

Collin Haffey, a recovery leader, said poor coordination was putting recovery at risk.

Haffey called for a formal agreement between Western states.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox was named WGA chair during the meeting.

Cox said he would lead the development of a formal partnership.

No agreement was finalised, but discussions are ongoing.

Trump administration outlines plans to dismantle FEMA

by Breaking News

FEMA response responsibilities to shift to US states

President Donald Trump has announced plans to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the current hurricane season ends, according to CNN.

Speaking during an Oval Office briefing on Tuesday, Trump said federal disaster management would be scaled back and that responsibility should fall to individual states.

Trump said: “We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it down to the state level.”

He added: “A governor should be able to handle it, and frankly, if they can’t handle it, the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn’t be governor.”

Trump stated that the Office of the President will begin distributing disaster recovery funds directly, replacing FEMA’s traditional role in disaster aid allocation.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted that the current hurricane season, ending 30 November, could be severe and hazardous.

CNN reported that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, supported the move, saying the agency “fundamentally needs to go away as it exists.”

Senior leadership departures raise concerns within FEMA

CNN reported that Jeremy Greenberg, who led FEMA’s Operations Division and National Response Coordination Center, has resigned.

His departure, submitted on Wednesday, follows a series of high-level exits at the agency, which is operating with reduced staff and diminished morale.

FEMA has lost approximately 10% of its workforce since January, according to the report, and may lose up to 30% by the end of 2025.

This would reduce the agency’s staffing from around 26,000 to 18,000.

Officials told CNN that the agency is underprepared for the current hurricane season due to leadership turnover and cuts.

One former senior FEMA official said: “It is clear from the president’s remarks that their plan is to limp through hurricane season and then dismantle the agency.”

The source added: “This is a complete misunderstanding of the role of the federal government in emergency management and disaster response and recovery.”

FEMA Review Council to propose future strategy

A FEMA Review Council has been formed to examine how the agency operates and to propose ways to reduce its functions.

The council is co-chaired by Kristi Noem and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

According to CNN, the council will deliver recommendations later this year aimed at reducing FEMA’s operational scale and revising its remit.

Noem said on Tuesday: “We all know from the past that FEMA has failed thousand if not millions of people, and President Trump does not want to see that continue into the future.”

She added: “While we are running this hurricane season, making sure that we have pre-staged and worked with the regions that are traditionally hit in these areas, we’re also building communication and mutual aid agreements among states to respond to each other so that they can stand on their own two feet with the federal government coming in in catastrophic circumstances with funding.”

States urged to lead disaster response planning

Trump and Noem have suggested that states should develop mutual aid agreements and infrastructure to handle disaster response without federal intervention in most cases.

Trump said: “When you have a tornado or a hurricane or you have a problem of any kind in a state, that’s what you have governors for.”

He added: “They’re supposed to fix those problems.”

CNN reported that concerns remain over states’ ability to replace FEMA’s logistical resources and expertise.

Some officials said that while financial assistance might still be available in extreme circumstances, most states do not have the capacity to manage large-scale emergencies independently.

One unnamed former FEMA leader told CNN that state-level response would lack the support systems FEMA currently provides.

Changes at FEMA during hurricane season preparedness

CNN reported that FEMA has reopened several training facilities and extended contracts for disaster response staff as part of last-minute preparations for the 2025 hurricane season.

David Richardson was appointed to lead FEMA last month despite having no prior experience in emergency management.

Richardson, a former marine and official in the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office, has replaced senior agency staff with other DHS personnel.

CNN stated that Richardson had initially planned to release an updated disaster response strategy but has since postponed this, saying the agency will operate under the 2024 plan.

The report added that communication gaps between the White House and FEMA have caused delays in aid distribution.

In some instances, FEMA was not informed of approved disaster declarations until days after presidential sign-off.

FEMA to be phased out under Trump administration plan: Summary

President Donald Trump announced that FEMA will be phased out after the 2025 hurricane season.

Trump said responsibility for disaster response should fall to state governments.

CNN reported that federal funding will instead come directly from the president’s office.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects the 2025 hurricane season to be particularly severe.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem supported the decision to reduce FEMA’s role.

Noem co-chairs a FEMA Review Council with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The council will recommend changes to FEMA’s operations and mission.

Jeremy Greenberg, head of FEMA’s Operations Division, has resigned.

FEMA has lost 10% of staff since January and could lose up to 30% by year-end.

David Richardson was appointed as FEMA head despite no prior emergency management experience.

Richardson has postponed the release of an updated disaster response plan.

FEMA reopened training facilities and extended staff contracts in recent weeks.

Several senior emergency officials expressed concern over states’ ability to replace FEMA’s functions.

FEMA reopens National Fire Academy and training campuses across the United States

by Breaking NewsTraining

In-person FEMA training to resume following review of federal cost policy

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has confirmed that in-person instruction will resume at three of its national training facilities beginning in early June.

According to Industry reports, FEMA’s review concluded that selected courses at the National Fire Academy (NFA), the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), and the National Disaster and Emergency Management University (NDEMU) are necessary for supporting national preparedness.

These programmes had been paused in March 2025 after Executive Order 14222 mandated cost reductions across federal agencies.

The order required that government contracts and travel be justified through new transparency systems to ensure spending aligned with the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative.

National training centres to reopen in Alabama and Maryland

The affected sites include the CDP in Anniston, Alabama, and two campuses located in Emmitsburg, Maryland: the NFA and NDEMU.

FEMA stated that after a full review, it had “determined certain courses provide effective training to enhance national readiness for state, local, tribal and territorial emergency managers, first responders and local leaders.”

These institutions will resume delivery of courses such as incident command for medical services, fire alarm system reviews, and decision-making tools for emergency planning.

The National Fire Academy currently lists vacancies for several of its upcoming sessions starting in June 2025.

Training freeze followed cost-cutting directive from executive order

Training activities were suspended following Executive Order 14222, issued in February 2025 by President Trump. The order required each federal agency to review discretionary spending on contracts, grants, travel and training.

According to the executive order, agencies were directed to justify all payments and contracts via an internal technological system.

Non-essential travel, including to training sites, was temporarily suspended unless specifically approved through written justification procedures.

FEMA subsequently limited programme authorisations, and NFA courses were excluded from travel approvals under the guidance that they did not meet the threshold of “mission-critical” operations.

Fire service advocates and lawmakers opposed the suspension

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) reported that it had urged congressional representatives to support the reinstatement of in-person training programmes.

According to the IAFC, the return of NFA sessions beginning 2 June follows pressure from fire service leaders and members of Congress.

During a Senate appropriations hearing in May 2025, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said efforts were underway to restore funding and programme access.

She noted her department’s aim to support firefighter development and national disaster readiness.

FEMA reopens National Fire Academy and training campuses across the United States: Summary

FEMA will restart in-person courses at three national training centres in early June 2025.

These include the National Fire Academy and National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama.

Training was suspended in March 2025 under Executive Order 14222.

The order required federal agencies to reduce costs and justify travel and programme spending.

FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration conducted a review of emergency training programmes.

The agencies concluded that selected courses remain critical for state and local emergency preparedness.

Applications for upcoming NFA courses are currently open.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs welcomed the return of in-person instruction.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that reinstating training access was a departmental priority.

Courses will begin as early as 2 June 2025.

IAFC launches task force in response to FEMA reform

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

US FEMA strategy overhaul under presidential orders

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has confirmed that it has formed a task force to examine the Trump administration’s restructuring plans for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This development follows the issuance of Executive Order 14180, which was signed on 24 January and establishes a 20-member Council to assess FEMA.

The council is chaired by the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security.

It is required to deliver its findings 180 days after its first public meeting.

The council held its first meeting on 20 May.

The IAFC also cited the 18 March signing of Executive Order 14239.

That order mandates a new National Resilience Strategy and calls for changes to key homeland security directives, including HSPD-5 and PPD-8.

These policy changes, according to the IAFC, could directly affect fire and emergency services.

IAFC outlines key concerns and review scope

The IAFC reported that Fire Chief Josh Waldo, its President and Board Chair, appointed a dedicated task force to provide formal recommendations to the federal government on the implications of its proposals for local emergency services.

Retired Chief Jim Schwartz, former fire chief of the Arlington County Fire Department and former chair of the IAFC Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee, was named as the task force lead.

The IAFC confirmed that Schwartz will oversee a 10-person team responsible for evaluating the potential impact on fire departments and emergency medical services.

The organisation explained that the task force will also engage directly with the newly formed FEMA Review Council and other federal officials to represent the views of fire and rescue services.

Transition from all-hazards to risk-based response

The IAFC noted that the Trump administration is proposing a shift away from an all-hazards response model toward a risk-based approach.

This change affects federal support structures such as FEMA’s Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) and homeland security preparedness policies.

The administration has committed to producing a National Critical Infrastructure Policy and National Risk Register within 240 days, according to the IAFC.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is also tasked with updating core preparedness policies and documents within the same timeframe.

The IAFC stated that the task force will evaluate how these policy changes could affect current fire service operations.

This includes considerations for grants, training at the National Fire Academy, and operational readiness for events such as hazardous materials incidents and wildfires.

Task force to provide ongoing updates

The IAFC said the task force will focus on several key questions.

These include how FEMA can better serve local fire departments and what parts of the existing homeland security framework should be retained or revised.

It will also consider what steps local agencies should take in response to federal changes.

The IAFC stated that the review process will include analysis of how potential policy shifts could alter training, funding, and federal coordination practices.

The organisation confirmed that the task force will continue to monitor developments.

It will report regularly to IAFC members about the progress of discussions in Washington.

IAFC launches task force in response to FEMA reform: Summary

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has launched a task force in response to proposed changes to FEMA.

The task force was created after President Trump signed Executive Orders 14180 and 14239 in January and March 2025.

Executive Order 14180 established a FEMA Review Council.

The council held its first public meeting on 20 May.

Executive Order 14239 instructs the creation of a National Resilience Strategy and a National Risk Register.

The IAFC task force is led by Chief Jim Schwartz (Ret.).

The task force includes 10 members.

The group will assess how the changes affect fire and EMS services.

The task force will provide recommendations to the federal government and the FEMA Review Council.

The IAFC said the review will cover FEMA operations, federal response policy, and local preparedness.

The Department of Homeland Security is required to revise emergency support and preparedness policies within 240 days.

The IAFC will provide regular updates to its members throughout the process.