Overview

• Bill directs Secretary of Interior to establish Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program within 6 months of enactment
• Covers federal wildland firefighters and wildland fire support personnel who die, suffer critical injury, or become seriously ill in the line of duty
• Provides structured support to next-of-kin (families) through notification, travel reimbursement, case management, and benefits information

Who does this affect?

• Main groups: Families of federal wildland firefighters and wildland fire support personnel who experience line-of-duty casualties
• Who benefits: Next-of-kin receive travel reimbursement to visit hospitalized firefighters, access to case managers and counselors, centralized information about federal benefits, and formal notification procedures
• Teen impact score: 2/10 (minimal teen connection—affects families of federal wildland firefighters, not teens directly)

What This Bill Does

• Secretary of Interior must develop program within 6 months of enactment covering firefighters killed, critically injured, or seriously ill in line of duty
• Program reimburses next-of-kin for travel expenses to visit firefighters requiring hospitalization or treatment at medical facilities
• Establishes formal notification procedures for initial and subsequent updates to families about casualties
• Creates centralized case management with rapid access to expert case managers and counselors for short-term and long-term support
• Requires free website and other resources providing personalized information about federal benefits and financial assistance available to survivors
• Sets qualifications, training, duties, and accountability standards for casualty assistance officers who support families
• Coordinates with Department of Interior, Department of Justice, and Social Security Administration to resolve benefits issues promptly
• Collects data in consultation with U.S. Fire Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on casualty assistance quality
• Defines next-of-kin priority order: surviving spouse, adult children by age, parents, adult siblings by age, grandparents, then other relatives by state law
• Does not change existing Line of Duty Death benefits for federal firefighters

Legislative Status

• Introduced July 23, 2025 by Rep. Harder (CA) and Rep. Scott Franklin (FL)
• Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources, then to Subcommittee on Federal Lands on November 25, 2025
• Bipartisan sponsorship with one Democrat and one Republican

In short

• Creates formal support program for families of federal wildland firefighters who die or are seriously injured fighting fires
• Families get travel reimbursement, dedicated case managers, and clear information about federal benefits
• Interior Department has 6 months after passage to set up the program
• Does not create new death benefits—focuses on family support and coordination
• Applies only to federal wildland firefighters, not state or local firefighters

Why should I care?

Wildland firefighters face extreme danger battling wildfires that threaten communities across the western United States. When these federal firefighters are killed or critically injured, their families often face confusion navigating multiple government agencies for benefits and support. This bill creates a single coordinated program to help families during the worst moments of their lives—providing travel money to reach hospitalized loved ones, assigning dedicated case managers, and centralizing information about available help. The program mirrors casualty assistance systems used by the military. As climate change intensifies wildfire seasons, ensuring families receive organized support becomes increasingly important for recruiting and retaining qualified firefighters willing to risk their lives protecting public lands and communities.