Along with heat and oxygen, fire needs fuel to burn. Reducing the amount of fuel available reduces the risk of wildfire and helps contain any fires that may start. Prescribed burns conducted on Fish and Wildlife Service lands remove dead vegetation that can feed dangerous wildfires. Planned burns lower the chances of an unintended fire and provide a safety buffer if one should start elsewhere.

When wildfire strikes, the Fish and Wildlife Service is often there to fight it. Service crews assist local communities with wildfire suppression on nearby lands, protecting people and property.