WASHINGTON, DC—Fire plays an important historical role in forests and grasslands. By suppressing fires, humans in many places have altered fire’s role in balancing the diversity and abundance of plant life in forests and grasslands. These alterations, alongside climate change, have exacerbated the size, frequency and intensity of wildfires, as well as increased related fatalities and taxpayer-funded firefighting costs. In this era of increasingly severe wildland fires, the nation needs novel research and tools to better understand and manage fire.

Building on nearly six decades of world-class wildfire science, Forest Service scientists and their partners work to meet the public’s fire safety needs with cutting edge tools. For example, the WildfireSAFE app integrates real-time data related to fire—weather forecasts, terrain profiles, wind patterns—into one platform. Using this app, fire managers and members of the public across the country can react more quickly to a blaze. In addition, the Wildfire Risk to Communities website delineates areas most vulnerable to severe wildfire and guides residents on how to protect their property. Agency researchers are also designing remote-sensing tools to better map and monitor post-fire effects on landscapes.

The Forest Service invests in wildland fire research and development because fire shapes landscapes and lives. Understanding fire behavior and designing tools to better react to fire helps protect lives and communities.