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Fire Management
The Sierra National Forest has a diverse Fire and Aviation Management program that is strongly committed to the management of all aspects of wildland fire operations. In addition to initial and extended attack of wildland fires, this includes planning, fuels management, prescribed burning, prevention, suppression, and using state-of-art tools and technology in dynamic and changing environments. We are proud to be a part of the largest wildland firefighting force in the world.
We stand behind the agency's top priority to maintain and improve the health, diversity, and productivity of forest ecosystems for the enjoyment of current and future generations. We are enthusiastic about reducing hazardous fuels, improving forest health, and returning fire to our ecosystem in a deliberate and dedicated manner.
The Sierra National Forest Fire and Aviation Management Program maintains strong relationships with collaborators and partners, including international, federal, tribal, state, and local agencies. In addition, Fire and Aviation Management personnel work with all resource areas—biology, archaeology, timber, wildlife, lands and minerals, and range–to address the many challenges that come with managing wildland fire and fuels in a fire-adapted ecosystem.
We invite you to learn more by selecting any of the titles below.
The Sierra National Forest has a robust and dynamic Fire Management organization. Our Forest is host to a wide variety of fire suppression, prevention, detection, and aviation resources and personnel.
Fire and Fuels Management work hand-in-hand on the Sierra National Forest. In order to reduce the severity of wildfire behavior, improve defensible space around infrastructure and adjoining lands, and to enhance the forest ecosystem health, we utilize a wide variety of fuels treatment planning and implementation.
As part of our Fire and Fuels Management program, we manage an integrated prescribed fire program. Prescribed fire (often called controlled burning) can be used for a variety of purposes. This includes: to manage natural and human-activity related fuels, maintain areas that have already been treated, aid in meeting resource management objectives, support cultural heritage practices, and sustain ecosystem values.
Our Fire Prevention Program is designed around educating Forest users about preventing human-caused wildfires and enforcing our rules and regulations. Through multiple initiatives and campaigns, such as the “One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire” initiative and our Smokey Bear educational programs, we work to ensure Forest users are able to enjoy their activities on the Forest while mitigating the risk of accidentally starting a wildfire.
The Sierra National Forest moves in and out Fire Restrictions (i.e. burning and campfire restrictions) as the seasons change and the danger of wildfire increases or decreases.
While fire is a very important process for maintaining healthy forest ecosystems, the Sierra National Forest is sensitive to the need for smoke management during fire operations. We work collaboratively with the local and state air quality boards and districts to meet mandates and targets for our smoke management efforts.
Science has changed the way we think about wildland fire and the way we manage it. We suppress fires often, especially to protect communities and resources, but we also use it to make forests and grasslands healthier and to protect communities and natural resources—especially clean, abundant water.
Fire is a critical and effective management tool – one of many in our toolbox. When conditions are appropriate and specific management needs warrant it, we utilize fire to play its important role in our forest’s health
Curious about a current fire? Need to report a fire? This page provides numerous resources and links available online—including to InciWeb, the nationwide online source for incident related information.
Interested in joining our team? We use a variety of hiring methods to build our diverse and highly qualified workforce. It’s important to know that the application process and deadlines for hiring our firefighters comes very early each the New Year.
Features
Being Ready—Wildfire Preparedness
It takes the combination of both Defensible space and the hardening of your home to really give your house the best chance of surviving a wildfire.
One Less Spark—One Less Wildfire
Whether it's ensuring a campfire or landscape debris burn of leaves and branches is completely extinguished, or keeping a vehicle well maintained to prevent sparks, following just a few simple steps can help prevent wildfires.
Alerts & Warnings
- 05-15-00-24-12 SNF-Rec Site Road Trail Forest Order
- 05-15-52-24-13-SNF Basin Fire Closure
- 05-15-51-24-11 Nelder Grove Historic Area Closure Order
- 05-15-00-24-09-SNF Wilderness Campfire Restrictions Order
- 05-15-00-24-10 SNF Rec Site Road Trail Closure Order
- 05-15-00-24-07-SNF Wilderness Use Restrictions Order
- 05-15-00-24-05-SNF Food Refuse Storage Order
- 05-15-00-23-31-SNF Parking Limits
- 05-15-00-23-30-SNF Camping Limits
- 05-15-00-23-27-SNF-Wilderness Food Refuse Storage
