COLORADO—In December, the Rocky Mountain Region hosted the National Greening Fire Team’s Fiscal Year 2024 meeting at the regional office in Lakewood, Colorado. Interagency employees representing the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory participated—45 in person and 20 virtually. Greening Fire Team members engage on a voluntary basis as a collateral duty, driven by the desire to initiate positive changes within the fire community. Together, they aim to implement sustainability best management practices with the goal of achieving net zero environmental impact on all large fire incidents by 2030.

Rocky Mountain Regional Forester Frank Beum opened the meeting, noting, “Sustainability is inherent to the Forest Service mission, and it is critical that we improve the sustainability of our operations to address the changing climate and to reach the goal of net zero operations. As a team, you have delivered very tangible results.” 

Leaders from across the agency joined virtually to share their support and commitment to Greening Fire, including Jeff Marsolais, associate deputy chief of State, Private, and Tribal Forestry; Jacqueline Emmanuel, associate deputy chief of National Forest System; Brian Ferebee, chief executive of Intergovernmental Relations; Jerry Perez, director of Fire and Aviation Management; Chris Swanston, director of the Office of Sustainability and Climate and Forest Service climate advisor; and Kyle Bonham, battalion chief with the Bureau of Land Management.

An enormous amount of waste is generated on large fire assignments annually: 225,000 AA batteries can be consumed per day at the height of fire season when 30,000 personnel are simultaneously deployed. Roughly 170,000 single-use plastic bottles of water can be consumed at one large 14-day assignment with 1,200 personnel. The Greening Fire Team is working to promote more sustainable options through green procurement and technologies that reduce waste and emissions, conserve water, and save costs.

The team followed an ambitious agenda that resulted in key focal areas and action plans. Participants also identified priority data and research needs, performance indicators and targeted technology investments. Lastly, the team celebrated core Greening Fire Team leaders and ambassadors who have contributed substantially to the program.

If you are interested in learning more about the Greening Fire Team, please contact Kelly Jaramillo or Sam Wu.