Strengthening the front lines
Behind every wildland firefighter stepping onto the line is a vast, often unseen workforce committed to keeping them safe. Leaders from the National Interagency Support Caches and the Forest Service’s National Technology and Development Program displayed that commitment when they came together to advance the tools firefighters rely on every day.Each year, cache managers from across the country…
#Safety
Busy airspace
Note: While unauthorized drones in restricted airspace can halt firefighting air operations, the Forest Service is increasingly incorporating uncrewed aerial systems in wildfire operations. From 2019 to 2025 the Forest Service has increased drone flights by 2,483% on active incidents (…
#Drones, #UAS, #UnmannedAircraftSystems, #Safety, #Fire, #Firesafety, #Flying, #Recreation, #Aviation
Scientists, managers partner to reduce severe injuries to wildland firefighters
Federal wildland firefighters perform hazardous tasks in hazardous environments. (Forest Service photo by Kari Greer)
Even the best-trained and well-resourced firefighter can get seriously, or even fatally, injured while protecting lives and resources. Advancing our understanding about…
#FirefighterSafety, #Firefighters, #Safety
Field Guide for Tree Risk Assessments and Hazard Tree Mitigation on Developed Recreation Sites, Worksites, and Road Systems in Oregon and Washington Forests
Assessing and mitigating risks posed by hazard trees improves the safety of forest users and workers. This field guide proposes a framework that can be applied nationally to any forested landscape. It also provides detailed information on the most common tree species and diseases found in Oregon and Washington. Updated from the 2016 version, this edition includes new photos and the latest best practices for assessing and managing trees at risk of harming people or damaging property.
#Recreation, #ForestManagement, #Disease, #Hazards, #Safety
Woodsy Owl helps raise awareness of safe battery disposal
Woodsy Owl has taught generations of children to "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute." Now he's focusing on safe battery disposal. (USDA Forest Service photo by Cecilio Ricardo)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has partnered with the National Waste & Recycling Foundation for a new public…
#ConservationEducation, #WoodsyOwl, #Safety
Innovating safety: Allegheny National Forest
Swift action is taken by Allegheny National Forest staff to mitigate the reported hazards at Twin Lakes Recreation Area. (USDA Forest Service photo by Joshua Bridge)
As an employer of thousands of field-going personnel, such as wildland firefighters, law enforcement officers, and forestry technicians, the…