BLM Fire Fire Year 2021 Program Overview - National ...
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U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
BLM Fire
Fire Year 2021 Program Overview
The Bureau of Land Management Fire program
The Bureau of Land Management Fire program (BLM other federal, state, and local jurisdictions, making
Fire) is the largest and most complex fire program within partnerships and collaborative efforts crucial to the
the Department of the Interior (DOI). The BLM represents mission of safety and fire management. Overall, BLM
61 percent of DOI’s fire-related workforce and is directly Fire implements fire protection on approximately
responsible for fire management on more than 245 650 million acres of public land with other fire
million acres. This land is commonly intermixed with management agencies.
BLMs Fire suppression resources
320 Engines 6 Veterans Crews 13 Hotshot Crews 150 Smokejumpers
34 RFPAs 31 Tactical Aircraft 25 Helicopters / 18 Helitack Crews 34 SEATs
23 Semi-Tractors 24 Water Tenders 21 Dozers 2 Fire Boats
Resource Mobilization
All fire suppression resources are 1. Local level dispatch centers are responsible for
supported by a three-tier interagency initial wildfire response and support.
network of dispatch and coordination
2. 10 Geographic Area Coordination Centers
centers across the country. The (GACCs) mobilize wildfire suppression resources NICC
national dispatch system’s primary within specific geographic areas of the U.S.
mission is the timely, cost effective, and
efficient coordination, mobilization, and 3. The National Interagency Coordination Center Geographic
demobilization of wildland fire resources. (NICC) provides national emergency response Area
for wildland fire and all-hazard incidents.
Each tier has a unique role in locating and
dispatching fire suppression resources to Local Dispatch
wildland fire incidents.
Note: The number of hotshot crews includes two veterans crews. RFPAs are Rangeland Fire Protection Associations.
Unique fire management challenges
Most BLM-managed public lands are composed of non-forested shrub and
grass ecosystems. Invasive weeds, which make landscapes more flammable,
are present in many of these ecosystems. Cycles of frequent wildfire followed
by invasive weeds are impacting vast areas of the western U.S., particularly in
the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. Because of the invasive-weeds-wildfire cycle,
many western ecosystems are experiencing too much wildfire compared to
historical fire regimes. Suppressing wildfires in these ecosystems is costly and
puts wildland firefighters at risk.
The BLM is working to preserve ecosystems that are currently not impacted by
invasive weeds while restoring ecological balance in other ecosystems where
invasive weeds are changing the landscape and increasing wildfire risk. This
work reduces wildfire risk and wildfire suppression costs.
56%
of wildfire acres burned in the continental
2,370
wildfires on BLM-managed public
U.S. occur on shrublands and grasslands lands burned 1+ million acres in 2020
70%
More than 70% of all DOI-managed lands burned
72%
BLM manages 72% of all DOI public lands
by wildfires are shrublands or grasslands that have high or very high fire risk
36 million
acres of BLM-managed public lands are at high or very
100,000 - 400,000
acre wildfires are now
high fire risk - much of this is due to invasive weeds commonplace across the West
25 miles
of rangelands with invasive
150-500 square miles
of grass/shrub lands with invasive grasses
grasses can burn in just one day present can burn in just a couple days
Wildfire activity is becoming more extreme
10 million 10,122,336
10,125,149
6.8 million
In the last 10 years, more than Currently, the 10-year average
10 million acres have burned number of acres burned is
10,026,086
throughout the country three about 6.8 million acres
times: in 2020, 2017 and 2015. per year and
Between 1983-1992, wildfires increasing.
burned an average of 2.7
million acres.
2020 2017 2015
Rising Costs
Fire suppression costs are also increasing; before 2000, suppression
costs were always below $1 billion. Since 2010, fire suppression costs
have risen beyond the $1 billion mark consistently every year, with a
record of more than $3 billion in costs set in 2018. While the number
of wildfires and acres burned can vary, fire seasons are, on average,
becoming longer, costlier and more complicated.
Civilians Lost Structures Lost
More civilian Wildfires have destroyed more
lives are being homes and communities in
lost in wildfire recent years: from 2018 – 2020,
events. Over 80 44,657 structures were lost in
people perished in wildfires, of those, 28,211 were
wildfires in 2019. primary residents.
Fire Year Workforce 75 Days
Firefighters are required to work earlier in the spring Across the West, the first
and longer into the fall than in previous years, causing wildfires of the year are starting
fatigue and burnout issues. The BLM is working to earlier and the last wildfires
shift away from a seasonal of the year are starting later,
firefighting workforce making typical fire years 75
because firefighters are in days longer now
demand throughout most than they were
of the year. 40 years ago.
Fuels Management
The BLM Fuels Management program is more than 70% of DOI’s wildfire risk. To where invasive weeds are present;
focused on active management to reduce address these fire-invasives challenges, many of these areas are experiencing
wildfire risk, improve wildfire resiliency, the BLM conducts a wide variety of fuels too much wildfire. Prescribed burning
and promote fire-adapted communities. treatment projects, including mechanical is not an effective tool in areas
This effort is critical considering the treatments, chemical and biological impacted by invasives, which is why
vast spread of wildfire risk throughout treatments, and prescribed fire. Fuels only 25% of all BLM fuels treatments
the West, as the BLM works to address treatment options are limited in areas consist of prescribed burning.
50% 25% 25%
of acres of acres of acres
accomplished accomplished accomplished
Mechanical Treatments Prescribed Fire / Fire Use Treatments Chemical and Biological Treatments
Fuel Breaks
Large swaths of grasses, brush, or other vegetation provide continuous fuels
that can lead to catastrophic wildfires.
Fuel breaks thin out or break up the vegetation, which slows the progress and reduces the intensity of
the wildfire, making it safer and easier for firefighters to control.
The BLM uses multiple fuels treatment methods. Fuel breaks reduce hazardous fuels and provide wildland firefighters a safe
barrier to conduct fire suppression tactics.
The BLM also reduces hazardous fuels
50% of DOI total 780,000 acres
through fire use by allowing some
wildfires to take their natural The BLM accomplishes In 2020, the BLM
course when they can be more than 50% of accomplished more than
safely and effectively the DOI’s fuel 780,000 acres of fuels
managed to produce treatments. treatments.
desired results.
BLM Fire
National Interagency Fire Center
3833 S. Development Ave
Boise, ID 83705
www.nifc.gov
@BLMFire
The BLM celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2021. In
December 1946, President Truman formally combined
the Grazing Service and the General Land Office
to create the Bureau of Land Management. This
important anniversary sets the stage to celebrate the
agency’s rich history and look forward to the future
and how the BLM moves into the next 75 years.
BLM/FA-GI-21-011
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