USGS Western Ecological Science Center biologists in Southern California can be found actively working the frontlines of wildfires as part of the SPARCS (Suppression & Planning Actions for Restoring Communities & Species) program. SPARCS creates proactive solutions by connecting local ecological and cultural resource experts with fire managers to identify concerns for active wildfire management in the Southern California ecoregion. With the increased risk of wildland fire, especially along the wildland urban interface, wildland fire managers need to incorporate local experts and conservation open space landowners into the decision-making processes. SPARCS is a collaboration of wildlife and land management agencies and will facilitate the shift in adaptive management in Southern California by establishing databases and web maps for fire personnel to utilize while responding to wildland fires in Southern California and has created and is managing a cohort of Resource Advisors in the Southern California ecoregion.