2024 has been a year of intense wildfire activity across the United States and North America, scorching millions of acres and disrupting communities from coast to coast. As the wildfire season winds down, now is the perfect time to answer the question of how wildfires start. Wildfires are complex phenomena influenced by natural forces and […]
How do wildfires start? Read More »
Wildland firefighters are tasked with the strenuous task of combating wildfires. US Wildland firefighting jobs operate at a federal, state, and local level. Some positions are year-round, and others are seasonal. As the fire season continues to burn more wildland and last longer, the need for wildland firefighters has become more evident. How to
How to Become a Wildland Firefighter Read More »
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) releases studies, each year, on firefighter deaths and injuries. An important part of the yearly study helps better understand how these fatalities and injuries occur to help minimize the risks of firefighting. A recurring reason cited in the study is the incorrect use of or absence of firefighting personal protective
Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Read More »
As more individuals build their homes in woodland settings — in or near forests, rural areas or remote mountain sites, they enjoy the beauty of the environment but face the very real danger of wildfire. Every year across the U.S., major wildfires test homeowners and firefighters, some homes survive while many others do not. Those
Wildfire Prevention & Preparedness Read More »
Over many decades, lessons learned from accidents and fatalities that have occurred on wildland fires have led to significant improvements in firefighter education, training, operational practices, and risk management processes. Unfortunately, wildland firefighting remains inherently hazardous, and we continue to experience accidents and fatalities.
Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance Read More »
Last December, another major fire plagued California. For over a month, the Thomas Fire blazed through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The destruction surpassed 440 square miles of land scorched and 1,063 structures burned, claiming the title as the largest wildfire in California history. As of December 22nd, more than 8,500 firefighters fought to contain
The California Wildfire Season Is Now 4-5 Months Longer Read More »
Some of the biggest headlines of late show that California has been on fire near continuously over the past couple of months. Agencies such as CAL Fire and the Forestry Service have beefed up their staffing in the face of these unprecedented blazes. The staffing increase is especially underway in Southern California in the face
California’s “New Normal” Demands New Staff and New Strategies in 2018 Read More »
The final California wildfire of the year, Thomas Fire has been decimating much of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties since early December, 2017. In terms of acreage, this final inferno is the largest in the history of the state. In terms of how the fire has spread and behaved, many veterans claim they’ve never seen
Thomas Fire Caps an Unprecedented Fire Season Read More »
December has been a hard month for the Golden State. A series of 16 wildfires ignited throughout Southern California during the first week of December causing panic and widespread destruction of property. The rapidly moving fires that have forced thousands of Californians to evacuate their homes have been exacerbated by unusually powerful and unending Santa
Briefing: December 2017 Southern California Wildfires Read More »
Over the course of the summer of 2017 Big Sky residents quickly got used to the lingering smell of the forests burning within their state. Montanans endured one of the worst wildfire seasons in decades marked by home evacuations and a state of emergency declared by the Governor. In addition, the grueling summer of 2017
Montana Wildfires of 2017 Read More »
