The House passed Wednesday a bill aimed at preventing arson-caused fires, such as the massive Station Fire that tore through the Angeles National Forest last month.
The legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Adam Schiff, would create a national registry of convicted arsonists.
"The Station Fire is a prime example of the devastation and destruction that arson can cause," Schiff, D-Pasadena, said in a statement.
"Having worked on arson cases as a federal prosecutor, I know firsthand the potential a Megan's Law-type registry holds to help law enforcement catch arsonists and prevent additional fires," he added, referencing the national sex offender registration law.
The House passed a similar arsonist bill two years ago, but the effort stalled in the Senate. The Station Fire, which investigators believe to be caused by arson, led to a renewed push for an arsonists' registry.
Currently, California, Illinois and Montana maintain a database of convicted arsonists. Investigators say a nationwide registry would help them better keep track of repeat offenders.
Similar legislation is pending in the Senate.
The registry would be available only to law enforcement and would contain information such as the arsonist's photo, address and place of employment.
"Our law enforcement and fire officials deserve this valuable tool to better prevent criminal acts of arson," said Rep. Mary Bono Mack, who co-sponsored the legislation with Schiff. "In California, we know all too well the incalculable damage that can be caused by wildfire, and it's always exponentially more devastating to learn that such disaster was caused at the hand of an arsonist."
The Station Fire scorched 250 square miles of national forest and resulted in the deaths of two firefighters. In 2006, five firefighters were killed fighting the Esperanza Fire in Southern California, which was caused by arson.
More than one-half of criminal arsonists will return to prison within two years of parole, according to California Department of Corrections statistics provided by Schiff.
