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 Refuge Thins Pines to Reduce Fire Risk and Grow Bald Eagle Habitat Beginning in July, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave one of the largest summer roosting areas for bald eagles occurring east of the Mississippi River some much needed attention in the form of thinning to boost habitat quality and to lessen the risk of losing the critical eagle territory to wildfire. Read more… Fire Supports Fight on Invasive Plants A new handbook gives refuge staff practical guidelines to ensure that fire management does not result in the spread of invasive plants. Read more…
Refuge Burns to Preserve Rare Ecosystem Home to one of the rarest ecosystems in the world, the National Key Deer Refuge recently completed their first prescribed burning in five years. Read more…
Service Fire Program Gets Attention at National Forestry Convention The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Program booth made an impression on professionals and college students attending the 2009 Society for American Foresters Convention in Orlando, Florida. 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.