With wildfires scorching more than 8.8 million acres across the United States last year alone, the newly launched Partners in Wildfire Prevention (PWP) plans to turn awareness into action amid a growing national crisis.
Launched May 7 during Wildfire Preparedness Month, the coalition brings together a diverse mix of energy groups, scientists, first responders, tech innovators, labor organizations, business leaders, wildfire preparedness organizations, and community interest groups to advance actionable, evidence-based policy solutions that will make communities and the nation more prepared to handle the growing wildfire threat.
They’re all focused on one goal: transforming the nation’s approach to wildfires from reactive to preventative, according to Chet Wade, communications director for the coalition.
“There’s no time like the present to launch this effort,” Wade told Daily Energy Insider in an interview. “Wildfires do not pay heed to geographic boundaries. They don’t care about state lines. What’s needed is a coordinated, national strategy that protects communities and empowers smarter investments in resilience.”
The numbers paint a concerning picture. In 2023, the United States experienced nearly 64,900 wildfires that burned more than 8.8 million acres of land, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center’s (NICC’s) Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2024.
The wildfires impacted not only western states traditionally at risk, but also regions on the East Coast, including in New York, New Jersey, and the Carolinas. Nearly 2,000 communities saw wildfires burn within two miles between 2000 and 2019, according to Headwaters Economics.
Despite the growing threat, prevention efforts have remained largely fragmented across industry sectors. And while some states have taken steps to pass wildfire prevention legislation, the coalition warns that without federal leadership and coordinated resources, those efforts will fall short.
That’s where Partners in Wildfire Prevention steps in, according to Wade, who said that at the heart of the coalition’s mission are four strategic goals: Safety, Prevention, Responsible Investment, and Recovery.
Specifically, the coalition plans to raise awareness around:
- Safety: To ensure communities have the tools and knowledge to protect themselves before fires strike.
- Prevention: Supporting legislation and strategies that reduce wildfire risks — such as those related to improved forest management and vegetation control.
- Responsible Investment: Encouraging infrastructure upgrades and adoption of advanced technology to proactively detect and manage wildfires.
- Recovery: Ensuring affected communities can rebuild quickly and equitably after a fire.
Wade said the mission isn’t just about reacting after tragedy hits; it’s about putting systems in place that stop wildfires before they start — and ensuring a recovery process is in place that’s fast and fair when they do.
Broad membership
The coalition’s strength lies in its diversity, from energy producers to the scientific community to advocacy groups. Wade said these partners bring unique capabilities and perspectives to the table.
“We will continue to add more coalition members. The broader the coalition, the more voices, the more insights, the better, because this really does need to be a holistic approach,” he said. “There is no one magic thing anyone can do. It’s going to take lots of effort and lots of work by lots of people.”
Currently, PWP members include the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the American Gas Association, the Federation of American Scientists, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Association of Firetech Innovation, the Caregiver Action Network, the Consumer Energy Alliance, Grid Forward, Megafire Action, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of Blacks in Energy, the American Biomass Energy Association, the National Electrical Contractors Association, the National Hispanic Energy Council, North America’s Building Trades Union, Preppr.ai, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid.
In a joint statement released today, member organizations voiced support for the coalition launch and the need for a prevention-first national approach to wildfires.
“Wildfires are a national crisis — but they’re one we have the capacity to address,” said Dr. Jedidah Isler, astrophysicist and 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.”
Advancing affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy solutions that benefit everyday Americans 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 of the Consumer Energy Alliance.
Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) said the escalating damage caused by wildfires around the country, and the negative impact wildfires have on the industry’s ability to deliver reliable and affordable power to all Americans is an increasingly widespread and urgent issue, according to Christina Hayes, ACEG’s executive director.
“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,” she said.
Likewise, the American biomass power industry strongly advocates for increased efforts to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk. Carrie Annand, executive director of the American Biomass Energy Association, said the organization is ready to “work together to identify creative solutions to keep communities safe, promote forest health, and reduce firefighting costs.”
“Our members play a large role in preventative work to stop fires before they start and ensure electrical systems function properly,” added Marco Giamberardino, senior vice president of government and public affairs at the National Electrical Contractors Association. “We’re joining Partners in Wildfire Prevention because we believe that prevention should be at the center of a national response to wildfires.”
Building up legislative interests
Wade also said that the coalition supports current legislation like the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, H.R. 471, introduced in January by a bipartisan group of 43 congressional members to establish requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities.
Wade said the PWP thinks the bill is a step in the right direction and is an example of the type of policy and legislation that the coalition will support as it continues to build up the organization.
“It promotes collaboration across federal, state, and local governments, and it gives energy companies more access to manage vegetation on federal lands — one of the most effective ways to reduce wildfire risk,” said Wade.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 23 voted 279-141 to approve H.R. 471, advancing it to the U.S. Senate, which has referred it to several committees to reconcile the bill alongside the chamber’s version — S. 1462, which would improve forest management activities on National Forest System land, public land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and tribal land to return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested land.
“Catastrophic wildfires are affecting more regions of the country, making it imperative to do more to prevent wildfires before they happen,” EEI interim President and CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn said last month. “EEI and our member electric companies applaud… the Fix Our Forests Act, which will enhance land management practices and better prepare and protect communities that could be affected by fires.”
“We urge the Senate to pass this important legislation and deliver the Fix Our Forests Act to President Trump’s desk as soon as possible,” she added.
Forward motion
As PWP gains momentum, it plans to expand its membership, advocate for prevention-first legislation, and drive public engagement through education and outreach. Its leaders hope that a united, cross-sector front will help close the widening gap between awareness and action.
“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,” said Wade.
He also pointed out that the coalition’s broader goal is to make wildfire prevention an ongoing national priority — not just a reaction to the latest disaster.
“At this point, the number one goal is to make sure this is not an issue that gets forgotten about, that the work continues to move forward so that it’s not just triggered by the next big crisis,” he said.