A Call to Action: Why America Needs a New National Wildfire Strategy

Summary: In 2001, there was a “A Call to Action” of sorts. It was called “Managing the Impacts of Wildfires on Communities and the Environment” -- the National Fire Plan. Then, the Administration and Congress banded together. The National Fire Plan, while certainly had it flaws, served the country pretty well. Now it is time for a new “A Call to Action.” It has been drafted with the help of 78 professionals [and counting] who are incredibly skilled – over a thousand years of combined experience – in forest maintenance and controlling wildfires to save lives and property.

The current version includes five basic parts:

• ▪ National Emergency Commitment.
• ▪ Statement of Intent [an example].
• ▪ Vision.
• ▪ Strategy.
• ▪ 10-Year Plan of Work.

Lately, there seems to finally be a developing awareness that the lack of forest maintenance [forests are more than just trees] and destructive wildfires are linked.

Yet, the proposed legislation and press releases and various statement are not well focused. We have A Call to Action in place that establishes the requirements for change. Let’s reconfirm the logic we need to address:The 2024 wildland fire season is coming to an end.

50,275 fires have burned 8,190,693 acres. The number of fires is slightly less than this time last year [52,179]. However, the acres burned is about three times more; +5,526,545 acres. 238,989 acres are currently burning. The 2024 fire season is on pace to be one of the most destructive in recent memory. Projections indicate at the current pace, about 9 million acres will burn in 2024.

The ten-year average is 52,824 wildfires burning 6,554,599 at the same time this year. This A Call to Action, started almost five years ago, is an attempt to keep a National Emergency of destructive wildfires due to the lack of forest maintenance for the past 30+ year at the forefront of the American people.

To date, 82 professionals [and counting] have contributed to this A Call to Action.

As of November 17, 2024, there are 5,845 signatories. Also, please see the posting on Evergreen Magazine. A dominant theme of A Call to Action is “First, Put Out the Fire.” This in currently in direct opposition to the USDA Forest Service and their concept of “managed or beneficial wildfire.” To be clear, at this time the idea of “managed” wildfire is not working; it’s not logical. Many feel it is a ploy to accumulate false restoration accomplishments.

Putting all fires out immediately is cost effective; large fires are unimaginably expensive and destructive. Annual damages from wildfires are approaching $1 trillion! Let us not forget that smoke is also a horrendous killer. So, for now, it is critical to put all wildfires out quickly with an aggressive Initial Attack.

The National Wildfire Institute [NWI] and Others made six recommendations for the Chief’s Annual Letter of Intent. None of the recommendations were included. Please see Appendix A.54. Also, check out page 7. It includes “...some really important stuff.”

America’s forestlands are at risk; lack of forest maintenance is a key culprit. Please get involved to alter the direction of this destructive force – uncontrollable wildfires and the madness of “managed” fire. With the current land conditions, wildfires are neither managed or beneficial.

A Call to Action is continually updated. This is Revision 19.0. A special note for this revision: The 2024 fire season is about over. So many have had enough; too much destruction, no real strategy. Thus, a Campaign is emerging. Here is the goal statement: “We the people, Campaign to awaken the public to the national crisis that is actively destroying not only National Forests and rangelands, but public health, communities, wildlife and natural resources across the nation.

Our goal is the restoration of truth and justice in governance and land management across America” (Tibbitts, 2024).