Bridger Aerospace Applauds Wildland Fire Service Plan and Fire Ready Nation Act

Rhea-AI Summary

Bridger Aerospace (NASDAQ: BAER), a leading aerial firefighting company, has expressed strong support for two major federal wildfire initiatives. The first is the Wildland Fire Service Plan, which will modernize federal wildfire response starting January 2026, focusing on five key priorities including aviation modernization and improved interagency coordination.

Additionally, the company endorsed the Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025, which passed the Senate unanimously. This legislation aims to enhance federal wildfire forecasting and response capabilities through NOAA, including the establishment of a permanent Fire Weather Services program and funding for new firefighting technologies.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Implementation of new federal structure may cause temporary operational adjustments
• Changes in federal coordination could impact existing contractor relationships

BELGRADE, Mont., Sept. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (“Bridger” or “Bridger Aerospace”), (NASDAQ: BAER, BAERW), one of the nation’s largest aerial firefighting companies, applauded the announcement by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture of a Wildland Fire Service Plan to modernize federal wildfire response as part of a coordinated action to implement the President's Executive Order 14308, Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response.

Sam Davis, Bridger’s Chief Executive Officer stated, “Consolidating federal capabilities and bringing together wildland fire programs that have long operated across multiple agencies will help us respond more quickly and effectively at the early stages of a wildfire to save lives, protect property, and reduce the hazards faced by firefighters.”

As part of the announcement, the Department of the Interior issued Secretary’s Order 3443, which directs the establishment of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service with a plan for implementation in January 2026. The Department of Agriculture also released its own memorandum to modernize and strengthen America's wildfire prevention and response system.

The Wildland Fire Service Plan will focus on five interdependent priorities:

• Address systemic inefficiencies and modernize aviation and coordination systems
• Strengthen interagency wildfire coordination and response
• Improve federal partnerships and reduce administrative burden
• Ensure wildfire research, technology, and IT investments are mission-ready
• Integrate pre- and post-fire activities into a complete wildfire strategy

Additionally, the bipartisan Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025 passed the Senate unanimously last week. This legislation seeks to strengthen federal wildfire forecasting, prevention and response capabilities, addressing the growing needs in the wildland-urban interface and ensuring a coordinated program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Key provisions include establishing a permanent Fire Weather Services program to authorize wildfire response services, funding for new technologies to improve forecasts of wildfire conditions, testing new tools for firefighting, including unmanned aircraft for data collection, and sharing NOAA data across federal agencies to improve fire weather data collection and coordination.

“The Wildland Fire Service Plan and the Fire Ready Nation Act come on the heels of the 2025 Executive Order on Wildfire Response which is already leading to a significant change in how the country approaches and fights wildfires,” Davis added. “With Bridger’s significant Air Attack fleet, including modern fire imaging and surveillance aircraft, and the world’s largest private Super Scooper fleet, we believe we are uniquely positioned as the nation refocuses efforts on preparedness and aggressive Wildfire Suppression. This commitment, on top of the 2026 budget for the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service, will have a significant positive impact on the entire wildland fire community.”

About Bridger Aerospace
Based in Belgrade, Montana, Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest aerial firefighting companies. Bridger provides aerial firefighting and wildfire management services to federal and state government agencies, including the United States Forest Service, across the nation, as well as internationally. More information about Bridger Aerospace is available at https://www.bridgeraerospace.com.

Investor Contact
Alison Ziegler
Darrow Associates
201-220-2678
aziegler@darrowir.com

Media Contact
Devin Johnson
Bridger Aerospace
406-919-5980
d.johnson@bridgeraerospace.com

FAQ

What is the Wildland Fire Service Plan announced by Bridger Aerospace (NASDAQ: BAER)?

The Wildland Fire Service Plan is a federal initiative to modernize wildfire response, launching in January 2026. It focuses on five priorities including modernizing aviation systems, strengthening interagency coordination, and improving federal partnerships.

How will the Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025 affect Bridger Aerospace's operations?

The Act could benefit Bridger Aerospace by establishing a permanent Fire Weather Services program and funding new firefighting technologies, including unmanned aircraft for data collection.

What is Bridger Aerospace's (BAER) current firefighting fleet capacity?

Bridger Aerospace maintains a significant Air Attack fleet, including fire imaging and surveillance aircraft, and operates the world's largest private Super Scooper fleet.

When will the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service begin operations?

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service is scheduled to begin implementation in January 2026, following Secretary's Order 3443.

What are the main components of the 2025 Fire Ready Nation Act?

The Act includes establishing a permanent Fire Weather Services program, funding for wildfire forecasting technologies, testing new firefighting tools including unmanned aircraft, and improving fire weather data sharing across federal agencies.