Key stakeholders from a range of industries and organizations have voiced support for the Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act, introduced by Congressman Gabe Evans. The legislation aims to ensure that states are not penalized for smoke and emissions resulting from events beyond their control, such as wildfires, while maintaining environmental protections.
The bill seeks to clarify air quality planning requirements, reduce regulatory burdens on manufacturers and communities, and encourage proactive wildfire mitigation measures intended to protect public health and improve air quality in the long term.
Organizations representing construction, manufacturing, energy, business associations, and local interests have issued statements endorsing the FIRE Act. The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association stated: “We appreciate the efforts and leadership of Congressman Evans to propose this legislation. We all support clean air, but we need to modernize air quality regulations that do nothing more than to add burden to businesses, add cost and do not result in environmental improvements. Thank you, Congressman Gabe Evans!!”
Ted Leighty, CEO of the Colorado Association of Home Builders said: “Excluding emissions from prescribed burns from contributing to air quality standards can help provide additional flexibility for Colorado manufacturers seeking Clean Air Act permits and encourage prescribed burns, which is helpful for forest health and, by extension, logging operations – both of which help with construction material costs and supply chains for homebuilders, helping reduce Colorado’s housing affordability challenges.”
The Colorado Petroleum Association noted ongoing challenges with federal air quality standards: “Colorado has long failed to meet the federal air quality standards… The FIRE Act is a reasonable approach that will lower costs for Coloradans by clarifying how emissions from wildfires, prescribed burns, and other exceptional events are considered in federal air quality standards. We need more tools to manage air quality, not bureaucratic obstacles.”
Other groups such as the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association expressed hope that the bill would ease economic pressures on families: “Colorado fuel marketers and station owners as well as our customers hope that Colorado pays attention to this much needed and important effort to reduce costs on the Colorado economy and working families… Congressman Evans just provided hope with this legislation.”
Manufacturing representatives also supported reforms. The Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association commented: “Manufacturers support Clean Air Act reforms as part of critically needed comprehensive permitting reform… Your efforts will foster our industry’s ongoing efforts to improve air quality while preventing unnecessary burdens that reduce economic growth and tax revenues vital to local communities.”
Club 20 highlighted benefits for rural areas: “Club 20 supports the FIRE Act as a practical solution that protects rural communities from being unfairly penalized for wildfire smoke…”
Jack Waldorf of the Western Governors Association stated: “Western Governors thank Representatives Evans and Gray for their bipartisan legislation that removes regulatory barriers to wildfire risk reduction… The Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act streamlines the exceptional events process… promoting the safe use of prescribed fire.”
Daren Bakst at Competitive Enterprise Institute said: “Congress needs to take action to ensure that… states are not unfairly penalized for prescribed burns… Disincentivizing their use can undermine forest management…”
Other endorsements came from industry groups including The American Cement Association; Colorado Ready Mix Concrete Association; Colorado Oil & Gas Association—whose President Lynn Granger emphasized improved clarity in EPA assessments—and national organizations like U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Additional supporters include Tri-State Generation CEO Duane Highley who cited grid reliability benefits; National Association of Manufacturers; American Forest & Paper Association; National Mining Association; AC-REP President Lisa D. Hough; American Petroleum Institute; National Mining Association; Club 20; among others.
These endorsements reflect broad agreement across sectors about balancing environmental goals with regulatory certainty when addressing exceptional pollution events linked primarily or partially to natural causes such as wildfires.