Rep. Min Speaks in Support of His Bipartisan BRUSH Fires Act During Committee Hearing

February 12, 2026

Rep Min: “Our wildfire policy must reflect the realities firefighters are facing on the ground”

Washington, D.C. — This week, Representative Dave Min (CA-47), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, delivered testimony in support of the Building Resiliency and Understanding of Shrublands to Halt Fires Act (BRUSH Fires Act), his bipartisan legislation that would modernize federal wildfire prevention policy to better address the growing threat of brush fires in chaparral-dominated regions like Southern California. The bill directs the U.S. Forest Service to reevaluate its fire prevention practices in shrubland ecosystems, which is necessary to align federal policy with best practices used by firefighters on the ground.

During the hearing, Chris Hamm, President of the Orange County Professional Firefighters Union, and Justin Dillon, Vice President of the Orange County Professional Firefighters, testified in support of the bill and spoke to its importance for Southern California communities.

Watch Rep. Min’s remarks from the House Natural Resources Committee here.

“In Orange County, chaparral sits directly adjacent to residential neighborhoods, creating very real risks for families I represent. As climate change has dried out our landscapes, we’ve seen a dangerous cycle: repeated fires degrade native vegetation, invite highly flammable invasive grasses, and, combined with our strong wind conditions, turn our communities into a tinderbox,” said Rep. Min.

“If we saw an LA-style fire in Orange County, we’d be talking about billions of dollars in structural loss, not to mention the risk to human life. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and smarter, region-specific federal policy would make a real difference for firefighters and residents alike,” said Hamm.

The committee hearing on Rep. Min’s bill is an important step toward the BRUSH Fires Act becoming law. Right now, federal wildfire policy too often treats all fires the same, even as many communities, particularly in Southern California, are increasingly threatened by fast-moving brushfires in chaparral landscapes rather than traditional forest fires. The bill fills a critical need to reassess prevention strategies for shrubland ecosystems, identify best practices, and ensure that land managers and local fire officials have access to clear science-based guidance. By better aligning federal policy with the realities of firefighters on the ground, the BRUSH Fires Act will improve public safety and build greater resilience in fire-prone communities.

This legislation has the support of California fire chiefs and leaders across the fire management community, including The Nature Conservancy, California Fire Chiefs Association, California Chaparral Institute, Endangered Habitats League, and Irvine Ranch Conservancy.

Bill text can be found here.