National Interagency

Coordination Center

Wildland Fire

Summary and Statistics

Annual Report

2020

Cameron Peak Fire, Colorado
2

Table of Contents

Preface ...................................................................................................................................... 1

2020 Fire Environment Summary............................................................................................... 2

National Fire Activity Synopsis ................................................................................................... 5

Significant Wildland Fires over 40,000 acres.............................................................................. 7

Wildfires and Acres .................................................................................................................... 9

Large Wildfires by Geographic Area and Agency......................................................................10

Overall Wildfire Activity Reported to the NICC ..........................................................................10

Wildfire Activity Levels by Geographic Area ..............................................................................11

Wildfires and Acres by Agency..................................................................................................12

Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area .........................................................................13

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area...............................................................13

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Agency and GACC – 2010 to 2020...........................................14

National Preparedness Levels ..................................................................................................15

National Preparedness Level Summary ....................................................................................16

International Resource Mobilizations.........................................................................................17

Incident Management Team Mobilizations ................................................................................17

National Incident Management Organization and Area Command Teams.............................17

Type 1 Incident Management Teams ....................................................................................17

Type 1 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area ...................................................................18

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilizations.................................................................18

Type 2 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area ...................................................................19

Department of Defense Mobilizations........................................................................................19

Crew Mobilizations....................................................................................................................20

Crew Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area.................................21

Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations.......................................................................22

Engine Request Summary by Requesting Agency ................................................................23

Engine Request Summary by Requesting Geographic Area..................................................24

Overhead Mobilizations.............................................................................................................25

Overhead Requests Summary ..............................................................................................25

Helicopter Mobilizations ............................................................................................................26
3

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Agency..........................................................27

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area...........................................27

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations ..............................................................................................28

Airtanker Mobilizations ..........................................................................................................28

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS).................................................................29

Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Agency............................................30

Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area.............................31

Large Transportation Aircraft.....................................................................................................32

Exclusive-Use and Charter Large Transport Requests Summary by Destination Agency and 

Geographic Area ...................................................................................................................32

Light Cargo and Passenger Flights Summary by Destination Agency and Geographic Area.33

Equipment Service Mobilization ................................................................................................33

Equipment Services Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area..........34

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations............................................................................35

Radio and Weather Equipment Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Requesting 

Geographic Area ...................................................................................................................35

National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State...................................................36

NICC Benchmarks ....................................................................................................................47

Identifier Legend .......................................................................................................................48

Acronyms and Terminology.......................................................................................................49
1

Preface

Statistics used in this report were gathered from the Situation Report and Incident Status 

Summary (ICS-209) programs1

. 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 they may not 

reflect official figures for a specific agency. The statistics are delineated by agency and 

Geographic Area. This document and prior year annual reports are available electronically on 

NICC’s Intelligence web page: 

https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/intelligence.htm

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

Resource Ordering Capability system (IROC), which tracks tactical, logistical, service, and 

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

presented in this report are resources requested by any of the ten Geographic Area 

Coordination Centers (GACCs) and processed through NICC, apart from incident management 

teams2

. 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 on the NICC web site 

(https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/) under reference materials. 

Geographic Area Coordination Centers

1 Situation Report and ICS-209 data are considered situational and provisional, as they are reported while wildfire activity and 

incidents are occurring, plus they do not account for all wildland fires and their final outcomes. Some wildfires, including many that 

are suppressed solely by private citizens or local fire departments (not by wildland fire management agencies), are never reported to 

any Dispatch Center that submits Situation Report data. Additionally, ICS-209 reports are not required for the small, short duration 

wildfires that comprise the vast majority of overall fire occurrence annually. For official data and summary statistics, one must 

contact each of the individual agencies affected and refer to their final fire reports and other authoritative sources of agency-specific 

information.

2 This report only tallies resource requests processed through NICC, with the exception of Incident Management Team 

mobilizations, it excludes the substantial number of IROC orders that were placed and filled within the same GACC. It also excludes 

any resource usage not tracked in IROC, such as local dispatch of initial attack resources.
2

2020 Fire Environment Summary

January – March

The northwestern portion of the US saw significant improvement in snowpack accrual as basin 

snowpack averages went from 35% to nearly 100% of average in January. The Midwest and the 

eastern states generally received average to above average precipitation. Temperatures across 

the West were generally average to below average for the first three weeks of January, but well 

above average temperatures developed the last week of January as an upper-level ridge 

resided over the California coast. In the East, temperatures were generally 4°F to 10°F above 

average for the month.

After progressive weather patterns in January, most locations along the West Coast became 

increasingly impacted by persistent upper-level ridges that promoted very dry conditions

across California, northern Arizona, and the western Great Basin in February. Many locations 

across these areas received less than 25% of average precipitation for the month. In the 

East, the presence of persistent troughs over the Great Plains promoted a warm and very 

moist southwesterly flow pattern. Despite persistent high pressure along the West Coast, 

temperatures generally remained near normal across the West in February with below 

normal temperatures in Alaska. In the East, temperatures were 2°F to 9°F above average.

An upper-level ridge along the West Coast weakened and reformed over the central Pacific 

Ocean in mid-March. A series of weather systems moved southeast from the Gulf of Alaska 

into the contiguous US with storms tracking south along the coast, onshore into California, 

and across the Southwest. Central portions of the Great Basin and the northwest portion of 

the Northern Rockies experienced drier than average conditions with generally less than 

25% of average precipitation falling. In the East, conditions were generally wet except across 

Florida, which was much drier than average. Across the Great Plains, below average 

precipitation was received except across Oklahoma and central through North Texas. 

Temperatures across the country were generally 2°F to 6°F above average except along the 

West Coast, Montana, Wyoming, and northern Idaho where they were generally below 

average.

Drought expanded and intensified in South Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and on the Florida 

Peninsula from the end of December to the end of March. Drought also developed in

California, Nevada, and Oregon. Drought remained over the Four Corners region and 

intensified in parts of the Pacific Northwest. By the end of March, mountain snowpack

remained near to above average on the Continental Divide, along the Canadian Border, and 

across the Alaskan Interior. Snowpack was below average to well below average across the 

High Sierra, southern Cascades, Great Basin, Sawtooth Mountains, Kenai Peninsula, and 

the Chugach Mountains.

April – June

Drought continued to intensify and expand across much of the Northwest in April and May. 

Across the Four Corner states, Great Basin, and west Texas, the drought began to expand

and intensify with moderate to severe drought in the Four Corners region and southeast 

Colorado. Florida experienced some drought intensification in early spring but was followed 

by improvement in late May. Mountain snowpack melting accelerated in late April and 

continued through May with most basins without snowpack by the end of May.

National fire activity remained light in April and May with the Southern Area recording the 
3

most activity. This included several large fires in Florida, with most of the activity in the Florida 

Panhandle. The western Great Lakes and portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast 

experienced increased fire activity during late spring due to very dry fuels and multiple dry

cold frontal passages. On May 30, a significant severe weather event occurred in the Pacific 

Northwest and into portions of Utah and Idaho with abundant lightning in northern California, 

the Pacific Northwest, and portions of the Intermountain West. A derecho, a long-lived, 

widespread windstorm associated with thunderstorms, occurred on June 6. It started in Utah 

and spread northeast across Colorado and Wyoming into western Nebraska and South

Dakota.

The western fire season began in earnest during June with a notable increase of fire activity

as fine fuels became critically dry across the southern half of the West. Overall, drought 

continued and intensified in many areas of the West during June with an early loss of 

snowpack across much of the West, especially in the High Sierra and southern Cascades, 

leading to the larger and high-elevation fuels becoming mostly receptive by the end of June. 

Persistent hot and dry conditions along with periodic wind events allowed for the 

development of large fires across the Southwest, Colorado, and southern California. Drier 

thunderstorms followed by multiple periods of dry and windy conditions in the Southwest and 

southern High Plains resulted in multiple new large fires in early and mid-June. A three-day 

lighting event led to an increase in fire activity during third week of June across the Great 

Basin and California.

July – September

The North American Monsoon onset was delayed across the Southwest and more focused 

on eastern Arizona and much of New Mexico. Due to the late onset and lack of robust 

moisture surges into most of Arizona, much of the state remained at below normal 

precipitation with above normal temperatures, including some locations recording some of 

their lowest rainfall totals during a monsoon season.

A significant increase of fire activity was observed in July as fuels continued to cure across 

the West and lightning spread farther north and west into the Great Basin, northern 

California, Pacific Northwest, and Northern Rockies. While the Rocky Mountain Area, 

Southwest, and southern Great Basin saw an increase in fire activity into mid-July, Alaska, 

the Eastern Area, and most of the Southern Area all experienced downward trends in fire 

activity. However, portions of central, west, and southwest Texas remained dry through July 

with continued initial attack and large fire activity.

A dramatic increase in fire activity was observed across the West in August as several multiday heat wave and lightning events primed and ignited fuels that had become critically dry

and, in some areas, historically dry. Wind events, while not frequent, were impactful. Among 

the hardest hit states was California where several hundred wildfires were ignited by a multiday lightning event in mid-August, which was preceded and followed by record setting heat 

waves, including 130°F in Death Valley on August 16.

Other states greatly impacted by the increase in activity were Oregon, Colorado, and

Arizona—which experienced an untimely pause in the monsoon. The resulting hot, dry, and 

unstable conditions led to multiple fires producing pyrocumulonimbus clouds, including 

pyrotornadoes on the Loyalton Fire in northeast California near the Nevada border. This 

prompted the first ever Tornado Warning to be issued by the National Weather Service for a 

wildfire. The Great Basin remained active, as did west Texas, with increased initial attack 
4

and large fire activity by mid-August in the Northern Rockies. A heat wave developed on the 

West Coast during the first week of September that resulted in hot, dry, and unstable 

conditions with explosive large fire growth across much of the West. The Creek Fire in 

southern California produced multiple pyrocumulonimbus clouds including lightning and 

multiple pyrotornadoes on September 5.

Multiple wind events resulted in significant large fire activity, including a historic offshore wind 

event that began Labor Day and continued during the following few days. Rapid fire spread

and extreme fire behavior developed on numerous new and existing large fires in 

Washington, Oregon, and California leading to hundreds of thousands of acres being burned 

in a matter of days. Other notable wind events led to significant increases of fire activity in 

Montana on September 2 and California in late September.

A series of upper-level troughs produced wetting rain across portions of the Pacific Northwest 

and Northern Rockies later in September, which helped reduce fire activity and significant 

fire potential across these regions. A pause in fire activity was observed in the Rocky 

Mountain Area due to cold, wet conditions during the week of Labor Day, but rebounded later 

in the month. Additionally, tropical storm activity and generally above normal precipitation 

improved drought conditions across portions of the Plains and eastern US.

While lightning was relatively infrequent during September, widely scattered dry 

thunderstorms resulted in an increase of initial attack and new large fires for portions of the 

Southwest, Great Basin, Rocky Mountain, and Northern Rockies areas on September 21-

24. As a cold front pushed south through the West during the last weekend of September, 

producing another round of strong offshore winds that resulted in extreme behavior and rapid 

fire spread in northern California.

October – December 

During October, much of the large fire activity occurred in California and Colorado, although 

new large fires and growth on existing large fires continued in Arizona, New Mexico, and 

Utah. Multiple strong wind events led to rapid and record-setting fire growth on the Cameron 

Peak and East Troublesome Fires in Colorado, and a strong offshore wind event in California 

led to increased fire activity as well. Consistent cold frontal passages in the Northwest and 

Northern Rockies Geographic Areas ended fire season with landfalling tropical cyclones 

providing precipitation relief for portions of Southern Area.

Upper-level ridging over California and the Southwest led to well below normal 

precipitation and above normal temperatures across much of the West except for portions 

of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies during October. Season ending 

precipitation finally came to the Northwest and Northern Rockies Geographic Areas by 

mid-month. Hurricane Delta made landfall in Louisiana on October 9, breaking the 

previous record of US landfalling tropical cyclones in a season of nine. Hurricanes Zeta 

and Eta made landfall on October 28 and November 7, respectively, setting a new record 

of twelve tropical cyclone landfalls in the US for a season. Hurricane Eta actually made

landfall twice in Florida, once over the Florida Keys and again north of Tampa on 

November 10.

The Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires became the largest two fires in Colorado 

history, surpassing the Pine Gulch Fire, which set the record earlier in the year. Of note, the 

East Troublesome Fire made a 20-mile run and spotted over the Continental Divide during 
5

a 24-hour period on October 21-22. Record breaking snow and cold arrived on October 24-

27 in the central and southern Rockies, which significantly reduced fire activity.

Large fire activity diminished over the West in November, continuing the trend from late 

October. Precipitation and colder temperatures spread farther south across the West, 

leading to increasing fuel moisture and greatly reduced large fire potential through midmonth. However, by the end of November, most of the US experienced below normal 

precipitation with average to above normal temperatures. Remnants of Hurricane Eta 

dropped significant rainfall in South Florida and into portions of the Carolinas and MidAtlantic. Heavy rain also fell late in the month across portions of the Gulf states.

Several significant wildfires occurred along the Sierra Front and across the Plains in midNovember. On November 17 during a downslope wind event, three rapidly spreading 

significant wildfires emerged along the Sierra Front, and a day later, several large wildfires 

ignited on the central and southern Plains. Multiple offshore wind events developed across 

California, with the strongest around Thanksgiving. While initial attack increased, no 

significant large fires were reported.

Large fires were largely absent from the West, but scattered fire activity continued in the 

Southern Area, during December. While multiple offshore wind events affected California 

during December, much needed precipitation arrived in northern California in mid and late 

December, with precipitation arriving in southern California the last week of December.

Much of the US experienced below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures, 

most prominently in the northern Plains, in December. However, much of the Mid-Atlantic 

and Northeast observed above normal precipitation, with near to below normal temperatures 

in the Southeast. Drought persisted across much of the West and Plains, with some 

intensification and expansion in portions of these regions. Large portions of the Southwest, 

Great Basin, Colorado Rockies, and southern High Plains remained in exceptional drought 

(i.e., the highest category) at the end of the year.

Snowfall and snowpack across the West remain mostly below normal, generally 50-75% of 

the 30-year median for snow water equivalent, according to Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS) data. Near to above normal snowfall is present across portions of 

Washington and the Northern Rockies due to the northerly storm track. The Southwest has 

remained dry with snow water equivalent mostly below 50% of median, including some 

basins reporting below 20%.

National Fire Activity Synopsis 

From a national perspective, the 2020 fire season's wildfire statistics conformed to the recent 

general trends (5-year vs 10-year averages), where the average annual number of wildfires

has been decreasing slightly, yet the average annual number of acres burned has

been increasing. However, with over 10 million acres burned, the large fire activity in 2020 

was well above average. Over the last half-century, the era for which reasonably reliable 

and comprehensive national wildfire statistics have been tallied, only two other years (2015, 

2017) saw in excess of 10 million acres burned. In comparison to other years with 

significantly elevated acreage burned, 2020 was particularly notable because neither Alaska 

nor Southern Area contributed significantly to the total acreage burned. Moreover, 2020 saw 

the first reported million acre wildfire incident (August Complex) in Northern California; 
6

numerous large fires resulting in fatalities and significant property losses in Oregon, 

Washington, California, and Colorado; the three largest wildfires (Cameron Peak, East 

Troublesome, Pine Gulch) in Colorado's history; and an unusually prolonged fire season in 

the Southwestern US.

Nationally, there were 58,950 wildfires reported in 2020, compared to 50,477 wildfires 

reported in 2019. The 2020 fire season was active considering the number of reported 

wildfires, over 90% of the 10-year annual average. Reported wildfires consumed 10,122,336 

acres nationally, compared to 4,664,364 acres 2019. The number of acres burned was well 

above average in 2020. A large proportion of the burned acreage occurred in California, 

accounting for 38% of the nation’s total burned acres.

In 2020, the reported number of wildfires was well above 10-year averages in all Geographic 

Areas, except in Alaska (65%), Southern Area (60%), and Rocky Mountain Area (95%). The 

remaining Geographic Areas were well above average: Eastern Area (138%), Great Basin 

(117%), Northern California (122%), Northern Rockies (121%), Northwest (115%),

Southern

California (123%), and Southwest (121%).

When comparing burned acreage versus the 10-year average, several Geographic Areas 

saw above average statistics. Northern California (611%) and Southern California (446%)

shattered previous 10-year averages by far. The Northwest (223%), Rocky Mountain (217%), 

and the Southwest (172%) were also well above average. The remaining Geographic Areas 

were below average: Alaska (15%), Eastern Area (67%), Great Basin (85%), Northern 

Rockies (84%), and Southern Area (45%).

A total of 17,904 structures were reported destroyed by wildfires in 2020, including 9,630 

residences, 7,255 minor structures, and 1,119 commercial/mixed residential structures. This

is well above the annual average of 2,913 residences, 1,857 minor structures, and 141 

commercial/mixed residential structures destroyed by wildfire. California accounted for the 

highest number of structures lost in one state in 2020: 6,198 residences, 741 

commercial/mixed residential structures and 4,534 minor structures. Oregon was second 

with 2,274 residences, 205 commercial/mixed residential structures and 1,352 minor 

structures.

Requests for firefighting resources placed to the NICC during the 2020 fire season were near 

or above the 10-year average in all categories. Filled requests for crews, engines, and 

overhead were well above their respective 10-year averages. Requests processed through 

the NICC for helicopters and heavy airtankers were at or below their respective 10-year 

averages due in part to the greater availability of “surge” aircraft used in 2020.

National Type 1 Incident Management Teams (IMTs) were mobilized 53 times (up from 14 

in 2019) and spent a total of 861 days on assignments (up from 183 days in 2019). Type 2 

IMTs were mobilized 107 times (up from 44 in 2019), for a total of 1,491 days assigned to 

incidents (up from 480 days in 2019). Area Command teams were mobilized eight times in 

2020 (up from zero assignments in 2019), for a total of 268 days. National Incident 

Management Organizations (NIMO) mobilized 6 times in 2020 (same as 2019), for a total of 

208 days (up from 75 days in 2019).
7

Significant Wildland Fires over 40,000 acres 

Of the 50 largest fires in 2020, 44% (22 fires) occurred in California.

Name GACC State Start 

Date

Contain or Last 

Report Date

Size 

(acres) Cause* Estimated Cost

August Complex NO CA 8/17 11/11 1,032,648 U $115,511,218

SCU Lightning 

Complex

NO CA 8/16 9/14 396,624 U $69,412,351

SHF Elkhorn NO CA 8/29 9/9 391,493 L NR

Creek SO CA 9/4 12/17 379,895 U $193,000,000

LNU Lightning 

Complex

NO CA 8/17 10/1 363,220 U $94,646,381

North Complex NO CA 8/17 12/2 318,935 U $112,711,950

Pearl Hill NW WA 9/7 9/15 223,730 U $4,241,353

Cameron Peak RM CO 8/13 12/4 208,913 U $133,300,000

Lionshead NW OR 8/16 11/12 204,469 L $65,440,000

East Troublesome RM WY 10/14 11/25 193,812 U $15,682,681

Beachie Creek NW OR 8/16 10/28 193,573 U $29,838,526

Bush SW AZ 6/13 7/3 193,455 H $11,642,634

Cold Springs NW WA 9/6 9/19 189,923 U $3,917,998

Mullen RM WY 9/17 12/10 176,878 U $42,400,000

Castle SO CA 8/19 8/24 174,178 L NR

SQF Complex SO CA 8/24 12/17 174,178 NR

Holiday Farm NW OR 9/7 10/27 173,393 U $29,100,932

Slater NO CA 9/8 11/15 157,270 U $55,043,900

Red Salmon 

Complex

NO CA 7/28 11/16 144,698 L NR

August Complex 

West Zone

NO CA 9/10 10/14 140,944 L $115,300,000

Pine Gulch RM CO 7/31 9/22 139,007 U $35,000,000

Riverside NW OR 9/8 11/26 138,054 H $20,482,000

Archie Creek NW OR 9/8 11/26 131,542 U $40,000,000

Whitney NW WA 9/7 9/15 127,430 U $3,300,000

Dolan SO CA 8/18 12/24 124,924 U $74,000,000

Bighorn SW AZ 6/5 7/22 119,978 L $44,463,612

Bobcat SO CA 9/6 11/27 115,997 U $100,000,000

Woodhead GB ID 9/7 10/22 96,614 H $11,230,000

Badger GB ID 9/12 10/10 90,143 U $15,800,000

East Fork GB UT 8/21 11/19 90,000 L $23,523,403

CZU August 

Lightning

NO CA 8/16 9/21 86,509 U $55,900,466

W-5 Cold Springs NO CA 8/18 9/13 84,817 U $10,300,000

July Complex NO CA 7/22 8/18 83,261 U $35,000,000

Caldwall NO CA 7/22 7/24 80,859 U $34,500,000
8

* L – Lightning H – Human U – Unknown/Under Investigation OT - Other NR – Not

Reported

Information in the above table was derived from ICS-209 reports submitted via FAMWEB. This information may not

reflect final official figures.

Name GACC State Start 

Date

Contain or Last 

Report Date

Size 

(acres) Cause* Estimated Cost

Canal GB UT 6/26 7/13 78,065 L $7,105,375

Evans Canyon NW WA 8/31 9/25 75,817 U $1,120,000

Evans Canyon NW WA 8/31 9/25 75,817 U $1,120,000

Magnum SW AZ 6/8 7/22 71,450 U $25,000,000

Glass NO CA 9/27 10/13 67,484 U $59,887,000

Griffin SW AZ 8/17 9/5 61,821 L $5,750,000

Meadow Valley GB NV 7/7 7/14 59,265 H $2,800,000

Zogg NO CA 9/27 10/12 56,338 U $31,004,496

Ingakslugwat Hills AK AK 5/30 6/25 53,515 L $43,590

Sarpy NR MT 9/2 9/10 52,010 U $950,000

Brattain NW OR 9/7 10/5 50,951 H $9,900,000

Indian Creek NW OR 8/16 9/16 48,128 U $7,000,000

River SO CA 8/16 9/4 48,088 U $24,493,709

Star Mountain Ln. NW OR 9/8 9/11 48,000 U $6,000,000

Loyalton NO CA 8/14 9/4 47,029 U $50,000

Huff NR MT 9/2 9/5 46,892 H $50,000

Dome SO CA 8/15 8/23 43,273 L $2,200,000
9

Wildfires and Acres

Large fires are defined in the National Mobilization Guide as fires that burn a minimum of 

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

managed by a Type 1 or 2 Incident Management Team or NIMO.

There were 999 large wildfires and complexes reported in 2020 (derived from ICS-209 

reports submitted through FAMWEB). These large wildfires represented less than 2% of total 

wildfires reported nationally in 2020. The map below depicts the locations of these fires.
10

Large Wildfires by Geographic Area and Agency

As is typical in most years, the greatest number of large fires occurred in Southern Area

and on lands protected by a state-level or other non-federal fire management 

organization. As noted under “Significant Wildfires” above, the largest fires in 2020 

occurred in the West.

Overall Wildfire Activity Reported to the NICC

In 2020, there were 58,950 wildfires that burned 10,122,336 acres. The number of fires 

reported were below both the five and ten-year national averages. Acres burned were well 

above both the five and ten-year national averages.
11

Wildfire Activity Levels by Geographic Area

Overall, the distribution of the number of wildfires in 2020 was similar to previous years, with 

the Southern Area and Eastern Area accounting for nearly half of the fires in the U.S. In 

comparison to their annual averages from the prior 10 years, Southern Area and Alaska 

experienced below average number of fires.

A large proportion of the burned acreage shifted to California in 2020, which accounted for

38% of the nation’s total burned acres (in contrast, Alaska burned 53% of the total acres in 

2019). Acres burned was below prior year averages for Alaska, Eastern Area, and Southern 

Area. Northwest, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest Area had above average acres burned

while Northern California and Southern California experienced a significant increase in 

comparison to previous years.

The charts below depict fires and acres as a percentage of the national total.
12

The charts below show the 2020 fire activity for each Geographic Area as a percentage 

change from its annual average from the prior ten years.

Wildfires and Acres by Agency 

The distribution of wildfires by protection agency in 2020 was very similar to prior years.

About one-quarter of the nation’s fires occurred on federally protected lands, nearly evenly 

split between US Forest Service lands and the combined lands protected by the Department 

of Interior agencies. The large majority of wildfires, however, ignited on private lands or 

other areas under state or local protection.
13

Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area 

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area
14

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Agency and GACC – 2010 to 2020
15

National Preparedness Levels 

In 2020, the national Preparedness Level (PL) was elevated and decreased accordingly:

• After 153 days (from January 1) at PL 1, elevated to PL 2 on June 2

• After 13 days at PL 2, elevated to PL 3 on June 15

• After 50 days at PL 3, elevated to PL 4 on August 4

• After 14 days at PL 4, elevated to PL 5 on August 18

• After 45 days at PL 5, decreased to PL 4 on October 2

• After 12 days at PL 4, decreased to PL 3 on October 14

• After 16 days at PL 3, decreased to PL 2 on October 30

• After 11 days at PL 2, decreased to PL 1 on November 10

• For 52 days (through December 31), remained at PL 1
16

National Preparedness Level Summary
17

International Resource Mobilizations

United States support to Australia: Between January 1 and March 23, through the NIFCAustralia Agreement, 270 wildland fire personnel from the US were assigned to support large 

fires in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, Australia.

International assistance to the United States: Canada sent 23 crews, 48 overhead, and 

18 engines to the US. Mexico, in the first ever exchange of this kind, sent five crews to the 

US.

Incident Management Team Mobilizations

National Incident Management Organization and Area Command 

Teams

National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) teams were assigned to five wildfire 

incidents and one support assignment for a total of 208 days.

Area Command Teams were assigned to four wildfire incidents and four support assignments 

for a total of 268 days.

Type 1 Incident Management Teams

Sixteen national Type 1 Incident Management Teams (IMT) were available in 2020 and were 

mobilized to 53 incidents. Of those assignments, 50 were to wildland fires and 3 were to nonwildland fire incidents. Type 1 IMTs were assigned for 861 days. The NICC processed 31 

orders for Type 1 IMTS.
18

Type 1 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area

The following charts depict the mobilization of Type 1 IMTs by sending and receiving 

Geographic Area.

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilizations

Thirty-three Type 2 Incident Management Teams (IMT) were available in 2020. Type 2 IMTs 

were mobilized to 107 incidents and assigned for 1,491 days. The NICC processed 28 orders 

for Type 2 IMTs.
19

Type 2 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area

The following charts depict the mobilization of Type 2 IMTs by sending and receiving 

Geographic Area.

Department of Defense Mobilizations 

In 2020, the NICC processed two military battalion requests, provided by the US Army (Joint 

Base Lewis-McChord) and Marine Corps (Base Camp Pendleton) and mobilized other 

members of the Department of Defense to support wildfires in California. The number of 

military battalions and task forces requested through the NICC and deployed in the last ten 

years is shown below.

In addition to the military battalion (crew) requests, the DOD provided aviation resources for 

aerial firefighting (MAFFS) and wildfire detection and mapping (DRTI), which are included in 

the tallies in the section for Fixed Wing Aircraft.
20

Crew Mobilizations

The NICC received 2,604 crew requests in 2020. Of these requests: 1,017 were filled, 1,248 

were canceled, and 339 were UTF. The NICC received 1,153 orders for Type 1 crews, 746 

orders for Type 2 crews, and 705 orders for Type 2 IA crews.
21

Crew Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area
22

Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations

The NICC received 3,906 engine requests in 2020. Of those requests, 2,387 were filled, 1,318 

were canceled and 201 were UTF.

The NICC also received 174 requests for tactical water tenders. Of those requests, 68 were 

filled, 79 were canceled, and 27 were UTF.
23

Engine Request Summary by Requesting Agency 
24

Engine Request Summary by Requesting Geographic Area 
25

Overhead Mobilizations 

The NICC received 26,684 overhead requests in 2020. Of those requests, 12,794 were filled, 

7,933 were canceled, and 5,957 were UTF.

Overhead Requests Summary 
26

Helicopter Mobilizations

The NICC received 862 orders for Type 1, 2, and 3 helicopters in 2020. Of those requests, 468 

were filled, 285 were canceled, and 109 were UTF. Individual statistics are listed below:

• Type 1 Helicopter requests: The NICC received 379 requests. 232 were filled, 100 

were canceled, and 47 were UTF.

• Type 2 Helicopter requests: The NICC received 243 requests. 216 were filled, 17 

were canceled, and 10 were UTF.

• Type 3 Helicopter requests: The NICC received 240 requests. 137 were filled, 82 

were canceled, and 21 were UTF.
27

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Agency 

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area 
28

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations

Fixed wing aircraft include heavy airtankers, multi-engine airtankers (CL-215/415), singleengine airtankers (SEATs), lead planes, aerial supervision modules (ASM), air attack, 

infrared, and smokejumper aircraft. The NICC received 4,718 requests for fixed wing aircraft

in 2020. Of those requests, 3,288 were filled, 990 were canceled, and 440 were UTF.

The number of fixed wing aircraft requests for thermal detection and fire perimeter mapping 

using infrared sensors increased significantly in 2020. This increase was primarily due to the 

addition of several new contract aircraft that were used for IR mapping, in addition to the one 

dedicated government owned (USFS) aircraft.

Airtanker Mobilizations

The NICC received 1,168 requests for very large and heavy airtankers in 2020. Of those 

requests, 778 were filled, 296 were canceled, and 105 were UTF.

The NICC received 317 requests for multi-engine and single engine airtankers. Of those

requests, 219 were filled, 76 were canceled, and 22 were UTF.
29

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS)

The NICC processed 11 requests for MAFFS in 2020. MAFFS were activated starting on July 

23rd and released on October 4th. National statistics are listed below:

• Total missions: 517

• Total employment hours: 604

• Total retardant drops: 488

• Total gallons of retardant dropped: 1,350,298
30

Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Agency
31

Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
32

Large Transportation Aircraft

In 2020, there was one exclusive-use contract for large transportation aircraft. The contract 

was filled with a B737-2T4 jet aircraft. This exclusive-use jet flew 24 times. There were also 

two additional large aircraft charter flights arranged by the NICC. Due to Covid-19 mitigations, 

the large transport aircraft was only able to carry 60 passengers at one time, limiting the 

number of passengers in 2020.

Exclusive-Use and Charter Large Transport Requests Summary by 

Destination Agency and Geographic Area
33

Light Cargo and Passenger Flights Summary by Destination Agency 

and Geographic Area

In support of other resource requests, the NICC arranged 19 cargo transportation flights in

2020. No passenger flights were arranged by the NICC in 2020, other than the Large

Transport activity described in the preceding section.

Equipment Service Mobilization

The NICC received 151 requests for mobile food services in 2020. Of those requests, 131 were

filled, 14 were canceled, and seven were UTF.

The NICC received 212 requests for mobile shower services in 2020. Of those requests, 197 were 

filled, 14 were canceled, and one was UTF.
34

Equipment Services Request Summary by Requesting Agency and 

Geographic Area
35

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations 

The NICC received 939 requests for radio kits and weather equipment in 2020. Of those requests, 834 were filled, 82 were 

canceled, and 23 were UTF.

Radio and Weather Equipment Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Requesting 

Geographic Area 
36

National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State

(Figures are from the SIT/209 Application) 

Alabama

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 23 1,217 0 0 23 1,217

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 813 19,340 0 0 813 19,340

Totals: 836 20,557 0 0 836 20,557

Alaska

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

BLM 11 11 131 45,245 142 45,256

DVF 154 260 37 135,640 191 135,900

FS 16 13 0 0 16 13

Totals: 181 284 168 180,885 349 181,169

Arizona

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

BIA 795 5,083 98 180,124 893 185,207

BLM 190 15,175 60 61,029 250 76,204

DOD 0 0 0 0 0 0

DVF 338 31,192 50 52,765 388 83,957

FS 711 299,285 235 329,817 946 629,102

FWS 23 3,031 2 268 25 3,299

NPS 16 30 6 768 22 798

Totals: 2,073 353,796 451 624,771 2,524 978,567

Arkansas 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

FS 58 1,599 2 0 60 1,599

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

NPS 14 138 0 0 14 138

OTHR 581 10,815 0 0 581 10,815

Totals: 653 12,552 2 0 655 12,552

California 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

BIA 97 450 0 21,760 97 22,210

BLM 159 43,263 58 98,938 217 142,201

C&L 48 40,772 8 15 56 40,787
37

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

CDF 8,483 1,286,878 60 30 8,543 1,286,908

FS 1,019 867,073 400 1,560,872 1,419 2,427,945

FWS 13 45 0 0 13 45

LGR 5 2,257 0 0 5 2,257

NPS 42 32,193 37 44,603 79 76,796

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

USN 2 93,000 0 0 2 93,000

Totals: 9,868 2,365,932 563 1,726,218 10,431 4,092,150

Colorado 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

BIA 17 40 32 238 49 278

BLM 68 19,647 170 148,076 238 167,723

C&L 243 80,327 113 23,807 356 104,134

FS 288 315,154 125 1,255 413 316,409

FWS 1 96 3 1 4 97

NPS 3 30,154 11 118 14 30,272

OES 1 2,313 2 156 3 2,469

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

USA 0 0 3 3,975 3 3,975

Totals: 621 447,731 459 177,626 1,080 625,357

Connecticut 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

ST 585 382 1 1 586 383

Totals: 585 382 1 1 586 383

Delaware

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

ST 426 1,356 0 0 426 1,356

Totals: 426 1,356 0 0 426 1,356

Florida 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

BIA 8 329 0 0 8 329

DOD 35 1,870 0 0 35 1,870

FS 66 8,671 22 1,506 88 10,177

FWS 4 4,052 1 760 5 4,812

NPS 12 3,051 33 30,076 45 33,127

OTHR 200 4,920 3 13 203 4,933

ST 1,645 34,485 325 9,668 1,970 44,153

USAF 27 12 0 0 27 12
38

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

Totals: 1,997 57,390 384 42,023 2,381 99,413

Georgia

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres – Total

DOD 0 0 0 0 0 0

FS 2 1 0 0 2 1

FWS 0 0 1 1 1 1

NPS 5 1 0 0 5 1

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 1,691 5,674 0 0 1,691 5,674

Totals: 1,698 5,676 1 1 1,699 5,677

Hawaii

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

C&L 57 470 0 0 57 470

NPS 1 2 0 0 1 2

Totals: 58 472 0 0 58 472

Idaho

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 23 171 0 0 23 171

BLM 138 44,010 39 16,137 177 60,147

BOR 6 12 0 0 6 12

C&L 79 8,662 5 662 84 9,324

DOD 2 2,183 1 914 3 3,097

FS 174 176,175 185 58,895 359 235,070

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 239 5,806 53 725 292 6,531

Totals: 661 237,019 283 77,333 944 314,352

Illinois

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 12 201 0 0 12 201

FWS 2 22 0 0 2 22

ST 5 16 0 0 5 16

Totals: 19 239 0 0 19 239

Indiana 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

DOD 0 0 0 0 0 0

FS 0 0 0 0 0 0
39

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FWS 4 259 0 0 4 259

NPS 6 52 0 0 6 52

ST 1 2 0 0 1 2

Totals: 11 313 0 0 11 313

Iowa

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 126 2,168 0 0 126 2,168

Totals: 126 2,168 0 0 126 2,168

Kansas

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 9 101 0 0 9 101

C&L 35 33,477 0 0 35 33,477

FS 0 0 0 0 0 0

FWS 6 363 0 0 6 363

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

USA 2 640 0 0 2 640

Totals: 52 34,581 0 0 52 34,581

Kentucky

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 21 170 1 108 22 278

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 502 7,672 0 0 502 7,672

Totals: 523 7,842 1 108 524 7,950

Louisiana 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 78 2,869 2 28 80 2,897

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 321 2,983 0 0 321 2,983

Totals: 399 5,852 2 28 401 5,880

Maine

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0

NPS 1 0 0 0 1 0

ST 1,107 992 47 40 1,154 1,032

Totals: 1,109 992 47 40 1,156 1,032
40

Maryland 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0

ST 1 930 0 0 1 930

Totals: 2 930 0 0 2 930

Massachusetts

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

ST 1,178 767 11 67 1,189 834

Totals: 1,178 767 11 67 1,189 834

Michigan 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 8 2 0 0 8 2

FS 196 177 1 0 197 177

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

NPS 3 0 0 0 3 0

ST 194 942 7 10 201 952

Totals: 401 1,121 8 10 409 1,131

Minnesota

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 340 453 1 0 341 453

FS 97 107 11 13 108 120

FWS 27 3,076 0 0 27 3,076

NPS 5 0 1 0 6 0

ST 888 5,189 2 0 890 5,189

Totals: 1,357 8,825 15 13 1,372 8,838

Mississippi

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 101 4,498 0 0 101 4,498

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 989 13,442 0 0 989 13,442

Totals: 1,090 17,940 0 0 1,090 17,940

Missouri

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 101 4,498 0 0 101 4,498

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 989 13,442 0 0 989 13,442

Totals: 1,090 17,940 0 0 1,090 17,940
41

Montana

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 956 106,528 98 19,168 1,054 125,696

BLM 30 2,345 52 9,325 82 11,670

C&L 413 95,909 153 85,355 566 181,264

FS 317 13,691 130 35,381 447 49,072

FWS 0 0 2 42 2 42

NPS 2 5 0 0 2 5

ST 225 1,548 55 336 280 1,884

Totals: 1,943 220,026 490 149,607 2,433 369,633

Nebraska

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

DOF 14 6,357 11 637 25 6,994

FS 6 134 9 481 15 615

FWS 1 2 0 0 1 2

Totals: 21 6,493 20 1,118 41 7,611

Nevada

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BLM 296 64,989 161 158,062 457 223,051

C&L 142 3,523 36 7,363 178 10,887

DOD 0 0 1 3,130 1 3,130

FS 30 5,634 52 16,414 82 22,048

FWS 16 154 0 0 16 154

NPS 30 4 0 0 30 4

ST 6 0 0 0 6 0

Totals: 520 74,305 250 184,969 770 259,275

New Hampshire 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 34 4 2 0 36 4

NPS 1 0 0 0 1 0

ST 206 80 9 4 215 84

Totals: 241 84 11 4 252 88

New Jersey

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

DOD 1 865 0 0 1 865

FWS 3 1 0 0 3 1

ST 1,976 9,535 1 1,518 1,977 11,053

Totals: 1,980 10,401 1 1,518 1,981 11,919
42

New Mexico 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 139 843 27 449 166 1,292

BLM 69 3,748 36 3,061 105 6,809

DOE 2 1 0 0 2 1

FS 304 6,940 178 85,561 482 92,501

FWS 2 1 0 0 2 1

NPS 2 62 8 10 10 72

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

SF 179 4,068 72 4,768 251 8,836

Totals: 697 15,663 321 93,849 1,018 109,512

New York

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

ST 187 1,104 5 19 192 1,123

Totals: 187 1,104 5 19 192 1,123

North Carolina 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 5 2 0 0 5 2

FS 20 1,056 2 73 22 1,129

FWS 3 60 0 0 3 60

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 2,270 7,574 27 246 2,297 7,820

USM 37 3,863 0 0 37 3,863

Totals: 2,335 12,555 29 319 2,364 12,874

North Dakota 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 627 2,602 5 13 632 2,615

BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0

FS 10 350 4 25 14 375

FWS 4 780 1 12 5 792

ST 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals: 641 3,732 10 50 651 3,782

Ohio

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 49 49 1 17 50 66

ST 599 1,485 0 0 599 1,485

Totals: 648 1,534 1 17 649 1,551
43

Oklahoma 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 449 23,887 3 10 452 23,897

FWS 10 133 1 5 11 138

OTHR 165 2,430 0 0 165 2,430

ST 613 75,836 0 0 613 75,836

Totals: 1,237 102,287 4 15 1,241 102,302

Oregon

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 159 2,069 25 213,747 184 215,817

BLM 86 184,205 73 49,842 159 234,047

C&L 5 8 0 0 5 8

DL 0 0 0 0 0 0

DOF 798 44,677 158 3,095 956 47,772

FS 488 447,518 397 194,629 885 642,147

FWS 9 1,021 3 798 12 1,819

NPS 8 1 6 1 14 2

Totals: 1,553 679,499 662 462,113 2,215 1,141,612

Pennsylvania

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 7 13 0 0 7 13

ST 1,473 2,976 8 8 1,481 2,984

Totals: 1,480 2,989 8 8 1,488 2,997

Rhode Island 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

ST 112 85 1 0 113 85

Totals: 112 85 1 0 113 85

South Carolina 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 14 31 1 1 15 32

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

OTHR 440 1,664 5 47 445 1,711

ST 2 7 0 0 2 7

USA 3 4 0 0 3 4

Totals: 459 1,706 6 48 465 1,754
44

South Dakota 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 431 8,831 22 4,374 453 13,205

BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0

C&L 10 631 0 0 10 631

FS 34 56 50 41 84 97

FWS 0 0 1 2 1 2

NPS 0 0 2 28 2 28

ST 264 3,964 38 1,709 302 5,673

Totals: 739 13,482 113 6,154 852 19,636

Tennessee

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 23 41 1 3 24 44

NPS 1 1 0 0 1 1

ST 342 4,118 0 0 342 4,118

Totals: 545 4,936 5 1 550 4,937

Texas 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0

C&L 5,749 49,673 180 7,177 5,929 56,850

FS 50 290 10 287 60 577

FWS 21 6,032 11 137 32 6,169

NPS 5 12 11 668 16 680

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 556 127,205 120 65,345 676 192,550

Totals: 6,381 183,212 332 73,614 6,713 256,826

Utah 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 31 141 8 6,791 39 6,932

BLM 179 42,693 148 59,662 327 102,355

DOD 0 0 0 0 0 0

FS 176 11,184 85 115,042 261 126,226

FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0

NPS 9 20 3 0 12 20

ST 750 42,778 93 42,403 843 85,181

USA 8 9,020 2 1 10 9,021

Totals: 1,154 105,836 339 223,899 1,493 329,735
45

Vermont

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 4 4 0 0 4 4

ST 89 120 3 2 92 122

Totals: 93 124 3 2 96 126

Virginia 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0

FS 19 305 4 12 23 317

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 365 4,803 22 476 387 5,279

Totals: 384 5,108 26 488 410 5,596

Washington 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 171 324,487 3 4 174 324,491

BLM 68 30,101 2 79 70 30,180

C&L 89 2,674 0 0 89 2,674

DNR 991 204,994 33 144 1,024 205,138

FS 182 25,590 38 4,470 220 30,061

FWS 50 30,924 4 249 54 31,173

NPS 3 84.2 4 0.8 7 85

ST 8 218,568 0 0 8 218,568

Totals: 1,562 837,422 84 4,947 1,646 842,370

West Virginia 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

FS 9 30 0 0 9 30

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 1,166 6,694 55 1,472 1,221 8,166

Totals: 1,175 6,724 55 1,472 1,230 8,196

Wisconsin 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 8 6 0 0 8 6

FS 14 5 0 0 14 5

FWS 3 241 0 0 3 241

NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0

ST 752 1,526 4 7 756 1,533

Totals: 777 1,778 4 7 781 1,785
46

Wyoming 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires –Lightning

Acres –

Lightning

Fires –

Total Acres - Total

BIA 138 397 5 62 143 459

BLM 100 25,033 44 5,356 144 30,389

BOR 7 49 0 0 7 49

C&L 242 47,268 96 16,710 338 63,978

FS 78 211,393 45 21,879 123 233,272

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

NPS 9 4 8 4,128 17 4,132

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

SF 35 5,933 21 1,570 56 7,503

Totals: 609 290,077 219 49,705 828 339,782
47

NICC Benchmarks 

The figures below represent national-level totals for fire activity and numbers of resources 

mobilized through the National Interagency Coordination Center, except for Incident 

Management Team mobilizations, which are displayed in totality of mobilizations nationwide. 

Records set during the year of this report are in bold.

Category Record Year Record 2020 Stats

Wildfires 2006 96,385 58,950

Wildfire Acres Burned 2015 10,125,149 10,122,336

Significant Fires 2006 1,801 999

Days at Preparedness Level 1&2 2010 365 229

Days at Preparedness Level 4&5 2002 88 71

Days at Preparedness Level 5 2002 62 45

Type 1 IMT Mobilizations* 2002 85 31

Type 2 IMT Mobilizations* 2000 58 28

Dept. of Defense Battalions/Task Forces 1988 8 2

MAFFS (millions of gallons delivered) 1994 5.03 1.350

Tactical Crew Mobilizations 2003 1,796 1,017

Engine Mobilizations 2020 2,387 2,387

Overhead Mobilizations 2000 17,898 12,794

Type 1 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 288 232

Type 2 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 323 99

Heavy Airtankers (VLAT/LAT/MAFFS) 2017 2,298 778

Large Transport Flights 1994 552 26

Mobile Food Units 1994 195 131

Shower Units 1994 256 197
48

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
49

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 Supervisor - ATS). 

CWN: Call When Needed, refers to aircraft that have a call when needed contract.

DRTI: Distributed Real-Time Infrared aircraft (operated by DOD).

EXCL: Exclusive-Use Contract. Refers to aircraft that have an exclusive-use contact 

with an agency.

IA: Initial attack.

IMT: Incident Management Team.

Infrared: Aircraft outfitted with infrared sensing equipment.

IROC: Interagency Resource Ordering Capability System.

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 is assigned.

LAT: Large Airtanker.

Lead Plane: Twin-engine airplane that guides airtankers 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.

Starter: Type of portable radio kit. 

Repeater: Type of portable radio kit.

Tactical: Type of portable radio kit.

SEAT: Single engine airtanker.

TFR: Temporary Flight Restriction.

UTF: Unable to Fill resource request (the requested resource couldn’t be filled).

UAS: Unmanned aircraft systems.

VLAT: Very Large Airtanker.