Most fire agencies aim to extinguish wildfires as quickly as possible. However, suppressing all fires can lead to landscapes becoming overgrown and more prone to extreme, uncontrollable wildfires in the future. Allowing good fire to play its natural role while protecting communities from catastrophic fire is key.
Success in restoring resilience to dry western forests will require world class firefighting forces, capable of doing three things really well:
Stop harmful fires.
Wildfires that are likely to do substantial harm to communities or critical natural resources should be extinguished ASAP or at least guided around those resources. This is particularly true during dry and windy seasons where wildfire is likely to burn catastrophically. Firefighters will continue to play a critical role in protecting communities and resources, extinguishing or redirecting fires when they pose risk.
Tend or manage good fire.
When conditions are right and where communities are safe, fire managers should encourage more good fire to burn to reduce fuels and revitalize forests.
Distinguish good from harmful wildfires.
Decisions on how to manage fires are not simple ones to make. Fire managers need better information, tools, training, and coordination to make the best decisions about when and how to extinguish risky fires and when to carefully manage good fires. This will protect communities and the environment in both the short term and the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
In many parts of the West, networks of fire detection cameras and sensors provide firefighters the ability to respond more quickly to fires when they start. Commanders fighting active fires have much greater access to information and analysis that allows them to make rapid decisions based on changes in fire behavior, weather, wind direction, and fuel conditions.