Advocates for the aerial firefighting business are pushing for an executive order from President Donald Trump to ease regulations on their industry and mandate faster wildfire response times.
A draft executive order being circulated among congressional offices and policy groups proposes to streamline contracting for aircraft used in fire suppression, create a wildland firefighting task force and create a new wildland fire agency to replace the Forest Service’s primary jurisdiction over fire.
People close to the wildland fire program who reviewed the draft said it’s driven largely by Congress — including Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), who founded the fire aviation company Bridger Aerospace, one of many companies that contract with the Forest Service to fight fires on and around national forests.
Some industry groups such as the United Aerial Firefighters Association, representing aviation companies, contributed as well, they said, but neither the Forest Service nor state forestry agencies played a significant role.
