Forest fires occur every year in the United States. Some are caused by people, others by natural causes such as lightening. No matter what the cause of a fire, there are several factors that determine the severity of a forest fire. Probably the most important factor is weather.Hot, dry weather lowers the moisture content of fuels.Once a fire has started, wind is extremely critical because it influences the oxygen supply and the rate of spread. Forest type and conditions are also important factors. For example, fire is more likely to occur in conifers than in hardwoods; recently logged or bushy areas are especially hazardous because the rate at which combustion consumes fuel is proportional to the fuel volume and surface area. 

Since there are obviously no fire hydrants in a forest, it is more difficult to fight wildfires than urban fires. Tanker trucks can’t be driven in because of all the trees and lack of roads. The trees, brush, and leaves provide ideal fuel for the fire because they are so flammable. So how do firefighters go about fighting them? Using a pulaski (a combination ax and hoe), a special tool, hotshots and smoke jumpers clear a large path in a big circle around the fire so the blaze is contained in a ring of dirt. This area, cleared of branches and dry wood, is known as a fireline (a strip of land from which all brush and debris have been cleared to rob a wildfire of its fuel). When the fire reaches this area, it runs out of fuel and starves to death. If the fire is too large, however, planes and helicopters fly overhead, dropping special chemicals that smother the flames. This pink, fire-retardant chemical is called sky jell-o.

Nearly each month of every year, somewhere in the United States, dedicated men and women endure exhausting work, harsh living conditions, and long separations from friends and family to protect the nation’s natural resources from the ravages of unwanted wildfire. The work of wildland firefighters benefits us all, yet most of us know very little about them. The U.S. Forest Service is composed of various types of wildland firefighters with specific training and skills. When a wildfire starts, fire managers are the first people to react. They analyze the situation carefully to determine the best course of action. When fire is started by natural causes, determined to be beneficial, and not located in an area of human habitation, it is sometimes allowed to burn naturally, under careful monitoring. If a fire is not started by natural causes or it threatens people or structures, fire managers consider all the factors involved and developed a suppression strategy. They also decide what kind of firefighters they will need to implement it.“Helitack” crews are specially trained in the use of helicopters during fire suppression. Because they can be rapidly deployed, they are often the first to respond to a wildfire. Shortly after helitack crews, one of two specialized firefighter units are usually sent to fight the fire, depending on the accessibility of the fire to roads or trails. Smokejumpers, specially trained firefighters who parachute from planes, attack wildfires in remote and inaccessible areas. Personal gear, food, water, and specialized equipment to help suppress blazes are dropped along with them. If the fire is accessible by road or foot, hotshot crews are sent in. Hotshots are specially trained in suppression tactics and are deployed to suppress big fires in the most critical and high-risk areas. Hand crews, usually consisting of 20 men and women, serve as the foot soldiers of wildland fire forces. While hotshots are “on the frontline,” hand crews play an important “defensive role” in wildfire fighting as their main responsibility is to construct a “fireline” – a strip of land cleared of flammable materials – around wildfires to control them. Engine crews, which range in size from 3 to 10 firefighters, drive in firefighting vehicles that use 250 to 750 gallons of water and several hundred feet of hose to directly attack the head of wildfires. Some engines carry special equipment to spray foam and chemicals on homes and other structures to help them resist fire. All these firefighters place themselves in danger when they confront a wildfire, but their specialized training and equipment allow them to fight wildfires with confidence and bravery.