National Interagency

Coordination Center

Wildland Fire

Summary and Statistics

Annual Report

2018

Camp Fire, California
Table of Contents

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

Geographic Area Coordina�on Centers........................................................................................................1

2018 Fire Season Summary...........................................................................................................................2

Na�onal Fire Ac�vity Synopsis......................................................................................................................5

Significant Wildland Fires..............................................................................................................................6

Significant Fire Ac�vity..................................................................................................................................8

Wildfires Reported to NICC...........................................................................................................................9

Wildfire Acres Burned Reported to NICC......................................................................................................9

Wildfire Ac�vity by Geographic Area......................................................................................................10

Wildfire Ac�vity by Protec�ng Agency....................................................................................................10

Wildfire Acres Burned by Protec�ng Agency ..........................................................................................10

Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area........................................................................................11

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area ..............................................................................11

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Protec�ng Agency..................................................................................12

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Geographic Area....................................................................................13

Alaska Wildfire Ac�vity ...........................................................................................................................14

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres..........................................................................................................14

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency ........................................................................................14

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency ........................................................................................15

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Geographic Area .........................................................................16

Na�onal Preparedness Levels.....................................................................................................................17

Na�onal Preparedness Level Summary ..................................................................................................18

Military and Interna�onal Resource Mobiliza�ons.....................................................................................19

Incident Management Team Mobiliza�ons ................................................................................................19

Type 1 Incident Management Team Mobiliza�ons.................................................................................20

Type 1 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area.........................................................................................20

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobiliza�ons.................................................................................21
Type 2 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area.........................................................................................21

IMT Mobiliza�on by Reques�ng Agency.................................................................................................21

IMT Mobiliza�on by Geographic Area ....................................................................................................22

Crew Mobiliza�ons......................................................................................................................................22

Crew Summary by Reques�ng Agency and GACC...................................................................................23

Engine and Tac�cal Water Tender Mobiliza�ons........................................................................................24

Engine Summary by Reques�ng Agency.................................................................................................25

Engine Summary by Reques�ng Geographic Area..................................................................................26

Overhead Mobiliza�ons..............................................................................................................................27

Overhead Request Summary by Reques�ng Agency and Geographic Area ...........................................27

Helicopter Mobiliza�ons.............................................................................................................................28

Type 1 Helicopter Summary....................................................................................................................28

Type 2 Helicopter Summary....................................................................................................................29

Type 3 Helicopter Summary....................................................................................................................29

Helicopter Summary by Reques�ng Geographic Area............................................................................30

Fixed Wing Aircra� Mobiliza�ons...............................................................................................................31

Air Tanker Mobiliza�ons..........................................................................................................................32

Modular Airborne Fire Figh�ng Systems (MAFFS)..................................................................................32

Fixed Wing Aircra� Summary by Reques�ng Agency .............................................................................33

Fixed Wing Aircra� Summary by Reques�ng Geographic Area ..............................................................34

Large Transporta�on Aircra� ..................................................................................................................35

Large Transporta�on Summary by Reques�ng Agency and Geographic Area........................................36

Light Cargo and Passenger Flights by Reques�ng Agency and Geographic Area....................................36

Equipment Services Mobiliza�on................................................................................................................37

Equipment Services by Reques�ng Agency ............................................................................................38

Equipment Services by Geographic Area ................................................................................................38

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobiliza�ons............................................................................................39

Radio and Weather Equipment Summary by Reques�ng Agency ..........................................................39

Radio and Weather Equipment Summary by Reques�ng Geographic Area...........................................40

Na�onal Report of Wildland Fires and Acres burned by State ...................................................................41

NICC Benchmarks........................................................................................................................................52

Iden�fier Legend.........................................................................................................................................53

Acronyms and Terminology.........................................................................................................................54
1 

Preface

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

Web Applications (FAMWEB) system, which includes the Situation Report and Incident Status 

Summary (ICS-209) programs. Previous National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) 

annual reports and other sources were also used in this document. The statistics presented here 

are intended to provide a national perspective of annual fire activity, but may not reflect official 

figures for a specific agency. The statistics are delineated by agency and Geographic Area. Pie 

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

electronically at the National Interagency Coordination Center web page: 

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

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

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

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

resources mobilized by the national incident dispatch coordination system. Statistics presented in 

this report are the resources requested by one of the ten Geographic Area Coordination Centers 

and processed through NICC. Requests by FEMA are placed to NICC through Emergency 

Support Function (ESF) #4 (Firefighting). The resource ordering process and procedures may be 

found in the National Mobilization Guide. The National Mobilization Guide can be found on the 

NICC web site (www.nifc.gov/news/nicc.html) under reference materials.

Geographic Area Coordination Centers 
2 

2018 Fire Season Summary

Winter (December 2017 – February 2018)

The winter began with temperatures generally below average across the Great Plains and the 

East. Temperatures across the West were mostly above average. With a cold, deep trough in 

place over the East long duration cold events were common, especially across the Great Lakes 

region and New England. A persistent high pressure ridge over the Southwest produced 

temperature anomalies that were between 3 and 9 degrees above average in December and 

January. A pattern shift occurred in February that allowed for a trough to become established over 

the Great Plains and a ridge to develop over the eastern states. This produced a cooling trend 

across the western two thirds of the country and a warming trend across the East. 

Precipitation trends in December were generally well below average across the nation except 

across the Northern Rockies where above average amounts were received. While the trend 

continued into January in most areas, it was not as pronounced except across the southern Great 

Plains where a large area of 25% or less precipitation was received. In contrast, the northern 

Great Plains and Upper Midwest began to show a trend toward above average precipitation as 

the frequency of the passage of Arctic cold fronts and Alberta Clippers increased. Mounting 

precipitation deficits across California and Oregon were beginning to show negative impacts in 

soil moisture data. Drought expansion and intensification was observed across both states. By 

February, a very moist pattern had become established over a majority of the East. Rainfall 

amounts along the Mississippi River Valley were greater than 200% of average and produced 

localized flooding. However, along the southern Atlantic Coastline increases in fire activity were 

observed. This was due to a persistent drier than average pattern that kept rainfall amounts 

received in this area around 50% of average.

Mountain snowpack at the end of the period was above average along the Canadian Border and 

across the Northern Rockies. Amounts across the Great Basin, California, and the Southwest 

were generally much less than 50% of average. The northern Sierra did see some relief in 

February while the Southern Cascades and Siskiyous did not. While Alaska experienced a 

warmer than average winter, the above average precipitation amounts received across the Interior 

produced an above average snowpack.

Spring (March – May)

A persistent, broad, and deep upper level trough of low pressure redeveloped over the eastern 

two thirds of the country in March and April while a strengthening ridge of high pressure developed 

over the West. Temperatures across the northern Great Plains and upper Midwest were less than 

10 degrees below average for weeks on end. Elsewhere across the Great Plains and the East, 

temperatures were 2 to 4 degrees below average. In the West, temperatures were generally 

average to 4 degrees above average both months. In May, the highly amplified atmospheric 

pattern began to flatten into more of a westerly flow. This promoted temperatures that were 

generally above to near average.

Drier than average conditions continued across Southern California and the Southwest in March 

and April. A northward expansion of the conditions into Oregon and Washington occurred in May. 

Drought in these areas continued to intensify and expand in coverage. Elsewhere across the 

country, precipitation totals began to trend toward drier than average conditions in April and May 

except across the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic States where amounts received both months 
3 

were in the 130% to 300% of average range. By May, the residual drought conditions across the 

Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida had been largely alleviated. 

The snow year ended as it began with average to above average amounts received across 

Washington State and the Northern Rockies and below average amounts received across 

Oregon, the Great Basin, and the southwestern states. While above average temperatures 

allowed for a normal loss of the snowpack, the pattern remained wet. This prevented an early 

start to the Alaskan fire season.

Summer (June – August)

The summer of 2018 largely followed expected climatological patterns typically observed during 

the period across the country. A series of high pressure ridge events brought increasing heat and 

dryness to the West and allowed for drought conditions to intensify and expand north of the Four 

Corners Region and also across the Pacific Northwest. In the East, southeastward moving cold 

fronts stalled over the Deep South and continued to produce ample rainfall. This kept drought 

conditions from returning except across Texas where persistently dry conditions allowed for a 

gradual emergence of drought conditions. What was atypical was an early arrival of moisture into 

the Southwest during the last week of June as the remnants of Tropical Storm Bud moved 

northeast across Arizona and New Mexico.

Temperatures across the country were generally average to 4 degrees above average for the 

summer except across the Northern Rockies and the northern Great Plains where they were 1 to 

2 degrees below average. Despite the overall near average conditions observed, there were 

isolated events of record setting heat during August. Some areas across the northwestern portion 

of the country observed near all-time record high temperatures during late August. Alaska 

continued to experience above average temperatures, but the wet pattern persisted.

A very active southwestern monsoon began the first week of July across the Four Corner States 

and intermittently across Southern California and persisted through much of August. The 

previously drier than average signal observed in these areas shifted north into the Great Basin, 

northern California, Pacific Northwest, and somewhat into the Northern Rockies by mid-July. 

Drought conditions in these areas continued to slowly expand and intensify. The heavy grass crop 

across California and the Great Basin cured and dried by mid-month and the developing drought 

allowed for the timber in these areas to become critically dry by late in the month. The abnormally 

dry conditions across Texas continued until early August when monsoonal and other tropical 

moisture began to feed into the state eventually reducing the potential for large fire development.

Autumn (September – December)

The active western fire season continued well into September before a series of passing weak 

weather systems began to supply enough moisture to gradually reduce large fire potential and 

activity. Never-the-less, precipitation amounts received in September were below average across 

the West. In the East, amounts were generally above average. Some improvement in precipitation 

totals was observed in October and November as the seasonal transition to winter began. 

Amounts across the country began to trend toward above average except across most of 

California, western Oregon, and western Washington. The ongoing drought in these areas 

persisted and fuels remained critically dry, especially across portions of central and southern 

California. During a foehn wind event on November 8, the Camp Fire occurred. Over a short 

period of time, the fire consumed more than 153,000 acres, destroyed the town of Paradise, 
4

California, and killed 85 individuals. This was the deadliest fire in more than 100 years. Spread 

rates of 80 acres per minute were observed at the fire’s peak.

While temperatures along the West Coast were above average, elsewhere across the nation they 

were near average during the period. There were a few exceptions. The northern Great Plains 

experienced temperatures that were 6 degrees below average or more, and areas along the Gulf 

Coast experienced temperatures that were nearly 4 degrees above average.

As the decline in fire potential was beginning, the tropical season began to reach it’s peak. 

Hurricane Florence made landfall on September 15 near Wilmington, North Carolina producing 

winds up to 106 mph, storm surge of 9 to 13 feet, and nearly three feet of rainfall. Flooding was 

catastrophic. Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City, Florida on October 10. The 

nearby community of Mexico Beach was decimated as the 155 mph winds associated with the 

Category 4 storm leveled the community. The storm was the strongest to make landfall since 

1992’s Hurricane Andrew. Hawaii also experienced flooding and wind impacts from a pair of 

tropical storms as did the Southeast from an additional two tropical systems that made landfall 

during the late summer and early autumn months. Counting both the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific 

Basins, there were a total of 11 major hurricanes in 2018.

As late November progressed into December, the end of the calendar year began to demonstrate 

conditions typically observed with the emergence of a weak El Niño. Generally, wetter than 

average conditions developed across most of the Southeast and across California. Drier than 

average conditions developed across the northwestern quarter of the country. Early season 

snowpack accrual in the northwest started out at a much slower than average rate. This was 

expected. Of surprise was the reemergence of drier than average conditions across the Four 

Corners Region and across southern Florida. These areas will need to be monitored closely 

entering 2019.
5 

National Fire Activity Synopsis 

The 2018 fire season was below normal for number of reported wildfires (84 percent of the 10-

year annual average). There were 58,083 wildfires reported nationally (compared to 71,499 

wildfires reported in 2017). The number of acres burned was above normal in 2018 (132 percent 

of the 10-year average). Wildfires consumed 8,767,492 acres reported nationally (compared to 

10,026,086 acres reported in 2017). For the second year in a row, the Great Basin Area led the 

nation with almost 2.1 million acres burned (233 percent of its 10-year average). 

Based on an annual 10-year average, Northwest (115%), Southwest (111%) and Great Basin 

(109%) reported about average fire occurrences in 2018. Southern California (99%) and Northern 

Rockies (97%) experienced near average fire occurrence. Northern California (89%), Southern 

Area (81%), Rocky Mountain (80%), Alaska (71%) and Eastern (63%) experienced below average 

fire occurrences.

Based on an annual 10-year average, Northern California (385%), Great Basin (233%), Rocky 

Mountain (179%), Northwest (177%) Southern California (118%) and Southern Area (116%) all 

experienced above average acres burned within their respective Geographic Areas. The 

Southwest (87%), Eastern (49%), Alaska (33%) and Northern Rockies (30%) saw below average 

acres burned. Forty-nine fires and complexes exceeded 40,000 acres in 2018; five more than in 

2017 (see Significant Fire Activity below for a list of those fires).

A total of 25,790 structures were destroyed by wildfires in 2018, including 18,137 residences, 

6,927 minor structures, and 229 commercial/mixed residential structures. This is well above the 

annual average of 2,701 residences, 1,379 minor structures, and 64 commercial/mixed residential 

structures destroyed by wildfire with this year ranking 1st (and more than double the previous 

record) in total structures lost (data from 1999 to present). California accounted for the highest 

number of structures lost in one state in 2018: 17,133 residences, 703 commercial/mixed 

residential structures and 5,811 minor structures. Utah was second with 77 residences and 377 

minor structures lost. 

Requests for firefighting resources placed to the National Interagency Coordination Center during 

the 2018 fire season were higher than the 10-year average in most categories. Filled requests 

for crews, engines, overhead, and heavy air tankers exceeded their respective 10-year averages. 

Helicopter mobilizations were slightly below the 10-year average.

National Type 1 teams were mobilized 47 times (down from 55 in 2017), and spent 658 days on 

assignments (down from 829 days in 2017). All 16 national teams had between one and four 

assignments each. Type 2 Teams were mobilized 107 times (down from 137 in 2017), for a total 

of 1,403 days assigned to incidents (down from 1,873 days in 2017). Area Command teams were 

mobilized zero times (down from 4 assignments in 2017). National Incident Management 

Organizations (NIMO) mobilized 5 times in 2017 to both wildland fire and non-fire incidents (down 

from 8 times in 2017).
6

Significant Wildland Fires

Fires and Complexes over 40,000 acres 

Name GACC State Start 

Date

Contain or Last 

Report Date

Size 

(acres) Cause* Estimated Cost

Mendocino Complex NO CA 7/27 9/18 459,123 U 220,000,000

Martin GB NV 7/5 7/21 435,569 U 10,000,000

Rhea SA OK 4/12 4/26 286,196 U 3,800,000

South Sugarloaf GB NV 8/17 10/10 233,458 L 20,000,000

Carr NO CA 7/23 8/30 229,651 U 162,289,294

Klondike NW OR 7/15 11/28 175,258 L 104,500,000

Camp NO CA 11/8 11/25 153,336 U 120,000,000

Goose Creek GB NV 7/26 8/10 132,220 U 7,850,000

Spring Creek RM CO 6/27 9/6 108,045 H 35,000,000

Pole Creek GB UT 9/6 10/8 102,191 L 29,100,000

Boxcar NW OR 6/21 7/3 100,207 U 3,500,000

Grassy Ridge GB ID 7/26 8/15 99,502 L 3,000,000

Woolsey SO CA 11/8 11/27 96,949 U 56,943,320

Ferguson SO CA 7/13 8/23 96,901 U 150,000,000

County NO CA 6/30 7/14 90,288 U 47,000,000

Avian Complex SA FL 5/1 5/29 82,461 U 10,781,364

Substation NW OR 7/17 8/2 78,425 H 4,200,000

Grass Valley NW WA 8/11 8/15 75,573 U 875,000

Mallard SA TX 5/8 5/20 75,530 U NR

Boylston NW WA 7/19 7/23 71,200 U 995,000

Dollar Ridge GB UT 7/1 8/29 70,003 U 22,000,000

Zitziana River AK AK 6/4 9/7 69,332 L 2,440,527

Sharps GB ID 7/29 9/13 64,853 H 9,500,000

Delta NO CA 9/5 10/7 63,311 H 64,429,020
7

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 in the Fire and Aviation 

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

figures.

Name GACC State Start 

Date

Contain or Last 

Report Date

Size 

(acres) Cause* Estimated Cost

34 Complex SA OK 4/12 4/24 62,481 OT 3,143,000

Buzzard SA FL 4/10 5/1 62,404 L 10,419,127

Bruneau GB ID 7/24 7/28 61,691 L 1,750,000

OK Bar SW NM 4/22 5/13 61,620 L 1,400,000

Roosevelt GB WY 9/15 10/6 61,511 U 30,000,000

Sheep Creek GB NV 8/18 8/26 59,789 U 3,000,000

Watson Creek NW OR 8/15 9/9 59,061 U 19,139,000

Crescent Mountain NW WA 7/29 11/28 56,609 U 40,705,00

Miles NW OR 7/16 10/17 54,334 L 2,000,000

Stubblefield NW OR 8/17 9/20 54,221 L 2,200,000

416 RM CO 6/1 7/31 54,129 U 39,541,000

Mooseheart AK AK 6/7 7/5 53,643 L 10,000

Taylor Creek NW OR 7/15 10/11 52,839 L 24,077,000

Perry GB NV 7/27 8/6 51,400 U 4,950,000

Badger Hole RM CO 4/17 4/22 50,671 H 131,444

Buzzard SW NM 5/22 7/12 50,296 U 15,100,000

RIVER NO CA 7/27 7/30 48,920 U NR

HIRZ NO CA 8/9 9/14 46,150 H 55,511,216

Jennies Peak NW OR 8/17 9/20 45,956 L 1,400,000

Dulby Hot Springs AK AK 6/6 9/1 44,364 L 40,000

206 SW NM 4/12 4/14 44,162 U 96,000

MM 117 RM CO 4/17 4/20 42,795 H 775,000

Cougar Creek NW WA 7/28 11/8 42,712 L 42,165,000

Terek RM WY 7/8 7/13 42,267 L 890,000
8

Significant Fire Activity

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

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

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

There were 1,167 large or significant wildfires and complexes reported in 2018 (derived from ICS209 reports submitted through FAMWEB). Significant wildfires represented about 2 percent of 

total wildfires reported nationally in 2018. The maps below depict the locations of these fires.

Percent of Reported Significant Fires by Geographic Area 
9

Wildfires Reported to NICC

In 2018 there were 58,083 wildfires in the U.S., which burned 8,767,492 acres. Fires reported 

were below both the five and ten year national average. Acres burned were well above both the

five and ten year national averages. The charts below depict fires and acres as a percentage of 

the national total.

Wildfire Acres Burned Reported to NICC 
10

Wildfire Activity by Geographic Area 

Wildfire Activity by Protecting Agency

Wildfire Acres Burned by Protecting Agency
11

Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area 

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area
12

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Protecting Agency
13

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Geographic Area
14

Alaska Wildfire Activity 

In 2018 Alaska burned 5 percent of all burned acres in the U.S. This is well below the ten 

year average of 19 percent. The chart below compares annual acres burned between 

Alaska and the rest of the U.S.

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency
15

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency
16

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Geographic Area

Note: The Eastern Great Basin and Western Great Basin Geographic Areas merged January 1, 2015. The historical data in the table 

above includes merged data from the former two geographic areas into the new Great Basin Geographic Area.
17

National Preparedness Levels

In 2018 the national Preparedness Level (PL) was elevated to PL 2 on April 14 then was raised 

to PL 3 on June 30 where it remained for almost three weeks. On July 22 it was raised to PL 4 

where it remained for six days. On July 28 the PL was raised to PL 5 and remained at that level 

for thirty-four days. On August 31 the PL was dropped to PL 4 for a week and on September 7 the 

PL was lowered again to PL 3 where it remained for eighteen days. On September 25 the PL was 

dropped to PL 2 for ten days. On October 5 the PL was lowered to PL 1 where it remained for the 

rest of the calendar year.
18

National Preparedness Level Summary
19 

Military and International Resource Mobilizations

Military: On July 2nd , two MAFFS units were activated through a Request for Assistance (RFA) 

to the Department of Defense. This request was filled with two MAFFS from the 302nd Airlift 

Wing and were positioned in Colorado Springs, CO in support of wildland fire operations. On 

July 5th one MAFFS from the 153rd Airlift Wing and one MAFFS from the 152nd Airlift Wing were 

positioned at Colorado Springs, CO in support of wildland fire operations. On July 10th the two 

MAFFS from the 302nd Airlift Wing were released back to the DOD. On July 13th one MAFFS 

each from the 153rd and 152nd Airlift Wing were released back to the DOD. On July 26th, two 

MAFFS from the 146th Airlift Wing were deployed to McClellan Airfield, CA in support of wildland 

fire operations. On August 1st, two additional MAFFS from the 152nd Airlift Wing were deployed 

to McClellan Airfield, CA. On August 23rd one MAFFS unit from 16th Airlift Wing was released 

back to the DOD. On August 25th another MAFFS unit from the 146th Airlift Wing was released 

back to the DOD. On August 26th the remaining two MAFFS units from the 152nd Airlift Wing 

were released back to the DOD. 

MAFFS units primarily provided retardant delivery to the Rocky Mountain, Northern and 

Southern California Geographic Areas while employed from July 2nd through August 26th. 

These units delivered a total of 643,579 gallons of retardant while conducting 233 sorties. This 

is down from 2017 when 293 sorties were flown delivering 820,115 gallons of retardant.

On July 23rd, one RC-26 aircraft with Distributed Real-Time Infrared (DRTI) capability and 

support personnel from the 141st Aerial Refueling Wing (Washington Air National Guard) was 

deployed to Fairchild AFB (Spokane, WA) in support of wildland fire operations. This aircraft 

provided incident awareness and assessment through infrared sensing capability to wildland fire 

incident management personnel until released on September 5th. 

On August 13th, two hundred and thirty-three soldiers from the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion 

based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington were deployed in support of the 

Mendocino Complex in northern California. They were released back to Joint Base LewisMcChord on September 5th. 

International: On July 17th through the NIFC-CIFFC Agreement the United States provided 

twelve firefighters to Ontario, Canada. On July 31st all twelve firefighters were released back to 

the United States.

On August 6th through the NIFC-Australia and NIFC-New Zealand Agreement, one hundred 

thirty-eight fire line personnel were assigned to fires in the Northern California and Northwest 

Geographic Areas. On September 5th all personnel from Australia and New Zealand were 

released back to their respective countries.

Incident Management Team Mobilizations

In 2018, National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) teams were assigned to five wildfire 

incidents and support assignments one time for a total of 99 days. Area Command teams were 

assigned to zero incidents in 2018.
20

Type 1 Incident Management Team Mobilizations 

Sixteen national Type 1 Teams were available in 2018. Type 1 Teams mobilized to 47 

assignments. Of these assignments 45 were to wildland fires and 2 were to non-wildland 

fire incidents. A total of 15 Type 1 Team assignments were mobilized through NICC. Type 

1 teams were assigned a combined total of 658 days in 2018, down from 829 assignment 

days in 2017. The record was set in 2002 when Type 1 Teams were assigned 85 times 

for a total of 999 days.

Type 1 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area
21

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilizations

Of the 152 total Type 2 Team assignments in 2018, 18 were filled through NICC. Teams were 

assigned a total of 1,403 days in 2018, down from 1,873 days assigned in 2017. The following 

charts and tables summarize total requests by agency and Geographic Area.

Type 2 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area

IMT Mobilization by Requesting Agency
22

IMT Mobilization by Geographic Area

Crew Mobilizations

NICC processed 2,180 crew requests in 2018. Of these requests, 989 were filled, 176 

requests were canceled, and 1,015 were UTF. There were 847 Type 1 crew requests, 

409 Type 2 crew requests and 924 Type 2 IA crew requests placed to NICC.
23

Crew Summary by Requesting Agency and GACC
24

Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations

The NICC processed 2,897 engine requests in 2018. Of these requests, 2,009 were filled, 

218 were canceled and 670 were UTF. There were 114 requests placed to NICC for 

tactical water tenders, of which 64 were filled, 11 canceled, and 39 UTF.
25

Engine Summary by Requesting Agency
26

Engine Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
27

Overhead Mobilizations

A total of 26,109 requests for overhead positions were processed by NICC in 2018. Of these 

requests, 13,799 were filled, 1,593 were canceled and 10,717 were UTF. The chart below shows 

total overhead requests filled annually through NICC. 

Overhead Request Summary by Requesting Agency 

and Geographic Area 
28

Helicopter Mobilizations 

A total of 881 Type 1, 2 and 3 helicopter requests were processed by NICC in 2018: 353 

were filled, 54 were canceled and 295 were UTF. Of the 316 Type 1 helicopter requests 

placed to NICC: 155 were filled, 34 were canceled and 142 were UTF. Of the 211 requests 

placed to NICC for Type 2 helicopters: 107 were filled, 18 canceled and 86 were UTF. Of 

the 175 requests placed to NICC for Type 3 helicopters: 124 were filled, 17 canceled and 

67 were UTF. 

Type 1 Helicopter Summary 
29

Type 2 Helicopter Summary

Type 3 Helicopter Summary
30

Helicopter Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
31

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations

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

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

supervision modules (ASM), air attack, infrared, and smokejumper aircraft. A total of 

5,885 fixed wing requests were received at NICC: 3,816 were filled, 234 were 

canceled and 1,835 were UTF.
32

Air Tanker Mobilizations 

A total of 2,221 Type 1 and 2 heavy air tanker requests (civilian and military MAFFS) 

were processed by NICC in 2018. Of that total, 1,636 (civilian) and 10 (MAFFS) 

requests were filled, 97 were canceled and 478 were UTF.

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS)
33

Fixed Wing Aircraft Summary by Requesting Agency
34

Fixed Wing Aircraft Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
35

Large Transportation Aircraft 

In 2018 there was one exclusive use contract for large transportation aircraft. The

contract was filled with a B737-200 jet aircraft. The exclusive use jet flew 25 times. 

There was also one additional large aircraft charter flights.
36

Large Transportation Summary by Requesting Agency 

and Geographic Area 

Light Cargo and Passenger Flights by Requesting 

Agency and Geographic Area 
37

Equipment Services Mobilization 

A total of 157 requests for mobile food services were processed at NICC: Of these 141 

were filled, 12 were canceled and 4 were UTF. A total of 195 shower units were 

requested: Of these 172 were filled, 14 were canceled and 9 were UTF.
38

Equipment Services by Requesting Agency

Equipment Services by Geographic Area
39

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations 

A total of 594 requests for radio kits and weather equipment were received at NICC in 2018. Of that total, 549 were

filled, 20 were canceled and 25 were UTF.

Radio and Weather Equipment Summary by Requesting Agency
40

Radio and Weather Equipment Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
41 

National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres 

burned by State

Figures from the Fire and Aviation Management Web Applications Program.

Alabama

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 11 244 0 0 11 244

OTHR 7 238 0 0 7 238

ST 952 14,981 0 0 952 14,981

Totals: 970 15,463 0 0 970 15,463

Alaska

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

BLM 31 645 92 363,997 123 364,642

DVF 160 28,273 46 17,740 206 46,013

FS 38 28 0 0 38 28

Totals: 229 28,946 138 381,737 367 410,683

Arizona

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

BIA 469 28,959 59 2,707 528 31,666

BLM 104 2,738 39 2,745 143 5,483

DOD 3 36 0 0 3 36

DVF 376 23,294 12 10,425 388 33,719

FS 399 31,224 501 51,366 900 82,590

FWS 4 8 1 15 5 23

NPS 9 175 24 11,664 33 11,839

Totals: 1,364 86,434 636 78,922 2,000 165,356

Arkansas 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

FS 90 3,089 9 1,305 99 4,394

FWS 1 10 0 0 1 10

NPS 14 367 0 0 14 367

OTHR 1,005 19,300 0 0 1,005 19,300

Totals: 1,110 22,766 9 1,305 1,119 24,071
42 

California 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

BIA 119 4,434 2 200 121 4,634

BLM 103 3,824 12 791 115 4,615

C&L 42 103,106 0 0 42 103,106

CDF 6,712 930,270 0 0 6,712 930,270

FS 708 614,032 257 114,862 965 728,895

FWS 9 14 0 0 9 14

NPS 56 50,365 34 1,253 90 51,618

Totals: 7,749 1,706,045 305 117,107 8,054 1,823,153

Colorado 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

BIA 19 153 88 82 107 235

BLM 53 22,504 308 30,349 361 52,853

C&L 242 242,674 177 16,002 419 258,676

FS 160 76,816 224 70,108 384 146,924

FWS 2 0 1 0 3 0

NPS 7 17 24 255 31 272

OES 0 6,215 1 0 1 6,215

OTHR 0 0 0 159 0 159

USA 19 10,413 2 33 21 10,446

USAF 0 0 1 23 1 23

Totals: 502 358,792 826 117,011 1,328 475,803

Connecticut 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

ST 52 40 0 0 52 40

Totals: 52 40 0 0 52 40

Delaware

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

Totals: 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Florida 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

BIA 5 4,180 2 79 7 4,259

DOD 48 1,637 0 0 48 1,637

FS 47 7,232 8 487 55 7,719

FWS 4 1,071 1 614 5 1,685

NPS 15 6,226 24 9,822 39 16,048

OTHR 117 1,209 10 750 127 1,959
43 

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

ST 1,692 44,405 243 52,789 1,935 97,194

USAF 33 8,319 0 0 33 8,319

Totals: 1,961 74,279 288 64,541 2,249 138,820

Georgia

Agency Fires –

Human Acres – Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres – Total

FS 2 11 1 1 3 12

FWS 2 1 0 0 2 1

ST 2,496 13,597 71 626 2,567 14,223

Totals: 2,500 13,609 72 627 2,572 14,236

Hawaii

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

C&L 1 18,000 0 0 1 18,000

NPS 2 3,979 0 0 2 3,979

Totals: 3 21,979 0 0 3 21,979

Idaho

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 26 3,392 2 0 28 3,392

BLM 140 72,461 81 274,442 221 346,903

BOR 2 50 0 0 2 50

C&L 117 54,812 11 4,136 128 58,948

DOD 0 0 1 2 1 2

FS 121 76,231 174 105,505 295 181,736

ST 397 8,870 60 4,580 457 13,450

Totals: 803 215,816 329 388,665 1,132 604,481

Illinois

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 6 120 0 0 6 120

Totals: 6 120 0 0 6 120

Indiana 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 9 100 0 0 9 100

NPS 17 15 0 0 17 15

Totals: 26 115 0 0 26 115
44 

Iowa

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FWS 5 892 0 0 5 892

ST 381 7,122 0 0 381 7,122

Totals: 386 8,014 0 0 386 8,014

Kansas

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 23 1,198 1 2 24 1,200

C&L 36 56,396 1 28 37 56,424

FS 1 0 3 1 4 1

FWS 4 97 2 1,512 6 1,609

Totals: 64 57,691 7 1,543 71 59,234

Kentucky

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 16 110 1 65 17 175

ST 359 8,242 0 0 359 8,242

Totals: 375 8,352 1 65 376 8,417

Louisiana 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 45 2,933 4 690 49 3,623

FWS 4 79 6 583 10 662

ST 588 6,457 0 0 588 6,457

Totals: 637 9,469 10 1,273 647 10,742

Maine

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

NPS 2 0 0 0 2 0

ST 519 625 21 53 540 678

Totals: 521 625 21 53 542 678

Maryland 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

ST 73 358 3 1 76 359

Totals: 73 358 3 1 76 359
45 

Massachusetts

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

ST 320 210 0 0 320 210

Totals: 320 210 0 0 320 210

Michigan 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 17 10 2 10 19 20

FS 114 162 2 11 116 173

ST 285 3,349 11 244 296 3,593

Totals: 416 3,521 15 265 431 3,786

Minnesota

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 448 4,135 0 0 448 4,135

FS 71 180 5 1 76 181

FWS 15 1,032 0 0 15 1,032

ST 803 11,657 2 0 805 11,657

Totals: 1,337 17,004 7 1 1,344 17,005

Mississippi

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 32 5,163 0 0 32 5,163

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

OTHR 796 11,204 1 1 797 11,205

ST 339 4,826 0 0 339 4,826

Totals: 1,167 21,193 1 1 1,168 21,194

Missouri

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 93 5,781 1 21 94 5,802

FWS 3 55 0 0 3 55

NPS 6 168 0 0 6 168

Totals: 102 6,004 1 21 103 6,025

Montana

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 279 2,276 56 2,749 335 5,025

BLM 10 3 50 956 60 959

C&L 320 13,249 103 3,701 423 16,950

FS 166 1,235 162 50,785 328 52,020

FWS 1 37 2 2,900 3 2,937
46 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

NPS 1 4 9 17,435 10 17,439

ST 138 2,107 45 377 183 2,484

Totals: 915 18,911 427 78,903 1,342 97,814

Nebraska

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 21 73 0 0 21 73

DOF 4 24 2 3 6 27

FS 4 6 2 5 6 11

FWS 1 5 0 0 1 5

NPS 2 7 -1 -1 1 6

Totals: 32 115 3 7 35 122

Nevada

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BLM 155 489,262 175 131,090 330 620,352

C&L 144 82,615 38 113,928 182 196,543

DOD 1 2 2 3,242 3 3,244

FS 34 23,075 69 147,129 103 170,204

FWS 4 1 1 0 5 1

NPS 15 52 1 0 16 52

OTHR 2 5,146 0 6,294 2 11,440

ST 6 125 2 5 8 130

Totals: 361 600,278 288 401,688 649 1,001,966

New Hampshire 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

ST 143 61 2 0 145 61

Totals: 143 61 2 0 145 61

New Jersey

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

ST 625 1,347 0 0 625 1,347

Totals: 625 1,347 0 0 625 1,347

New Mexico 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 130 1,418 54 41 184 1,459

BLM 50 791 87 2,122 137 2,913

DOE 0 0 1 0 1 0

FS 179 76,034 270 28,376 449 104,410
47 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FWS 4 216 3 210 7 426

NPS 2 0 9 1,841 11 1,841

OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0

SF 368 142,243 177 129,052 545 271,295

Totals: 733 220,702 601 161,642 1,334 382,344

New York

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FWS 4 3 0 0 4 3

ST 99 815 6 30 105 845

Totals: 103 818 6 30 109 848

North Carolina 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 9 46 0 0 9 46

FS 25 896 0 0 25 896

ST 3,470 10,839 35 246 3,505 11,085

USA 52 1,518 0 0 52 1,518

USM 34 4,513 0 0 34 4,513

Totals: 3,590 17,812 35 246 3,625 18,058

North Dakota 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 599 3,733 5 63 604 3,796

FS 6 385 3 47 9 432

FWS 10 1,737 0 0 10 1,737

NPS 9 10 0 0 9 10

ST 378 13,447 16 135 394 13,582

Totals: 1,002 19,312 24 245 1,026 19,557

Ohio

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 63 302 0 0 63 302

NPS 1 1 0 0 1 1

ST 3 34 0 0 3 34

Totals: 67 337 0 0 67 337
48 

Oklahoma 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 442 116,791 1 51 443 116,842

FWS 12 4,540 0 0 12 4,540

OTHR 165 2,689 0 0 165 2,689

ST 1,087 621,026 0 0 1,087 621,026

Totals: 1,706 745,046 1 51 1,707 745,097

Oregon

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 76 1,245 16 8,504 92 9,749

BLM 108 123,856 103 133,701 211 257,557

C&L 6 78,430 10 102,340 16 180,770

DOF 742 48,165 223 42,503 965 90,668

FS 392 75,528 316 275,857 708 351,385

FWS 2 2,303 6 1,504 8 3,807

NPS 4 193 15 3,133 19 3,326

Totals: 1,330 329,720 689 567,542 2,019 897,262

Pennsylvania

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 2 30 0 0 2 30

ST 1,271 3,583 3 1 1,274 3,584

Totals: 1,273 3,613 3 1 1,276 3,614

Puerto Rico

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FWS 7 39 0 0 7 39

ST 18 350 0 0 18 350

Totals: 25 389 0 0 25 389

Rhode Island 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

ST 32 14 0 0 32 14

Totals: 32 14 0 0 32 14

South Carolina 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 21 3,475 0 0 21 3,475

FWS 1 17 0 0 1 17

NPS 2 3 0 0 2 3

OTHR 1,076 5,830 19 75 1,095 5,905
49 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

ST 12 154 1 0 13 154

USA 4 384 0 0 4 384

Totals: 1,116 9,863 20 75 1,136 9,939

South Dakota 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 153 1,269 4 25 157 1,294

BLM 1 16 0 0 1 16

C&L 1 22 0 0 1 22

FS 17 99 19 11 36 110

FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0

NPS 1 0 2 3 3 3

ST 193 2,999 42 583 235 3,582

Totals: 366 4,405 67 622 433 5,027

Tennessee

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 2 122 0 0 2 122

NPS 2 0 0 0 2 0

ST 335 3,630 2 11 337 3,641

Totals: 339 3,752 2 11 341 3,763

Texas 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BLM 1 15 0 0 1 15

C&L 9,114 154,051 382 26,294 9,496 180,345

FS 35 371 4 6 39 377

FWS 4 336 3 1,695 7 2,031

NPS 13 3,309 7 5,318 20 8,627

ST 850 218,011 128 160,405 978 378,416

Totals: 10,017 376,093 524 193,718 10,541 569,811

Utah 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 14 1,875 18 9,696 32 11,571

BLM 104 16,554 243 51,357 347 67,911

DOD 2 1,432 0 0 2 1,432

FS 86 51,219 174 124,310 260 175,529

FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0

NPS 5 1 15 1,187 20 1,188

ST 483 86,401 188 94,951 671 181,352
50 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

Totals: 695 157,482 638 281,501 1,333 438,983

Vermont

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

ST 57 112 2 1 59 113

Totals: 57 112 2 1 59 113

Virginia 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BLM 615 5,947 9 36 624 5,983

FS 19 3,256 1 6 20 3,262

FWS 3 2 0 0 3 2

NPS 4 30 0 0 4 30

ST 615 5,947 0 0 615 5,947

Totals: 1,256 15,182 10 42 1,266 15,224

Washington 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 193 9,707 20 5,926 213 15,633

BLM 56 87,272 7 1,723 63 88,995

DNR 1,033 142,286 92 82 1,125 142,368

FS 141 3,989 150 136,864 291 140,853

FWS 26 36,598 2 13,011 28 49,609

NPS 7 5 16 1,370 23 1,375

Totals: 1,456 279,857 287 158,976 1,743 438,833

West Virginia 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

FS 4 499 0 0 4 499

NPS 2 171 0 0 2 171

ST 461 5,700 0 0 461 5,700

Totals: 467 6,370 0 0 467 6,370

Wisconsin 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 2 1 0 0 2 1

FS 7 19 0 0 7 19

ST 807 1,657 9 1 816 1,658

Totals: 816 1,677 9 1 825 1,678
51 

Wyoming 

Agency Fires -

Human Acres - Human Fires – Lightning Acres – Lightning Fires – Total Acres - Total

BIA 92 696 5 391 97 1,087

BLM 91 14,122 79 72,973 170 87,095

BOR 3 5 0 0 3 5

C&L 145 16,925 59 30,204 204 47,130

FS 60 117,397 43 18,225 103 135,622

NPS 4 5 8 2,709 12 2,714

SF 15 1,530 7 4,057 22 5,588

Totals: 410 150,681 201 128,561 611 279,242
52 

NICC Benchmarks

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

constitute what was processed through the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Team mobilizations include both wildfire and non-fire incidents.

Category Record Year Record 2019 Stats

Wildfires 2006 96,385 58,083

Wildfire Acres Burned 2015 10,125,149 8,767,492

Significant Fires 2006 1,801 1,167

Days at Preparedness Level 1&2 2012 45 13

Days at Preparedness Level 4&5 2002 62 34

Days at Preparedness Level 5 2002 85 15

Type 1 IMT Mobilizations (fire & non-fire) 2000 58 18

Type 2 IMT Mobilizations (fire & non-fire) 1988 8 1

Dept. of Defense Battalions/Task Forces 1994 5.03 0.8

MAFFS (millions of gallons delivered) 2003 1,796 989

Tactical Crew Mobilizations 2007 2,267 2,009

Engine Mobilizations 2000 17,898 13,799

Overhead Mobilizations 2006 288 155

Type 1 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 323 107

Type 2 Helicopter Mobilizations 2017* 2,298 1,646

Heavy Airtankers (VLAT/LAT/MAFFS) 1994 552 26

Large Transport Flights 1994 195 141

Mobile Food Units 1994 256 172

Shower Units 2006 96,385 58,083

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

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

2018.
53 

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
54 

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.