"The House passed legislation Wednesday designed to help prevent future wildfires following a string of devastating fires in the West.

The legislation would make it easier for officials to prepare federal forests for potential fires by easing regulations governing forest management activities like controlled burns and clearing away brush that acts as wildfire fuel.

It also looks to provide more funding for wildfire relief operations by establishing a wildfire-specific account within the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Republicans say it will make it easier for local offices to prevent wildfires in the future, something that's needed in the wake of several damaging and expensive wildfire seasons."

Devin Henry reports for The Hill Novermber 1, 2017. [2]