Management
The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests manage fire by both using prescribed fire as a land management tool and by supporting wildfire suppression efforts locally and nationally.
Prescribed fire is a planned fire; started, monitored, and controlled by trained wildland fire professionals. The location, known as a burn unit, as well as the size, time, resource needs and more are all analyzed and planned before conducting a prescribed fire—unlike a wildfire which is notoriously unpredictable.
On the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, prescribed fire is used as a tool for ecological, resource management and as a tool to treat hazardous fuels in the wildland/urban interface. Ecologically, fire can recycle nutrients back into the soil, reduce sun blocking overstory, promote regrowth in native plants, and combat the spread of non-native invasive species. Prescribed fire is often used on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests to manage blueberry patches, create wildlife openings, and restore fire dependent ecosystems.
Fire is not new to wildlife or vegetation. Evidence suggests that fire has been a part of the ecological cycle in the Northeast for generations. Wildlife will instinctively leave a burning area for adjacent lands and vegetation will grow back strong with nutrients having been released into the soil.
Using fire as a land management tool offers several advantages in openings maintenance including decreased cost, ecological authenticity, and minimal impact.
Burn “prescriptions” detail weather and fuel conditions that allow managers to meet vegetative objectives while minimizing chances of the fire escaping the intended target area.
Forest Fires on The Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests
The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests average 2-3 fires annually. Rarely do these fires present a suppression challenge and tend to be extinguished at less than an acre in size.
Occasionally weather and fuel conditions can combine to create high to very high fire danger and the forest fire management team will take extra precautions to patrol the forest, working with cooperating fire departments and law enforcement.
Supporting Wildland Fire Suppression Efforts Nationally
The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests are home to many skilled firefighters. When the need is great enough, staff respond to fires throughout the United States and occasionally Canada via the Northeast Forest Fire Prevention Compact. We dispatch fire crews, engines, personnel, and other support functions. YOU can help support wildfire fighting efforts by simply obeying local fire restrictions before burning.
Fire in Our Northeastern Forests Program
Designed for Kindergarten - 4th Grade students, the Fire in Our Northeastern Forests program dives into the difference between prescribed fire and wildfire, species that benefit from fire, and how trained professionals can use prescribed fire as an important land management tool for healthy, resilient forests.
Active Wildfires
InciWeb is an interagency all-risk incident information management system that serves to provide the public a single source of information about active fire incidents.
Air Quality
AirNow is a centralized source for air quality data, reported using the official U.S. Air Quality Index from locations all across the country.
New York Fire Danger Status
New York State Open Burning Regulations and Fire Danger Levels
Vermont Fire Danger Status
Vermont State Open Burning Regulations and Fire Danger Monitoring
Reporting Fires
To report a wildfire, call 911 immediately.
Wildland Fire Careers
The Forest Service employs approximately 10,000 personnel annually who serve in various positions within our wildland fire program. Positions include wildland firefighter, dispatcher, prevention technician, fuels management, and more.