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.
Tend or manage good fire.
When conditions are right and where communities are safe, fire managers need to allow more good fire to burn in natural ways to reduce fuels and revitalize forests.
Distinguish good from harmful wildfires.
The default for most fire agencies is to try to extinguish all wildfires as soon as possible. Fire managers need better training and greater information and analytic capacity to make the best judgements about when to extinguish fires and when to tend good fire.
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.