Fire
Forest firefighters extinguish an average of 125 wildfires per year on the Forest, most within the first operational period.
They also travel across the U.S., and even to other countries, to support interagency wildfire suppression efforts. Many Mark Twain National Forest employees are part of Type 1 and Type 2 Interagency Management Teams (IMTs), that work and train to be ready for these response activities at any moment.
Report a Wildfire
If you believe you encounter a wildfire, get to safety and report it by phone as soon as possible by calling 911 and they will route it appropriately.
Wildfires may also be reported by calling (866) 800-8595
Visiting Firefighters
If coming to Mark Twain National Forest on a fire assignment, you will want to check in through Missouri Iowa Interagency Coordination Center (MOCC).
Phone: (866) 800-8595
Where to get current fire information
Websites and maps showing the most current fire and prescribed fire information for the Mark Twain National Forest.
Mission and Overview
The Forest has a strong wildland firefighting program that plays a vital role in managing the natural resources within the Forest's boundaries.
Fire personnel respond to wildfires, preventing them from becoming catastrophic blazes.
The Forest utilizes fire through planned prescribed burns as a tool to promote healthy woodlands, glades, and other ecosystem types across the six Ranger Districts. Prescribed fires mimics the historic natural fire return interval and allows plants and animals native to the Ozarks to flourish, while simultaneously decreasing the presence of non-native, invasive species.
It takes everyone on the Forest working together to improve the diversity, structure and function of Ozark ecosystems across the Forest. This professional organization works closely with other Forest management program areas and with personnel from across the nation to best utilize good fire, and prevent bad fire, to achieve Forest restoration goals.
Mark Twain National Forest' fire organization includes:
- 70 personnel
- A multi-state Dispatch Coordination Center (MOCC), which dispatches an average of seven 20-person crews and 250 overhead personnel each year.
- A wildland fire training program at Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center
- Type III Helicopter (seasonal exclusive use, also provides multi-Forest support)
- Ten Bulldozers & Transports
- Six Type-6 Engines
Partnerships
To fight wildfires and effectively utilize prescribed burning, the Forest works closely with many partners. These partners include (but not limited to):
- Federal partners such as Department of Interior - National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
- State partners such as Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Missouri Department of Conservation
- Other USDA partners like Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Mingo Job Corps
- Local Fire Departments across 29 counties, including volunteer fire departments
- Private landowners through Wyden Agreements
- Organizations through Agreements, such as the Wild Turkey Federation