U.S. Wildland Fire Service
@USWFS

Streamlining wildfire response, prevention, and recovery across 500 million acres of public lands administered by @Interior and tribal lands.

Joined November 2025
187 Photos and videos
On the Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation, Resource Advisors, known as READs, play an important role in wildfire response, helping firefighters balance suppression needs with the protection of natural and cultural resources on the landscape. During the Modrite Fire, READs from the Colville Reservation worked alongside partners to assess suppression actions as the fire made a rapid run across the reservation during an overnight wind event. One of those actions was a dozer line constructed near homes and across a creek to help slow the fire. Following the fire’s movement, READs worked with firefighters to assess the line and creek crossings and identify areas in need of suppression repair. The work of the Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation READs extends beyond the immediate response. From advising firefighters during active suppression to helping guide repair afterward, they bring knowledge of the reservation’s natural and cultural resources into the wildfire response and recovery process. @BureauIndAffrs
Firefighter in yellow gear and helmet stands by a creek, observing two colleagues across a creek.

ALT Firefighter in yellow gear and helmet stands by a creek, observing two colleagues across a creek.

Three wildland firefighters in yellow protective gear and helmets stand near a small water body surrounded by dense trees during a briefing.

ALT Three wildland firefighters in yellow protective gear and helmets stand near a small water body surrounded by dense trees during a briefing.

Wildland fire personnel in a yellow helmet is clearing dense brush and branches near a forest stream on a sunny day.

ALT Wildland fire personnel in a yellow helmet is clearing dense brush and branches near a forest stream on a sunny day.
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Across the country, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service currently utilizes space and facilities owned by the BIA, BLM, FWS, & NPS. Typical spaces include fire stations, fire caches, offices, and other types of fire facilities. We are hiring a management and program analyst to manage and document the USWFS use of these bureau-owned spaces. The right candidate has analytical skills, accuracy, knowledge of federal and bureau space and real property policy and interagency reimbursement - and the ability to find an agreement between diverse stakeholders. If you want to build a program rather than inherit one, this might be the job for you! ⏰Apply by 09/30 📍Boise, ID at the National Interagency Fire Center Find details and qualifications needed and apply here: usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetai…
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The seasons are changing across many geographic areas, including the Great Basin. As large incidents begin to wrap up, supplies and equipment are starting to make their way back to the cache systems across the country. The Great Basin Incident Support Cache is one of several cache systems supporting wildland fire operations. Its employees keep supplies moving, receiving, sorting and refurbishing supplies and equipment as they return from assignments. The season is changing, but the cache is still moving.
A group of pulaskis with wooden handles resting against fuel canisters under a bright sunlit sky.

ALT A group of pulaskis with wooden handles resting against fuel canisters under a bright sunlit sky.

Two men preparing multiple hose that are attached to a yellow rack outdoors under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

ALT Two men preparing multiple hose that are attached to a yellow rack outdoors under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Orange and black pumpkin tanks hanging from metal frames outside a warehouse with sunlight shining through.

ALT Orange and black pumpkin tanks hanging from metal frames outside a warehouse with sunlight shining through.
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Different landscape, different tactics. Here's what wildland firefighting looked like in late August in Nevada's rolling sagebrush country. Photos by Caleb Ashby/DOI
Firefighter in protective gear walks near a spreading wildfire in dry brush with thick smoke rising.

ALT Firefighter in protective gear walks near a spreading wildfire in dry brush with thick smoke rising.

Airtanker dropping retardant over dry, hilly terrain during a wildfire control operation.

ALT Airtanker dropping retardant over dry, hilly terrain during a wildfire control operation.

A wildland firefighter working in line with a dozer on a wildfire incident.

ALT A wildland firefighter working in line with a dozer on a wildfire incident.

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Fall is arriving across the landscape, and our work continues. Welcome, fall.
Dense evergreen forest with mist-covered mountain cliffs in the background under a cloudy sky.

ALT Dense evergreen forest with mist-covered mountain cliffs in the background under a cloudy sky.
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Our Great Basin Smokejumpers were honored at the @BroncoSportsFB game this past weekend as Community Heroes. The smokejumpers were invited onto the blue turf for a special moment of recognition and thanks for their contributions to the Boise community and beyond. Many of their fellow jumpers are still out working at various locations throughout the country. After a demanding summer of work, moments like this are especially meaningful. We’re grateful to be part of many wonderful communities across the country, including Boise, and proud to have our smokejumpers recognized for the work they do to protect communities across Idaho and beyond.
Great Basin Smokejumpers on the Boise State football field.

ALT Great Basin Smokejumpers on the Boise State football field.

Great Basin Smokejumpers at the Boise State Football game in front of a large crowd of fans.

ALT Great Basin Smokejumpers at the Boise State Football game in front of a large crowd of fans.

Great Basin Smokejumpers walk onto the blue turf next to Buster Bronco.

ALT Great Basin Smokejumpers walk onto the blue turf next to Buster Bronco.

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On the Colville Reservation in Washington, decades of tribal forest management and previous wildfires have created a mosaic across the landscape. In July when the Kaiser Canyon Fire moved through, firefighters and resource specialists observed where fuel breaks, timber treatments, thinning and previous fire footprints influenced fire behavior. They also identified places where extreme conditions and concentrations of available fuels overwhelmed treatments. Together, those observations help managers understand what worked, where it worked and how future treatments can be improved. That knowledge will help inform future wildfire prevention and response efforts across Indian Country, in partnership with tribes and local communities. @BureauIndAffrs
A small green pine sapling growing amid a forest of tall trees with dry, brown needles covering the ground.

ALT A small green pine sapling growing amid a forest of tall trees with dry, brown needles covering the ground.

Man in plaid shirt pointing towards a large pile of tree branches in a cleared forest area with scattered tree stumps.

ALT Man in plaid shirt pointing towards a large pile of tree branches in a cleared forest area with scattered tree stumps.

Tall pine trees growing on a sloped forest hill under an overcast sky.

ALT Tall pine trees growing on a sloped forest hill under an overcast sky.
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Think you’re ready to become a smokejumper? Applications for the 2027 U.S. Wildland Fire Service smokejumper season close Friday, September 25. Established smokejumper programs. Decades of experience. Now part of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. 📍 Boise, Idaho — National Interagency Fire Center 📍 Fairbanks, Alaska — Fort Wainwright GW-5/6/7 | Rookie and Current Smokejumpers: usajobs.gov/job/878952300 GW-5/6 | Rookie Smokejumper: usajobs.gov/job/878951300 GW-5 | Rookie Smokejumper: usajobs.gov/job/878950900
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We’re hiring! Put your creative and technical skills to work supporting wildland firefighters across the country. Join our collaborative Content Development Branch team at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. This permanent GS-12 Audiovisual Production Specialist will create video, photography, audio, graphics, and multimedia products that support wildland firefighters and the vital emergency-response work they perform. It’s an opportunity to combine creative and technical skills with meaningful public service, and to see your work strengthen training and preparedness across the national wildland fire community. Applications close September 29. Review eligibility requirements and apply through➡️ usajobs.gov/job/882819300
Professional camera capturing a man giving instructions on a dirt road with vehicles and people in the background.

ALT Professional camera capturing a man giving instructions on a dirt road with vehicles and people in the background.

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We’ve handed the keys to an 800-gallon Type 4 engine to the Merrill Rural Fire Protection District. 🤝 The engine was transferred through the USWFS Rural Fire Readiness Program, which provides equipment to qualifying fire departments that partner with USWFS and assist with wildland fire response on public lands. The 2004 engine may be past its federal service life, but it still has plenty of work left to do. Its 800-gallon water tank can draft water from sources such as ponds, streams and hydrants and haul it to fire engines working on active firelines. In addition to supporting other engines on the fireline, this engine will also support local fire suppression operations in and around the Merrill, Oregon, community. This will enhance wildland fire response in the county and contribute to stronger community resilience.
Three men wearing sunglasses stand in front of a large yellow fire engine under a clear blue sky.

ALT Three men wearing sunglasses stand in front of a large yellow fire engine under a clear blue sky.

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Not a bad view from the ramp. SEATs ready to work at the Lakeview Single Engine Airtanker Base in Oregon. With space to accommodate up to four SEATs, the base supports wildland fire operations across 6.2 million acres of federal and state lands. Photo by Lisa Mcnee/DOI
Single engine airtanker parked on wet tarmac reflecting the aircraft and blue sky with scattered clouds.

ALT Single engine airtanker parked on wet tarmac reflecting the aircraft and blue sky with scattered clouds.

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When the Bench Fire burned across the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, firefighters encountered areas where years of fuels management work by tribal staff, including prescribed fire, timber harvest, mastication and other fuels treatments, had improved conditions across the landscape. In some treated areas, lower flame lengths and open conditions beneath the tree canopy gave firefighters opportunities to work closer to the fire. Previous treatments also provided an anchor point and safety zone for crews and helped firefighters get around troublesome spot fires while keeping the larger suppression strategy intact. The effects of the Bench Fire vary across the landscape, but these areas demonstrate an important benefit of fuels management: changing how fire moves through vegetation can reduce fire severity in some places while creating safer, more effective opportunities for firefighters to respond. The work completed by the Warm Springs Reservation before the wildfire helped make a difference when the fire arrived. @USIndianAffairs / @BureauIndAffrs / @BIAFireForestry
Red pickup truck covered in dust parked on a sandy dirt road surrounded by pine trees under a clear blue sky.

ALT Red pickup truck covered in dust parked on a sandy dirt road surrounded by pine trees under a clear blue sky.

Two track road that was burned over from a wildfire, winding through a forest of tall pine trees under a clear blue sky.

ALT Two track road that was burned over from a wildfire, winding through a forest of tall pine trees under a clear blue sky.

A firefighter in protective gear walks uphill through a forest area affected by recent fire damage under a clear blue sky.

ALT A firefighter in protective gear walks uphill through a forest area affected by recent fire damage under a clear blue sky.
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U.S. Wildland Fire Service retweeted
Coulson Aviation@CoulsonAviation
Sep 7
Our goal is to be so dialed in that the aircraft becomes an extension of the crew. Moving with the terrain. Reading the fire. Building the line. Excellence is not one moment. It is everything working together when it matters. @USWFS
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Engines, crew buggies, and one incredible Nevada landscape. 📸McConnell Fire Incident Command Post
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The MP18 Fire showed what true partnership looks like on the Hoopa Valley Reservation in northern California. From the first hours of initial attack through the transition to a Complex Incident Management Team, the Hoopa Valley Tribe, @BureauIndAffrs, U.S. Wildland Fire Service, and CIMTs worked side-by-side to protect the community, safeguard cultural sites, and defend tribal lands. The response was rooted in trust, shared leadership, and respect for tribal sovereignty. Tribal knowledge guided strategy, interagency wildland fire crews supported one another, and communication stayed open and honest throughout the incident. The relationships strengthened during MP18 set a powerful example for how wildfire response on tribal lands can honor culture, elevate tribal leadership, and bring partners together with a unified purpose.
Group of wildland firefighters hiking on a ridge in full gear.

ALT Group of wildland firefighters hiking on a ridge in full gear.

Wildland fire personnel in a helicopter flying over a community.

ALT Wildland fire personnel in a helicopter flying over a community.

Wildfire burning in thick timber.

ALT Wildfire burning in thick timber.

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U.S. Wildland Fire Service retweeted
Secretary Doug Burgum
@SecretaryBurgum
Sep 6
America’s wildland firefighters answer the call when it matters most. The men and women of @USWFS work tirelessly to protect communities, public lands and lives from wildfire. Thank you for your service.
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September check-in. Still running on coffee. As fire activity starts to decrease in some areas, there’s still plenty of work to do. This job isn’t for everyone. Weeks away from home, sleeping outside, long days of physically demanding work, and then showing up to do it all over again month after month. To the firefighters, support personnel, and everyone still out there: we see the work, and we appreciate you.
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After the fire is out, the work continues. Burned Area Emergency Response teams, often referred to as BAER, get to work after a wildfire to assess burned landscapes and identify immediate threats to people, communities, infrastructure, and natural resources. These teams are staffed by professionals such as soil scientists, biologists, vegetation specialists, and hydrologists. Long-term recovery projects can extend over multiple years following a catastrophic wildfire, these can include soil stabilization, invasive species control, native vegetation restoration, habitat restoration, and infrastructure repairs.
Person in yellow nomex and blue helmet digging in ash-covered ground after forest fire with charred trees around.

ALT Person in yellow nomex and blue helmet digging in ash-covered ground after forest fire with charred trees around.

New green shoots sprouting from the base of a dark, leafless tree trunk in dry soil under sunlight.

ALT New green shoots sprouting from the base of a dark, leafless tree trunk in dry soil under sunlight.

Firefighter in yellows and nomex pants kneeling on charred ground, inspecting burnt branches after a wildfire.

ALT Firefighter in yellows and nomex pants kneeling on charred ground, inspecting burnt branches after a wildfire.
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U.S. Wildland Fire Service retweeted
U.S. Department of the Interior
@Interior
Sep 11
Twenty-five years later, we remember. On September 11, 2001, 2,977 people were killed in terrorist attacks that forever changed our nation. Today, we honor those we lost and the first responders who answered the call. We will never forget their courage and sacrifice.
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Today is Suicide Prevention Day, a reminder that supporting wellbeing in the wildland fire community starts with simple steps. Check in with your crew, pay attention to changes, and know that confidential resources are available year-round. The Wildland Fire Therapy Service offers up to 20 free therapy sessions annually for wildland fire personnel. These services are open to federal employees of the Department of the Interior or U.S. Forest Service who directly supported operational wildland fire activities in the past six months. This includes federal employees working in permanent, seasonal, collateral duty (militia or ready reserve), and administratively determined positions. It also includes Tribal wildland firefighters working under an agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and USWFS. Support is available, reaching out early strengthens all of us. Call 1-800-424-4051 or visit wildlandfire.magellanfederal… to get started.
Silhouettes of wildland firefighters walking across a barren landscape with the sun low in the sky behind them.

ALT Silhouettes of wildland firefighters walking across a barren landscape with the sun low in the sky behind them.
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