Newly Formed Organization Calls for a Comprehensive National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Wildfires
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 7, 2025 — The United States experienced 64,897 wildfires last year that burned more than 8.8 million acres of land. With more communities across the country facing growing risks from these dangerous wildfires, leaders from some of the nation’s largest business, labor, and community organizations have come together to launch Partners in Wildfire Prevention.
Partners in Wildfire Prevention is a diverse coalition comprised of leading voices across industries and communities directly impacted by wildfires. Many of its members already play an important role in wildfire prevention and response efforts across the nation. The coalition’s mission is to advocate for a coordinated federal wildfire strategy that ensures communities are better protected from the dangers wildfires pose while empowering businesses to make smart, forward-looking investments in wildfire resilience.
Wildfires impact nearly 2,000 communities across the country and all aspects of the economy. Some states are taking initiative by passing locally tailored legislation that supports wildfire prevention measures. However, federal action is needed to ensure that all states can access the essential resources needed to prevent and recover from wildfires.
“Wildfires do not respect state lines,” said Chet Wade, communications director for Partners in Wildfire Prevention. “As the fires grow in size, intensity, and impact, only a national effort can ensure that the best protection and fastest recovery is available for American communities and businesses.”
“Partners in Wildfire Prevention will work to educate stakeholders on the risk of wildfires and will advocate for a solution focused on protecting communities, preventing wildfires, making effective and responsible investments in prevention tools and technologies, and ensuring rapid recovery.”
Member organizations voiced support for the coalition launch and the need for a prevention-first national approach to wildfires:
“As the nation’s leading family caregiver organization, our priority is ensuring that the millions of family caregivers across the country are safe and have the resources they need. Wildfires pose risks to the health and safety of caregivers and their loved ones, which is joining Partners in Wildfire Prevention and advocating for a prevention-first, national response to wildfires,” said Marvell Adams Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Caregiver Action Network.
“Wildfires are a national crisis —but they’re one we have the capacity to address,” said Dr. Jedidah Isler, Chief Science Officer of the Federation of American Scientists. “There’s a particularly powerful opportunity to harness the power of science and technology for smarter, more effective wildfire management. The Federation of American Scientists is proud to join with first responders, labor organizations, business leaders, wildfire preparedness organizations, and community interest groups through the Wildfire Prevention Coalition to advance actionable, evidence-based policy solutions that will make our communities, and our country, more prepared to handle the growing wildfire threat.”
“Wildfires impact millions of Latinos across the country every year, bringing devastation and disruption for our communities. The Latino Coalition is joining Partners in Wildfire Prevention to take part in the national response to this critical issue,” said Carlos F. Orta, President & CEO, The Latino Coalition.
“The American biomass power industry strongly advocates for increased efforts to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk. We are pleased to support the newly formed Partners in Wildfire Prevention, and we look forward to working together to identify creative solutions to keep communities safe, promote forest health and reduce firefighting costs,” said Carrie Annand, Executive Director, American Biomass Energy Association.
“At the National Hispanic Energy Council, we work every day to ensure Hispanic communities have access to affordable energy for their homes and businesses. The damage wildfires cause can raise electricity prices, leading to unnecessary hardship for households. We’re joining Partners in Wildfire Prevention to protect our communities and advocate for policies that help ensure effective recovery when wildfires strike,” said Julio Fuentes, Chairman, National Hispanic Energy Council.
“As a coalition advocating for ecologically responsible, economically equitable approaches to the health of rural communities across the U.S., we know the importance of having diverse voices at the decision-making table. We are so pleased to join Partners for Wildfire Prevention to advance impactful policies on wildfire mitigation, community risk reduction, and forest resilience,” said Laurel Harkness, Coalition Director, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition.
“As wildfires grow more severe and widespread, the gap between awareness and action is widening. At Preppr, we’re building AI technologies that help communities prepare smarter and faster. But we can’t close that gap alone. A coordinated federal strategy must invest in prevention-first planning, scalable technology, and localized readiness. Preparedness must be treated as essential infrastructure, because resilience is built before the fire ever starts,” said Justin Snair, Founder and CEO, Preppr.ai.
“There is a growing and exciting set of advanced capabilities to address wildfire threats in and around electric grid infrastructure. Grid Forward is committed to working with utilities and all grid stakeholders to further commercialize and scale these technologies. We also stand ready to work with Partners in Wildfire Prevention to highlight how the electric power industry can help advance national solutions,” said Bryce Yonker, Executive Director, Grid Forward.
“CEA is dedicated to advancing affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy solutions that benefit everyday Americans, which is a critical part of preventing wildfires. We recognize the important role energy companies play in wildfire prevention and look forward to being an engaged member of the coalition,” said David Holt, President, Consumer Energy Alliance.
“The escalating damage caused by wildfires around the country, and the negative impact wildfires have on our ability to deliver reliable and affordable power to all Americans is an increasingly widespread and urgent issue. ACEG is pleased to lend its support to Partners in Wildlife Prevention and believes this broad, multi-sector coalition can make important progress on this national challenge,” said Christina Hayes, Executive Director, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid.
“Our members play a large role in preventative work to stop fires before they start and ensure electrical systems function properly. We’re joining Partners in Wildfire Prevention because we believe that prevention should be at the center of a national response to wildfires,” said Marco Giamberardino, Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, National Electrical Contractors Association.
“Megafire Action is proud to be a part of Partners in Wildfire Prevention, a broad and diverse coalition of leaders that are uniting to tackle the wildfire crisis. At Megafire Action, we are committed to fighting for better policy solutions at all levels of government to fight wildfires, and believe that Partners in Wildfire Prevention will be indispensable at making our wildfire mitigation and resilience efforts stronger than ever,” said Matt Weiner, CEO, Megafire Action.
“The growing and costly wildfire crisis our country faces deserves a cohesive, 21st century response, and the Association of Firetech Innovation knows that Partners in Wildfire Prevention shares that mission. We are encouraged by more leaders across the country coming together to help address this crisis with the urgency it warrants,” said Bill Clerico, Board Chair, Association of Firetech Innovation.
Partners in Wildfire Prevention members include American Association of Blacks in Energy, American Biomass Energy Association, American Gas Association, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, Association of Firetech Innovation, Caregiver Action Network, Consumer Energy Alliance, Edison Electric Institute, Federation of American Scientists, Grid Forward, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Megafire Action, National Black Chamber of Commerce, National Electrical Contractors Association, National Hispanic Energy Council, North America’s Building Trades Union, Preppr.ai, and United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
About Partners in Wildfire Prevention
Partners in Wildfire Prevention is a coalition committed to reducing the adverse effects of wildfires through prevention and preparedness. We believe we need a comprehensive national strategy that emphasizes community protection, wildfire prevention, responsible investment, and rapid recovery to effectively reduce the risk of wildfires. Our growing membership includes organizations from the public safety, labor, and business sectors, along with wildfire preparedness and community interest groups. For more information, visit preventwildfires.org.
###
MEDIA CONTACT: Chet Wade or Gwen Fuller
media@preventwildfires.org, 404-538-4220