Wildland Fire Blog

Creating conversations across the wildland fire community. Contact us to suggest a topic.

An aerial photo shows how the Willowcreek Fire in late June 2022 was stopped when it reached a fire break created 22 years ago and maintained annually. Photo by Kristen Munday, BLM.

In the News: Fire Breaks Helped to Stop June Blaze (www.bakercityherald.com)

08/01/2022

A tractor that plowed swathes through rangeland in northern Malheur County, Oregon, more than two decades ago is a major reason why the Willowcreek Fire, the biggest blaze in the area so far this year, stopped when it did in late June.

An image of the 2021 Caldor Fire in California taken by Landsat.

Fifty Years of Landsat: Watchman for Wildfires (www.usgs.gov)

07/22/2022

Landsat satellites have been collecting information about wildfires since the 1970s, helping land managers and emergency responders assess the impact of fires on ecosystems and communities.

A dispatcher at the Boise Interagency Dispatch Center tracks wildfires and firefighting resources in southwestern Idaho. Photo by Neal Herbert, Department of the Interior.

Welcome to FireNet, Where Wildland Fire Agencies Collaborate

07/20/2022

With tens of thousands of wildland firefighting agencies spread throughout the U.S., achieving seamless information sharing and communication has historically been complex. FireNet provides a shared, secure single point of access to facilitate national wildland fire management across personnel from diverse organizations, regardless of affiliation.

Wood shake or shingle roofs can increase risk from wildfires. Photo by Pantira through Adobe Stock.

In the News: Wood Roofs are a $6 Billion Wildfire Problem (headwaterseconomics.org)

07/18/2022

Millions of Americans living in wildfire-prone areas have homes that are not constructed with wildfire in mind. Roofs are highly vulnerable to wildfire due to their large surface area and potential for embers to accumulate. Understanding how many vulnerable roofs exist in wildfire-prone areas can illuminate the scale and cost of home retrofits needed to help communities adapt to wildfires.

A wildland firefighter monitors a prescribed fire in Florida. Photo by NPS.

Using the Power of Data to Mitigate Wildfire Risk: Welcome to IFTDSS

07/18/2022

As climate change propels more extreme fire activity, a powerful tool called IFTDSS is putting the power of data into the hands of fire and fuel specialists, enabling them to prioritize fuel treatments to better mitigate the risk from wildfires to communities and landscapes.

A firefighter works on a prescribed fire at sunset in southern Florida. Photo by NPS.

A New Study Gives Federal Wildland Firefighters an Opportunity to Inform the Development of Health and Wellbeing Programs

07/14/2022

This summer, federal wildland firefighters with the Interior and Agriculture departments are invited to participate in a rigorous scientific study of firefighter health and wellbeing, including occupational hazards and mental health impacts. This study by the CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and UC Berkley will enable wildland fire agencies to hear directly from the firefighters impacted by the growing demands of more frequent, severe wildland fires.

Firefighters on the 2019 Vader Fire connect with essential mobile applications through a FirstNet broadband connection.

Advancing Technology to Support Wildland Fire Mitigation and Response

07/13/2022

From hand-held devices to satellites, technology is essential to effectively respond to and mitigate the threat of wildland fires. The Wildland Fire Information and Technology Program is advancing the development and deployment of the tools wildfire personnel depend upon.

Aerial view of burned homes in the aftermath of the Almeda Fire in Oregon. Photo by Ahturner through Adobe Stock.

In the News: Lower Your Home’s Fire Risk (and Insurance) With These Steps (www.bloomberg.com)

07/11/2022

Homeowners in the U.S. got new guidance to help them defend against increasingly frequent wildfires and associated rising insurance premiums.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Members to Wildfire Commission (doi.gov)

07/07/2022

The Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security are announcing the selection of members to the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission.

Aravaipa Veterans Interagency Hotshot Crew member contemplates a partially burned forest during the 2021 Caldor Fire. Photo by Joe Bradshaw, BLM.

Investing in More Robust Mental Health Support for Wildland Firefighters

06/30/2022

Wildland firefighters work in arduous, stressful environments that can take a significant toll on mental health. With support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Interior and Agriculture departments have begun work to establish a program to recognize and address the mental health needs for federal wildland firefighters.

First
Previous
…
9
10
11
12
13
…
Next
Last

About

Bureaus

Priorities

Media