On January 12th, the Department of the Interior formally announced the launch of the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service, a major federal effort intended to streamline how the Interior Department manages wildfire response and preparedness nationwide. How this will impact local wildfire funding is yet to be seen. Communities that rely on Interior agencies, particularly those near BLM lands and national parks, may face increased uncertainty during the transition period. More information can be found below.
15 JANUARY 2026
•Hot Topics: Us Interior Formally Launches Wildland Fire Service
•On the Ground: Anniversary of the Palisades Fires
•In the Know: (Wildfire News, Events, Grant Opportunities)
On January 12, the Department of the Interior formally announced the launch of a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service, a major federal effort intended to streamline how the Interior Department manages wildfire response and preparedness nationwide. Under a secretarial order implementing President Trump's June 2025 executive order on wildfire prevention and response, the new service aims to unify multiple wildland fire programs that have historically been spread across Interior bureaus, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and others. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum appointed career fire chief Brian Fennessy – former chief of the Orange County Fire Authority – to lead this phased consolidation effort, which officials say will centralize coordination, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen support for firefighters and communities facing increasingly severe wildfire seasons. Interior's press release also emphasized that wildfires are growing in size, intensity, and cost, threatening lives, infrastructure, and tribal and rural communities, and that a unified service could better marshal resources and reduce confusion during critical response operations.
However, the announcement has drawn significant criticism and concern, particularly from wildfire advocacy and conservation communities. Critics argue that structural reorganization alone cannot fill the gaps created by broader budget and workforce reductions that have weakened federal wildfire response capacity in recent years. An Inside Climate News report noted widespread confusion about the timing and implementation of this new service following layoffs, funding cuts, and missed deadlines tied to the original consolidation plan while many on the ground also question whether creating a new agency will add bureaucratic layers at a time when federal wildfire programs are already stretched thin and struggling to retain experienced staff – which, in turn, could slow response and recovery efforts. The move follows policy choices under the Trump administration that have included deep agency staffing cuts and controversial reorganization efforts, leading some advocates to call for actual investment in wildfire prevention and workforce capacity, rather than symbolic reorganizations without sustained funding backing.
What This Could Mean for Local Wildfire Funding:
The creation of a U.S. Wildland Fire Service could have significant downstream impacts on how wildfire dollars reach states, tribes, and local communities, but many of those effects remain uncertain. In theory, consolidating Interior's wildfire programs could simplify grant administration, improve coordination during active fire seasons, and create a clearer chain of command for deploying federal resources. Supporters argue that a unified structure may eventually make it easier for local partners to navigate federal programs tied to suppression, fuels reduction, and firefighter support.
In practice, however, funding outcomes will depend less on organizational charts and more on congressional appropriations and staffing levels. If the new service is implemented alongside continued budget cuts or workforce reductions, local agencies could see delays in reimbursements, fewer technical assistance staff, and reduced capacity for prevention and mitigation programs. Communities that rely on Interior agencies, particularly those near BLM lands, national parks, and tribal lands, may face increased uncertainty during the transition period. For local governments and fire districts, this underscores the importance of sustained federal investment and clear guidance to ensure that reorganization does not disrupt critical wildfire funding streams when they are needed most.
The Wildfire Alliance will continue to track this and other topics in future newsletters. If you would like us to consider a specific topic or issue for this article in a future newsletter, please contact us by clicking
As we mark the one-year anniversary of the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires that tore through Los Angeles County in January 2025, the path to rebuilding remains painfully slow for many families still caught in limbo. After the fires destroyed more than 16,000 homes and displaced tens of thousands of residents, local authorities knew that permitting bottlenecks could become a major hurdle in the recovery process. Having a building permit, especially for fire survivors, is not just red tape: it can be the difference between remaining in temporary housing or finally framing up a new home. Despite efforts to accelerate approvals, recent data from Los Angeles City and County show that only a fraction of properties have secured permits to rebuild; roughly 12 % of Palisades properties and about 16 % of those in Altadena have moved past this critical milestone. As of mid-December, more than 2,000 homeowners still await permit decisions, highlighting ongoing uncertainty about who will ultimately return and rebuild in these neighborhoods. This slow pace comes amid widespread frustrations over insurance delays, labor and material shortages, and the complex interplay of local regulations that have stalled recovery even as debris removal nears completion in many areas.
Recognizing these challenges, city and county leaders have introduced innovative solutions in hopes of clearing the backlog and helping communities rebuild more resiliently and equitably. Over the past year, both bureaucracies have implemented tools to ease the process: officials adopted AI-based permitting software to pre-check plans for compliance and launched "express lane" options for homeowners rebuilding a similar footprint or using pre-designed, code-compliant plans, in some cases through public pre-approved design libraries and self-certification pathways. These efforts aim to streamline plan reviews, reduce unnecessary fees, and shave weeks off traditional timelines. Yet despite these interventions, the rebuilding landscape remains uneven, and many families face an uphill battle to navigate the patchwork of requirements and approvals needed to return home. As we reflect on this anniversary, it's clear that lasting recovery will require continued innovation, transparency, and community-centered support to ensure that survivors aren't left behind in the long shadow of these unprecedented fires.
The Wildfire Alliance is committed to highlighting a broad range of experiences in our content. If your organization has an experience you feel could be beneficial to our readers, please contact us by clicking
- These hidden rules reveal how California insurers undercut wildfire claims, leaving families in damaged homes - San Francisco Chronicle
- Hope—and Many Fears—Follow in the Wake of Trump's Plan to Transform Wildland Firefighting - Inside Climate News
- Construction Site vs. Empty Lot: It all depends on a permit - KCRW
UPCOMING EVENTS
WUI 2026 - Reno, NV | March 24-26 2026
After the Flames - Cle Elum, Washington | April 6-9 2026
Colorado Wildland Fire Conference - Fort Collins, CO | April 13-17 2026
IDGA Wildfire Technology Summit 2026 - San Diego, CA | April 21-22 2026
10 February 2026 - Fire Science Innovations Through Research and Education
Open ended - EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental
Anticipated opening soon - Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program
Wildfire Alliance is a coalition of local governments and state entities working with Congress and federal agencies to address the rising threat of wildfires.
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