Bill Overview
Title: Community Wildfire Protection Act of 2022
Description: This bill modifies the definition of at-risk community with respect to the hazardous fuel reduction program to eliminate the requirement that such a community be an interface community as defined in the notice titled Wildland Urban Interface Communities Within the Vicinity of Federal Lands That Are at High Risk From Wildfire or be within or adjacent to federal land.
Sponsors: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Target Audience
Population: People living in wildfire-prone areas
Estimated Size: 10000000
- The bill addresses 'at-risk communities' as a central concept.
- Previously defined as needed to be 'interface communities' from certain administrative notices, this requirement has been removed in this bill.
- 'At-risk communities' refer to populations that are vulnerable to wildfires.
- Wildfires most prominently affect populations in dry, forested, or bushland areas.
- Countries with significant wildfire risks include the USA, Australia, Canada, and Mediterranean countries, implying a global relevance.
Reasoning
- The policy change broadens the definition of 'at-risk community,' which is beneficial for areas previously not considered for wildfire protection funding.
- Many people living in wildfire-prone areas may now have access to resources they didn't before.
- The policy's impact will vary based on location, existing wildfire risk, and previous support levels.
- Given the budget, not all communities at risk can be fully protected or covered initially.
- The population affected is diverse, including rural areas with low population density and suburban areas expanding into wildfire-prone regions.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (Bay Area, California)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about wildfires every summer, but so far my home's been safe.
- It would be great if we have more resources to prevent and fight these wildfires.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Farmer (Rural Colorado)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Wildfires have been getting worse and more frequent.
- It's hard for us to keep rebuilding every time a blaze sweeps through.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Marketing Specialist (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel pretty safe from wildfires living in the city.
- But I know that suburban areas nearby do face risks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Northern Arizona)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased smoke and fire risk have made me worried about my health.
- Extra protections could really help our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Firefighter (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We need more funding and resources for prevention and control.
- This policy sounds like a step in the right direction to protect more people.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Teacher (Eastern Oregon)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The schools are deeply affected by wildfires, impacting both our curriculum and safety.
- We could really use better infrastructure and plans to mitigate these disruptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
College Student (Miami, Florida)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Wildfires aren't really something I'm concerned about living here.
- I'm glad other areas might get the help they need though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Construction Worker (Sacramento, California)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Wildfires disrupt my work every year.
- Extra funding for preventive measures would be beneficial to us all.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Environmental Scientist (Boulder, Colorado)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Science-based approaches to managing wildfire risks are crucial.
- This policy could expand the data and monitoring necessary for adaptive management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Real Estate Agent (San Diego, California)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how wildfires impact property values and the housing market.
- Mitigating risks could stabilize our market and make properties more desirable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $110000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $130000000)
Year 3: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 5: $140000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $160000000)
Year 10: $200000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $220000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Key Considerations
- Potentially shifting federal workload and resource allocation to more communities.
- Balancing immediate costs with potential future savings from reduced wildfire damage.
- Discussing with state and local governments the interoperability of existing programs with expanded federal criteria.