National Interagency 

Coordination Center

Wildland Fire

Summary and Statistics

Annual Report 

2016

Soberanes Fire, California
Table of Contents

Identifier Legend ............................................................................................................. 1

Preface............................................................................................................................ 2

2016 Fire Environment Summary.................................................................................... 3

National Fire Activity Synopsis ........................................................................................ 7

Military and International Resource Mobilizations ........................................................... 8

Significant Wildland Fire.................................................................................................. 9

Significant Fire Activity .................................................................................................. 10

Wildfires and Acres Reported to NICC .......................................................................... 12

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres ............................................................................... 22

National Preparedness Levels ...................................................................................... 26

National Preparedness Level Summary........................................................................ 27

Incident Management Team Mobilizations .................................................................... 28

Department of Defense Mobilizations............................................................................ 33

Crew Mobilizations ........................................................................................................ 33

Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations ........................................................... 36

Overhead Mobilizations................................................................................................. 39

Helicopter Mobilizations ................................................................................................ 41

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations .................................................................................. 45

Equipment Services Mobilization .................................................................................. 52

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations................................................................ 54

NICC Benchmarks......................................................................................................... 56

Acronyms and Terminology ........................................................................................... 57

National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State ...................................... 58
1

Identifier Legend

Interagency Coordination Centers

NICC: National Interagency Coordination Center

NIFC: National Interagency Fire Center

CIIFC: Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre 

AK: Alaska Area

EA: Eastern Area

GB: Great Basin Area

NO: Northern California Area

NR: Northern Rockies Area

NW: Northwest Area

RM: Rocky Mountain Area

SA: Southern Area

SW: Southwest Area

SO: Southern California Area

Federal Government Agencies

FS: Forest Service

BIA: Bureau of Indian Affairs

BLM: Bureau of Land Management

FWS: Fish and Wildlife Service

NPS: National Park Service

FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency

ESF4: Emergency Support Function, Firefighting

NWS: National Weather Service

DOE: Department of Energy

DOD: Department of Defense

International Partners

AU: Australia

CN: Canada

MX: Mexico

NZ: New Zealand

Other Providers/Ownership

CNTY: County

OT: Other

PRI: Private

ST: State

ST/OT: State/Other Combined
2

Preface

Statistics used in this report were gathered from the interagency Fire and Aviation 

Management Web Applications (FAMWEB) system, which includes the Situation Report 

and Incident Status Summary (ICS-209) programs. Previous National Interagency 

Coordination Center (NICC) annual reports and other sources were also used in this 

document. The statistics presented here are intended to provide a national perspective 

of annual fire activity but may not reflect official figures for a specific agency. The statistics 

are delineated by agency and Geographic Area. Pie chart figures are rounded to the 

nearest whole percentage point. This document is available electronically at the National 

Interagency Coordination Center Intelligence web page.

Five and ten year averages no longer include the current year data in the average. 

Therefore, in this report those averages will remain the same as the 2015 annual 

report. 

For agency-specific details or official data contact the individual agency.

Resource mobilization statistics used in this report were gathered from the interagency 

Resource Ordering and Status System (ROSS), which tracks tactical, logistical, service 

and support resources mobilized by the national incident dispatch coordination system. 

Statistics presented in this report are the resources requested by one of the ten 

Geographic Area Coordination Centers and processed through NICC. Requests by FEMA 

are placed to NICC through Emergency Support Function (ESF) #4 (Firefighting). The 

resource ordering process and procedures may be found in the National Mobilization 

Guide. The National Mobilization Guide can be found at the NICC Reference Documents 

web page.
3

2016 Fire Environment Summary

Winter (December 2015 – February 2016)

The winter months were generally warmer-than-normal across the U.S. except for normal 

to slightly below normal conditions in the Great Basin and Southwest where closed low 

systems brought periods of precipitation. The northern Plains to New England were quite 

warm—as much as 6 to 15 degrees above normal. Overall, it was the warmest winter on 

record across the contiguous states with six Northeast states recording their warmest 

winters in 121 years. Alaska had its second warmest winter on record since 1925. 

Precipitation was above normal in several regions east of the Rockies. The Upper 

Midwest and central Plains had over 200 percent of normal precipitation with Iowa 

recording its wettest winter in 121 year. The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions were also 

130 to 200 percent of normal precipitation from Alabama to Virginia. Much of the Pacific 

Northwest, northern California, and parts of the Great Basin received above normal 

precipitation, much as rain instead of typical snow. The Southwest and South Central

state were dry with less than 70 percent of normal precipitation falling from southern 

California to Texas. Severe to exceptional drought conditions continued to worsen across 

much of California, Nevada and southern Oregon. 

Fuel conditions were sufficiently moist through the early part of the year to mitigate the 

majority of significant fire activity. 

Spring (March – May)

The spring continued a very warm trend across most of the nation with only near normal 

to slightly below normal temperatures in the Interior West and the Southwest. Above 

normal temperatures stretched from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Plains and the 

Upper Midwest with readings 2 to 6 degrees above normal in general. Alaska had its 

warmest spring on record. All 50 states recorded above normal temperatures. 

Precipitation was above normal across much of the western and central U.S. while much 

of the eastern third of the nation was dry. Texas had several heavy rain events that caused 

extensive flooding in the central and coastal parts of the state. Tropical Storm Bonnie 

made landfall on the central South Carolina coast, producing up to 10 inches of rain and 

severe flooding. Heavy snow in the northern Rockies kept snowpack at or above normal 

into the late spring. Some precipitation managed to get into southern California and the 

Southwest, slowing the spread of drought slightly. 

Fuel conditions continued to be generally moist through the early part of the year to 

mitigate the majority of significant fire activity. Exceptions to this occurred in the southern 

plains where occasional dry and windy events lead to some unusual significant fire 

activity, and in the southern Appalachian mountains where long term dryness, which 

would come into play again later, led to a short term outbreak of significant fires. Excepting 
4

these two isolated circumstances the remainder of the fire activity in the U.S. trended well 

below normal.

Summer (June – August)

Very warm trends continued into the summer for much of nation, especially the 

Southwestern states and east of the Mississippi. In the West, California had its warmest 

summer on record while in the East most states were in the top 10 warmest with 

Connecticut recording its warmest. Alaska had its second warmest summer on record. 

Very wet conditions develop along the Mississippi basin to the Upper Midwest. Texas 

continued to experience above normal rains as well. The West was very dry with less than 

50 percent of normal precipitation over most of the region. Dry conditions began to 

develop in the Southeast where less than 70 percent of normal rainfall occurred across 

Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Florida’s east coast 

was also dry while the west coast was wet. Drought conditions worsened in the West 

where severe to exceptional drought continued across much of California, Nevada, and 

Oregon. Severe or worse drought developed in Wyoming and South Dakota; Alabama, 

Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee; and over parts of New England.

Though conditions were present to support significant fire activity throughout the summer 

fire season, for the most part these conditions fell well within the normal range and fire 

activity was generally normal. The primary exception to this was in Southern California 

where long term drought led to significant tree mortality; however, ignitions in this area 

did not occur at a sufficient pace to lead to exceptional activity. Generally, what would be 

considered normal fuel conditions and normal levels of fire activity were experienced 

throughout the U.S. during the typical summer fire season. 

Autumn (September – December)

Extreme heat took hold across much of the nation in the fall as most of the lower 48 had 

record or near record autumn (September-November) temperatures. Seven states 

(Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan) had the warmest 

autumns on record. Most of the rest east of the Rockies were in their respective top five 

warmest on record. Conditions were cooler on the West Coast but still much warmerthan-normal.

Early snow and heavy rain in the northwestern quarter helped keep temperatures down 

in the region but also brought near-record precipitation for the season. Several across the 

northwest received over 200 percent of normal precipitation. Oregon recorded its wettest 

autumn. Drought continued in the western U.S. although late autumn precipitation 

reduced its areal coverage and severity. Only southern California and western Nevada 

had severe or worse drought. In the central U.S. conditions were also improving by the 

end of autumn. In the Southeast, however, conditions had worsened with severe to 
5

exceptional drought now covering much of Alabama, Georgia, western South Carolina, 

western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. Parts of coastal New England were also 

in severe or worse drought. 

By December, heavy precipitation across the Southeast greatly reduced the drought 

conditions with only severe to extreme drought observed in a narrow band from central 

Alabama to the western tip of North Carolina. In the West and the Northeast, conditions 

changed little through December. 

An unusually robust southern fire season occurred as the confluence of significant long 

term drought and seasonal leaf drop provided a heavy and dry fuel bed in which ignitions 

occurred and spread rapidly. This unusual condition led to a significant increase in fire 

activity and a well above normal fall fire season across the southern Appalachia region.
6

Hurricane and Other Non-Fire Incident Support

The 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season ended with 15 named storms, seven of which 

became hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Both named storms and hurricanes were 

above the long-term averages (12 and 6). Three tropical storms (Bonnie, Colin, Julia) and 

two hurricanes (Hermine, Matthew) made landfall in the U.S. 

In the Eastern Pacific, there were 21 named storms with 11 hurricanes, well above 

average. Of those, five were major hurricanes. There were all above the long-term 

averages of 16, 8 and 4, respectively.
7

National Fire Activity Synopsis

The 2016 fire season was below normal for number of reported wildfires (92 percent of 

the 10-year annual average). There were 67,743 wildfires reported nationally (compared 

to 68,151 wildfires reported in 2015). The number of acres burned was also below normal 

in 2016 with 5,509,995 acres or 79 percent of the national 10-year average. The Southern 

Area led the nation with nearly 1.6 million acres burned (109 percent of its 10-year 

average). 

Based on an annual 10-year average, Alaska (114%) and Southwest (108%) reported 

above average fire occurrences in 2016. Rocky Mountain (98%) and Eastern (97%) 

experienced near average fire occurrence, while Southern (94%), Northern Rockies 

(92%), Southern California (90%), Northern California (82%), Great Basin (75%), and 

Northwest (71%) all experienced below average fire occurrences.

Rocky Mountain (193%), Southern California (153%) and Southern Area (109%) were the 

only Geographic Areas to experience above average acres burned. All other Geographic 

Areas were below their annual average acres. Nineteen fires exceeded 40,000 acres in 

2016; thirty-three less than in 2015 (see Significant Fire Activity below for a list of those 

fires). 

A total of 4,312 structures were destroyed by wildfires in 2016, including 3,192 

residences, 1,025 minor structures, 78 commercial structures and 17 mixed 

commercial/residential structures. This is above the annual average of 1,449 residences, 

1,248 minor structures, and 53 commercial structures destroyed by wildfire with this year 

ranking 5th in total structures lost (data from 1999 to present). Tennessee accounted for 

the highest number of structures lost in one state in 2016: 2,121 residences, 53 

commercial structures, and 1 minor structure. California was second with 754 residences, 

12 commercial structures, 1 mixed residential/commercial structure and 429 minor 

structures. 

Requests for firefighting resources placed to the National Interagency Coordination 

Center during the 2016 fire season were right at or lower than the 10-year average in 

most categories. Filled requests for crews, type 1 and type 2 helicopters and heavy air 

tankers exceeded their respective 10-year averages.

National Type 1 teams were mobilized 31 times (down from 39 in 2015) and spent 439 

days on assignments (down from 571 days in 2015). All 16 national teams had between 

one and three assignments each. Type 2 Teams were mobilized 92 times (down from 

121 in 2015), for a total of 1,046 days assigned to incidents (down from 1,537 days in 

2015). (Figures include both national and state teams.) Area Command teams were not 

mobilized in 2016. National Incident Management Organizations (NIMO) mobilized 7 

times in 2016 to both wildland fire and non-fire incidents.
8

Military and International Resource Mobilizations

Military: On August 4, two MAFFS units were activated through a Request for Assistance 

(RFA) to the Department of Defense. This request was filled with one MAFFS from the 

153rd Airlift Wing and one MAFFS from the 302nd Airlift Wing were positioned at Boise, ID 

in support wildland fire operations. On August 19 one additional MAFFS from the 153rd

Airlift Wing was positioned at Boise, ID. On August 17 one MAFFS from the 153rd Airlift 

Wing was released back to the DOD. On September 4 the remaining two MAFFS each 

from the 302nd and 153rd Airlift Wing were released back to the DOD. 

MAFFS units primarily provided retardant delivery primarily to the Great Basin and 

Northwest Geographic Areas while employed from August 4 through September 12. 

These units delivered a total of 395,632 gallons of retardant while conducting 165 sorties. 

This is down from 2015 when 372 sorties were flown delivering 842,983 gallons of 

retardant.

International: Through the NIFC-CIFFC Agreement the U.S. provided two heavy air 

tankers and two lead planes to Ontario, Canada for one day. On May 20 the U.S. 

mobilized 10 crews and two overhead personnel to Alberta. These resources were 

released back to the U.S. on June 4.

Through the NIFC-CIFFC Agreement Canada provided two air tanker groups to the U.S. 

On August 4 British Columbia provided two air tankers and one bird dog. On August 26th

Alberta provided two air tankers and one bird dog to the U.S. On September 3 the U.S. 

released to air tankers and one bird dog back to British Columbia. On September 9 the 

U.S. released two air tankers and one bird dog back to Alberta.
9

Significant Wildland Fire

Fires and Complexes Over 40,000 Acres in 2016

Name GACC State Start 

Date

Last 

Report 

Date

Size In 

Acres Cause* Estimated Cost

Anderson Creek SA OK 3/23 4/4 367,740 U $1,750,000

Pioneer GB ID 7/18 10/27 188,404 U $90,000,000

Range 12 NW WA 7/30 8/8 176,600 U $1,700,000

Soberanes SO CA 7/22 10/23 132,127 H $262,500,000

Hot Pot GB NV 7/2 7/10 122,292 U $3,402,259

Alatna Complex AK AK 6/28 7/24 113,157 L $1,040,018

Virginia Mountains Complex GB NV 7/29 8/6 59,727 L $8,000,200

Dulbi Flats AK AK 6/26 8/26 58,138 L NR

350 Complex SA OK 5/5 5/15 57,167 U $900,000

Henrys Creek GB ID 8/21 8/31 52,972 U $4,320,000

Erskine SO CA 6/23 7/7 48,019 U $23,000,000

Chimney SO CA 8/13 9/5 46,344 U $78,300,000

Cedar SW AZ 6/15 7/28 45,977 U $14,000,000

Maple RM WY 8/8 10/27 45,516 L $6,267,928

Crutch Complex SA TX 3/24 3/24 44,696 U NR

Big Mud AK AK 6/1 6/19 42,641 L $59,268

North SW NM 5/21 7/14 42,102 L $4,800,000

Rail NW OR 7/31 9/29 41,706 U $34,900,000

Cottonwood CA RM SD 10/16 10/18 41,360 U $170,000

L – Lightning H – Human U – Undetermined or Under Investigation NR – Not Reported

Information in the above table was derived from ICS-209 reports submitted in the Fire and Aviation 

Management Web Applications system (FAMWEB). Information shown may not reflect final official figures.
10

Significant Fire Activity

Significant fires are defined in the National Mobilization Guide as fires that are a minimum 

of 100 acres in timber fuel types, 300 acres in grass and brush fuel types, or are managed 

by a Type 1 or 2 Incident Management Team, WFMT or NIMO. 

There were 1,251 large or significant wildfires reported in 2016 (derived from ICS-209 

reports submitted through FAMWEB). Significant wildfires represented about 1.8 percent 

of total wildfires reported nationally in 2016. The maps below depict the locations of these 

fires.
11

Percent of Reported Significant Fires by Geographic Area

AK NW NO SO NR GB SW RM EA SA

5% 6% 2% 3% 5% 8% 10% 8% 3% 50%
12

Wildfires and Acres Reported to NICC

In 2016 there were 67,743 wildfires in the U.S., which burned 5,509,995 acres. Fires 

reported were between the five and ten year averages while acres were well below both 

the 5 and 10 year national average. The charts below depict fires and acres as a 

percentage of the national total.
13

Wildfire Acres Reported to NICC
14

Wildfire Activity Levels by Geographic Area

Percent of the ten year average for each Geographic Area.
15

Wildfires by Agency
16

Wildfire Acres by Agency
17

Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area 

Number of Lightning Caused Fires

AK EA GB NO NR NW RM SA SO SW Total

229 107 812 97 916 437 1247 1463 96 1413 6,817

Number of Lightning Caused Acres Burned

AK EA GB NO NR NW RM SA SO SW Total

486,398 948 428,304 3,007 117,891 77,120 156,090 93,621 14,489 365,517 1,743,385
18

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area

Number of Human Caused Fires

AK EA GB NO NR NW RM SA SO SW Total

343 11,163 1,251 3,266 1,784 2,082 2,042 33,011 3,900 2,084 60,926

Number of Human Caused Acres Burned

AK EA EB NO NR NW RM SA SO SW Total

10,069 97,094 333,318 93,699 84,249 436,106 530,831 1,497,423 464,718 219,103 3,766,610
19

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Agency
20

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Geographic Area
21

Alaska Wildfire Activity

In 2016 Alaska burned 10 percent of all burned acres in the U.S. This is well below the 

ten year average of 17 percent. The chart below compares annual acres burned between 

Alaska and the rest of the U.S. (including Hawaii).
22

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres
23

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency
24

Prescribed Fire Projects by Agency and Geographic Area

National reporting of Prescribed Fire projects and acres began in 1998.

Prescribed Fire Projects by Agency
25

Prescribed Fire Projects by Geographic Area
26

National Preparedness Levels

In 2016 the national Preparedness Level (PL) was elevated to PL 2 on June 7 then was 

raised to PL 3 on July 26 where it remained for three and a half weeks. On August 20 it 

was raised to PL 4 where it remained for two weeks. On September 3 the PL dropped to 

3 and quickly dropped to PL 2 three days later. On September 30 the PL was lowered to 

1 where it remained for the rest of the calendar year.
27

National Preparedness Level Summary

In 2016 there were 14 days at Preparedness Level 4 and 5.

Year PL1 PL2 PL3 PL4 PL5 Total Days at 

PL 4 & 5

1990 247 74 31 6 7 13

1991 255 103 7 0 0 0

1992 278 67 15 6 0 6

1993 268 97 0 0 0 0

1994 235 26 54 4 46 50

1995 254 96 15 0 0 0

1996 99 178 60 8 21 29

1997 216 149 0 0 0 0

1998 157 172 30 6 0 6

1999 159 165 33 8 0 8

2000 179 73 61 13 40 53

2001 188 142 9 10 16 26

2002 187 76 14 26 62 88

2003 92 155 60 10 48 58

2004 249 57 60 0 0 0

2005 233 44 47 41 0 41

2006 110 145 44 16 50 66

2007 212 76 17 21 39 60

2008 209 84 15 36 22 58

2009 275 62 28 0 0 0

2010 231 134 0 0 0 0

2011 207 93 58 7 0 7

2012 212 49 60 45 0 45

2013 253 46 42 17 7 24

2014 242 82 26 15 0 15

2015 253 29 40 19 24 43

2016 251 73 28 14 0 14

5-yr Avg 233 60 45 21 6 27

10-yr Avg 220 80 33 18 14 32
28

Incident Management Team Mobilizations

In 2016, National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) teams were assigned to 

seven wildfire incidents and support assignments for a total of 127 days. Area Command 

teams were not assigned to any incidents in 2016.

Type 1 Incident Management Team Mobilizations

Sixteen national Type 1 Teams were available in 2016. Type 1 Teams mobilized to 31 

assignments. Of these assignments all 31 were to wildland fires. A total of 5 Type 1 Team 

assignments were mobilized through NICC. Type 1 teams were assigned a combined 

total of 439 days in 2016, down from 571 assignment days in 2015. The record was set 

in 2002 when Type 1 Teams were assigned 85 times for a total of 999 days.
29

Type 1 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area

Number of Type 1 Teams assigned by incident Geographic Area.

CN – Canada

Number of Type 1 Teams mobilized by team home Geographic Area.
30

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilizations

Of the 92 total Type 2 Team assignments in 2016, 9 were filled through NICC. Teams

were assigned a total of 1,046 days in 2016, down from 1,537 days assigned in 2015.

The following charts and tables summarize total requests by agency and Geographic 

Area.
31

Type 2 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area

Number of Type 2 Teams assigned by incident Geographic Area.

Number of Type 2 Teams mobilized by team home Geographic Area
32

Incident Management Team Mobilizations 

Incident Management Team summary: The tables below depict total Type 1 and Type 2 

Incident Management Teams requested through NICC.

By Requesting Agency

By Requesting Geographic Area
33

Department of Defense Mobilizations

No battalions or task forces were mobilized by the Department of Defense in 2016. The 

number of Army battalions and task forces deployed annually is shown below.

Crew Mobilizations

NICC processed 1,731 crew requests in 2016. Of these requests, 1,119 were filled, 141 

requests were canceled, and 471 were UTF. There were 801 Type 1 crew requests, 247 

Type 2 crew requests and 683 Type 2 IA crew requests placed to NICC.
34

Tactical crews include Tye 1, Type 2 and Type 2 IA.
35

Crew Summary by Requesting Agency and GACC
36

Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations 

The NICC processed 1,467 engine requests in 2016. Of these requests, 1,190 were filled, 

174 were canceled and 103 were UTF. There were 53 requests placed to NICC for tactical 

water tenders, of which 37 were filled, 13 canceled, and three UTF.
37

Engine Summary by Requesting Agency
38

Engine Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
39

Overhead Mobilizations

A total of 12,054 requests for overhead positions were processed by NICC in 2016. Of 

these requests, 9,571 were filled, 1,143 were canceled and 1,340 were UTF. The chart 

below shows total overhead requests filled annually through NICC. 
40

Overhead Requests Summary by Requesting Agency and GACC

GACC Fill Cancel UTF

AK 90 4 29

EA 236 30 16

GB 1,663 189 268

NIFC 53 3 0

NO 452 45 115

NR 632 51 108

NW 568 140 92

RM 1,281 136 130

SA 2,030 178 154

SO 1,582 264 324

SW 982 103 104

Other 0 0 0

CN 2 0 0
41

Helicopter Mobilizations

A total of 797 Type 1, 2 and 3 helicopter requests were processed by NICC in 2016: 697 

were filled, 42 were canceled and 58 were UTF. Of the 375 Type 1 helicopter requests 

placed to NICC: 334 were filled, 18 were canceled and 23 were UTF. Of the 300 requests 

placed to NICC for Type 2 helicopters: 267 were filled, 17 canceled and 16 were UTF. Of 

the 122 requests placed to NICC for Type 3 helicopters: 96 were filled, 7 canceled and 

19 were UTF.

Type 1 Helicopter Summary
42

Type 2 Helicopter Summary
43

Type 3 Helicopter Summary
44

Helicopter Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
45

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations

The categories for fixed wing aircraft requests include heavy air tankers, multi engine 

airtanker (CL-215/415), single engine air tankers (SEAT), lead planes, aerial supervision 

modules (ASM), air attack, infrared, and smokejumper aircraft. A total of 3,668 fixed wing 

requests were received at NICC: 3,077 were filled, 125 were canceled and 466 were UTF. 
46

Air Tanker Mobilizations

A total of 2,016 Type 1 and 2 heavy air tanker requests (civilian and military MAFFS) were 

processed by NICC in 2016. Of that total, 1,689 (civilian) and 7 (MAFFS) requests were 

filled, 51 were canceled and 269 were UTF.

Note: Changes in the way air tanker requests are processed in ROSS, as well the number of air 

tankers available for fire suppression account for much of the increase from 2013 - 2016. 

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS)
47

Fixed Wing Aircraft Summary by Requesting Agency
48

Fixed Wing Aircraft Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
49

Large Transport Aircraft

In 2016 there was one exclusive use contract for large transportation aircraft. The contract 

was filled with a B737-200 jet aircraft. The exclusive use jet flew 55 times. There was also 

one additional large aircraft charter flight.
50

Exclusive Use and Charter Large Transport Summary by 

Requesting Agency and Geographic Area
51

Light Cargo and Passenger Flights by Requesting Agency 

and Geographic Area
52

Equipment Services Mobilization

A total of 108 requests for mobile food services were processed at NICC: Of these 100 

were filled, six were canceled and two were UTF. A total of 134 shower units were 

requested: Of these 124 were filled, two were canceled and eight were UTF.
53

Equipment Services by Requesting Agency

Equipment Services by Geographic Area
54

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations

A total of 897 requests for radio kits and weather equipment were received at NICC in 2016. Of that total, 866 were filled, 

25 were canceled and 6 were UTF. 

Radio and Weather Equipment Summary by Requesting Agency
55

Radio and Weather Equipment Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
56

NICC Benchmarks

Records set during the year of this report are in bold. Military and resource figures 

constitute what was processed through the National Interagency Coordination Center. 

Team mobilizations include both wildfire and non-fire incidents.

Category Record Year Record 2016 Stats

Wildfires 2006 96,385 67,743

Wildfire Acres Burned 2015 10,125,149 5,509,995

Significant Fires 2006 1,801 1,251

Days at Preparedness Level 4 2012 45 14

Days at Preparedness Level 5 2002 62 0

Type 1 IMT Mobilizations 2002 85 31

Type 2 IMT Mobilizations 2000 58 9

Dept of Defense Battalions/Task

Forces 1988 8 0

MAFFS (millions of gallons delivered) 1994 5.03 0.4

Tactical Crew Mobilizations 2003 1,796 1,119

Engine Mobilizations 2007 2,267 1,190

Overhead Mobilizations 2000 17,898 9,571

Type 1 Helicopter Mobilizations 2016 334 334

Type 2 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 323 267

Heavy Airtankers

(VLAT/LAT/MAFFS) 2016* 1,696 1,696

Large Transport Flights 1994 552 55

Mobile Food Units 1994 195 100

Shower Units 1994 256 124

* Changes in the way air tanker requests are processed in ROSS, as well the number of air 

tankers available for fire suppression account for much of the increase from 2013 - 2016. 
57

Acronyms and Terminology

Air Attack – Light aircraft (airplane or helicopter) that carries the ATGS.

ASM – Aerial Supervision Module, light twin-engine airplane that combines the lead plane

function and tactical supervision (pilot and air tactical group supervisor - ATGS). 

ATMU – Atmospheric Theodolite Meteorological Unit (also known as an All-Hazard 

Meteorological Response System – AMRS).

CWN – Call when needed, refers to aircraft that have a call when needed contract.

DOD – Department of Defense (DDQ is also used in some tables in this report).

EXCL – Exclusive use contract. Refers to aircraft that have an exclusive use contact with 

an

agency.

FAMWEB – Fire and Aviation Management Web Applications system.

FUMT – Fire Use Management Team (changed to Wildland Fire Management Team).

IA – Initial attack.

IMT – Incident Management Team (see also NIMO).

Infrared – Aircraft outfitted with infrared sensing equipment.

Large fire – A large fire is defined as 100 acres or greater in timber, 300 acres or greater in 

grass/brush, or a Type 1, Type 2 or NIMO team assigned.

Lead Plane – Light twin-engine airplane that guides air tankers over a fire.

MAFFS – Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (military C-130 aircraft). 

NIMO – National Incident Management Organization.

Pax – Passengers.

RAWS – Remote Automated Weather Station.

ROSS – Resource Ordering and Status System.

Starter, Repeater and Tactical – All refer to portable radio kits.

SEAT – Single engine air tanker.

Type 1, 2, 2-IA, 3, 4, etc. – Various resources are “typed.” Type designation refers to the capability 

or configuration of a particular resource, such as a crew, engine, helicopter, etc.

UTF – Unable to fill resource request (the requested resource couldn’t be filled).
58

National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State

Figures from the Fire and Aviation Management Web Applications Program.

Alabama

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 1 320 1 350

OTHR 94 470 0 0

ST 3,749 50,250 0 0

USFS 79 7,990 158 113,819

Totals: 3,923 59,030 159 114,169

Alaska

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 0 0 0 0

BLM 182 391,262 0 0

DOD 0 0 9 33,355

FWS 0 0 2 62

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 375 105,200 2 22

USFS 15 5 2 138

Totals: 572 496,467 15 33,577

Arizona

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 704 81,178 32 22,620

BLM 179 12,002 14 2,226

DOD 0 0 4 3,363

FWS 4 6,263 1 25

NPS 43 14,597 2 64

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 546 32,580 3 20

USFS 812 161,625 161 73,727

Totals: 2,288 308,245 217 102,025

Arkansas

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 4 580

NPS 32 2,011 32 17,331

OTHR 1,248 19,045 1,020 73,158

ST 118 674 0 0

USFS 115 11,641 214 192,200

Totals: 1,513 33,371 1,270 283,269
59

California

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 126 6,116 9 113

BLM 109 30,285 8 407

C&L 3 28 0 0

DOD 0 0 5 1,788

FWS 12 406 22 5,975

NPS 79 1,152 24 4,097

OTHR 143 6,456 0 0

ST 5,988 159,421 0 0

USFS 889 356,951 433 34,573

Totals: 7,349 560,815 501 46,953

Colorado

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 92 269 6 4,832

BLM 331 17,549 19 2,375

C&L 397 48,545 38 446

DOD 10 15,774 4 312

FWS 4 134 7 1,897

NPS 23 899 8 235

OTHR 2 361 9 223

ST 0 0 0 0

USFS 331 45,964 89 20,287

Totals: 1,190 129,495 180 30,607

Connecticut

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 268 778 3 152

Totals: 268 778 3 152

Delaware

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 0 0 0 0

Totals: 0 0 0 0
60

Florida

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 2 0 11 3,269

DOD 52 12,306 52 58,340

FWS 5 198 55 90,031

NPS 27 15,668 19 31,712

OTHR 2 4 0 0

ST 2,832 40,195 0 0

USFS 147 6,045 125 101,590

Totals: 3,067 74,416 262 284,942

Georgia

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 6 16,008 41 120,899

FWS 2 66 28 15,014

NPS 6 37 3 187

OTHR 62 1,711 64 950

ST 4,984 28,503 64,158 1,334,257

USFS 26 5,794 53 36,485

Totals: 5,086 52,119 64,347 1,507,792

Hawaii

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

C&L 8 15,098 0 0

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 2 0 0 0

ST 0 0 0 0

Totals: 10 15,098 0 0

Idaho

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 19 12,435 12 651

BLM 142 74,955 28 5,416

C&L 58 36,143 0 0

DOD 1 0 0 0

FWS 0 0 4 1,840

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 6 801

ST 172 10,715 66 4,721

USFS 238 227,401 155 28,255

Totals: 630 361,649 271 41,684
61

Illinois

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 1 0 5 774

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 1 5 126 11,793

USFS 10 128 41 11,168

Totals: 12 133 172 23,735

Indiana

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 0 0 0 0

FWS 2 100 20 6,360

NPS 8 390 20 1,403

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 6 62 6 1,737

USFS 11 68 15 1,843

Totals: 27 620 61 11,343

Iowa

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 0 0 0 0

FWS 5 35 63 7,622

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 460 21,336 342 20,326

Totals: 465 21,371 405 27,948

Kansas

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 22 645 1 0

C&L 49 348,731 0 0

DOD 0 0 0 0

FWS 2 83 23 5,623

NPS 0 76 14 6,964

ST 0 0 0 0

Totals: 75 349,829 38 12,587

Kentucky

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

NPS 0 0 2 498

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 1,167 72,335 0 0

USFS 53 1,529 16 12,747

Totals: 1,220 73,864 18 13,245
62

Louisiana

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 2 2 19 27,997

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 9 132 0 0

ST 440 5,909 0 0

USFS 57 1,756 88 124,480

Totals: 508 7,799 107 152,477

Maine

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 0 0 4 238

FWS 0 0 1 23

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 1,526 1,381 25 637

Totals: 1,526 1,381 30 898

Maryland

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 0 0 0 0

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 120 242 41 1,120

Totals: 120 242 41 1,120

Massachusetts

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 0 0 4 238

FWS 0 0 1 23

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 1,526 1,381 25 637

Totals: 1,526 1,381 30 898
63

Michigan

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 1 127 6 168

FWS 1 1 0 0

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 262 3,236 75 8,169

USFS 125 302 59 7,074

Totals: 389 3,666 140 15,411

Minnesota

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 516 2,068 65 43,900

FWS 15 933 156 26,638

NPS 3 1 1 71

ST 819 7,247 222 28,871

USFS 69 2,019 114 5,848

Totals: 1,422 12,268 558 105,328

Mississippi

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 9 158 38 10,220

NPS 4 5 2 250

ST 0 0 0 0

USFS 81 7,965 113 113,056

Totals: 94 8,128 153 123,526

Missouri

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 14 3,287

NPS 7 529 10 5,196

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 2,456 25,833 191 6,371

USFS 147 5,772 29 27,731

Totals: 2,610 32,134 244 42,585
64

Montana

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 400 12,597 7 5,012

BLM 95 4,743 27 6,389

C&L 895 52,412 0 0

FWS 5 580 7 2,148

NPS 5 757 10 368

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 238 2,310 53 2,318

USFS 388 41,195 290 16,269

BIA 400 12,597 7 5,012

Totals: 2,026 114,594 394 32,504

Nebraska

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 6 102 3 2,822

FWS 2 314 12 6,459

NPS 0 0 4 1,214

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 9 576 0 0

USFS 28 23,506 9 2,015

Totals: 45 24,498 28 12,510

Nevada

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 0 0 1 15

BLM 301 212,051 7 492

C&L 26 4,131 0 0

FWS 7 3 4 2,858

NPS 14 4,658 5 2,495

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 43 43,523 7 520

USFS 76 790 3 315

Totals: 467 265,156 27 6,695

New Hampshire

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 0 0 8 35

FWS 0 0 3 31

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 132 548 2 5

USFS 16 332 8 34

Totals: 148 880 21 105
65

New Jersey

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 0 0 0 0

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 1,050 4,445 235 17,719

Totals: 1,050 4,445 235 17,719

New Mexico

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 204 1,718 7 1,565

BLM 120 8,051 19 24,717

DOD 0 0 0 0

FWS 7 713 2 67

NPS 13 310 5 1,993

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 520 100,947 2 42

USFS 376 100,686 38 23,808

Totals: 1,240 212,425 73 52,192

New York

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 0 0 0 0

FWS 2 1 0 0

NPS 10 44 1 75

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 184 4,191 13 352

Totals: 196 4,236 14 427

North Carolina

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 52 1,218 0 0

DOD 0 0 531 55,682

FWS 0 0 1 435

NPS 5 63 3 468

OTHR 29 3,956 508 38,074

ST 3,829 20,765 307 41,947

USFS 92 62,107 56 32,878

Totals: 4,007 88,109 1,406 169,484
66

North Dakota

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 542 2,908 16 665

BLM 1 91 0 0

FWS 5 1,430 52 12,185

NPS 1 2 3 588

OTHR 0 0 0 33

ST 1 20 0 0

Totals: 563 4,657 76 15,505

Ohio

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 373 1,055 217 4,383

USFS 37 61 1 269

Totals: 410 1,116 218 4,652

Oklahoma

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 443 136,966 15 1,607

FWS 1 0 1 20

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 356 54,730 0 0

ST 1,138 576,084 36 5,326

Totals: 1,938 767,780 52 6,953

Oregon

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 65 5,872 6 8,220

BLM 214 162,365 151 15,575

C&L 0 0 0 0

FWS 2 8 11 896

NPS 7 1,072 1 12

OTHR 5 1 0 0

ST 391 4,528 9 1,128

USFS 561 45,663 404 58,611

Totals: 1,245 219,509 582 84,442
67

Pennsylvania

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 14 47 8 371

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 853 12,159 224 14,620

USFS 4 39 3 120

Totals: 871 12,245 235 15,111

Puerto Rico

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 7 19 0 0

OTHR 7 69 0 0

ST 99 398 0 0

USFS 0 0 0 0

Totals: 113 486 0 0

Rhode Island

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 4 40

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 79 57 2 1

Totals: 79 57 6 41

South Carolina

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DOD 4 17 44 8,733

FWS 0 0 32 11,967

NPS 0 0 2 975

OTHR 929 2,996 8,400 272,188

ST 12 55 965 27,315

USFS 37 736 123 90,677

Totals: 982 3,804 9,566 411,855
68

South Dakota

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 518 24,917 19 1,368

BLM 5 2,106 18 1,508

C&L 2 2 0 0

FWS 0 0 28 10,126

NPS 1 316 4 108

ST 567 50,216 35 3,871

USFS 123 4,004 38 31,260

Totals: 1,216 81,561 142 48,241

Tennessee

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

NPS 33 19,898 4 1,557

OTHR 1,374 43,877 0 0

ST 701 16,610 49 5,030

USFS 57 7,653 0 0

Totals: 2,165 88,038 53 6,587

Texas

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BLM 4 46,587 0 0

C&L 8,448 137,018 1 2,882

DOD 0 0 0 0

FWS 34 1,113 19 6,360

NPS 18 17,434 5 710

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 729 152,759 0 0

USFS 67 1,769 64 88,985

Totals: 9,300 356,680 89 98,937

Utah

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 29 29 1 25

BLM 268 16,128 11 3,106

DOD 3 827 0 0

FWS 1 0 3 926

NPS 16 39 4 62

OTHR 0 0 12 585

ST 495 45,336 26 193

USFS 266 38,737 44 17,042

Totals: 1,078 101,096 101 21,939
69

Vermont

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 141 383 4 62

USFS 9 3 7 703

Totals: 150 386 11 765

Virginia

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BLM 1 1 0 0

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 6 10,829 5 189

OTHR 0 0 2 730

ST 540 15,789 191 4,446

USFS 33 14,822 6 785

Totals: 580 41,441 204 6,150

Washington

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 239 35,261 8 1,334

BLM 32 190,685 2 161

C&L 0 0 0 0

FWS 30 2,770 9 263

NPS 19 3,970 1 17

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 830 58,308 0 0

USFS 122 2,723 66 7,645

Totals: 1,272 293,717 86 9,420

West Virginia

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

NPS 6 43 1 27

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 0 0 0 0

USFS 12 400 5 815

Totals: 18 443 6 842
70

Wisconsin

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 2 14 16 1,546

FWS 4 25 105 7,986

NPS 0 0 2 80

OTHR 0 0 0 0

ST 686 604 0 0

USFS 21 52 13 3,720

Totals: 713 695 136 13,332

Wyoming

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 74 722 0 0

BLM 121 14,960 10 2,062

C&L 303 55,562 1 0

FWS 0 0 0 0

NPS 43 82,727 7 139

OTHR 8 21 0 0

ST 31 4,912 0 0

USFS 131 59,173 13 1,271

Totals: 711 218,077 31 3,472