Safe and Effective Wildfire Response
Each year, an average of about 7,500 wildfires burn an average of approximately 1.5 million acres on National Forests and Grasslands. Over the last ten years, just over half (54%) of these wildfires have been caused by humans while the rest (46%) have been ignited by lightning.The U.S. Forest Service responds to all wildfires detected on National Forests and Grasslands, regardless of how they…
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Fire Adapted Communities
Structures that are closely surrounded by trees and brush are more likely to burn in a wildfire. (USDA Forest Service image)
More than 70,000 communities and 46 million homes are at risk from wildfire in the wildland urban interface (WUI) – where undeveloped wildland and the built environment meet. Over the last ten years, more than 35,000 structures were destroyed by wildfires – an average of…
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Aviation Professionals
Aviation CommunicationsEmergency communications, technical training and airborne remote sensing imagery.Aviation PublicationsForest Service and Interagency publications are the primary vehicles by which Forest Service and Interagency policy and standards are transmitted. Publications include manuals, handbooks, standards, guides, plans, and other…
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Aerial Firefighting Use and Effectiveness (AFUE)
The Aerial Firefighting Use and Effectiveness (AFUE) Study was initiated in 2013 to answer a general, but complex question: “What are the best mixes of aircraft to do any fire suppression job?” Data collected from this study and other sources will be used to inform decisions about the composition of the interagency wildland firefighting aircraft fleet.The nationwide, multi-year AFUE study is…
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Aviation
Planes and helicopters are critical tools in managing wildland fire. Although aircraft are often used to fight wildfires, aircraft alone cannot put them out. Firefighters rely on planes and helicopters to:Deliver equipment and supplies.Deploy smokejumpers and rappelers to a fire.Transport firefighters.Provide reconnaissance of new fires, fire locations, and fire behavior.Drop fire retardant or…
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Public Fire Information Websites
InciWeb
Figure 1. A map of the United States from InciWeb taken April 14, 2021 showing examples of wildfires, prescribed fires, and Burned Area Emergency Response Team locations.
InciWeb is an interagency all-risk incident information management system. The web-based program provides…