Fire

Fifty years ago, wildland fire was generally viewed by both the public and the fire manager as something bad that only caused damage to forest land. Innovative researchers and fire management professionals have changed that perception, and, in the process, improved the effectiveness and efficiency of fire management nationwide. Our science is a trusted source of information that shapes decisions involving millions of dollars every year, including factors influencing suppression costs, allocation of fuels management funding, and the communication of potential public health and safety impacts for communities.

Featured Work

• Research Supporting Fire (Forest Explorer Newsletter - August 2025)
• Wildfire and Water Security Research Project
• Science Spotlight: Wildfire and Smoke Research (September 2022)
• West-Side Fire and Climate Adaptation Research Initiative ( March 2022)
• The Fire and Smoke Model and Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE)

Featured Tool

Real-time fire and smoke conditions: interactive map

This interactive map displays current wildland fire perimeters in the conterminous U.S., based on data from the National Interagency Fire Center’s Wildland Fire Interagency Geospatial Services and surface smoke dispersion forecasts every hour for the next 30 hours, based on information from the National Weather Service.

Fire and Smoke Map

The station’s AirFire Team developed the Fire and Smoke Map featured in the AirNow tool, which is available on the web and as a mobile app and provides localized air quality information. The map shows real-time air quality conditions from fine particulate matter generated by wildfire smoke and other sources.