Beyond the Fireline: The Critical Role of Public Fleets in Wildfire Response

A wildfire is defined as an unplanned, uncontrolled fire burning in natural vegetation, such as forests, grasslands, or prairies. These fires can spread rapidly and can occur naturally but are often caused by human activity.

As the global climate warms, wildfires are increasing.

NASA scientists have been studying wildfire data over a 21-year span and found that extreme wildfires have become more frequent, more intense, and larger. One of the largest increases in extreme fire behavior was in the temperate conifer forests of the Western U.S. and the boreal forests of northern North America.

With the forests of North America as one of the “hot spots,” being prepared for fire season may be more important now than ever before. For municipal fleets, having a plan and being prepared can mean the difference between life and death.

We spoke with retired Chief Kim Zagaris, Senior Policy and Technology Advisor for the Western States Fire Association, to learn more about fire management and how to best prepare.

Chief Zagaris draws on 48 years of frontline experience managing wildland fires and complex incidents, shaping public safety in the Western United States for nearly five decades. His distinguished career spans local, state, federal, tribal, national/ international roles, positioning him as a trusted voice and influential leader in Mutual Aid and wildfire management.

Understanding Fire Season

Fire season in the U.S. generally spans from May through October, with the highest risk being in summer and fall. However, climate change has made fire risk a year-round reality on the West Coast, where the peak-risk period has lengthened from five months to seven.

“Land management practices and decades of fire suppression have led to dangerous fuel accumulation,” said Chief Zagaris. “Urban expansion into fire-prone areas has heightened risk, while unpredictable weather patterns challenge response efforts. All these forces have converged to make wildfire incidents more difficult to predict, contain, and recover from.”

Since wildfires are fast-moving, coordination and communication during public fleet emergency deployment are critical.

Wildfire response preparedness does not lie solely with firefighters and frontline responders, but also with the chain-of-response model within fleet emergency response.

Improving Detection, Response, and Coordination

With a hotter, drier climate, fire agencies have had to adapt as best they can.

Fire agencies have responded to these challenges by refining tactics and embracing new technologies. Early detection systems, such as remote sensors (Alert California/Alert West Cameras, smoke sensors, and heat sensors) and aerial surveillance (Drones, staffed aircraft with special sensors, Fire Integrated Real Time Intelligence System Program (FIRIS), Earth Fire Alliance Satellites), now provide crucial situational awareness.

Rapid response strategies, including resource pre-positioning and mutual aid agreements, ensure that personnel and equipment are ready in advance.

“Technology has become central, with real-time mapping, drone reconnaissance, and resilient communications platforms enhancing decision-making and coordination. Interagency collaboration—across fire, law enforcement, emergency management, and public health—has proved essential for interagency coordination, National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS), unified command, and resource allocation utilizing Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS) during major incidents,” noted Chief Zagaris.

Community Preparedness and Workforce Challenges

Chief Zagaris advocates robust preparedness among communities and local fire agencies, emphasizing comprehensive risk assessments to identify hazards and vulnerable populations through:

• Fuel management through thinning, prescribed burns, and defensible space, reducing ignition risk.
• Community engagement via programs such as Firewise communities fosters public awareness and participation, as they actively take the necessary steps to reduce the risk of wildfire.  
• Coordinated emergency plans to align agencies for swift action.
• Early warning systems and clear evacuation procedures are critical for protecting lives.
• Long-term resilience comes from investing in infrastructure, recovery planning, and adaptive measures to withstand future fires.

Recruiting and retaining skilled wildland firefighters has become increasingly difficult. Chief Zagaris noted that competitive pay and clear advancement opportunities are vital for attracting talent.

He also cited the need for mental health support, including counseling and peer networks, to address the psychological toll of fire service. Housing assistance programs can also help retain firefighters by supporting personnel as they navigate rising living costs.

He explained that expanded recruitment efforts are also necessary, adding that “some agencies are recruiting Collegial Athletes, both men and women, to join the Fire service, targeting diverse communities and offering flexible pathways, which are key to maintaining a capable workforce prepared for evolving threats.”

Combining fair compensation, career stability, and strong support systems will be critical for sustainable workforce retention in the future.

Proactive Management, Technology, and Collaboration

Looking ahead, Chief Zagaris envisions a future grounded in proactive, technology-driven wildfire management:

• Predictive analytics will guide risk assessments and resource deployment.
• Prescribed fire will be used more strategically to reduce hazardous fuels.
• Strengthening community resilience and modernizing the workforce are ongoing priorities.
• Cross-agency coordination, including partnerships with indigenous communities, will foster holistic approaches rooted in local knowledge.
• Policy priorities must support innovation, funding, and adaptive strategies to keep pace with changing fire environments.

Chief Zagaris’s legacy and vision underscore the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership in public safety. His insights offer a roadmap for fire agencies and communities facing the growing challenges of wildland fire management.

“While we have always maintained a strong wildfire response and suppression workforce, we must continue to balance and to strengthen our preparedness, prevention, and mitigation efforts,” he said. “As we do so, we must remember that we serve the public—and that we owe it to our firefighters on the ground to ensure safety as they provide protection for lives, property, and the environment.”

Fire Management Resources

• The Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Program is available to states, local, and tribal governments for the mitigation, management, and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands that threaten destruction, constituting a major disaster.
• • An FMAG authorization also makes funding available to eligible states and territories through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire program, which can help mitigate wildfire and related hazards by funding eligible wildfire project types like defensible space measures, ignition-resistant construction, and hazardous fuels reduction. 
• NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) mapping tool offers near-real-time fire data. It can be used in basic mode to view active fires, daily burned-area maps, aerosol plumes, and more. Click on advanced mode to see details of aerosol plumes, burned areas from past fires, and fire weather hazards. There are two versions of the tool: one for the U.S. and Canada, and one for global fires. 
• The Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS)is an international collaboration that gathers comprehensive global wildfire mapping, country profiles, and fire weather forecasts. The database includes active fire detections and near-real-time burned area perimeters from NASA’s MODIS and VIIRS sensors.
• The Fire Integrated Real-time Intelligence System (FIRIS) is a California-based program providing real-time intelligence for wildfires and all-hazard incidents.
• The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a global nonprofit organization. They spearhead Firewise USA and actively work to reduce deaths and losses from fire disasters.
• The National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene management framework designed for all-hazard incident response. It provides a consistent, scalable structure to ensure effective communication, resource management, and command, preventing confusion during emergencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides NIMS training to qualify emergency personnel.
• A Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS) is a NIMS-aligned framework of facilities, equipment, personnel, and procedures integrated to support incident management. MACS coordinated resources, policies, agencies, and professionals to prioritize incidents and allocate resources. MACS operates through Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and MAC Groups

You can find more information about wildfires in the National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report 2025.