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A female wildland firefighter carries a drip torch in a rangeland environment. She is laying fire on the ground and you can see fire and smoke in the background.

Director’s Report: Tackling the 2024 Fire Year and Beyond

04/16/2024

As the 2024 fire year challenges firefighters in numerous states, Interior continues its workforce investments to build a wildland fire management program that is poised to meet the challenges of the future.

A wildland firefighter watches as a single engine air tanker drops red retardant on a wildfire. The firefighter's back is to the viewer as the plane flies overhead, with smoke and clouds in the background. BLM photo.

The Future of Fire Management

01/26/2024

As we look ahead to the 2024 fire year, Interior is focused on firefighter pay and workforce transformation; collaboration and partnerships; future challenges; and fresh opportunities.

Peter Brick stands next to a helicopter before taking a helicopter flight.

Wildfire in the Land of Down Under

09/11/2023

As Australia enters its typical fire year, we recently chatted with Peter Brick, Senior Emergency Management Capability Specialist for the Australian state of Victoria’s Forest Fire Management, about bushfire management in Australia, the changing fire environment, his career, and the small-world nature of wildland fire management.

People gather at the Spokane Food Sovereign Garden to establish fire effects monitoring plots. Photo courtesy of the Spokane Tribal Network.

Healing with Fire: The Spokane Tribal Network’s Journey to Restore Cultural Burns and Native Foods

08/30/2023

The Spokane Tribal Network is working to demonstrate the Spokane Tribe’s practice of cultural burns to nurture a healthy environment and improve the Tribe’s food sovereignty.

Wildland firefighters hike in a line wearing their gear and carrying tools.

Director’s Report: The 2023 Fire Year, Canada Support, and Interior’s Ongoing Workforce Transformation Effort

08/07/2023

As fire activity escalates in the U.S., Interior continues to support Canada and our wildland fire workforce and firefighter pay reform efforts. Interior also anticipates the Biden-Harris administration’s Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission’s final report to Congress.

Commission members pose for a photo with Secretary Haaland.

Shannon McGovern’s Federation of American Scientists Impact Fellowship Puts Wildland Fire Science into Practice

07/27/2023

Federal fellowships foster future Interior leaders. In this interview with Shannon McGovern, we talk about her Federation of American Scientists fellowship, her work translating wildland fire science into practice, and her advice for future scientists in the wildland fire field.

Helping to Restore Giant Sequoias after Significant Wildfires

07/07/2023

While giant sequoias are adapted to wildfire, as wildfires become more extreme, sequoias are dying. The National Park Service is helping to restore these iconic goliaths after significant wildfires.

Smokejumpers hold a U.S. flag before departing for a Canada wildfire assignment.

Director’s Report: Heading into the 2023 Fire Year

06/27/2023

As the 2023 fire year progresses, wildland fire workforce transformation continues to be a top priority, including wildland firefighter careers, pay, and wellbeing. Interior is also supporting Canada with our USDA Forest Service partner during one of Canada’s most extreme fire years in recent history.

Pili grass planted at the base of the temple.

Post Wildfire Restoration at Pu’ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

05/26/2023

As we celebrate Asian America, Native Hawai’ian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we explore how the National Park Service worked with Hawai’ian partners to restore the Pu’ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site after a wildfire in 2020.
 

Wildland firefighters with drip torches.

The Future of Wildland Fire Management: Investing in Our Workforce

05/16/2023

The Interior and Agriculture departments are investing in the wildland fire workforce as more intense fire years tax the people working to save lives, communities, infrastructure, and natural resources. 

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