National Interagency

Coordination Center

Wildland Fire 

Summary and Statistics

Annual Report

2010
1

Table of Contents

Identifier Legend........................................................................................................................ 2

Preface ...................................................................................................................................... 3

2010 Fire Season Summary...................................................................................................... 4

Significant Fire Activity............................................................................................................... 8

Wildfires Reported to NICC ..................................................................................................... 11

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres ......................................................................................... 21

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

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

Type 1 Incident Management Team Mobilization .................................................................... 29

Department of Defense Mobilization........................................................................................ 34

Crew Mobilization .................................................................................................................... 34

Engine Mobilization ................................................................................................................. 37

Overhead Mobilization............................................................................................................. 40

Helicopter Mobilization............................................................................................................. 42

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilization .............................................................................................. 45

Large Transportation Aircraft................................................................................................... 49

Light Cargo and Passenger Flights by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area.................. 51

Equipment Services Mobilization............................................................................................. 53

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilization............................................................................ 55

NICC Benchmarks................................................................................................................... 58

Acronyms and Terminology..................................................................................................... 59

National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State ................................................ 60
2

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

EB: Eastern 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

WB: Western Great Basin 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
3

Preface

Statistics used in this report were gathered from the 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 

Areas. Pie chart figures are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point. This document is 

available electronically at the National Interagency Coordination Center web page: NICC 

Annual Reports. 

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

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

and Status System (ROSS), which tracks tactical, logistical, service and support resources 

mobilized by the national incident dispatch coordination system. The statistics presented in this 

report are the resources requested by one of the eleven 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 chapter 20 of the National Mobilization Guide. The National Mobilization Guide can be 

found on the NICC web site National Interagency Mobilization Guide. 
4

National Interagency Coordination Center

2010 Fire Season Summary 

Winter (December 2009 – February 2010)

The winter of 2009-2010 was drier than normal over much of the northwest quarter of the 

country, including Wyoming and Idaho, as well as Michigan through the Ohio River Valley. 

Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina experienced wet winters. Much of the country 

experienced a cold winter, with the exception being the Northwest, West Coast, and portions of 

the Northeast. Alaska experienced its fifth driest December-February period on record along 

with above normal temperatures. Hawaii was exceptionally dry with rainfall totals for JanuaryFebruary in Hilo measuring 2.32 inches compared to a normal of 18.60 inches. Drought 

conditions persisted across much of the West, portions of the western Great Lakes, the interior 

of Alaska, and the Hawaiian Islands. Much of the weather pattern for the winter can be attributed 

to the effects of El Niño, which became most evident beginning in mid-January with a very wet 

weather pattern across the southern tier of the U.S. 

Fire activity was minimal across the country throughout the winter. The Southwest was 

somewhat active in early January (110 percent of average for number of fires and 127 percent 

of average acreage), however this was quickly mitigated by widespread heavy precipitation that 

began in mid-January. Nationally, by the end of February there were 42 percent of the average 

number of fires and 26 percent of average acreage for the year to date. 

Spring (March – May)

In the West, a persistent pattern of low pressure troughs produced a very cool spring. Overall, 

this was the tenth coolest May on record for the entire West and the second coolest May for 

Idaho. The Northwest was wetter than normal, while the Southwest was unusually dry. In the 

East, a strong high pressure ridge gave the area a very warm spring, and the warmest spring 

ever for the Northeast. Most of the East was also drier than normal, especially over the Great 

Lakes and Louisiana. Mountain snowpack amounts across the West were significantly lower 

than normal in early May, with the exception of the Southwest, southern Utah, southern and 

eastern Nevada, and much of California where above normal snowpack was measured. 

However, a rather cool and wet spring kept higher elevation fuels moist through the early 

summer months in many locations. 

Due to a very dry winter and spring, Alaska had less than 70 percent of normal snowpack across 

the central and western portions of the state by May 1, with around 80 percent of normal 

conditions in the east and north. Record temperatures were observed in parts of the Alaska 

Interior the last week of May, and relative humidity values in the teens were also recorded for 

the same period. The Build-Up Index (similar to the NFDRS Energy Release Component and 

indicates the overall burnability of large fuels) was at all-time record high values during the last 

week of May.

By the end of May, fire season 2010 could be described as below normal across the contiguous 

U.S., but much above normal in Alaska. Nationally, by the end of May, 25,784 fires had occurred, 

burning 674,222 acres. This was 78 percent of the total number of fires, and 62 percent of total 

acres burned as a comparison to the 10-year national average for this time period. Alaska 

reported 262 year-to-date fires that burned 259,946 acres, which is 163 percent of its 10-year 
5

fire average, and 580 percent of its 10-year average for acres burned. By the end of May, Alaska 

had burned nearly 40 percent of the total number of acres burned nationally. 

Except for Alaska, every Geographic Area experienced below average fire activity. Eastern Area 

experienced near normal fire activity during the spring, with below average acres burned for the 

time period. Northern California Operations Area and Eastern Great Basin Geographic Area also 

reported near average number of fires, but both Geographic Areas were well below average for 

acres burned. All other Geographic Areas were below their average for both fires and acres 

burned through the end of May. 

Summer (June – August)

The weather patterns for the summer of 2010 featured recurring low pressure systems and 

associated coolness over much of the West, with hot weather over the East. This was largely 

due to the weakening, and eventual transition, of El Niño to La Niña. Nationally, it was the fourth 

warmest summer on record. Ten eastern states experienced record-warm summers; Rhode 

Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, 

Georgia, and Alabama. The Northeast experienced its warmest January-August period on 

record with an average temperature of more than 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal for the 

region. The summer weather pattern brought significant precipitation to the western Great Lakes, 

and the nation as a whole averaged above normal precipitation for the summer. Wisconsin had 

its wettest summer on record with 6.91 inches of precipitation above average. Michigan, Iowa, 

Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota experienced their wettest summer in the past 

10 years. A persistent high pressure system and lack of tropical activity produced dry conditions 

in the Southeast. The Southwest monsoon arrived on time, with average intensity and had 

greatest impact across the Four Corners, eastern Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas. Alaska 

experienced near normal temperatures yet relatively wet conditions for the summer months. 

Precipitation was 12 percent above normal through the June-August period across Alaska.

Mountain snowpack amounts across the West were significantly lower than normal by May 1, 

with the exception of the Southwest, southern Utah, southern and eastern Nevada, and much of 

California where above normal snowpack was measured. However, a rather cool and wet spring 

kept higher elevation fuels moist through the early summer months in many locations. Alaska, 

due to a very dry winter and spring, had less than 70 percent of normal snowpack across the 

central and western portions of the state by May 1, and around 80 percent of normal conditions 

in the east and north.

By the end of August, 43,293 fires had occurred, which burned 2,612,608 acres nationally. This 

represents 71 percent of the total number of fires, and 45 percent of total acres burned as a 

comparison to the national 10-year average. In 2009 21,570 more fires had occurred and 

2,681,721 more acres had burned during the same time frame. All Geographic Areas 

experienced below average fires and acres burned from June through August, except Alaska. 

Alaska reported 648 year-to-date fires that burned 1,099,312 acres, which is 147 percent of its 

10-year fire average, but only 73 percent of its 10-year average for acres burned. It is notable 

that by August 31, Alaska had burned 42 percent of the total number of acres burned nationally. 

Eastern Great Basin reported 1,604 fires, which burned 630,661 acres, which is 78 percent of 

its 10-year fire average, and 92 percent of its 10-year average for acres burned. Two fires that 

burned in Idaho during July and August accounted for nearly 66 percent of the year-to-date 

acreage total to date for the Eastern Great Basin Area. Collectively these two fires burned a total 

of 415,549 acres.
6

All other Geographic Areas experienced below average fires and number of acres burned, and 

the national preparedness level never exceeded PL 2 for the entire year. The greatest anomaly 

was Western Great Basin, which experienced 44 percent of its 10-year average number of fires 

and burned just four percent of normal acreage by August 31. Eastern Geographic Area came 

closest to average with 94 percent of fire occurrences. Eastern Great Basin Geographic Area 

came closest to average for number of acres burned. The majority of the fires and acres in both 

the Eastern and Southern Areas occurred prior to June.

Hurricane Support

The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season experienced above-normal tropical activity during the 

summer. As of October 1, 2010, there were 19 named storms, including 12 hurricanes, 5 of 

which were major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). No tropical systems had a major impact on 

the U.S. coastline. The greatest impact came from Hurricane Earl that brushed the East Coast 

in early September and brought gusty winds and heavy rainfall to the Outer Banks of North 

Carolina and the coast of Maine. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with 

August and September typically being the most active months. Normal activity for the hurricane 

season is 11 named storms with 6 becoming hurricanes. Early season tropical forecasts called 

for above normal tropical activity for the 2010 season, with mid-season updates reinforcing the 

initial forecast. No Incident Management Teams were mobilized in support of tropical storms 

activity. Map courtesy of Unisys Corporation: Unisys Hurricane Atlantic 2010. 

National Fire Activity Synopsis

The 2010 fire season was below normal for number of reported wildfires at 94 percent of the 10-

year average by the end of the year. There were 71,971 wildfires reported nationally (compared 

to 78,792 wildfires reported in 2009). The number of acres burned in 2010 was 3,422,724. This 

represents just 52 percent of the 10-year average. Alaska led the nation in acres-burned in 2010, 

with over 1.1 million acres burned.

Three Geographic Areas reported above an average number of fires in 2010: Alaska, Eastern 

and Southern Areas. Only Eastern Great Basin Geographic Area experienced above average 
7

acres burned in 2010 at 107 percent of its 10-year average. This was largely due to two very 

large fires that burned in southern Idaho. Nine fires or complexes exceeded 40,000 acres in size

in 2010, compared to 27 in 2009 and 24 in 2008 (see Significant Fire Activity below). 

Across much of the western U.S., June rains delayed the onset of fire season. By late July, 10

of the 11 Geographic Areas were seeing large fire activity. However, fire activity did not become 

significantly concentrated in any single Geographic Area, and the fires that did occur generally

burned in light fuels and did not create significant suppression issues.

Notable fires of 2010 included the Schultz fire just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona which burned 

15,000 acres in mid-June. This fire caused the evacuation of 750 homes. Monsoonal flash 

flooding a few weeks after the fire resulted in a massive mud and debris flow that came out of 

the burned area and into a subdivision. A Type 2 Incident Management Team was mobilized as 

a result of the debris flow. The Four Mile Canyon fire near Boulder, Colorado burned 167 

residences and several outbuildings in early September. This wind-driven fire ultimately burned 

nearly 6,200 acres. Two massive rangeland fires in Idaho were the largest fires of 2010 that 

occurred in the contiguous U.S. The Long Butte fire scorched 306,000 acres near Hagerman, 

Idaho, and the Jefferson fire burned 109,000 acres of rangeland near the Idaho National 

Laboratory.

A total of 788 structures were destroyed by wildland fires, including 338 residences, 445 

outbuildings and 5 businesses. This is well below the annual average of 1,179 residences, 1,156

outbuildings and 42 businesses destroyed by wildfire (statistics compiled from 1999 to present).

The 2010 fire season did not see any serious competition for firefighting resources. In fact, 

mobilizations of Area Command, NIMO, and Incident Management Teams were down 

significantly in 2010. The demand for national Incident Management Teams was significantly 

lower in 2010. National Type 1 Teams were mobilized just 10 times and spent just 92 days on 

assignments. This includes one non-fire flood recovery assignment in Arkansas. Nine of the 16 

teams were not assigned to an incident.

Type 2 Teams were mobilized 65 times and spent 672 days assigned in 2010 (figures include 

both national and regional teams). In 2009 there were 62 Type 2 assignments for 571 

assignment days. None of the nation’s four Area Command teams were mobilized in 2010. Three 

of the four National Incident Management Organizations (NIMO) were mobilized six times to 

both fire and non-fire incidents, including one international fire assignment to Israel.

In April, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in Gulf of Mexico created a significant all-hazard incident 

for the Southern Geographic Area. Various wildland fire and natural resource personnel were 

ordered for incident support and management in response to this national disaster.
8

Military and International Resource Mobilizations

Military: There were no military activations in 2010.

Australia: In January the United States sent 12 fire managers and specialists to Australia for 34 

days. A second contingent of 16 personnel departed for Australia in February for assignments 

lasting up to 40 days.

Haiti: The National Interagency Fire Center mobilized two radio technicians along with 300 radios 

and five repeaters to Haiti in January following that country’s earthquake. The technicians were 

assigned a total of 17 days.

Canada: The U.S. provided 30 smokejumpers to British Columbia, Canada in August (in two 

separate contingents). Infrared aircraft flew 18 fire missions in British Columbia and Alberta (five 

infrared interpreters were utilized to analyze the infrared data back in the U.S.). Additionally an 

interagency 20 person Type 2 initial attack crew from the Eastern Area was mobilized to a fire 

in Quebec in July.

Russia: The U.S. provided 100 large capacity water tanks, 1,500 hand tools and 1,000 pairs of 

goggles in support of the massive wildfires that occurred there in August. 

Israel: The National Interagency Fire Center mobilized five members of Custer's NIMO to support 

a U.S. Agency for International Development Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in 

response to wildfires burning in Israel’s Carmel Forest. The team members were assigned from 

December 4 through December 10. Three 20-person crews were initially staged in Boise for a 

24 hour period, but then released.

Significant Fire Activity

Fires and Complexes Over 40,000 Acres in 2010

Information derived from ICS-209 reports.

Name Inc.

Type GACC State Start Date

Contain or 

Control 

Date

Size

(Acres) Cause Estimated 

Cost

Long Butte WF EB ID 21-Aug-10 3-Sep-10 306,113 L $ 4,225,000

Toklat WF AK AK 16-May-10 4-Jun-10 171,727 L $2,109,186

Jefferson WF EB ID 13-Jul-10 17-Jul-10 109,436 H $ 700,819

Turquoise Lake WF AK AK 18-May-10 7-Sep-10 91,885 H $317,515

Big Mountain WF AK AK 2-Jun-10 2-Sep-10 83,746 L NR

Pat Creek WF AK AK 25-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 72,692 L $11,622,393

Lone Mountain WF AK AK 29-May-10 22-Dec-10 51,996 L $10,044

Twitchell Canyon WF EB UT 20-Jul-10 18-Nov-10 44,892 L $ 17,363,000

Bull Creek WF AK AK 31-May-10 25-Jun-10 41,911 L NR

WF – Wildfire L - Lightning H – Human U - Unknown 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 official final figures.
9

Significant Fire Activity

There were 938 large or significant wildfires reported to NICC in 2010 (from ICS-209 reports

submitted in the FAMWEB reporting system). The maps below depict the locations of these fires.
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 and 300 acres in grass and brush fuel types, or are managed by a 

Type 1, 2, WFMT or NIMO incident management team. 

Percent of Reported Significant Fires by Geographic Area

AK NW NO SO NR EB WB SW RM EA SA

11% 4% 2% 4% 4% 9% 1% 7% 6% 11% 42%
11

Wildfires Reported to NICC

There were 71,971 wildfires reported, which burned 3,422,724 acres in 2010. These figures are

below the five-year and ten-year averages for both wildfires and acres.
12

Wildfire Acres Reported to NICC
13

Wildfire Activity Levels by Geographic Area

Percent of Geographic Area wildfire activity in 2010 compared to the previous 10 years. 
14

Alaska Wildfire Activity

In 2010 Alaska burned 33 percent of all acres in the U.S. Over the past 10 years Alaska has 

burned an average of 28 percent of total acres annually. The chart below compares annual acres 

burned between Alaska and continental U.S. (includes Hawaii).
15

Wildfires by Agency
16

Wildfire Acres by Agency
17

Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area 

Number of Lightning Caused Fires

AK EA EB NO NR NW RM SA SO SW WB Total

330 169 1,036 441 633 1,110 941 1,068 216 947 273 7,164

Number of Lightning Caused Acres Burned

AK EA EB NO NR NW RM SA SO SW WB Total

1,018,660 1,454 528,335 12,973 44,900 79,869 32,929 118,103 16,660 244,698 20,694 2,119,275
18

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area

Number of Human Caused Fires

AK EA EB NO NR NW RM SA SO SW WB Total

359 15,675 810 2,502 1,107 1,078 1,962 36,108 3,394 1,600 212 64,807

Number of Human Caused Acres Burned

AK EA EB NO NR NW RM SA SO SW WB Total

106,759 128,649 183,684 22,701 25,574 70,684 118,702 506,337 67,326 69,860 3,173 1,303,449
19

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Agency
20

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Geographic Area
21

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres

National reporting of prescribed fires began in 1998.
22

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency
23

Prescribed Fire Projects by Agency and Geographic Area

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

Prescribed Fire Projects by Agency

Comparison of current year to 10-year averages.
24

Prescribed Fire Projects by Geographic Area

Comparison of current year to 10-year averages. 
25

Wildland Fire Use Fires and Acres

Wildland Fire Use incidents were merged with wildfires in 2009, and are no longer reported

separately. The charts below are provided for historical reference.
26

National Preparedness Levels

The national Preparedness Level (PL) never went above 2 in 2010. The national PL was 

elevated to PL 2 on June 2, and remained there until October 13, when it dropped back to PL 1 

for the remainder of the year. Since 1990 the only years in which the national PL didn’t go above 

2 were 1993 and 1997. 

National Preparedness Level records of note: January 4, 2006 was the earliest date PL 2 was 

declared. May 12, 2000 was the earliest date that PL 3 was declared. June 10, 2002 was the 

earliest date that PL 4 was declared. June 21, 2002 was the earliest date that PL 5 was declared. 

September 15, 2006 was the latest calendar date at PL 5.
27

National Preparedness Level Summary

In 2010 there were no days in national Preparedness Levels 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

5-yr Avg 232 89 15 14 15 30

10-yr Avg 200 93 32 17 25 41
28

Incident Management Team Mobilizations

Daily commitment of Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Management Teams, during the height of the 

2010 fire season are shown in the charts below. Figures are based on IMT information provided 

on ICS-209 reports.

In 2010 none of the four Area Command Teams were activated. Four National Incident 

Management Organization (NIMO) teams were activated six times between July 17 and the end 

of the year for a total of 52 assignment days in 2010, including one international assignment to 

Israel. Five assignments were wildland fire, and one was non-fire.

The tables below show a daily count of Type 1 and Type 2 Teams assigned from June 1 to 

October 31 (Type 2 includes Wildland Fire Management Teams).
29

Type 1 Incident Management Team Mobilization

Sixteen national Type 1 Teams were available in 2010. Ten were mobilized in 2010. National 

Type 1 Teams were assigned a combined total of 92 days in 2010, down from 125 days in 2009. 

The record was set in 2002 when Type 1 Teams were assigned 85 times for a total of 999 days. 

There was one non-fire assignment for national teams in 2010. 

 
30

Type 1 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area

Number of Type 1 Teams mobilized within a Geographic Area (including out of area 

teams).

CN – Canada

Number of Type 1 Teams mobilized by Geographic Area (including out of area 

assignments).
31

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilization

Of 65 total Type 2 Team assignments in 2010, seven were filled through NICC (including one

Wildland Fire Management Team assignment). Teams were assigned a total of 672 days, up

from 62 assignments and 571 days assigned in 2009. The following charts and tables summarize 

total requests by agency and Geographic Area.
32

Type 2 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area

Number of Type 2 Teams mobilized within Geographic Areas (including out of area 

teams).

CN – Canada

Number of Type 2 Teams mobilized by Geographic Areas (including out of area 

assignments).
33

Types 1 and 2 IMT Summary 2010

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

Management Teams requested through NICC.

By Requesting Agency and Requesting Geographic Area
34

Department of Defense Mobilization

No battalions or task forces were mobilized by the Department of Defense in 2010. The 

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

 

Crew Mobilization

NICC processed 497 crew requests in 2010. Of these requests, 475 were filled, 16 requests 

were canceled, and 6 were UTF. There were 346 Type 1 crew requests, 23 Type 2 crew requests 

and 128 Type 2 IA crew requests.
35

 Tactical crews include Type 1, Type 2 and Type 2 IA.
36

Crew Summary by Requesting Agency and GACC
37

Engine Mobilization

The NICC processed 250 engine requests in 2010. Of total requests, 232 were filled, 14 were 

canceled and four were UTF. All 15 requests for water tenders placed to NICC were filled.
38

Engine Summary by Requesting Agency and Type
39

Engine Summary by Requesting Geographic Area and Type
40

Overhead Mobilization

A total of 5,991 requests for overhead positions were processed by NICC in 2010. Of these

requests, 5,431 were filled, 362 were canceled 198 were UTF.

Chart below shows total overhead requests filled annually through NICC.
41

Overhead Requests Summary by Requesting Agency and GACC
42

Helicopter Mobilization

A total of 342 Type 1, 2 and 3 helicopter requests were processed by NICC: 306 were filled, 32

were canceled and four were UTF. Of the 141 Type 1 helicopter requests placed to NICC: 123

were filled, 17 were canceled and one was UTF. Of the 135 requests placed to NICC for Type 2 

helicopters: 122 were filled, 11 canceled and two were UTF. Of the 66 requests placed to NICC

for Type 3 helicopters: 61 were filled, four canceled and one were UTF. 
43

Helicopter Summary by Requesting Agency and Type
44

Helicopter Summary by Requesting Geographic Area and Type
45

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilization

The categories for fixed wing aircraft requests include: air tankers (types 1 to 3), single engine 

air tankers (SEAT), lead planes, aerial supervision modules (ASM), air attack, infrared, and 

smokejumper aircraft. A total of 796 aircraft requests were received at NICC: 677 were filled, 45

were canceled and 75 were UTF. 
46

Air Tanker Mobilization

A total of 246 heavy air tanker requests were processed by NICC in 2010. Of total requests, 190

were filled, 19 were canceled and 37 were UTF. 

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS)
47

Aircraft Summary by Requesting Agency and Type (Through NICC)

Aircraft Summary by Requesting Geographic Area and Type
48
49

Large Transportation Aircraft

In 2010 there was one exclusive use contract for large transportation aircraft. The contract was

filled with a B737-200 jet aircraft. The NICC processed a total of 27 requests for transportation, 

and the exclusive use jet flew 22 times. There were five additional charter flights.
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
53

Equipment Services Mobilization

A total of 72 requests for mobile food services were processed at NICC: 70 requests were 

filled and two were canceled. A total of 87 shower units were requested: 84 were filled and three

were canceled.
54

Equipment Services by Requesting Agency and Type
55

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilization

A total of 810 requests for radio kits and weather equipment were received at NICC in 2010. Of that total, 793 requests were filled, 

16 were canceled and one was UTF. 

Radio and Weather Equipment Summary by Requesting Agency and Type
56

Radio and Weather Equipment Summary by Requesting Geographic Area and Type
57

Average Worst Summary

Averaging the data from very active fire years (1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2007) selected 

from the previous 14 years, average worst case fire year numbers were derived. Based on these

data, NICC can expect as a worst case average the following (categories in bold mean that the 

average worst cases were equaled or exceeded in 2010):

• 76,841 – Wildfires

• 7,583,783 Acres burned

• 15 Days in Preparedness Level 4

• 35 Days in Preparedness Level 5

• 65 Type 1 IMT mobilizations

• 35 Type 2 IMT mobilizations

• 191 Shower mobilizations

• 154 Mobile food (caterer) mobilizations

• 1,465 Crew mobilizations

• 2 Dept. of Defense battalions/task forces activated

• 14,250 Overhead mobilizations

• 292 Air tanker mobilizations

• 196 Type 1 helicopter mobilizations

• 284 Type 2 helicopter mobilizations

• 1,531 Engine mobilizations

• 197 Large jet transportation flights
58

NICC Benchmarks

Records set for 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 2010 Stats

Wildfires 2006 96,385 78,792

Wildfire Acres Burned 2006 9,873,745 5,921,786

Significant Fires 2006 1,801 1,101

Days at Preparedness Level 4 2005 41 0

Days at Preparedness Level 5 2002 62 0

Type 1 IMT Mobilizations (fire & nonfire)2002 85 10

Type 2 IMT Mobilizations (fire & nonfire)2000 58 4

Dept. of Defense Battalions/Task 

Forces

1994 7 0

MAFFS (millions of gallons delivered) 1994 5.03 0

Tactical Crew Mobilizations 2003 1,796 273

Engine Mobilizations 2007 2,267 395

Overhead Mobilizations 2000 17,898 8,674

Type 1 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 288 103

Type 2 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 323 175

Heavy Airtankers (VLAT/LAT/MAFFS) 2000 387 143

Large Transport Flights 1994 552 37

Mobile Food Units 1994 195 68

Shower Units 1994 256 192

Of the 18 benchmarks above, records were set in the following years:

Six in 2006 Six in 2002 Five in 1994 Four in 2005 Four in 2000
59

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). 

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.

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 is assigned.

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.

ROSS: Resource Ordering and Status System. 

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).

VLAT: Very Large Airtanker.
60

National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned 

by State

Figures from the Fire and Aviation Management Web Applications Program. Annual Report- early editions, 508 compliant state by state data table

Alabama

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0 

NPS 0 0 3 1,717

PRI 2 2 0 0 

ST 2,512 23,373 0 0 

USFS 47 1,581 106 83,458

Totals 2,561 24,956 109 85,175

Alaska

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 1 103 0 0 

BLM 74 307,592 0 0 

DDQ 48 21,276 0 0 

FWS 69 145,710 3 59

NPS 53 112,958 0 0 

OTHR 249 128,121 0 0

ST 179 409,649 0 0

USFS 16 10 3 446

Totals 689 1,125,419 6 505

Arizona

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 491 6,543 46 15,945

BLM 218 7,004 9 9,457

DDQ 0 0 0 0 

FWS 11 35 8 8,859

NPS 30 3,145 4 1,470

PRI 0 0 0 0

ST 151 988 0 0

USFS 700 58,603 188 51,095

Totals 1,601 76,318 255 86,826

Arkansas

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 14 67 2 195

NPS 3 72 9 3,746

PRI 0 10 0 0 

ST 2,224 35,168 0 0 

USFS 112 2,354 246 200,867

Totals 2,353 37,671 257 204,808
61

California

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 100 284 3 196

BLM 282 22,107 33 2,454

CNTY 10 41 5 23

DDQ 80 8,650 21 2,549

FWS 6 42 31 28,420

NPS 73 11,877 62 2,380

ST 4,839 27,240 29 4,042

USFS 1,164 39,288 786 32,501

Totals 6,554 109,529 970 72,565

Colorado

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 82 20 7 1,965

BLM 382 6,106 60 6,056

CNTY 294 23,829 34 893

DDQ 4 0 4 8,033

FWS 3 1 3 209

NPS 41 6,609 11 184

OTHR 0 0 3 150

ST 11 686 16 1,046

USFS 352 6,769 168 10,841

Totals 1,169 44,020 306 29,377

Connecticut

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0 

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 69 267 0 0 

ST 0 0 6 52

Totals 69 267 6 52

Delaware

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 12 32 3 22

Totals 12 32 3 22
62

Florida

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 3 23 8 704

DDQ 55 3,970 167 136,420

FWS 4 1,476 76 41,675

NPS 3 42 33 57,777

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 2,819 48,451 0 0 

USFS 100 9,129 253 207,824

Totals 2,984 63,091 537 444,400

Georgia

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DDQ 0 0 8,440 112,602

FWS 0 0 18 8,171

NPS 2 74 0 0 

PRI 0 0 0 0

ST 4,242 19,187 0 0 

USFS 29 876 54 37,538

Totals 4,273 20,137 8,512 158,311

Hawaii

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

CNTY 4 10,167 0 0 

NPS 5 5 0 0 

ST 0 0 0 0 

Totals 9 10,172 0 0 

Idaho

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 16 12,362 0 0 

BLM 186 402,984 20 3,619

CNTY 51 51,998 0 0 

DDQ 2 22,615 0 0 

FWS 0 604 0 0 

NPS 0 4,188 0 0 

OTHR 11 97,975 7 256

PRI 27 3,703 0 0 

ST 186 20,555 86 3,765

USFS 505 26,013 110 29,012

Totals 984 642,997 223 36,652
63

Illinois

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 12 69 10 816

PRI 24 263 0 0 

ST 25 175 3 83

USFS 60 823 32 6,740

Totals 121 1,330 45 7,639

Indiana

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DDQ 0 0 0 0 

FWS 3 1,274 18 8,840

NPS 15 35 11 958

PRI 0 0 1 103

ST 1,225 6,524 29 2,983

USFS 53 107 6 2,751

Totals 1,296 7,940 65 15,635

Iowa

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 0 0 0 0 

FWS 2 258 58 7,267

NPS 0 0 4 35

PRI 121 2,464 0 0 

ST 0 0 48 1,363

Totals 123 2,722 110 8,665

Kansas

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 4 758 12 840

CNTY 38 15,484 1 228

DDQ 1 2,150 0 0 

FWS 1 2,893 38 8,150

NPS 1 3,490 2 2,183

ST 0 0 3 241

USFS 6 280 0 0 

Totals 51 25,055 56 11,642

Kentucky

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

NPS 1 1 5 5,254

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 1,823 55,647 0 0 

USFS 87 4,639 21 17,790

Totals 1,911 60,287 26 23,044
64

Louisiana

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 11 2,752 11 2,552

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 2,241 22,274 0 0 

USFS 122 10,422 9 9,843

Totals 2,374 35,448 20 12,395

Maine

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 0 0 0 0 

FWS 0 0 24 70

NPS 0 0 2 3 

PRI 558 353 0 0 

ST 0 0 10 244

Totals 558 353 36 317

Maryland

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DDQ 3 87 0 0 

NPS 5 5 2 690

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 168 1,498 43 914

Totals 176 1,590 45 1,604

Massachusetts

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DDQ 0 0 4 235

FWS 0 0 0 0 

NPS 2 0 19 28

PRI 2,025 2,156 3 99

ST 0 0 13 188

Totals 2,027 2,156 39 550

Michigan

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 24 11 1 4 

FWS 0 0 5 478

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 5 3 0 0 

ST 365 11,400 84 6,227

USFS 229 708 67 7,108

Totals 623 12,122 157 13,817

Minnesota
65

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 635 2,815 43 62,517

FWS 25 3,824 232 33,900

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 1,301 27,010 236 24,221

USFS 106 472 17 12,828

Totals 2,067 34,121 528 133,466

Mississippi

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 2 2 3 740

NPS 6 11 4 8 

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 3,235 31,238 0 0 

USFS 111 3,559 204 250,978

Totals 3,354 34,810 211 251,726

Missouri

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 31 1,878

NPS 6 3 18 4,833

PRI 1,253 15,220 0 0 

ST 0 0 355 24,159

USFS 138 7,051 29 38,650

Totals 1,397 22,274 433 69,520

Montana

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 300 3,434 106 4,290

BLM 76 17,478 31 4,537

FWS 9 14,542 21 8,054

NPS 5 0 4 22

PRI 66 10,886 0 0 

ST 199 2,160 30 2,984

USFS 395 8,211 323 21,631

Totals 1,050 56,711 515 41,518
66

Nebraska

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 8 604 19 6,072

FWS 2 3 28 7,006

NPS 0 0 2 40

ST 6 41 3 6,313

USFS 11 494 6 3,688

Totals 27 1,142 58 23,119

Nevada

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 4 0 0 0 

BLM 290 19,331 9 1,310

DDQ 0 0 0 0 

FWS 11 37 4 1,728

NPS 16 10 4 846

OTHR 36 630 0 0

ST 52 2,539 1 210

USFS 78 1,322 10 677

Totals 487 23,869 28 4,771

New Hampshire 

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DDQ 0 0 1 17

FWS 0 0 0 0 

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 356 145 3 20

ST 0 0 3 20

USFS 2 0 4 20

Totals 358 145 11 77

New Jersey

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 4 92

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 773 4,041 65 2,287

ST 2,843 14,454 16 158

Totals 3,616 18,495 85 2,537
67

New Mexico

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 107 1,231 7 1,237

BLM 128 15,199 12 14,215

DDQ 0 0 0 0 

FWS 3 5 4 11

NPS 7 13,814 3 97

OTHR 0 0 0 0 

ST 385 176,158 0 0 

USFS 368 26,649 37 45,843

Totals 998 233,056 63 61,403

New York

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DDQ 0 0 7 3,346

FWS 1 694 5 118

NPS 0 0 0 0

PRI 153 1,393 0 0 

ST 0 0 9 122

Totals 154 2,087 21 3,586

 

North Carolina

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 48 366 0 0 

DDQ 141 3,954 158 16,337

FWS 13 31 34 9,000

NPS 1 2 1 10

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 3,890 14,497 333 41,072

USFS 120 2,613 43 21,027

Totals 4,213 21,463 569 87,446

North Dakota

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 452 2,424 7 875

BLM 1 299 0 0 

FWS 0 760 117 22,296

NPS 0 0 8 1,240

PRI 1 251 0 0 

ST 1 13 5 213

USFS 5 107 20 5,047

Totals 460 3,854 157 29,671
68

Ohio

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0 

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 456 3,585 11 920

USFS 115 633 5 1,007

Totals 571 4,218 16 1,927

Oklahoma

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 662 37,813 15 2,681

FWS 12 2,740 6 7,383

NPS 2 5 0 0 

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 1,059 45,212 0 0 

Totals 1,735 85,770 21 10,064

Oregon

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 80 33,741 32 8,040

BLM 215 17,665 205 32,887

CNTY 2 7,365 0 0 

FWS 12 6,673 19 2,168

NPS 13 756 2 77

PRI 3 0 0 0 

ST 21 96 1 205

USFS 969 27,435 577 71,339

Totals 1,315 93,731 836 114,716

Pennsylvania

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0 

NPS 2 0 2 78

PRI 0 0 6 45

ST 568 3,384 30 2,046

USFS 13 98 5 73

Totals 583 3,482 43 2,242
69

Rhode Island

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0 

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 30 23 0 0 

ST 0 0 0 0 

Totals 30 23 0 0 

South Carolina

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

DDQ 14 335 44 3,873

FWS 0 0 25 5,598

NPS 0 0 4 1,320

OTHR 0 0 0 0 

PRI 7 9 0 0 

ST 1,867 7,052 0 0 

USFS 28 172 14 2,987

Totals 1,916 7,568 87 13,778

South Dakota

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 596 3,260 36 1,802

BLM 1 1 18 1,506

FWS 1 1 48 11,522

NPS 3 0 4 5,783

OTHR 0 0 3 248

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 423 9,096 32 743

USFS 54 103 63 19,887

Totals 1,078 12,461 204 41,491

Tennessee

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

NPS 0 0 1 519

PRI 1,823 21,779 0 0 

ST 0 0 0 0 

USFS 35 370 15 10,248

Totals 1,858 22,149 16 10,767
70

Texas

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 5 7 1 2 

CNTY 5,756 97,919 0 0 

DDQ 0 0 0 0 

FWS 79 3,168 41 16,208

NPS 36 7,905 7 1,941

PRI 729 72,624 0 0 

ST 112 28,083 0 0 

USFS 31 614 95 147,855

Totals 6,748 210,320 144 166,006

Utah

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 30 20 2 4,100

BLM 332 5,624 12 1,777

DDQ 0 0 0 0

FWS 1 1 6 2,745

NPS 17 999 6 515

PRI 172 289 25 340

ST 299 9,403 29 2,431

USFS 199 48,445 44 10,749

Totals 1,050 64,781 124 22,657

Vermont

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 0 0 

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 78 85 0 0 

ST 0 0 2 23

USFS 3 1 11 269

Totals 81 86 13 292

Virginia

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

FWS 0 0 1 350

NPS 3 1 3 146

PRI 0 0 0 0 

ST 828 6,140 0 0 

USFS 37 2,228 27 21,490

Totals 868 8,369 31 21,986
71

Washington

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 96 1,053 25 11,872

BLM 15 2,054 1 100

CNTY 3 26,090 0 0 

FWS 5 258 7 658

NPS 18 4,392 0 0 

OTHR 1 1,265 0 0 

ST 510 7,259 0 0 

USFS 222 14,449 92 7,852

Totals 870 56,820 125 20,482

West Virginia

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 2 7 0 0 

ST 699 14,687 0 0

USFS 17 7 15 2,950

Totals 718 14,701 15 2,950

Wisconsin

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 38 41 32 1,254

FWS 7 58 82 10,376

NPS 0 0 0 0 

PRI 43 51 0 0 

ST 1,213 2,038 536 31,857

USFS 17 36 37 1,163

Totals 1,318 2,224 687 44,650

Wyoming

Agency Wildland 

Fires Acres Rx Fires Acres

BIA 43 65 1 8 

BLM 112 6,933 21 13,704

CNTY 190 51,733 0 0 

FWS 4 13 1 80

NPS 21 3,856 11 600

PRI 1 38 0 0 

ST 21 4,685 0 0 

USFS 141 13,059 24 12,621

Totals 533 80,382 58 27,013

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