Rugged terrain, proximity to water, and the bustle of a busy national recreation area made the Tracy Ridge Prescribed Fire one of the Allegheny National Forest’s most complex operations. These factors underscore the skill and coordination required to complete this project.

Up to the challenge

Prescribed fire in such layered, difficult conditions can test even the most experienced fire managers. Nevertheless, the Allegheny National Forest and its partners embraced the challenge. They spent years planning, preparing, and assembling the resources they needed – work that ultimately proved to be more complicated than the ignition itself.

On April 23, 2026, that preparation paid off. Ideal weather conditions created a narrow window, and the forest seized the opportunity to conduct its largest prescribed fire to date, treating 2,044 acres.

Decades without fire had allowed fuels to accumulate on the landscape, increasing vulnerability to forest health and wildfire issues. Indigenous communities have long used fire to manage vegetation, support wildlife, clear land for travel and crops, and shape healthy ecosystems. The forest continues this legacy through modern prescribed fire practices.

(Left) A view of the inside of the helicopter, mounted with a hopper device, used in aerial ignition operations. (Forest Service photo by Robert Klasen) (Right) Aerial ignition is the practice of dropping small spheres from an aircraft or drone. These spheres are plastic balls filled with a chemical called potassium permanganate that causes them to ignite about 20 seconds after being injected with another compound. (Forest Service photo by Andrew Avitt)

Innovation in action

To safeguard personnel, the forest used aerial ignition for the first time. Although new to the Allegheny, this tool has long enhanced efficiency across fire programs nationwide. Aerial ignition accelerates treatment in large, hard-to-reach areas and reduces the strain on ground crews. It helped the team meet key objectives: reducing hazardous fuel buildup, restoring fire–adapted ecosystems, and improving habitat diversity.

It’s in the “hopper”

The aerial ignition operation relied on a helicopter outfitted with a hopper system. Personnel loaded the hopper with small plastic spheres – ping-pong balls – filled with potassium permanganate. The system injected each sphere with another compound before releasing it from the aircraft. Roughly 20 seconds later, the chemical reaction inside each sphere produced ignition.

Before and after the helicopter flight, personnel patrolled the project boundary by foot and boat, supported firing operations, and closely monitored fire behavior throughout the day.

Because the project area sat within a designated National Recreation Area – with campgrounds, boat launches, and trail segments including the North Country National Scenic Trail – law enforcement issued a temporary closure to ensure public safety.

“This was truly a team effort with years of planning and preparation leading up to this success,” said Robert Heair, acting forest supervisor for the Allegheny National Forest. “Tracy Ridge will serve as a model for the Allegheny to grow and expand our fuels program into the future.”

Throughout the operation, the forest provided timely public information explaining the importance of prescribed fire as a land-management tool. By keeping communities informed, the agency strengthens preparedness, safety, and public trust.

People behind the project

Collaboration among skilled staff and partners made the project possible. Crews came from the Allegheny, Hiawatha, Superior (helitak), and Shawnee National Forests; and  Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (hotshot crew and Type 6 engine); along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and North Country Trail Association. In total, 68 personnel contributed to the day-of operations.

"We were happy to be included and recognized by forest leadership for our organization's contribution to the Tracy Ridge Prescribed Fire. It was quite a unique experience to be part of such a large, impactful fire, where the North Country Trail itself played a key role in the success of the work done," said Jeff Manelick, trail coordinator for the Allegheny National Forest chapter of the North Country Trail Association.

This project and similar efforts help the Forest Service protect communities and natural resources from unwanted wildfires. Planning, training, and coordinated response strengthen fire-adapted communities and improve wildfire readiness, ultimately leading to safer communities, cleaner air, and fewer destructive wildfires.

Priorities in action

April 23, 2026, now stands as a landmark date for the Allegheny National Forest. The forest and its partners not only completed their largest prescribed fire to date but also set the stage for future innovation in wildland fire operations.

This project demonstrates how the Forest Service is advancing national priorities to reduce wildfire risk for communities across the country. By combining prescribed fire with active forest management, the agency employs the most effective tools available to prevent catastrophic wildfires. The 2,044 acres treated at Tracy Ridge contribute to a broader national effort to reduce hazardous fuels on 3.6 million acres across the country in 2026-an effort already more than halfway complete.

Even as resources shift to emergency response during the height of the Western fire season, the agency remains committed to long-term fuel reduction. Last year, despite facing the highest number of human-caused wildfires on national forest lands since 2016, the Forest Service held total acres burned to nearly half the 10-year average while also achieving 92% of its hazardous-fuels reduction targets. Every acre treated reduces fire intensity, and every completed project strengthens firefighter safety and community resilience.