16 U.S.C. § 551c: Planning for fire protection

The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior shall annually offer training programs to certify volunteers for suppressing forest fires on National Forest System lands, National Park System lands and Bureau of Land Management public lands in the event that the appropriate Secretary determines that such volunteers are needed. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretaries should utilize existing authorities to train volunteer firefighters for use in fire emergencies. The Secretaries should assess the capabilities of educational institutions and other public and private organizations to provide such training programs. For the purposes of this section, the term “educational institutions” shall include institutions established pursuant to the Act of July 2, 1862 ( 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq., commonly known as the “Morrill Act”), or the Act of August 30, 1890 ( 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq., commonly known as the “Second Morrill Act”). the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Congress information with respect to regions of the National Forest System, and the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Congress information with respect to the Bureau of Land Management public lands on a State-by-State basis and each region of the National Park System Not later than one year after May 9, 1990 , information from the Secretary of Agriculture on presuppression needs for each region of the National Forest System and information from the Secretary of the Interior on the presuppression needs for each region of the National Park System and for each State unit of the Bureau of Land Management shall be submitted to Congress. These reports shall include needs, including an estimate of the funds required, for fire prevention, fuel reduction, training and seasonal fire crews. Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary [of Agriculture], acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may establish a large airtanker and aerial asset lease program in accordance with this section. described in the Forest Service document entitled ‘Large Airtanker Modernization Strategy’ and dated February 10, 2012 , for large airtankers; and determined by the Secretary, for other aerial assets. up to 5 years, inclusive of any options to renew or extend the initial lease term; and in accordance with section 3903 of title 41 , United States Code. No lease entered into under this section shall provide for the purchase of the aircraft by, or the transfer of ownership to, the Forest Service.” it is in the best interest of the Nation to take swift action to rehabilitate burned forests, and an assessment of the situation is necessary to accomplish this; and volunteers should be trained to assist where possible.”