Legislation led by U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) that would remove regulatory barriers to wildfire risk reduction received approval on April 22 from the U.S. House of Representatives.
The chamber voted 220-198 to pass the Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act, H.R. 6387, which Rep. Evans sponsored on Dec. 3, 2025 to require revisions to regulations governing the review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events or actions to mitigate wildfire risk.
“For years, Colorado’s economy has been burdened by costly, poorly designed regulations that punish small businesses, employers, and families for emissions they can’t control — raising costs, stifling job growth, and making it harder for communities to thrive,” Rep. Evans said. “The FIRE Act is a common-sense solution that lowers costs, slashes red tape, restores fairness, incentivizes wildfire mitigation, and prioritizes practical preventative steps that protect public health while improving air quality.”
Specifically, H.R. 6387 would modify the definition of exceptional events under the Clean Air Act and require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise its regulations regarding exceptional events or actions to mitigate wildfire risk.
Generally, the EPA must exclude data from use in determinations of exceedances and violations of national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) if a state demonstrates that an exceptional event caused a specific air pollution concentration.
The bill provides that events caused by human activity that are intended to mirror the occurrence or reoccurrence of a natural event are exceptional events. Additionally, the bill no longer would exclude from consideration as an exceptional event meteorological events involving high temperatures or a lack of precipitation, or stagnation of air masses that does not ordinarily occur.
H.R. 6387 also would require the EPA to revise regulations regarding the reviewing and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by actions to mitigate wildfire risk, and to conduct regional modeling and analysis when multiple states submit petitions regarding the same exceptional event or action to mitigate wildfire risk, according to a Congressional Record bill summary.
The measure has garnered widespread support, including from the Western Governors Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association, the Colorado Petroleum Association, the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association, the American Cement Association, and the National Association of Manufacturers, among several others.
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.