Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act
Key claim: The Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act (HR6618) directs the FAA to study drone incursions during wildfire suppression on public lands and to evaluate counter-drone systems and educational measures.
Abstract
(HR6618 · 119th Congress) Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study the effects of unmanned aircraft system (i.e., drone) incursions on wildfire suppression on public lands. Specifically, the FAA must study drone operations in any airspace for which the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire on land managed by the Departments of Agriculture or the Interior. Among other things, the study must determine the number of occurrences over the last five years in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression and estimate the effects of each occurrence. The study must also evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of (1) deploying counter-drone systems to detect, mitigate, and prevent drone incursions during wildfire suppression operations; and (2) disseminating educational materials related to the effects of the incursions on wildfire suppression operations. The FAA must submit a report to Congress on the study’s findings and any related recommendations. Latest action (2026-03-25): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Why this matters
The bill signals continued congressional attention to unauthorized drone activity that grounds crewed firefighting aircraft, pushing FAA toward a formal assessment of detection, mitigation, and public-education tools on public lands. For drone operators it foreshadows tighter enforcement and outreach around Temporary Flight Restrictions; for counter-UAS vendors and land-management agencies it opens a study-stage pathway toward operational deployment in wildfire scenarios.