Useful and timely geospatial data provided by the USGS are critical in helping DOI make decisions that support wildland fire management across the Nation. Having access to this scientifically valid information is key to helping us successfully respond to fires that threaten the public's well-being and practicing adaptive management during fires to protect resources and enhance landscape resilience.

Kirk Rowdabaugh
Director, DOI Office of Wildland Fire Coordination

Wildland fires pose a threat to life and property in the United States. Their secondary effects – erosion, landslides, changes in water quality, and the introduction of invasive species – can be more disastrous than the fire itself. Yet wildfire management can be challenging and complex. Fire is a natural and often beneficial process; fire suppression can lead to the buildup of vegetation, creating more fuel and thus more severe fires. The USGS provides tools and information to identify wildfire risks, reduce hazards, provide real-time firefighting support, and assess the aftermath of wildfires in order to build more resilient communities and ecosystems.