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• Wildfire Suppression Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 115th Congress [November 8, 2017]

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  "Congress has directed that the federal government is responsible for managing wildfires that begin on federal lands, such as national forests or national parks. States are responsible for managing wildfires that originate on all other lands. Although a greater number of wildfires occur annually on nonfederal lands, wildfires on federal lands tend to be much larger, particularly in the western United States. The federal government's wildfire management responsibilities--fulfilled primarily by the Forest Service (FS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI)--include preparedness, prevention, detection, response, suppression, and recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also may provide disaster relief, mostly for certain nonfederal wildfires. Congress provides appropriations for wildfire management to both FS and DOI. Within these appropriations, suppression operations are largely funded through two accounts for each agency: Wildland Fire Management (WFM) accounts and Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act (FLAME) reserve accounts. If the suppression funding in both of these accounts is exhausted during a fiscal year, FS and DOI are authorized to transfer funds from their other accounts to pay for suppression activities; this is often referred to as 'fire borrowing.' Congress also may provide additional funds for suppression activities through emergency or supplemental appropriations. Thus, for any given year, total suppression appropriations to FS or DOI may be a combination of several sources: the WFM accounts, the FLAME accounts, additional funding as needed through transfers, and/or supplemental appropriations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Lindsay, Bruce R.

  2017-11-08
• Wildfire Prevention and the Media

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  "This Media Guide is one in a series of Wildfire Prevention Guidebooks. The information in this guide addresses the role of the media in a fire prevention program, and provides guidance for working with the media to more effectively achieve program goals. This guide was developed by a group of Fire Prevention and Public Affairs experts who contributed their time, energy and knowledge to the task of providing this information for fire prevention personnel. During fire season, stories about major wildfires that besiege the nation's forests and rangelands, as well as surrounding communities, appear almost daily in newspapers and on radio and television broadcasts. But how many of these stories take the time to present information about wildfire prevention? Although the term 'News Media' often inspires fear and loathing, the fact is they provide the most effective means for you to increase awareness of and commitment to wildfire prevention in your community. Working with the news media enables you to communicate wildfire prevention messages to more people than through direct contact. But working with the media can be intimidating even for those who interact with reporters on a regular basis. This guide is intended to make it easy to work with the media to achieve fire prevention goals. Communicating wildfire prevention messages to the public, through the news media, requires an aggressive, proactive approach. You cannot wait for the media to come to you for information-you must go to them."

  National Wildfire Coordinating Group (U.S.)

  1998-01
• S. Hrg. 114-331: Federal Government's Role in Wildfire Management, the Impact of Fires on Communities, and Potential Improvements to be Made in Fire Operations, Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, May 5, 2015

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  This is the October 28, 2015 hearing held before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources entitled "The Federal Government's Role in Wildfire Management, the Impact of Fires on Communities, and Potential Improvements to be Made in Fire Operations." From the testimony of Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski: "We're here to examine our wildfire management policies, including the impacts of wildfire on communities and our current fire operations. Unfortunately, today may be a day where we struggle to find a whole lot that is positive about all of this. Over the last 50 years, we have seen a rapid escalation in the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires. The most often cited causes are severe drought, a changing climate, hazardous fuel buildups due in part to decades of fire exclusion, insect and disease infestation, and an explosion of nonnative invasive species. […] Already this year, the concern back home is that we will have an aggressive fire season. We've had very low snow fall throughout the state. It's dry. I was in Fairbanks this weekend and I cannot recall a time on the first of May when not only the rivers are out but there is no snow anywhere -- no snow pack anywhere. So, the same factors that we are seeing up North and in the peninsula are increasing the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires are also driving up wildfire suppression costs, both in actual dollars and as a portion of the total budget of the Forest Service." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas Tidwell, Stephen Pyne, Sharon Hood, Bruce Hallin, and Bob Eisele.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2015-05-05
• What the October Wildfires Revealed About Preparedness in Southern California, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, December 10, 2007

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  From the opening statement of Dennis J. Kucinich: "On October 21st, a wildfire began in Witch Creek, a rural area in the foothills of San Diego. That same day, Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency. President George Bush issued a major disaster declaration for the State of California and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts. [...] The damage caused by the 2007 Southern California wildfires could have been much worse, if it were not for the capable response efforts of local, State and Federal emergency responders. [...] According to the Wildfire Research Network, the frequency or voracity of wildfires will increase in the near future due to global warming, increasing wildland-urban interface and aging vegetation. According to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 10 trends constitute the 'Wildfire Frequency and Intensity Loop,' including a rise in global warming and a growing population in the wildfire-urban interface. Is Southern California adequately prepared for these major fires? Disaster preparedness involves several considerations such as prevention measures, public education and preexisting agreements. Most importantly, however, disaster preparedness means having the proper resources and having enough of them. In California, resources are owned by local responders, bolstered by State resources as well as mutual aid agreements within the State, and supplemented by Federal fire and emergency agencies. Different counties have vastly differing levels of local response capability. [...] Our job today is to ask our witnesses what more could be done, and will be operable in Southern California, to ensure that any future response is as successful as it fortunately was in October 2007." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tony Morris, Jeffrey Bowman, Tracy Jarman, P. Michael Freeman, Chip Prather, Ruben Grijalva, Ron Roberts, Nancy Ward, Mark Rey, and Dennis J. Kucinich.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Wildfire Suppression: Funding Transfers Cause Project Cancellations and Delays, Strained Relationships, and Management Disruptions, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  In 2003, wildfires burned roughly 4 million acres, destroyed over 5,000 structures, took the lives of 30 firefighters, and cost over $1 billion to suppress. The substantial expense of fighting wildfires has exceeded the funds appropriated for wildfire suppression nearly every year since 1990. To pay for wildfire suppression costs when the funds appropriated are insufficient, the US Forest Service and the Department of the Interior have transferred funds from their other programs. The General Accounting Office was asked to identify the amount of funds transferred and reimbursed for wildfire suppression since 1999, and the programs from which agencies transferred funds; the effects on agency programs from which funds were taken; and alternative approaches that could be considered for estimating annual suppression costs and funding wildfire suppression.

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2004-06
• Forest Fire/Wildfire Protection [March 7, 2012]

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  From the Document: "Congress continues to face questions about forestry practices, funding levels, and the federal role in wildfire protection. Recent fire seasons have been, by most standards, among the worst in the past half century. National attention began to focus on wildfires when a prescribed burn in May 2000 escaped control and burned 239 homes in Los Alamos, NM. President Clinton responded by requesting a doubling of wildfire management funds, and Congress enacted much of this proposal in the FY2001 Interior appropriations act (P.L. 106-291). […] Many factors contribute to the threat of wildfire damages. Two major factors are the decline in forest and rangeland health and the expansion of residential areas into wildlands--the wildland-urban interface. Over the past century, aggressive wildfire suppression, as well as past grazing and logging practices, have altered many ecosystems, especially those where light, surface fires were frequent. Many areas now have unnaturally high fuel loads (e.g., dead trees and dense thickets) and an historically unnatural mix of plant species (e.g., exotic invaders). Fuel treatments have been proposed to reduce the wildfire threats."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gorte, Ross W.; Bracmort, Kelsi

  2012-03-07
• Wildfire Protection in the Wildland-Urban Interface [May 15, 2013]

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  "Wildfires have made national headlines in recent years, with major fires in the West and South killing firefighters, burning homes, and threatening communities. With the population and size of the wildland-urban interface (WUI) expanding, more money is being spent on fire management in these locales. Federal funding for fire protection has more than doubled in the past decade, and administration and congressional leaders have urged additional wildfire protection. In FY2012, approximately $2.7 billion was spent to protect federal lands and approximately $104 million to assist in protecting nonfederal lands. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in the Department of Agriculture, along with the Department of the Interior (DOI), are responsible for protecting the majority of federal lands from wildfire, including any federal areas that comprise a WUI. Wildfire funding accounted for nearly half of the USFS budget and roughly 5% of the DOI budget in 2012. While attention has focused on protecting life, property, and communities in the WUI, opinions vary over how to provide protection. This report describes the growth of the wildland-urban interface, wildfire suppression efforts, post-fire responses, and especially the programs and options for protecting the interface before the next wildfire strikes."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2013-05-15
• Wildfire Protection in the Wildland-Urban Interface [January 30, 2014]

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  "Congressional interest in funding to protect against wildfire threats has focused on communities in and near forests, an area known as the 'wildland-urban interface' (WUI). The WUI is expanding in size and population, leading to increased concern for life and property that could potentially be damaged by wildfires. Approximately 10% of all land in the lower 48 states is classified as WUI. A significant concentration lies along the East Coast, although western states have the highest proportions of homes in the WUI. Federal funding for wildfire protection has increased over the last decade. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) receive the bulk of funding to prevent and suppress wildfires. In 2014, approximately 56% of the USFS budget (discretionary funding) was allocated for wildfire management. A portion of this funding is spent on WUI efforts. Wildfire, whether in a WUI community or not, occurs primarily as a surface fire or a crown fire. A 'surface fire' burns the needles or leaves, grass, and other small biomass within a foot or so of the ground and quickly moves on. A 'crown fire' burns biomass at all levels, from the surface through the tops of the trees."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2014-01-30
• Wildfire Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 114th Congress [June 26, 2015]

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  "The federal government is responsible for managing wildfires that begin on federal lands--such as national forests or national parks--while the states are responsible for managing wildfires that originate on all other lands. The federal government's wildfire management responsibilities-- provided primarily through the Forest Service (FS) and Department of the Interior (DOI)-- include prevention, detection, response, and recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may also provide disaster relief for certain nonfederal wildfires. Congress appropriates wildfire management funding to both FS and DOI. Within their overall appropriations for wildfire, suppression operati ons are appropriated through two accounts for each agency: the Wildland Fire Management (WFM) accounts and the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act (FLAME) reserve accounts. If the suppression funding in both of these accounts is exhausted during any given fiscal year, FS and DOI are authorized to transfer funds from their other accounts to pay for suppression activities. Congress also may provide additional funds for suppression activities through emergency or supplemental appropriations. Thus, for any given year, total suppression appropriations to FS or DOI may be a combination of three sources: the WFM suppression activity, the FLAME account, and supplemental appropriations, and the agencies also may access additional funding as needed through transfers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Lindsay, Bruce R.; McCarthy, Francis X. . . .

  2015-06-26
• Wildfire Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 114th Congress [July 7, 2015]

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  From the summary: "The federal government is responsible for managing wildfires that begin on federal lands--such as national forests or national parks--while the states are responsible for managing wildfires that originate on all other lands. The federal government's wildfire management responsibilities-- provided primarily through the Forest Service (FS) and Department of the Interior (DOI)-- include prevention, detection, response, and recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may also provide disaster relief for certain nonfederal wildfires. Congress appropriates wildfire management funding to both FS and DOI. Within their overall appropriations for wildfire, suppression operations are appropriated through two accounts for each agency: the Wildland Fire Management (WFM) accounts and the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act (FLAME) reserve accounts. If the suppression funding in both of these accounts is exhausted during any given fiscal year, FS and DOI are authorized to transfer funds from their other accounts to pay for suppression activities. Congress also may provide additional funds for suppression activities through emergency or supplemental appropriations. Thus, for any given year, total suppression appropriations to FS or DOI may be a combination of three sources: the WFM suppression activity, the FLAME account, and supplemental appropriations, and the agencies also may access additional funding as needed through transfers."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Lindsay, Bruce R.; McCarthy, Francis X. . . .

  2015-07-07
• Wildfire Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 114th Congress [August 25, 2015]

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  "The federal government is responsible for managing wildfires that begin on federal lands-such as national forests or national parks-while the states are responsible for managing wildfires that originate on all other lands. The federal government's wildfire management responsibilities- provided primarily through the Forest Service (FS) and Department of the Interior (DOI)- include prevention, detection, response, and recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may also provide disaster relief for certain nonfederal wildfires. [...] Congress is debating the level and direction of federal spending on wildland fire management. Wildfire spending has more than doubled since the 1990s, going from $1.6 billion in FY1994 to $3.9 billion in FY2014. A significant portion of that increase is related to rising suppression costs, even during years of relatively mild wildfire activity, although the costs vary annually and are difficult to predict in advance."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Lindsay, Bruce R.; McCarthy, Francis X. . . .

  2015-08-25
• Wildfire Management: Hotshot Crews [July 1, 2013]

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  "Wildfires can be unpredictable, with the severity and direction of the wildfire changing in a matter of moments. To ensure the safety and protection of life and property, response to a wildfire requires an array of resources including air and ground support. This report briefly discusses the role of hotshot crews for wildfire management. Hotshot crews are intensively trained fire crews that are generally placed in the most rugged terrain on the most active and difficult areas of a wildfire. The primary mission of an Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) is to provide a safe, professional, mobile and highly skilled hand crew for all phases of fire management and incident operations. A crew typically consists of 20 members that have excelled at a variety of standards for IHC operations including physical fitness, operational preparedness training, and field exercises, and has a particular wildfire management experience level. General activities for an IHC may include fire line construction, fuel removal, and burnout operations, among other tasks. The crew may be deployed to any state where they are needed. The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) is the overarching federal agency charged with deployment of a crew."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2013-07-01
• Community Wildfire Protection Plans: Reducing Wildfire Hazards in the Wildland Urban Interface

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  A Joint Fire Science Program-sponsored research team studied 15 communities as they developed Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP). They found that social networks, learning communities, and community capacity were key indicators of success, and that working together on a CWPP can enhance a community's capacity to collaborate, helping it address future challenges more skillfully.

  Joint Fire Science Program (U.S.)

  Wells, Gail

  2009-07
• Wildfire Risk Assessment Framework for Land and Resource Management

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  "Wildfires can result in significant, long-lasting impacts to ecological, social, and economic systems. It is necessary, therefore, to identify and understand the risks posed by wildland fire, and to develop cost-effective mitigation strategies accordingly. This report presents a general framework with which to assess wildfire risk and explore mitigation options, and illustrates a process for implementing the framework. Two key strengths of the framework are its flexibility-allowing for a multitude of data sources, modeling techniques, and approaches to measuring risk-and its scalability, with potential application for project, forest, regional, and national planning. The specific risk assessment process we introduce is premised on three modeling approaches to characterize wildfire likelihood and intensity, fire effects, and the relative importance of highly valued resources and assets that could be impacted by wildfire. The spatial scope of the process is landscape-scale, and the temporal scope is short-term (that is, the temporal dynamics of succession and disturbance are not simulated). We highlight key information needs, provide guidance for use of fire simulation models and risk geo-processing tools, and demonstrate recent applications of the framework across planning scales. The aim of this report is to provide fire and land managers with a helpful set of guiding principles and tools for assessing and mitigating wildfire risk. "

  United States. Department of Agriculture; United States. Forest Service

  Scott, Joe H.; Thompson, Matthew P.; Calkin, David E.

  2013-10
• Air Quality Impacts of Wildfires: Mitigation and Management Strategies, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, September 13, 2018

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  This is the September 13, 2018 hearing on "Air Quality Impacts of Wildfires" held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of John Shimkus: "A year ago, we took testimony to examine the air quality impacts of wildfires with the focus on stakeholder perspectives. Given the community's jurisdiction over air quality policies and public health, the goal then, as it is today, was to develop a better understanding of the health impacts of wildfires and what should be done to minimize those impacts. We return to the topic this afternoon to look closely at the mitigation and management strategies for reducing air quality risks from wildfire smoke. In large part, these strategies involve efforts to reduce the intensity and frequency of wildfires that threaten communities." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Herman Baertschiger Jr., Mary Anderson, Sonya Germann, Collin O'Mara, and Tom Boggus.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2019
• LLIS Innovative Practice: Community Resilience: Nevada's Community Wildfire Protection Plans

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  "The Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) led an interagency effort to develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) in all 17 counties. The NDF encouraged communities within the wildland-urban interface--the zone of transition between human developments and wildland/vegetation--to create plans that address wildfire response, mitigate hazards, and enhance community preparedness. As a result, all of Nevada's counties developed plans that provide communities with a prioritized list of hazards and step-by-step recommendations to protect people, infrastructure, and resources from wildfires." From the Description: "The Nevada's CWPP initiative grew out of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). The HFRA aimed to reduce the threat of wildfires and encourage public input into the planning process nationwide by offering financial incentives to communities with a wildland-urban interface to develop CWPPs. Communities can use CWPPs to conduct environmental assessments, identify and prioritize hazards, and develop strategies to address gaps that exist in local wildfire preparedness. Nevada leveraged the HFRA's cost-sharing mechanisms to encourage communities statewide to create CWPPs. With more than 80 percent of Nevada's land controlled by the Federal government, officials realized that successful CWPP development required effective collaboration between community stakeholders and Federal land managers. The State also offered technical assistance and grant application assistance to communities that were developing CWPPs. As of September 2014, each of Nevada's 17 counties had a CWPP."

  Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS)

  2015?
• Coffee Break Training: Wildfire - Are You Prepared? (Part 2 of 2)

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  "If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area, listen for reports and evacuation information. Follow evacuation guidance provided by local officials. When wildfire threatens, you will not have time to shop or search for emergency supplies. Preassemble a disaster supply kit with items that you may need if advised to evacuate. Prepare ahead, and practice wildfire safety." The learning objective of this training is that "[t]he student will be able to identify the steps necessary to be prepared ahead of a wildfire threat and to practice wildfire safety."

  United States Fire Administration

  2014-05-14
• Wildfire Protection Funding [Updated May 2, 2005]

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  "The severe 2000 fire season prompted a significant rise in funding for wildfire protection that has been sustained; wildfire appropriations in FY2005 were more than $2.9 billion. Most of the funds ($2.8 billion in FY2005) are to protect federal lands, with funds for reducing fuel loads, for equipment and training, for fighting fires, and for restoring burned sites. Federal funding ($98 million in FY2005) also supports state efforts to protect nonfederal lands. Some wildfire funding ($74 million in FY2005) is used for fire research, fire facilities, and programs to improve forest health. Congress continues to debate wildfire funding levels, with a growing focus on the cost of wildfire suppression."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gorte, Ross W.

  2005-05-02
• Forest Fire/Wildfire Protection [January 29, 2009]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Congress continues to face questions about forestry practices, funding levels, and the federal role in wildland fire protection. Recent fire seasons have been, by most standards, among the worst in the past half century. National attention began to focus on wildfires when a prescribed burn in May 2000 escaped control and burned 239 homes in Los Alamos, NM. President Clinton responded by requesting a doubling of wildfire management funds, and Congress enacted much of this proposal in the FY2001 Interior appropriations act (P.L. 106-291). President Bush responded to the severe 2002 fires by proposing a Healthy Forests Initiative to reduce fuel loads by expediting review processes. Many factors contribute to the threat of wildfire damages. Two major factors are the decline in forest and rangeland health and the expansion of residential areas into wildlands--the wildlandurban interface. Over the past century, aggressive wildfire suppression, as well as past grazing and logging practices, have altered many ecosystems, especially those where light, surface fires were frequent. Many areas now have unnaturally high fuel loads (e.g., dead trees and dense thickets) and an historically unnatural mix of plant species (e.g., exotic invaders). Fuel treatments have been proposed to reduce the wildfire threats."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gorte, Ross W.

  2009-01-29
• Wildfire Protection in the Wildland-Urban Interface [January 23, 2012]

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  "Congressional interest in funding to protect against wildfire threats has focused on communities in and near forests, an area known as the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The WUI is expanding in size and population, leading to increased concern for life and property that could potentially be damaged by wildfires. Approximately 9% of all land in the lower 48 states is classified as WUI. A significant concentration lies along the East Coast, although western states have the highest proportions of homes in the WUI. Federal funding for wildfire protection has increased significantly over the last decade. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) receive the bulk of funding to prevent and suppress wildfires. Nearly half of the USFS budget in 2010 was allocated for wildfire funding. A portion of this funding is spent on WUI efforts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gorte, Ross W.; Bracmort, Kelsi

  2012-01-23
• Forest Fire/Wildfire Protection [Updated January 17, 2008]

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  This report discusses the risks, causes and effects of forest/wildfires while providing historical background, current issues and fire control policies. From the report: "Congress continues to face questions about forestry practices, funding levels, and the federal role in wildland fire protection. Recent fire seasons have been, by most standards, among the worst in the past half century. National attention began to focus on wildfires when a prescribed burn in May 2000 escaped control and burned 239 homes in Los Alamos, NM. President Clinton responded by requesting a doubling of wildfire management funds, and Congress enacted much of this proposal in the FY2001 Interior appropriations act (P.L. 106-291). President Bush responded to the severe 2002 fires by proposing a Healthy Forests Initiative to reduce fuel loads by expediting review processes. Many factors contribute to the threat of wildfire damages. Two major factors are the decline in forest and rangeland health and the expansion of residential areas into wildlands -- the urban-wildland interface. Over the past century, aggressive wildfire suppression, as well as past grazing and logging practices, have altered many ecosystems, especially those where light, surface fires were frequent. Many areas now have unnaturally high fuel loads (e.g., dead trees and dense thickets) and an historically unnatural mix of plant species (e.g., exotic invaders)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Gorte, Ross W.

  2008-01-17
• Wildfire Statistics [Updated August 1, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.

  2019-08-01
• Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery [Updated July 11, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires. Wildfires can have some beneficial impacts on an ecosystem, but they often threaten homes and communities and force the evacuation of thousands of people. Wildfires are often caused by lightning strikes, and may also occur when a prescribed burn escapes control or through unauthorized human activities (deliberate or accidental). Over the last 10 years (2009-2018), wildfires have burned 7.0 million acres annually on average in the United States. In 2018, more than 58,000 wildfires burned 8.8 million acres and destroyed nearly 25,800 structures nationwide. More than 70% (18,130) of the structures destroyed were residences, and approximately 94% of the structures destroyed (17,130) were in a single state, California."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie

  2019-07-11
• Wildfire Statistics [Updated May 31, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.

  2019-05-31
• Wildfire Statistics [Updated September 3, 2019]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.

  2019-09-03
• Wildfire Statistics [Updated July 1, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.

  2020-07-01
• Wildfire Statistics [Updated August 3, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.

  2020-08-03
• Wildfire Statistics [Updated August 20, 2020]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.

  2020-08-20
• Wildfire Statistics [Updated April 10, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.

  2020-04-10
• Wildfire Management Funding: FY2021 Appropriations [October 29, 2020]

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  From the Document: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (FS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are responsible for wildfire response and management across the federal lands within their respective jurisdictions. Both FS and DOI generally receive annual discretionary appropriations for wildfire management activities through the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bills. Wildfire management funding for DOI is provided to the department-level Office of Wildland Fire. Wildfire management appropriations fluctuate annually but began to increase in the late 1990s and rose markedly after FY2000. A significant portion of the annual fluctuations and overall increase in funding is related to fire suppression costs, which vary considerably and may be high even during years of relatively mild wildfire activity."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Hoover, Katie

  2020-10-29