PROVIDENCE, RI -- In an effort to strengthen Rhode Island’s capacity to respond to wildfires, U.S. Senator Jack Reed helped deliver $306,457 in federal wildfire response funding to Rhode Island last year.  These federal funds may be used by the state to suppress and contain wildfires, improve and expand training, and employ prescribed burns as a tool to reduce the risk of wildfires.

This month, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Forest Fire Program announced it will be offering a free, five-day, entry level course to train participants in the tools, tactics, and strategies used to suppress uncontrolled wildland fires. No prior experience in firefighting is needed to attend, but applicants must be at least 18 years of age.  The classes will be held in June and priority enrollment will be given to local municipal firefighters and DEM employees.  Registration is open through the end of the month.

According to DEM, Rhode Island experienced a total of 75 wildfires last year, with the majority occurring in the fall between mid-October and mid-November.  DEM says wildfires are expected to become more frequent as climate change continues to create warmer, drier conditions, leading to longer and more active fire seasons. 

“I commend DEM for their outstanding efforts to help safeguard our communities from the threat of wildfires and improve forest resiliency.  I am pleased to help provide the resources the state needs to prevent destructive blazes and protect lives, livelihoods, and property from the growing threat of uncontrolled brushfires and wildfires.  DEM is putting federal funds to work investing in equipment and expanding their outreach and training to help lower wildfire risks and increase the effectiveness of wild firefighting tools and strategies,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, which oversees federal funding for the U.S. Forest Service.

Last year, DEM’s Forest Fire Program reported treating: “130 acres of state property with prescribed fire, nearly a threefold increase from 2023. Last year, DEM conducted shaded fuel break brush clearing projects along various stretches of forestland on state lands to lessen the risk of uncontrolled wildfires. DEM has trained 46 new wildland firefighters in the past two years to help build RI’s capacity to respond to wildfires.   DEM has trained 46 new wildland firefighters in the past two years to help build RI’s capacity to respond to wildfires.”

Last year, DEM’s Fire Program received $132,561 in federal funding from the U.S. Forest Service for State Fire Capacity activities: These funds are allocated for salary, benefits, overtime (for training, prescribed fire and response etc.); and associated operating expenses for personnel assigned to the Fire Program.  The state also got an additional $38,896 to boost its Volunteer Fire Capacity to help purchase equipment and provide fire training for volunteer firefighters.  Reed also helped direct another $135,000 to Rhode Island last year under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the state's Fire Program to purchase specialized firefighting equipment and a mini excavator used to fight wildfires.

Senator Reed helped pass both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58) and the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) which together included over $7 billion in funding across federal interagency to enhance America's ability to mitigate and respond to wildfires nationwide,

The Trump Administration has put a freeze on federal funding and Congressional Republicans are threatening to claw back unspent funds under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.  Senate Democrats have also decried the Trump Administration halting the disbursement of funds for forest management and restoration projects, as well as the universal hiring freeze for federal personnel, including permanent and seasonal firefighters.