Bridger Aerospace Shares Insights on Executive Order to Reshape Wildland Firefighting

Rhea-AI Summary

Bridger Aerospace (NASDAQ: BAER) comments on a new Executive Order aimed at restructuring the national wildland firefighting system. The order establishes a National Wildland Firefighting Task Force and emphasizes immediate wildfire suppression to protect communities. This aligns with the US Forest Service's recent directive for aggressive initial attack strategies. The Department of Interior's 2026 budget significantly increases funding to $6.55 billion, with $1.39 billion allocated for Suppression Operations, up from $383,657 in previous years. The changes come amid National Weather Service predictions of an above-average fire season, with 1 million acres already burned nationally and $250 billion in damage from Los Angeles fires alone. Bridger Aerospace, with its extensive Air Attack fleet including fire imaging aircraft and the largest private Super Scooper fleet, stands ready to support federal and state firefighting efforts.

Positive

• Significant increase in DOI's 2026 budget to $6.55 billion for firefighting operations
• Suppression Operations budget increased to $1.39 billion from $383,657
• Executive Order streamlines procurement processes and establishes year-round readiness requirements
• Company owns largest private Super Scooper fleet and significant Air Attack fleet

Negative

• Above average fire season predicted with 33-70% probability across US
• Already 1 million acres burned nationally year-to-date
• Recent Los Angeles fires caused over $250 billion in damage

Insights

Government Contracting & Aerospace Industry Expert

Executive Order and 3x budget increase for wildfire suppression strongly positions Bridger Aerospace for significant revenue growth.

This Executive Order represents a major policy shift with substantial financial implications for Bridger Aerospace. The directive's emphasis on immediate suppression and aggressive initial attack perfectly aligns with Bridger's aerial firefighting capabilities, which enable rapid response to wildfire outbreaks.

The financial figures are particularly compelling. The DOI's FY2026 budget request includes a dramatic $1.39 billion allocation for Suppression Operations—a 262% increase from the previous $383,657. Combined with the Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund, total firefighting appropriations reach an unprecedented $6.55 billion.

Bridger is exceptionally positioned to capture significant contract value from this spending surge. As the operator of "the world's largest private Super Scooper fleet," the company has strategically invested in exactly the rapid-response assets now being prioritized. The creation of the National Wildland Firefighting Task Force and streamlined procurement processes further benefits established contractors like Bridger by reducing administrative barriers.

The timing is particularly advantageous with the National Weather Service predicting an above-average fire season and over 1 million acres already burned nationally. Recent catastrophic fires causing $250 billion in damages in Los Angeles alone underscore the urgent need for expanded aerial firefighting capabilities.

This policy reorientation toward preparedness, rapid response, and aggressive suppression represents a fundamental market expansion for Bridger's core services, potentially translating to substantial revenue growth opportunities throughout the upcoming fire seasons.

Significant Increase to DOI’s Fiscal 2026 Budget Request further Prioritizes Preparedness and Rapid Response

BELGRADE, Mont., June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (“Bridger”, “the Company” or “Bridger Aerospace”), (NASDAQ: BAER, BAERW), one of the nation’s largest aerial firefighting companies, today commented on the Executive Order to restructure our national wildland firefighting system.

Sam Davis, Bridger’s Chief Executive Officer stated, “Bridger was established with a mission of saving lives, property, and the environment from wildfires and we stand ready to support our federal and state customers as we seek to integrate the Order to enhance preparedness, respond more rapidly and save property and lives.”

The Executive Order prioritizes the immediate suppression of wildfires to protect communities and critical infrastructure. Included in the Executive Order is the establishment of a National Wildland Firefighting Task Force that will span all federal agencies, ease administrative burdens and refocus our national efforts on preparedness and aggressive Wildfire Suppression.

The Executive Order comes on the heels of the May 20, 2025 letter from the Chief of the US Forest Service to Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Deputy Chiefs and Washington Office Directors, which reiterated the need for direct attack wildfire mitigation. This letter states that the Forest Service will “focus on safe, aggressive initial attack,” and that “It is critical that we suppress fires as swiftly as possible to minimize the amount of fireline exposure and be ready for the next ignition. This means employing direct attack tactics when and where feasible to minimize fire size and time to containment when safe and practicable to do so.”

The U.S. Department of the Interior also recently issued its fiscal year 2026 budget for the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) which calls for a more than three-fold increase in funding to $3.70 billion, as well as a Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund budget of $2.85 billion, for a total of $6.55 billion. The Budget request includes $1.39 billion for Suppression Operations compared to just $383,657 in each of the last two years.

Mr. Davis added, “This executive order marks a significant change in how we approach and fight wildfires as a country. The intent of the Executive Order is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of wildland fire management operations, streamline procurement processes, and establish year-round readiness requirements. This commitment, on top of the 2026 budget for the new USWFS, will have a significant positive impact on the entire wildland fire community. Bridger commands a significant Air Attack fleet, including modern fire imaging and surveillance aircraft, and the world’s largest private Super Scooper fleet, and we are ready to do whatever is needed to support our state and federal customers.”

This Executive Order was released in advance of a summer predicted by the National Weather Service to be above average with a probability ranging from 33-70% across the entire contiguous US and most of Alaska. This follows an intense start to the year with fires ranging from Los Angeles, California to Ocean County, New Jersey contributing to just over 1 million acres burned nationally by wildfire to date. The fires in Los Angeles alone caused an estimate of greater than $250 billion in damage.

The full Executive Order can be viewed here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/empowering-commonsense-wildfire-prevention-and-response/ and the May 20, 2025 US Forest Service Letter is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/IFS-Chief%27s_Letter_of_Intent_2025_Wildfire_Year.pdf. The U.S. Department of the Interior 2026 budget can be found at https://www.doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2026/highlights.

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

FAQ

What changes does the new Executive Order make to wildland firefighting?

The Executive Order establishes a National Wildland Firefighting Task Force, prioritizes immediate wildfire suppression, eases administrative burdens, and focuses on preparedness and aggressive wildfire suppression across federal agencies.

How much is the Department of Interior's 2026 firefighting budget?

The DOI's 2026 budget includes $3.70 billion for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and $2.85 billion for the Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund, totaling $6.55 billion.

What firefighting capabilities does Bridger Aerospace (BAER) have?

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

What is the wildfire forecast for summer 2025?

The National Weather Service predicts an above-average fire season with probability ranging from 33-70% across the entire contiguous US and most of Alaska.

How much damage have wildfires caused so far in 2025?

Wildfires have burned over 1 million acres nationally, with Los Angeles fires alone causing more than $250 billion in damage.