Firefighters, foresters, scientists and researchers, conservation groups, local governments and a wide range of other organizations have a new ally in call to ramp up active forest management – the insurance agency. 

Through late-August, more than 50,000 wildfires burned 7.8 million acres of forests and grasslands while also claiming lives, homes and triggering evacuations across multiple states.

“The devastating wildfires unfolding across the country underscore the urgent need for Congress to pass the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act. The legislation would help reduce catastrophic wildfire risk through better forest management, hazardous fuels reduction and stronger community resilience efforts,” said David A. Sampson, president and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA). “We cannot afford to remain trapped in a cycle of disaster and recovery. Congress should act now to advance proven mitigation solutions that help protect lives, property and the long-term affordability and availability of insurance.”

APCIA joined the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and more than 40 other organizations in a letter sent to congressional leadership asking for action. 

“We urge Senate leaders to move S. 1462 or include the Fix Our Forests Act in the next appropriate legislative package to ensure this critical legislation is enacted as soon as possible,” said Sampson.

The Fix Our Forests Act is a set of reforms that help reduce the risk of high-intensity fires and better ensure public safety, simplify and expedite environmental reviews for forest management projects, promotes collaboration with other agencies, deters frivolous litigation by reversing the Cottonwood decision and encourages the adoption of science and technologies for federal land managers. Its passage would also improve wildlife habitat and overall forest health. The bill passed the House in late 2025 and a key Senate committee in 2026 but is yet to be introduced before the full Senate.

APCIA has more than 300 member groups made up of greater than 1,200 individual insurance companies. It tracks bills and advocates for insurance regulation across the nation.

Hunt 2 Conserve is a strong advocate of the Fix Our Forests Act.

About Hunt 2 Conserve

Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.

(Photo credit: InciWeb)