US HB178

Secretary of Agriculture must use all available resources to extinguish wildfires on covered National Forest System lands within 24 hours of detection and immediately suppress any prescribed fire that exceeds its prescription

Federal agencies may not inhibit suppression efforts by state or local firefighting agencies authorized to respond to wildfires on these lands

Backfires or burnouts during wildfires may only be initiated by order of the responsible incident commander or when necessary to protect firefighter health and safety

Fire may only be used as a resource management tool through prescribed fires that comply with applicable laws and regulations

Covered lands include National Forest areas rated D2 (severe) through D4 (exceptional) drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor, areas at National Wildland Fire Preparedness level 5, or firesheds ranked in the top 10 percent of wildfire exposure