No one understands wildfires in New Mexico better than the state's firefighters, New Mexico Democrat U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján said in a news release last week announcing legislation to better support local fire departments.
Lujan announced in his news release issued Wednesday, July 26, the Fire Department Repayment Act, which would amend the current fire department repayment system. That amendment would ensure local fire departments "are fairly and swiftly compensated for their service," the news release said.
"In New Mexico, we know firsthand what wildfire season means – and every year, fire season highlights the critical need to invest in our local fire departments," Luján said in the news release. "Firefighters are on the front lines of keeping our communities, infrastructure, and environment safe. That's why I’m proud to introduce this legislation to repurpose the fire department repayment system to help ensure New Mexico’s local fire departments are well-equipped to tackle wildfires."
New Mexico U.S. Representative Josh Harder (D-Calif.) earlier this year reintroduced a companion bill to Luján's Fire Department Repayment Act, according to the news release.
Both pieces of legislation aim to will address the ongoing firefighter shortage by adequately compensating local fire departments for staffing and equipment. This bills would safeguard agreements between local fire departments and the U.S. Forest Service, which would ensure transparency and timely fulfillment.
In 2022, the U.S. experienced 66,255 wildfires, including the devastating Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and Cerro Pelado Fire in New Mexico, according to the news release. Local fire departments and emergency responders played a pivotal role in containing the fires, evacuating residents, and providing essential aid, highlighting the importance of collaboration between local and Federal partners to minimize risks and protect communities and the environment according to a press release.
"Every day, our local firefighters put everything on the line to keep us safe," Harder said in the news release. "Wildfires are only getting bigger and burning longer year after year, and it often falls on our departments to fight these fires on federal lands. "The federal government is responsible for reimbursing our local fire departments for their service, and they shouldn’t be skipping out on the bill. One of the fire departments in my district in California recently responded to a wildfire on federal land while they’re still waiting to be reimbursed for a fire they responded to over a year ago. Local fire departments should be fully and quickly compensated for their work to keep us safe."