The head of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Wildland Fire said in his report that 2021 yielded another record-setting wildfire season, acknowledging the existence of a new normal.
Close to 48,500 wildfires nationwide have consumed over 6.5 million acres, according to office director Jeff Rupert. The office also set a new record with 99 straight days at a heightened preparedness level.
“Our firefighters are stretched to their limits by the need to respond to these more frequent, severe wildfires and to operate at maximum response levels for months rather than weeks,” Rupert said. “We grieve for the 15 wildland firefighters who lost their lives this year, and for the tragic deaths of 33 civilians.”
Modernizing the Interior’s firefighting workforce is a top priority, as well as addressing climate change.
“We are committed to supporting science and research into the effects of climate change on wildfires,” Rupert said. “We are also expanding our wildfire mitigation efforts to strengthen climate resiliency in high wildfire risk areas and focusing on restoration of lands damaged by wildfires.”
President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure package into law on Nov. 15, just three days after it passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill earmarks $3.3 billion for wildland fire management. The extra funds will be put towards the creation of a Wildland Firefighter occupational series, and other issues that these professionals and the Office of Wildland Fire have dealt with for years.
“To assist with implementation of the bill and increases in wildland firefighter compensation and benefits, the Office of Wildland Fire and our partners are undertaking a workforce assessment and developing compensation and benefit reform plans,” his report stated. “These efforts will also support the administration’s focus on developing a robust firefighting workforce that is available year-round for wildland fire response and hazardous fuels management to better meet the challenges of today’s wildfire season.”
The report further states that the Biden-Harris administration and Congress are working to better support firefighters. They are also working to protect communities and ecosystems from the threat of wildfire.
Rupert concluded his report by wishing the entire wildland fire management community “some well-deserved rest.”
