§2106c Enhanced Community Fire Protection

Summary

Lets the Secretary work with State foresters and similar state officials to manage lands so wildfires are prevented and controlled, communities are protected, trees and forests stay healthy, and forest resources like timber, recreation, wildlife habitat, and clean water keep being produced. It creates a Community and Private Land Fire Assistance program run by the Forest Service and carried out through State foresters. The program is meant to improve firefighting coordination at all levels, support projects that protect large areas from fire, teach homeowners and communities about fire prevention, and create space around homes and private property so they can be defended from wildfire. With the State forester, the Secretary may do projects on non‑Federal land (for example, reduce fuel hazards, control invasive species, do wildfire and community protection planning, run homeowner education like FIREWISE, develop markets and better use wood, and do special restorations). Projects need the landowner’s OK and should use local people when possible. The Secretary must consult the U.S. Fire Administration, the Director of NIST, and other Federal agency heads as needed. The law authorizes $35,000,000 for each fiscal year 2002 through 2007 and such sums as are necessary for later years.