U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Fire

Fire Year 2024 Program Overview
The Bureau of Land Management Fire program (BLM 

Fire) is the largest and most complex fire program 

within the Department of the Interior (DOI). The BLM 

represents 61% of DOI’s fire-related workforce and 

is directly responsible for fire management on more 

than 245 million acres of public lands, predominantly 

in the western United States and Alaska; wildfire is 

prevalent across much of this landscape. This land 

is commonly intermixed with other federal, state 

and local jurisdictions, making partnerships and 

collaborative efforts crucial to the mission of safety 

and fire management. Overall, BLM Fire implements fire 

protection on approximately 650 million acres of public 

land with other fire management agencies and manages 

fuels treatments to reduce wildfire risk and support 

healthy ecosystems across the landscape.

4 Wildland Fire Modules 276 Engines

26 Tactical Aircraft 25 Helicopters/18 Helitack Crews

34 RFPAs 2 Fire Boats

154 Smokejumpers 34 SEATs/4 Fire Bosses

12 Water Tenders/23 Semi-tractors 23 Dozers

The number of hotshot crews includes 2 veterans crews. RFPAs are Rangeland 

Fire Protection Associations. 

6 Veterans Crews 13 Hotshot Crews

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
Resource mobilization

All fire suppression resources are supported by a three-tier interagency 

network of dispatch and coordination centers across the country. The 

national dispatch system’s primary mission is the timely, cost effective, 

and efficient coordination, mobilization and demobilization of wildland 

fire resources.

Each tier has a unique role in locating and dispatching fire suppression 

resources to wildland fire incidents. Local level dispatch centers are 

responsible for initial wildfire response and support.

The National Interagency 

Coordination Center, or 

NICC, provides national 

emergency response 

for wildland fire 

and all-hazard 

incidents.

10 Geographic Area Coordination 

Centers, or GACCs, mobilize wildfire 

suppression resources within specific 

geographic areas of the U.S.

Local level dispatch centers coordinate 

initial wildfire response and support.

Most BLM-managed public lands are composed of non-forested 

shrub and grass ecosystems. Invasive plants, which make 

landscapes more flammable, are present in many of these 

ecosystems. Cycles of frequent wildfire followed by invasive plants 

are impacting vast areas of the western U.S., particularly in the 

sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. Because of the fire and invasives 

cycle, many western ecosystems are experiencing too much 

wildfire compared to historical fire regimes. Suppressing wildfires 

in these ecosystems is costly and puts wildland firefighters at risk.

The BLM is working to preserve ecosystems that are currently 

not impacted by invasive plants while restoring ecological 

balance in other ecosystems where invasive plants are 

changing the landscape and increasing wildfire 

risk. This work supports healthy public lands, 

reduces wildfire risk, and decreases wildfire 

suppression costs. 

Unique fire management challenges 

25 square miles of rangelands with 

invasive grasses can burn in just one day.

36 million acres of BLM-managed public 

lands are at high/very high fire risk - 

much of this is due to invasive plants.

On BLM-managed public lands, 1,732 

fires burned 264,850 acres in 2023 which, 

compared to the last ten years, is below 

both the average number of fires and acres.

Over the past two decades, 54% of wildfire 

acres burned in the continental U.S. 

occurred on shrublands and grasslands.

On DOI-managed lands, more than 

70% of wildfire acres burned occurred 

in non-forested vegetation types.

BLM manages 72% of all DOI lands 

that have high or very high fire risk.

100,000-400,000-acre wildfires are now 

common across the West.
Fuels management

The BLM achieved over 1.2 million acres of fuels treatments in 2023. By 

increasing fuels accomplishments, the BLM will improve wildfire resiliency, 

improve firefighter and public safety, protect communities, and boost local 

economies. 

The BLM Fuels Management program is focused on managing landscapes 

to reduce wildfire risk, improve wildfire resiliency and promote fire-adapted 

communities. This effort is critical considering the vast spread of wildfire risk 

throughout the West, as the BLM works to address more than 70% of DOI’s 

wildfire risk. To address these fire-invasives challenges, the BLM conducts 

a wide variety of fuels treatment projects, including fuel breaks, mechanical 

treatments, chemical and biological treatments, and prescribed fire. Use of 

prescribed fire is often limited where invasive plants are present; many of 

these areas are experiencing too much wildfire.

This work protects vulnerable communities from wildfire while preparing 

natural landscapes for a changing climate. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 

supports mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, employing contractors, young 

adults, veterans, and Tribal youth.

The BLM accomplished more 

than 50% of the DOI’s total fuels 

treatment acres.

In 2023, the BLM treated 1.2 million 

acres through active management, 

approximately 211,000 more acres 

treated than in 2022.

The BLM also reduces hazardous 

fuels by allowing some wildfires to 

function in their natural ecological 

role when they can be safely and 

effectively managed to meet 

desired objectives identified in local land use and fire 

management plans. An additional 614,000 acres of 

resource benefit were achieved in wildfires bringing 

BLM’s total acres treated to approximately 1.9 million, 

exceeding BLM’s 1-million-acre goal in 2023.

BLM’s Community Assistance 

program provided just over 

$12.9 million via 123 cooperative 

agreements to reduce the risk 

and impact of wildfire to 1,017 

communities. The BLM sponsored 3,667 public 

education events and treated 58,143 non-federal acres 

which reduced the fire risk to 9,673 homes. The BLM 

funded and participated in the creation of 73 new or 

updated Community Wildfire Protection Plans.

Fuel breaks

BLM Fire uses multiple fuels treatment methods. Fuel breaks reduce 

hazardous fuels and provide wildland firefighters a safe barrier to 

conduct fire suppression tactics.

Large swaths of overgrown grasses, 

brush, or other vegetation provide 

continuous fuels that can lead to 

catastrophic wildfires.

Fuel breaks thin out or break up the vegetation, 

which slows the progress and reduces the intensity 

of the wildfire, making it safer and easier for 

firefighters to control.

Fuel treatment types

50% of acres 

accomplished 

with mechanical 

treatments

25% of acres 

accomplished 

with chemical 

and biological 

treatments

25% of acres 

accomplished 

with prescribed 

fire and fire use 

treatments
Service Name
BLM Wildfire Risk Assessment Map

BLM Fire

National Interagency Fire Center

3833 S. Development Ave

Boise, ID 83705 

www.nifc.gov

@BLMFire