The Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act will authorize the United States Fire Administration (USFA) to provide additional resources for local fire authorities to investigate fire origins and recommendations to prevent similar fires from reoccurring
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Rep. Haley Stevens’ (D-MI-11), bipartisan bill to assist local firefighter investigators passed the House. This bill was led by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) and co-led by Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI-03) and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16). The “Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act” (H.R.7077) will authorize the U.S. Fire Administration to send safety specialists, fire protection engineers, codes and standards experts, researchers, and fire training specialists to collaborate and assist local firefighter investigators in their investigation.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) currently does not have the authority to conduct on-site investigations of major fires. As a result, following major fires, USFA is limited in its ability to fully utilize its expertise in collaboration with local, State, and other Federal authorities.
The Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act addresses this gap by authorizing the USFA Administrator to send incident investigators, including safety specialists; fire protection engineers; codes and standards experts; researchers; and fire training specialists, to the site of a major fire to conduct investigations in collaboration with Federal, State, and local authorities.
“In Michigan, we experienced a significant rise in fire-related deaths during the first month of 2022,” said Rep. Stevens (D-MI). “Unfortunately, the Bureau of Fire Services reported that these increased fires in Michigan were all preventable. This bill will unlock the expertise of federal fire safety specialists and engineers to collaborate and assist local firefighter investigators after a major fire incident in their community. The bill also looks forward by offering recommendations to prevent similar fires from occurring in the future. I am thrilled that this critical legislation passed the House, and I look forward to its swift passage in the Senate.”
According to the Bureau of Fire Services, fire-related deaths across Michigan increased by 144% in the first month of 2022 compared to 2021.
Additionally, this bill requires USFA to issue a public report on the findings of the investigation to local, State, and Federal authorities. This report would include recommendations on how to mitigate the causes of the investigated fire as well as buildings with similar characteristics that may bear similar fire risks.
A key objective of the U.S. Fire Administration is to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and nonfatal injury due to fire. Although fire loss has improved significantly over the past 25 years, the fire problem in the United States remains serious. The United States still has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world.
The Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act is part of a federal legislative package aimed at solving the underlying issues that caused the deadly fire and preventing future tragedies led by Rep. Ritchie Torres following the recent Twin Parks North West apartment building fire that took the lives of 17 New Yorkers.
The “Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act” is supported by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
“The recent series of deadly fires, including the tragedy at the Twin Parks apartment which claimed 17 lives, highlights the need to better investigate and prevent fatal fires. We continue to see an unacceptable number of deaths and injuries among firefighters and the general public,” said General President Edward Kelly of the International Association of Fire Fighters. “Allowing the US Fire Administration to assist with fire investigations will help identify lessons learned to better avert future disasters. The IAFF thanks Reps. Torres, Stevens, Meijer, and Gonzalez for their leadership on this important issue, and I urge Congress to prioritize the safety of firefighters and the general public alike by passing this important legislation.”
Representative Haley Stevens is Chair of the Subcommittee on Research & Technology of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Fire Administration and the legislation. The Senate companion, S.3845, was introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in the Senate on March 15, 2022..
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