Wildfires continue to pose a significant threat to communities, infrastructure, and natural ecosystems across the United States.
The President’s Executive Order 13976 represents a meaningful shift in how the federal government approaches wildfire management. By prioritizing interagency coordination, workforce development, and technology integration, the order proposes a more resilient and effective wildfire response system.
For electric utilities, land managers, and policymakers, staying attuned to new federal directives (13,976 and 13,855) will be crucial in shaping the future of wildfire mitigation. Athena Intelligence remains committed to supporting this mission through advanced geospatial intelligence and data-driven insights, helping to turn policy into action in the fight against wildfires.
Executive Order 13976, Establishing the Wildland Fire Management Policy Committee, was issued on January 14, 2021. This order seeks to unify federal efforts and streamline policies to mitigate wildfire risks more effectively.
Before EO 13976, federal wildland fire management was fragmented across multiple agencies, with overlapping responsibilities and inefficiencies in coordination. While efforts such as Executive Order 13855 (focused on active forest management) aimed to improve wildfire mitigation, significant gaps remained in interagency collaboration, funding allocation, and policy implementation.
EO 13976 addresses these challenges by establishing a Wildland Fire Management Policy Committee (referred to as the Wildland Fire Subcabinet). This committee brings together key agencies — including the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, Defense, Energy, and Homeland Security — to drive a cohesive wildfire strategy. Other participants are the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Director of the National Economic Council (NEC).
The order outlines several policy priorities designed to enhance wildfire prevention, response, and recovery. These include improving interagency coordination, consolidating federal wildfire-related councils, increasing hazardous fuels reduction, strengthening workforce development by improving recruitment, training, and retention of federal wildland firefighters.
In particular, Athena was delighted to see the focus on leveraging technology and data to optimize wildfire suppression operations and coordinating with private sector and infrastructure operators, including electric utilities, to mitigate wildfire risks associated with critical infrastructure.
Implications for Utilities and Infrastructure Management
One of the standout aspects of EO 13976 is its emphasis on improving coordination with electric utilities and other infrastructure operators. By fostering stronger collaboration, the order seeks to:
- Develop best practices for vegetation management around power lines.
- Improve risk assessment models to prevent utility-related wildfires.
These measures align closely with the mission of Athena Intelligence, which leverages geospatial intelligence to help utilities optimize wildfire mitigation strategies. By integrating real-time data with risk modeling, stakeholders can make more informed decisions that align with federal policy objectives.
EO 13976 mandates the development of a strategic plan with measurable goals, performance targets, and dashboard reporting. This approach underscores the importance of data-driven decision-making in wildfire management. Agencies seeking to adopt standardized metrics to evaluate fuel reduction and suppression effectiveness should look to the Risk Spend Efficiency reporting provided by some well-known consulting firms.
EO 13976 specifically mandates the utilization of NEW technologies, like Athena’s, to improve response times and resource allocation.
What Comes Next?
Within one year of the order, the Wildland Fire Subcabinet was tasked with providing a comprehensive report on implementation progress. Moving forward, stakeholders — including federal agencies, state governments, utilities, and private sector partners — must work collaboratively to align wildfire management strategies with these federal directives.
As Athena Intelligence continues to support wildfire mitigation efforts, EO 13976 presents an opportunity for enhanced engagement with federal agencies and infrastructure operators. The order sets the stage for more proactive, data-driven approaches to wildfire risk management, reinforcing the need for innovative solutions in this critical space.