Fire Management Homepage

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Keeping Fire On Our Side
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has been using and managing fire safely and cost-effectively since the 1930's, leading to lands being in healthier ecological condition overall, with lower risk of damaging fire. This long-term, balanced approach to fire management benefits both people and wildlife.
Hot News August 2009 Firefighters Visit Refuge to Prepare for Fire Response Two engine crews from the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park toured the National Elk Refuge last week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to develop a familiarity with the layout of the roads, the numbering system, and local place names used to identify various locations on the refuge.  Read more… U.S. Wildland Firefighters Lend a Hand in Canada On Friday, August 7, firefighters from the United States arrived in British Columbia, Canada to assist the Canadians in fire suppression efforts during what has become a busy fire season. Read more…
Refuge Uses Burnout to Control Fire Firefighters at Sabine National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana safely burned 4,000 acres around two wildfires started in late July by lightning to protect adjacent oil and gas facilities. Read more…
Is Fire Really Dangerous to Wildlife? A new magazine article co-authored by two Service fire information officers addresses public fears and explores assumptions about animals being burned in wildfires. Read more…

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages public land in every U.S. state and territory, including 550 national wildlife refuges and 70 national fish hatcheries.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages more than 75 million burnable acres, including 24 million acres of forest/brushland and 4 million acres of grassland.

More than 80% of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands in the continental U.S. (and more than 90% in Alaska) include fire-adapted ecosystems with vegetation dependent on periodic fire.

An average of 500 wildfires burn 300,000 acres each year on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands. The Service also burns more than 350,000 acres a year using prescribed fire.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service annual fire program budget is approximately $80 million.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employs more than 500 permanent fire professionals, along with 200 seasonal and temporary fire employees during fire season.

More than 2,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees are qualified to assist with wildland fire management on an interagency basis.

The U.S. Fish and Wildland Service Fire Management Program protects more than 700 communities and wildland-urban interface areas.

Historically, an acre was the amount of land tillable by one man behind an ox in one day. This measures 90% of a football field. There are 640 acres in a square mile.

More than 90% of the hazardous fuels reduction by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is completed using prescribed fire.