National Interagency

Coordination Center

Wildland Fire

Summary and Statistics

Annual Report

2019

Swan Lake Fire, Alaska 
2

Table of Contents

Preface..............................................................................................................................................................4

2019 Fire Environment Summary ......................................................................................................................5

National Fire Activity Synopsis...........................................................................................................................9

Significant Incidents Over 40,000 Acres ..........................................................................................................10

Significant Fire Activity..................................................................................................................................... 11

Percent of Reported Significant Fires by Geographic Area........................................................................... 11

Overall Wildfire Activity Reported to NICC .......................................................................................................12

Wildfire Activity Levels by Geographic Area.....................................................................................................13

Wildfires by Agency .........................................................................................................................................14

Wildfire Acres Burned by Agency.....................................................................................................................14

Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area ................................................................................................15

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area......................................................................................15

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Agency and GACC: 2009 – 2019.....................................................................16

Alaska Wildfire Activity.....................................................................................................................................17

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres..................................................................................................................18

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency.............................................................................................18

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by GACC ..............................................................................................18

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency and GACC: 2009 – 2019 .....................................................19

National Preparedness Levels.........................................................................................................................20

National Preparedness Level Summary...........................................................................................................21

International Mobilizations ...............................................................................................................................22

Department of Defense Mobilizations ..............................................................................................................22

Incident Management Team Mobilizations .......................................................................................................22

IMT Requests Processed by NICC...............................................................................................................22

Type 1 Incident Management Team Mobilizations ........................................................................................23

Type 1 Incident Management Team Assignments by GACC.........................................................................24

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilizations ........................................................................................24

Type 2 Incident Management Team Assignments by GACC.........................................................................25

Crew Mobilizations ..........................................................................................................................................25

Crew Requests Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area......................................................26

Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations ..............................................................................................27

Engine Requests Summary by Requesting Agency .....................................................................................28
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Engine Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area.......................................................................29

Overhead Mobilizations ...................................................................................................................................30

Overhead Requests Summary .....................................................................................................................30

Helicopter Mobilizations...................................................................................................................................31

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Agency.................................................................................32

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area..................................................................32

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations .....................................................................................................................33

Airtanker Mobilizations.................................................................................................................................33

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) .......................................................................................34

Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Agency...................................................................35

Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area....................................................36

Large Transportation Aircraft............................................................................................................................37

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

Area.............................................................................................................................................................37

Light Cargo and Passenger Flights Summary by Destination Agency and Geographic Area ........................... 38

Equipment Services Mobilization .....................................................................................................................39

Equipment Services Requests Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area............................... 39

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations ..................................................................................................40

Radio and Weather Equipment Request Summary by Requesting Agency ..................................................40

Radio and Weather Equipment Request Summary by Requesting Geographic Area ................................... 40

Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State.......................................................................................................41

NICC Benchmarks...........................................................................................................................................51

Identifier Legend..............................................................................................................................................52

Acronyms and Terminology..............................................................................................................................53
4

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 (ICS209) programs1. Previous National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) annual reports and other 

sources were also used in this document. The statistics presented here are intended to provide a national 

perspective of annual fire activity, but 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 and prior year annual reports are available electronically on NICC’s Intelligence web 

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

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

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 any of the ten Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACC) and processed through NICC2. 

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

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

Mobilization Guide can be found on the NICC web site (https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/) under reference 

materials.

Geographic Area Coordination Centers

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

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

private citizens or local fire departments (not by wildland fire management agencies), are never reported to any Dispatch Center that submits 

Situation Report data. Additionally, ICS-209 reports are not required for the small, short duration wildfires that comprise the vast majority of

overall fire occurrence annually. For official data and summary statistics, one must contact each of the individual agencies affected and refer to 

their final fire reports and other authoritative sources of agency-specific information.

2 Because this report only tallies resource requests processed through NICC, it excludes the substantial number of ROSS orders that were 

placed and filled within the same GACC. It also excludes any resource usage not tracked in ROSS, such as local dispatch of initial attack 

resources.
5

2019 Fire Environment Summary

Winter (December 2018 – February 2019)

The winter began under a very active westerly flow pattern that allowed for several wet systems 

to move into the Pacific Northwest and California from the Pacific Ocean and move across the 

Great Basin on an easterly track. The focus of the precipitation associated with these systems was 

over California and the Great Basin, including the Four Corner States. Mountain snowpack began 

to quickly build. While productive for precipitation, this progressive pattern was not initially 

conducive for frequent, severe arctic weather intrusions from Canada. So extreme conditions were 

not prevalent across the northwestern states in early winter; however, that would change as the 

overall weather pattern became more amplified in late January and February. Interspersed

between passing weather systems, were the periodic high pressure ridge events that led to 

significant fog episodes in the prone areas like the Columbia Basin, northern Idaho, and western 

Montana. In late January, there was a pronounced change in the overall weather pattern. The 

active pattern across the southwestern quarter of the country continued, but the pattern across 

the northwestern quarter of the country and the East became more amplified. This opened the 

door for several very long duration arctic weather outbreaks across the northern Great Plains, and 

it produced overall drier than average conditions across the northern Cascades.

Precipitation trends in December were near to slightly below average across the West early in the 

month and near average in the East. Alaska experienced overall drier than average conditions 

across its interior. By mid-month, the active weather pattern became more entrenched. This

allowed for the precipitation to trend towards average amounts. Exceptions to this were the central 

Great Plains, which experienced 400% of average precipitation, and the Montana Hi-Line, which 

received just 10% of average precipitation. The active weather pattern continued in January and 

February as passing systems became stronger and more moist as they moved east across the 

Great Basin. By mid-January and February, most locations across central portions of the country 

were receiving 100% to 300% of average precipitation. Exceptions to this were the Southeast, 

West Texas, New Mexico, and the North Cascades of Washington, which received between 10%

and 75% of average precipitation. The overall effect on the western drought was positive as areas 

encompassed by moderate or greater drought conditions began to rapidly diminish except along 

the Canadian Border with Washington, where it persisted. The Alaskan Interior remained dry.

Temperatures were generally near average across the West in December and January and above 

average in the East. Between mid-January and mid-February, the Upper Midwest experienced 

temperatures that were at least 9 degrees above average. That was about to change as the 

weather pattern began to shift entering February, when a very cold airmass moved south out of 

central Canada into the northern Great Plains and Upper Midwest. This airmass was repeatedly 

reinforced by secondary intrusions of frigid air. The cold air gradually became more firmly 

entrenched across the West and the remainder of the Great Plains as the active weather pattern 

continued. This effectively enhanced mountain snowfall production.

The impacts on mountain snowpack were positive. Most basins went from trending near average

to being well above average by the end of February. Snowpack across the Northern Rockies was 

generally between 100% and 120% of average. Further south, along the storm track, values 

ranged between 120% and 180% of average. Only the North Cascades showed below average 

snowpack, as levels were between 76% and 83% of average. Alaska’s snowpack across the 

central Interior and along the northern Gulf Coast was between 39% and 79% of average.
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Spring (March – May)

A large, broad trough of low pressure developed and lingered over the country during March, 

which allowed for cooler than average conditions to spread across the nation. While the airmass 

was not as brutally cold as central Montana was in February, where the average temperature in 

Great Falls was below 0 degrees, it was still cold. Frequent pulses of moisture moved east within 

the overall pattern. By the end of March, the broad trough began to weaken and move east. This 

allowed for a warming and drying trend to begin across the West as high pressure ridges became 

a more common feature. The wetter than average conditions continued across the East as the 

impacts from the departing trough continued to be felt. May was a month of transition as a 

progressive pattern resumed. The month featured weather conditions that varied between warm 

and dry (brought on by passing weak high-pressure ridges) to cool and wet (brought on by passing 

strong low pressure systems).

Wetter than average conditions continued in March across central portions of the country from 

California to Nebraska to Indiana. The Sierra Nevada Mountains and much of the Great Basin 

received as much as 400% of average precipitation. In contrast, areas along the Canadian Border 

and across the Gulf Coast states received between 25% and 75% of average rainfall. A reversal 

of this occurred in April, when the Gulf Coast states received as much as 400% of average 

precipitation and the central portions of the country from California to Iowa received just 50% of 

average precipitation. A very wet pattern developed in May across the Great Basin and California. 

Nearly half of the areas in Southern California and the Great Basin received at least 400% of 

average precipitation. This abundant precipitation led to a substantial crop of grasses and other 

fine fuels. Temperatures during the spring were generally below average, except in April, where 

the West and the East Coast exhibited temperatures that were between 2 and 4 degrees above 

average. Temperatures across Alaska were generally above average during the period. By late 

May, the western drought had all but been eradicated. Only small areas of Moderate Drought

remained across the northern Cascades and the Okanogan as well as the Four Corners area.

Final snowpack numbers were even more impressive that the previous year across the Great 

Basin, California, and the Southwest. There were reports of ski resorts in the Sierra having to close 

due to too much snow! Basin averages ranged from about 120% to 200% of average. Looking 

north along the Canadian Border, amounts were near to slightly below average. This was due to 

this area being slightly north of the winter’s average storm track. The snowpack across the Alaskan 

Interior showed slight signs of improvement late, but basin averages rose to only 65% to 75% of 

average.

Summer (June – August) 

The summer of 2019 was atypical in many ways. Across the Lower 48, the spring-like pattern held 

through June and into early July. The development of long-duration, hot high pressure ridge events 

in the West did not occur. On the contrary, June and July were cooler than average. This resulted 

in a longer than average green-up and delayed curing cycle in the fine fuels. It also promoted a 

slower than average melting rate of the mountain snowpack. These conditions, along with the

ample spring moisture, allowed for the growth of a very dense, continuous grass crop across 

the West, which raised concerns about the increased fuel loading and its inevitable flammability 

once cured. When the summer heat arrived in August, the typical weather events were not as 

intense nor long in duration. The southwestern monsoon was delayed and did not arrive until the 

second week of July. Even then, it was weaker than average due to a lack of tropical influxes of 

moisture. Moreover, the monsoon tended to track along its eastern extent, providing little relief to 
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ongoing dry conditions in western Arizona, where fire season persisted through August.

While temperatures were generally 2 to 4 degrees below average in June and July, except along 

the West Coast, where they were generally about 2 to 4 degrees above average, precipitation was 

mostly below average across the West. As is typical, rainfall events became less frequent as the 

period progressed. Amounts received were generally less than 50% of average. Impacts from this

were offset by the late spring moisture received and the cooler than average temperatures. In the 

East, conditions were generally wetter than average, with near average temperatures reported. A 

dry signal did begin to emerge in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama in July, but impacts from 

this were mitigated by a series of rain events that occurred in early August. Pronounced hot and 

dry conditions across Texas led to an elevation of fire activity across central and western portions 

of the state in August as drought began to take hold beneath a flat but strong Four Corners high 

pressure area.

Slightly warmer and drier than average conditions developed across the West in August. This 

allowed for fuels to finally become receptive to fire activity. A pair of multi-day lightning bursts 

produced an upturn in fire starts. However, a lack of significant winds prevented rapid growth on 

most fires. In fact, the first significant wind event did not occur until the end of the month. It occurred 

in the Great Basin, where fuels were already beginning to recover. Higher elevations in the Sierra, 

the Cascades, and across the Northern Rockies were never able to fully enter the fire season due 

to the late melting of the mountain snowpack.

Conditions were different in Alaska. June and early July were very convective. In general, storms 

were wet, but they produced substantial lightning across the Interior, which started numerous fires. 

A pattern shift to extraordinary hot and dry conditions occurred at the end of June to the second 

week of July. Many locations across the state shattered previous all-time record high temperatures 

over a three to four-day period starting on Independence Day, and July 2019 became the hottest 

month on record for the state as a whole. The critically dry conditions across the Interior worsened. 

The Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System indices that are used in Alaska reached peak 

values that were literally off the charts, un- plottable. Drought across the Interior rapidly took hold 

and expanded. The late summer rains arrived later than usual in early August but missed the 

south-central portion of the state. The abnormally dry conditions allowed for fire activity to continue 

on the Kenai Peninsula, Mat-Su Valley, and Copper River Basin through the month before ending.

Autumn (September – December)

The western fire season began to wind down in September across the northwestern portion of the 

country as the frequency of passing cool and wet systems began to move across the Northern

Tier of the country. By late in the month, higher elevations across Washington, Idaho, and Montana 

were beginning to see snowfall. On September 27, a southward-moving Canadian cold front

interacted with a very moist system approaching from the Pacific Ocean to produce as much as 

four feet of snow across portions of central Montana.

While the cool and wet pattern persisted across the Pacific Northwest in September and early 

October, abnormally dry conditions begin to emerge across California and the Great Basin, where 

precipitation amounts received during September were generally 25% or less than average. 

Nonetheless much cooler than average temperatures, along with decreasing afternoon heating 

resulting from shorter days, helped lessen increases in fire potential in most areas across the West 

except California. The onset of the fall Foehn wind (Santa Ana, Sundowner, Diablo, and North

winds) season began in early October. The downsloping winds and off-shore flow allowed for 
8

temperatures to elevate, which in turn resulted in lengthy periods of very low humidities. The 

periodic winds plus the lower humidities allowed for fire activity across the state to increase. The

frequency of the events increased through the month becoming nearly a daily occurrence during 

the last days of October.

Looking elsewhere during the period, both Texas and the Southeast became quite dry. Tropical 

activity in the Gulf of Mexico was less active than recent years, and the East Coast was spared a 

significant impact from Category 5 Hurricane Dorian as the storm turned to the north and then to 

the northeast just off the Florida's Atlantic Coast. Most locations across the South and East 

received around 25% of average precipitation. Regionally, temperatures were 6 to 10 degrees 

above average. These conditions allowed for Moderate to Severe Drought conditions to emerge

in some areas, and for fire potential to begin elevating ahead of the fall leaf drop. In mid-October, 

a series of wet systems and fronts began to provide relief to the Appalachian Mountains and 

surrounding areas. While the drought remained, the fire potential decreased. Texas, however, 

remained warmer and drier than average.

The dry conditions across much of the West continued well into November. The intake of late 

season moisture into the vegetation prior to dormancy did not occur. This could prove to be 

problematic entering fire season 2020, particularly when coupled with the already elevated loading 

of fine dead fuels that will carry over from 2019 in areas that have not burned. The below average 

temperatures observed across most of the West during October began to trend upward toward

normal and even above normal. Drought continued to slowly expand during this period.

A pattern change occurred during late November and early December. The high pressure ridge 

located off the West Coast flattened and allowed for a more active, wetter pattern to emerge. The 

Pacific Northwest, California, and the Southwest began to receive much needed precipitation. 

Early season mountain snowpack levels in the Sierra began to rebound. By mid- month, most of 

the southwestern quarter of the country had received more than 200% of average precipitation or 

greater over the past 30-day period. Temperatures were near average.
9

National Fire Activity Synopsis

The 2019 fire season was below normal for number of reported wildfires (75% of the 10-year 

annual average). There were 50,477 wildfires reported nationally (compared to 58,083 wildfires 

reported in 2018). The number of acres burned was also below normal in 2019 (67% of the 10-

year average). Wildfires consumed 4,664,364 acres reported nationally (compared to 8,767,492

acres reported in 2018). Nearly 2.5 million acres burned in Alaska alone, accounting for more than 

half of the nation’s total burned acreage.

In comparing the individual Geographic Areas’ 2019 reported fire occurrence with their annual 

average from the prior 10 years, Alaska (138%) was the only area that experienced significantly 

above average fire occurrence in 2019, while the Northwest (111%) reported slightly above 

average fire occurrence. Both Southern California (105%) and Northern California (94%) saw near 

average fire occurrence. Fire occurrence in the remaining areas – Great Basin (91%), Southwest 

(90%), Northern Rockies (81%), Southern Area (70%), Rocky Mountain (54%) and Eastern (54%) 

– was below average.

With a similar comparison of 2019’s burned acreage versus the 10-year average, only Alaska 

(194%) experienced above average acres burned. All other Geographic Areas saw below average 

acres burned: Southwest (78%), Northern California (48%), Great Basin (42%), Eastern (38%),

Southern Area (38%), Northwest (28%), Rocky Mountain (24%), Southern California (20%) 

and Northern Rockies (15%). Only 27 fires and complexes exceeded 40,000 acres in 2019, which 

is 21 fewer than 2018 (see Significant Fire Activity below for a list of those fires).

A total of 963 structures were reported destroyed by wildfires in 2019, including 444 residences, 

482 minor structures, and 37 commercial/mixed residential structures. This is well below the 

annual average of 2,593 residences, 1,600 minor structures, and 94 commercial/mixed residential 

structures destroyed by wildfire. California accounted for the highest number of structures lost in 

one state in 2019: 315 residences, 22 commercial/mixed residential structures and 232 minor 

structures. Alaska was second with 57 residences and 92 minor structures lost.

Requests for firefighting resources placed with NICC during the 2019 fire season were fewer than 

the 10-year average in all categories. Filled requests for crews, engines, overhead, helicopters 

and heavy airtankers also were well below their respective 10-year averages.

National Type 1 Incident Management Teams were mobilized 14 times (down from 47 in 2018) 

and spent a total of 183 days on assignments (down from 658 days in 2018). Type 2 Teams were 

mobilized 44 times (down from 107 in 2018), for a total of 480 days assigned to incidents (down 

from 1,403 days in 2018). No Area Command teams were mobilized in 2019 (also zero 

assignments in 2018). National Incident Management Organizations (NIMO) mobilized 6 times in 

2019.
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Significant Incidents Over 40,000 Acres

Of the 27 largest fires in 2019, 70% (19 fires), including all but two of the nation’s 15 largest fires, 

occurred in Alaska.

Name GACC State Start 

Date

Contain or Last 

Report Date

Size 

(acres) Cause* Estimated Cost

Old Grouch Top AK AK 6/5 8/1 307,969 L $61,000

Frozen Calf AK AK 6/24 7/11 240,543 L $4,332,806

Hess Creek AK AK 6/21 8/1 189,369 L $3,005,369

Swan Lake AK AK 6/5 10/2 167,183 L $48,101,094

Bearnose Hill AK AK 6/29 7/11 130,768 L $2,108,024

Woodbury SW AZ 6/8 7/5 123,875 U $20,000,000

Sheep GB ID 6/22 7/25 112,106 L $710,000

Black River AK AK 6/18 8/8 107,078 L $30,000

North River AK AK 6/10 7/21 101,451 L $40,000

Tractor Trail 2 AK AK 6/22 7/11 92,628 L $461,188

Hurst Creek AK AK 6/22 7/4 85,261 L $231,175

Little Crazy 

Mountain AK AK 6/21 7/25 79,953 L NR

Little Mud River AK AK 6/21 7/25 79,675 L NR

Kincade NO CA 10/23 11/7 77,758 U $77,144,684

Smith Creek AK AK 6/30 8/2 71,815 H NR

Pothole GB ID 8/6 8/8 69,704 H $600,000

Hadweenzic River AK AK 6/22 7/19 62,068 L $5,004,308

Walker NO CA 8/16 9/25 54,608 U $35,600,000

Wilderness AK AK 6/20 7/25 53,411 L $60,000

Foraker AK AK 6/26 7/25 49,980 L $203,477

Grouse Creek AK AK 7/10 8/7 49,533 L $2,000,000

Page Mountain AK AK 6/22 8/1 46,897 L $394,900

Williams Flatt NW WA 8/2 8/24 44,446 L $19,432,000

Bergman Creek AK AK 6/21 7/25 42,300 L $1,233,004

Sawgrass SA FL 6/23 6/27 42,000 L NR

Cold Creek NW WA 7/18 7/21 41,920 U $900,000
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* L – Lightning H – Human U – Unknown/Under Investigation OT - Other NR – Not Reported

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

Significant Fire Activity 

Significant fires are defined in the National Mobilization Guide as fires that burn a minimum of 100 

acres in timber fuel types or 300 acres in grass and brush fuel types or are otherwise managed by 

a Type 1 or 2 Incident Management Team or NIMO.

There were 806 significant wildfires and complexes reported in 2019 (derived from ICS-209 reports 

submitted through FAMWEB). Significant wildfires represented about 2% of total wildfires reported 

nationally in 2019. The map below depicts the locations of these fires.

Percent of Reported Significant Fires by Geographic Area 

Name GACC State Start 

Date

Contain or Last 

Report Date

Size 

(acres) Cause* Estimated Cost

Tettjajik Creek AK AK 7/2 7/11 41,300 L $40,341
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Overall Wildfire Activity Reported to NICC

From the national perspective, 2019 was a below average fire year in the U.S., with 50,477 

reported wildfires that burned 4,664,364 acres in total. In comparison to the annualized average 

based on the prior ten years, this represented about three-quarters of the normal number of fires 

and two-thirds of the normal acres burned.
13

Wildfire Activity Levels by Geographic Area

The distribution of overall wildfire activity in 2019 was similar to previous years, with the Southern 

Area accounting for nearly half of the fires in the U.S. A large proportion of the burned acreage 

shifted to Alaska in 2019, which accounted for more than half of the nation’s total burned acres (in 

contrast, Alaska burned only 5% of the total acres in 2018). The charts below depict fires and 

acres as a percentage of the national total.

In comparison to their annualized averages from the prior 10 years, Alaska was the only 

Geographic Area that had above average overall wildfire activity in 2019. In the Lower 48, the 

western GACCs generally experienced near normal numbers of fires, but fire occurrence was 

below average in Northern Rockies and Southern Area. Activity was particularly muted in Rocky 

Mountain and Eastern areas, where fire occurrence was about half the typical amount. With the

exception of the Southwest, which burned about three-quarters of its average acres in 2019, total 

burned acres in the remaining Lower 48 GACCs was substantially below average.

The charts below show the 2019 fire activity for each Geographic Area as a percentage of its 

annualized average from the prior ten years.
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Wildfires by Agency

The distribution of wildfires by protection agency in 2019 was very similar to prior years. About 

one-fifth the nation’s fires occurred on federally-protected lands, nearly evenly split between US 

Forest Service lands and the combined lands protected by the Department of Interior agencies.

The large majority of wildfires, however, ignited on private lands or other areas under state or 

local protection.

Wildfire Acres Burned by Agency

The distribution of burned acres shifted in 2019, primarily resulting from Alaska’s many large 

fires accounting for a significant proportion of the national total. With the BLM Alaska Fire 

Service providing suppression services across more than half of the state, including much of the 

Interior where the largest fires occurred, the BLM’s share of the nation’s total burned acreage 

nearly doubled in comparison to 2018 and prior years. As in previous years, state- protected

lands accounted for more than one-third of the total burned acreage; however, much of this 

shifted from the Lower 48 to Alaska due to the large fires that occurred in the southern and 

eastern parts of the state, which fall under the State’s protection.
15

Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area 
16

Wildfires and Acres Burned by Agency and GACC: 2009 – 2019
17

Alaska Wildfire Activity 

In 2019, the wildfires in Alaska accounted for 54% of the nation’s total burned acreage. This is well 

above the ten-year average that sees Alaska contributing about 18% of the total burned acreage. The 

chart below compares annual acres burned between Alaska and the rest of the U.S.
18

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres

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

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by GACC
19

Prescribed Fire Projects and Acres by Agency and GACC: 2009 – 2019
20

National Preparedness Levels 

In 2019 the national Preparedness Level (PL) was elevated from PL 1 to PL 2 on June 13 where it 

remained for over seven weeks. On August 6 it was raised to PL 3 where it remained for only nine 

days. On August 15 the PL was dropped to PL 2 where it remained for 43 days. On September 27 

the PL was lowered to PL 1 where it remained for three weeks. The PL was again elevated to PL 2 

on October 18 and where it remained for 18 days. On November 5 the PL was lowered to PL1 where 

it remained the rest of the calendar year. With the relatively low amount of wildfire activity in all the 

Geographic Areas except Alaska, 2019 was the first year since 2010 that the national PL never 

exceeded PL 3.
21

National Preparedness Level Summary 
22

International Mobilizations 

Between June 5th and July 10th, through the NIFC-CIFFC Agreement, the United States provided 

20 crews and 24 individual wildland fire personnel to Alberta, Canada.

Between November 14th and December 31st, through the NIFC-Australia Agreement, 85 wildland 

fire personnel were assigned to support large fires in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia. 

Support to Australia has continued into 2020.

Department of Defense Mobilizations 

In 2019, NICC received no requests for military battalions or task forces mobilized by the Department 

of Defense for wildfire suppression. The number of military battalions and task forces requested 

through NICC and deployed in the last ten years is shown below.

Incident Management Team Mobilizations

In 2019, National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) teams were assigned to five wildfire 

incidents and one support assignment for a total of 75 days. For the second consecutive year, no 

Area Command teams were assigned to incidents in 2019.

IMT Requests Processed by NICC

Fires deemed as significant include any incidents that have either a Type 1 or Type 2 IMT assigned. 

Thus, in maintaining certain data about the nation’s significant fires, NICC also has some information 

that generally quantifies the annual usage of IMTs nationwide, and that data is presented in additional 

sections below. Another indicator of IMT activity is the movement of IMTs between Geographic 

Areas, which generally requires the requests to be processed through NICC. While this NICC 

resource request data for IMTs does not quantify their total use nationwide, it is an indicator of the 

demand for IMTs due to numerous and/or lengthy incidents in some Geographic Areas that required 

them to order IMTs from other areas. Conversely, those Geographic Areas that were able to fulfill 

such requests for out-of-area assignments often had relatively few significant fires internally, thereby 

allowing them to send their IMTs to assist busier GACCs.

Following are tables and charts pertaining to such requests processed by NICC to mobilize IMTs 

from one Geographic Area to another. Additional information that depicts the total usage of Type 1 
23

and Type 2 IMTs is provided in subsequent sections of this document.

Type 1 Incident Management Team Mobilizations 

Sixteen national Type 1 Incident Management Teams were available in 2019. Type 1 Teams 

mobilized to 14 assignments. Of these assignments, 12 were to wildland fires and 2 were to nonwildland fire incidents. A total of four of these Type 1 Team assignments were mobilized through 

NICC. Type 1 teams were assigned a combined total of 183 days in 2019, down from 475 assignment 

days in 2018. The record was set in 2002 when Type 1 Teams were assigned 85 times for a total of 

999 days.
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Type 1 Incident Management Team Assignments by GACC

The following charts show the mobilization of Type 1 Incident Management Teams by the Geographic 

Area that requested them (incident GACC) and the Geographic Area that filled the request (sending 

GACC, which is typically the same as the Team’s sponsoring GACC).

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilizations

Of the 44 total Type 2 Incident Management Team assignments in 2019, four were filled through 

NICC. Teams were assigned a total of 480 days in 2019, down from 1,403 days assigned in 2018. 

The following charts and tables summarize total requests by agency and Geographic Area.
25

Type 2 Incident Management Team Assignments by GACC

The following charts show the mobilization of Type 2 Incident Management Teams by the Geographic 

Area that requested them (incident GACC) and the Geographic Area that filled the request (sending 

GACC, which is typically the same as the Team’s sponsoring GACC).

Crew Mobilizations 

The NICC received 752 crew requests in 2019. Of these requests, 614 were filled, 46 requests were 

canceled, and 92 were UTF. There were 336 Type 1 crew requests, 142 Type 2 crew requests and 

274 Type 2 IA crew requests placed to NICC.
26

Crew Requests Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area
27

Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations

The NICC received 949 engine requests in 2019. Of these requests, 789 were filled, 64 were canceled 

and 96 were UTF. There were 13 requests placed to NICC for tactical water tenders, of which 11 were 

filled, two canceled, and zero UTF.
28

Engine Requests Summary by Requesting Agency 
29

Engine Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area 
30

Overhead Mobilizations

A total of 7,769 requests for overhead positions were received by NICC in 2019. Of these requests, 

6,545 were filled, 524 were canceled and 700 were UTF. The charts below show total overhead 

requests filled annually through NICC, plus distribution of 2019’s requests.

Overhead Requests Summary
31

Helicopter Mobilizations 

A total of 351 Type 1, 2 and 3 helicopter requests were received by NICC in 2019: 274 were filled, 

38 were canceled and 39 were UTF. Of the 151 Type 1 helicopter requests placed to NICC: 130 

were filled, 14 were canceled and 7 were UTF. Of the 100 requests placed to NICC for Type 2 

helicopters: 66 were filled, 12 canceled and 22 were UTF. Of the 100 requests placed to NICC for 

Type 3 helicopters: 78 were filled, 12 canceled and 10 were UTF.
32

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Agency

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
33

Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations

The categories for fixed wing aircraft requests include: heavy airtankers, multi engine airtanker (CL215/415), single engine airtankers (SEAT), lead planes, aerial supervision modules (ASM), air attack, 

infrared, and smokejumper aircraft. A total of 1,450 fixed wing requests were received at NICC in 2019: 

1,106 were filled, 89 were canceled and 255 were UTF.

Airtanker Mobilizations 

For heavy airtankers, a total of 438 VLAT, Type 1 and Type 2 large airtanker requests were received 

by NICC in 2019. Of that total, 308 requests were filled, 41 were canceled and 89 were UTF. The 

NICC received no requests for MAFFS in 2019.

For SEATs and Type 3 Multi-Engine airtankers, NICC received 78 requests in 2019, of which 64 were 

filled, 6 were canceled and 8 were UTF.
34

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS)
35

Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Agency 
36

Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area 
37

Large Transportation Aircraft

In 2019 there was one exclusive-use contract for large transportation aircraft. The contract was filled 

with a B737-400 jet aircraft. This exclusive-use jet flew 50 times. There were also two additional large 

aircraft charter flights that were arranged by NICC.

Exclusive-Use and Charter Large Transport Requests Summary by 

Destination Agency and Geographic Area
38

Light Cargo and Passenger Flights Summary by 

Destination Agency and Geographic Area

In support of other resource requests, NICC arranged two cargo transportation flights in 2019. No 

passenger flights were arranged by NICC in 2019, other than the Large Transport activity described 

in the preceding section.
39

Equipment Services Mobilization

A total of 49 requests for mobile food services were received at NICC in 2019: Of these 47 were filled, 

two were canceled and zero were UTF. A total of 62 shower units were requested, and all of these 

were filled (none were canceled or UTF).

Equipment Services Requests Summary by Requesting Agency and 

Geographic Area 
40

Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations

A total of 339 requests for radio kits and weather equipment were received at NICC in 2019. Of that total, 325 were filled, 13 were 

canceled and one was UTF. 

Radio and Weather Equipment Request Summary by Requesting Agency 

Radio and Weather Equipment Request Summary by Requesting Geographic Area
41

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 28 6,130 1 1 29 6,131

OTHR 21 493 0 0 21 493

ST 1,057 15,534 0 0 1,057 15,534

Totals: 1,106 22,158 1 1 1,107 22,158

Alaska

Agency Fires –

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

BLM 51 35,185 198 1,655,106 249 1,690,291

FS 45 10 1 3 46 13

ST 253 8,866 172 798,989 425 807,855

Totals: 349 44,061 371 2,454,098 720 2,498,159

Arizona

Agency Fires –

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

BIA 547 19,217 59 37,195 606 56,412

BLM 130 5,614 45 5,314 175 10,928

DOD 0 0 2 1,178 2 1,178

FS 321 137,904 287 140,521 608 278,425

FWS 9 34 3 54 12 88

NPS 22 87 10 21,865 32 21,952

ST 434 15,959 0 0 434 15,959

Totals: 1,463 178,815 406 206,127 1,869 384,942

Arkansas 

Agency Fires –

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

FS 63 941 0 0 63 941

FWS 2 3 0 0 2 3

NPS 10 10 0 0 10 10

OTHR 585 7,648 0 0 585 7,648

Totals: 660 8,602 0 0 660 8,602
42

California 

Agency Fires –

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

BIA 80 334 0 0 80 334

BLM 118 5,605 38 2,934 156 8,539

C&L 15 87 0 0 15 87

FS 686 78,075 315 34,327 997 112,399

FWS 15 2,754 0 0 15 2,754

NPS 24 111 10 0 34 111

ST 6,759 129,189 134 5,732 6,893 134,921

Totals: 7,697 216,155 497 42,993 8,194 259,148

Colorado 

Agency Fires –

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

BIA 11 22 47 747 58 769

BLM 41 118 172 4,518 213 4,636

C&L 131 8,703 124 5,989 255 14,692

FS 163 4,462 143 15,522 306 19,984

FWS 1 0 1 5 2 5

NPS 4 192 10 0 14 192

ST 1 0 3 40 4 40

USA 1 25 4 49 5 74

Totals: 353 13,522 504 26,870 857 40,392

Connecticut 

Agency Fires –

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

ST 88 72 0 0 88 72

Totals: 88 72 0 0 88 72

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 0 0 2 1 2 1

DOD 81 14,327 7 312 88 14,639

FS 51 1,047 35 7,144 86 8,191

FWS 5 4,414 3 1,085 8 5,499

NPS 5 847 24 1,810 29 2,657

OTHR 90 224 3 189 93 413

ST 1,428 13,039 387 78,061 1,815 91,100

Totals: 1,660 33,898 461 88,602 2,121 122,500
43

Georgia

Agency Fires –

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

DOD 0 0 1 0 1 0

FS 5 6 1 1 6 7

FWS 0 0 2 273 2 273

NPS 4 1 0 0 4 1

ST 3,145 12,126 0 0 3,145 12,126

Totals: 3,154 12,133 4 274 3,158 12,407

Hawaii

Agency Fires -

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

C&L 155 10,710 0 0 155 10,710

Totals: 155 10,710 0 0 155 10,710

Idaho

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 22 152 4 7 26 159

BLM 109 78,932 76 69,016 185 147,948

C&L 55 1,576 10 628 65 2,204

DOD 0 0 2 112,157 2 112,157

FS 112 1,057 296 19,036 408 20,093

FWS 1 16 0 0 1 16

ST 180 1,417 93 32 273 1,449

Totals: 479 83,150 481 200,876 960 284,026

Illinois

Agency Fires -

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

FS 1 13 0 0 1 13

ST 1 28 0 0 1 28

Totals: 2 41 0 0 2 41

Indiana 

Agency Fires -

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

FS 3 3 0 0 3 3

FWS 2 2 0 0 2 2

NPS 27 508 0 0 27 508

ST 6 10 0 0 6 10

Totals: 38 523 0 0 38 523

Iowa

Agency Fires -

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

FWS 6 374 0 0 6 374

ST 147 1,646 0 0 147 1,646

Totals: 153 2,020 0 0 153 2,020
44

Kansas

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 6 464 0 0 6 464

C&L 9 13,648 0 0 9 13,648

FWS 0 55 0 0 0 55

NPS 1 0 0 0 1 0

USA 3 7,000 0 0 3 7,000

Totals: 19 21,167 0 0 19 21,167

Kentucky

Agency Fires -

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

FS 44 1,696 1 25 45 1,721

ST 710 9,993 0 0 710 9,993

Totals: 754 11,689 1 25 755 11,714

Louisiana 

Agency Fires -

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

FS 40 440 1 81 41 521

FWS 0 0 2 289 2 289

ST 318 2,249 0 0 318 2,249

Totals: 358 2,689 3 370 361 3,059

Maine

Agency Fires -

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

ST 344 135 11 7 355 142

Totals: 344 135 11 7 355 142

Maryland 

Agency Fires -

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

FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0

ST 134 1,472 5 26 139 1,498

Totals: 135 1,472 5 26 140 1,498

Massachusetts

Agency Fires -

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

ST 289 248 0 0 289 248

Totals: 289 248 0 0 289 248

Michigan 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 7 7 0 0 7 7

FS 127 152 2 0 129 152

ST 216 939 9 30 225 969

Totals: 350 1,098 11 30 361 1,128
45

Minnesota

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 316 568 0 0 316 568

FS 43 59 7 15 50 74

FWS 18 597 0 0 18 597

ST 637 4,623 0 0 637 4,623

Totals: 1,014 5,847 7 15 1,021 5,862

Mississippi

Agency Fires -

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

FS 39 4,028 0 0 39 4,028

FWS 1 1 0 0 1 1

NPS 1 1 0 0 1 1

OTHR 918 1,443 0 0 918 1,443

Totals: 959 5,473 0 0 959 5,473

Missouri

Agency Fires -

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

FS 63 5,075 0 0 63 5,075

NPS 4 16 0 0 4 16

Totals: 67 5,091 0 0 67 5,091

Montana

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 248 3,584 45 5,540 293 9,124

BLM 12 562 38 353 50 915

C&L 434 15,540 110 16,617 544 32,157

FS 144 682 191 7,713 335 8,395

FWS 3 1 9 8,589 12 8,590

NPS 2 0 2 0 4 0

ST 139 5,383 97 271 236 5,654

Totals: 982 25,752 492 39,083 1,474 64,835

Nebraska

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 1 1 0 0 1 1

FS 5 628 1 25 6 653

FWS 0 4,958 0 0 0 4,958

ST 5 3,859 3 7 8 3,866

Totals: 11 9,446 4 32 15 9,478
46

Nevada

Agency Fires -

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

BLM 148 9,858 168 42,544 315 52,401

C&L 121 5,045 39 4,231 157 9,276

DOD 1 0 0 0 1 0

FS 20 3,490 34 16,706 54 20,195

FWS 4 0 1 0 5 0

NPS 10 9 1 0 11 9

OTHR 6 176 1 1 7 177

ST 8 223 0 0 8 223

Totals: 318 18,801 244 63,481 562 82,282

New Hampshire 

Agency Fires -

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

FS 1 1 0 0 1 1

ST 15 24 0 0 15 24

Totals: 16 25 0 0 16 25

New Jersey

Agency Fires -

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

FFS 727 11,346 0 0 727 11,346

Totals: 727 11,346 0 0 727 11,346

New Mexico 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 60 135 29 401 89 536

BLM 52 114 45 750 97 864

DOE 3 4 0 0 3 4

FS 148 15,793 193 45,601 341 61,394

FWS 0 0 2 1 2 1

NPS 1 0 13 345 14 345

ST 188 7,223 125 9,521 313 16,744

Totals: 452 23,269 407 56,618 859 79,887

New York

Agency Fires -

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

FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0

NPS 4 8 0 0 4 8

ST 71 212 3 1 74 213

Totals: 76 220 3 1 79 221
47

North Carolina 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 10 8 0 0 10 8

DOD 79 5,109 0 0 79 5,109

FS 23 322 1 0 24 322

FWS 1 7 0 0 1 7

OTHR 1 8 0 0 1 8

ST 3,670 8,495 87 599 3,757 9,094

Totals: 3,784 13,949 88 599 3,872 14,548

North Dakota 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 467 2,895 3 2 470 2,897

FS 6 120 0 0 6 120

FWS 9 1,431 2 5 11 1,436

NPS 1 1 0 0 1 1

Totals: 483 4,447 5 7 488 4,454

Ohio

Agency Fires -

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

FS 125 120 0 0 125 120

ST 373 918 0 0 373 918

Totals: 498 1,038 0 0 498 1,038

Oklahoma 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 394 28,194 3 201 397 28,395

FWS 5 109 0 0 5 109

OTHR 168 2,184 0 0 168 2,184

ST 534 36,454 0 0 534 36,454

Totals: 1,101 66,941 3 201 1,104 67,142

Oregon

Agency Fires -

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

C&L 18 4,156 7 41 25 4,197

DOF 732 15,985 284 203 1,016 16,188

NPS 5 1 5 1 10 2

FS 329 870 640 24,341 969 25,211

FWS 4 72 3 23,401 7 23,473

BIA 40 235 7 6 47 241

BLM 64 853 155 9,567 219 10,420

Totals: 1,192 22,172 1,101 57,560 2,293 79,732
48

Pennsylvania

Agency Fires -

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

NPS 14 3 0 0 14 3

ST 532 688 1 0 533 688

Totals: 546 691 1 0 547 691

Puerto Rico

Agency Fires -

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

FWS 12 78 0 0 12 78

ST 85 2,828 0 0 85 2,828

Totals: 97 2,906 0 0 97 2,906

Rhode Island 

Agency Fires -

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

ST 45 33 0 0 45 33

Totals: 45 33 0 0 45 33

South Carolina 

Agency Fires -

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

FS 26 1,993 1 97 27 2,090

FWS 1 51 0 0 1 51

OTHR 944 3,666 15 116 959 3,781

ST 5 16 0 0 5 16

Totals: 976 5,726 16 213 992 5,939

South Dakota 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 119 1,264 12 8 131 1,272

BLM 1 0 1 0 2 0

FS 12 1 19 148 31 149

FWS 0 30 0 0 0 30

ST 150 732 32 78 182 810

Totals: 282 2,027 64 234 346 2,261

Tennessee

Agency Fires -

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

FS 26 122 4 72. 30 194

NPS 3 7 1 0 4 7

OTHR 0 74 0 0 0 74

ST 535 5,190 2 13 537 5,203

Totals: 564 5,393 7 85. 571 5,478
49

Texas 

Agency Fires -

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

C&L 6,048 61,604 221 12,735 6,269 74,339

FS 9 11 3 2 12 13

FWS 7 486 0 0 7 486

NPS 13 1,133 3 7 16 1,140

PR 3 3 0 0 3 3

ST 495 99,881 90 39,631 585 139,512

Totals: 6,575 163,118 317 52,375 6,892 215,493

Utah 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 15 15 16 113 31 128

BLM 92 13,309 122 30,989 214 44,298

DOD 6 590 0 0 6 590

FS 79 3,753 72 16,236 151 19,989

FWS 2 2 0 0 2 2

NPS 4 1 7 437 11 438

ST 492 8,078 118 18,857 610 26,935

Totals: 690 25,748 335 66,632 1,025 92,380

Vermont

Agency Fires -

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

FS 4 0 0 0 4 0

ST 15 22 0 0 15 22

Totals: 19 22 0 0 19 22

Virginia 

Agency Fires -

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

NPS 3 8 0 0 3 8

FS 14 760 0 0 14 760

ST 347 1,875 0 0 347 1,875

Totals: 364 2,643 0 0 364 2,643

Washington 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 131 3,647 67 46,055 198 49,702

BLM 52 37,397 3 11 55 37,408

FS 70 490 86 5,233 156 5,723

FWS 31 42,081 3 4 34 42,085

NPS 10 1 9 3 19 4

ST 773 34,533 159 286 932 34,819

Totals: 1,067 118,149 327 51,592 1,394 169,742
50

West Virginia 

Agency Fires -

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

FS 6 1,321 0 0 6 1,321

NPS 1 5 0 0 1 5

ST 586 6,327 0 0 586 6,327

Totals: 593 7,653 0 0 593 7,653

Wisconsin 

Agency Fires -

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

FS 30 16 0 0 30 16

ST 680 1,182 0 0 680 1,182

Totals: 710 1,198 0 0 710 1,198

Wyoming 

Agency Fires -

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

BIA 58 273 3 14 61 287

BLM 48 484 68 15,422 116 15,906

BOR 1 0 0 0 1 0

C&L 109 1,350 59 9,589 168 10,939

FS 47 52 43 11,329 90 11,381

FWS 3 49 0 0 3 49

NPS 11 6 9 110 20 116

ST 20 1,631 7 1,548 27 3,179

Totals: 297 3,845 189 38,012 486 41,857
51

NICC Benchmarks 

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

the National Interagency Coordination Center, except for Incident Management Team mobilizations, which 

are displayed in totality of mobilizations nationwide. Records set during the year of this report are in bold. 

Category Record Year Record 2019 Stats

Wildfires 2006 96,385 50,477

Wildfire Acres Burned 2015 10,125,149 4,664,364

Significant Fires 2006 1,801 806

Days at Preparedness Level 1&2 2010 365 356

Days at Preparedness Level 4&5 2002 88 0

Days at Preparedness Level 5 2002 62 0

Type 1 IMT Mobilizations (fire & non-fire) 2002 85 4

Type 2 IMT Mobilizations (fire & non-fire) 2000 58 4

Dept. of Defense Battalions/Task Forces 1988 8 0

MAFFS (millions of gallons delivered) 1994 5.03 0

Tactical Crew Mobilizations 2003 1,796 614

Engine Mobilizations 2007 2,267 789

Overhead Mobilizations 2000 17,898 6,545

Type 1 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 288 130

Type 2 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 323 66

Heavy Airtankers (VLAT/LAT/MAFFS) 2017 2,298 308

Large Transport Flights 1994 552 52

Mobile Food Units 1994 195 49

Shower Units 1994 256 62
52

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
53

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.