Rocky Mountain Research Station science supporting the Wildfire Crisis Strategy

Photo Credit

Courtesy photo by Cole Barash

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Rocky Mountain Research Station science underpins important elements of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy  and our research, tools and products are actively supporting its implementation across the Western United States. Given the scale and complexity of wildfire in Western landscapes and the opportunities now presented with large investments in this work, it is important these efforts are grounded in best science and can be adaptively managed as we learn about the impacts and implications of Wildfire Crisis Strategy work across landscapes. Rocky Mountain Research Station science is supporting the Wildfire Crisis and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law implementation. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed into law in November 2021 and provides the Forest Service with new authorities and additional funding to address risks from catastrophic wildfire and other disasters, strengthen fire-related infrastructure, make better use of research tools, and support needed ecosystem and structural improvements that benefit people and flora and fauna. The Forest Service has invested a portion of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds in new research and analysis projects addressing questions critical to the success of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s intent, notably the Wildfire Crisis Strategy. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funded projects associated with the Rocky Mountain Research Station can be viewed below.

The Wildfire Crisis strategy calls for targeted work in the highest risk areas, termed “firesheds”. The Firesheds Registry, a key organizing principal of Wildfire Crisis Strategy, was developed by Rocky Mountain Research Station scientists to show where fuels treatments are needed to stop fire transmission from national forests to developed areas. Cross boundary work is critical to success

The Rocky Mountain Research Station co-developed Potential Operational Delineations (PODs), a critical component for planning work and wildfire response across boundaries. PODs give land managers a formal process, based in risk science, for developing landscape-scale wildfire response options with partners before fires start. To date, the PODs collaborative process has been completed on all but one of the 21 Wildfire Crisis Strategy landscapes. 

Rocky Mountain Research Station scientists are working across Forest Service Research & Development on new research focused on supporting Bipartisan Infrastructure Law activities and learning from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law work.

Rocky Mountain Research Station science is actively addressing these key topics associated with the Wildfire Crisis:

• Fire applications and products
• Fire behavior
• Fire and climate change
• Fire management
• Firefighter Safety
• Fuels Treatment and Forest Management
• Prescribed fire
• Postfire management
• Smoke
• Social science related to Wildfire Crisis Strategy
• Wildlife and vegetation management
• Wood innovations with intensive work on biochar