Wildland fire resources from IAFC
Wildland fires and growing risks in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) present significant challenges for fire departments and the communities they serve.
The IAFC provides fire chiefs and emergency responders with guidance, training, resources, and programs to strengthen wildfire preparedness, improve operational readiness, and support community risk reduction.
Explore practical resources, emerging issues, training opportunities, and initiatives designed to help fire service leaders prepare for and respond to wildland fire incidents.
Ready to get involved?
Our Wildfire Policy Committee is the IAFC’s voice promoting nationwide efforts to reduce wildfire threats. It focuses on prevention, public education, mitigation, and response.
Featured wildland resources
IAFC’s Wildland Fire Preparedness and Operations resources includes guides, programs, and research for wildland fire leaders.
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Fire Department Exchange (FDX) Program
FDX connects fire service professionals for three days of peer learning, collaboration, and practical strategies to strengthen wildfire preparedness.
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Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
Serves as a collective focus and facilitator of wildland fire cooperation and coordination nationally and internationally.
Wildland events
Learn alongside wildland fire leaders at IAFC events.
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Wildland-Urban Interface Conference 2027
IAFC’s Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) conference offers hands-on training and interactive sessions designed to address the challenges of wildland fire
Common questions about wildland fire
Quick answers for fire chiefs and wildland responders, with links to the full resources.
The wildland-urban interface (WUI) is where homes and communities meet wildland vegetation, such as a neighborhood built beside a forest. Our Wildfire Policy Committee calls the WUI the fastest growing problem in the United States.
The Ready, Set, Go! (RSG) Program supports dialogue between the fire service and the residents they serve. It gives tips on creating defensible space, a buffer between a home and nearby vegetation. It also covers assembling emergency supplies, planning escape routes, and identifying safety zones.
Start with the WUI Chief’s Guide, 2nd Edition. It offers expert advice on wildland fire preparation, mitigation, response, evacuation, and recovery. You can read it as an interactive guide or a PDF. A free online course goes with it.
The Wildfire Policy Committee is the IAFC’s voice promoting nationwide efforts to reduce wildfire threats. It works through prevention, public information and education, mitigation, and preparation and response. Members are subject matter experts who represent the IAFC on national wildfire leadership groups and at meetings.
Start with the IAFC event calendar. The Wildland-Urban Interface Conference runs March 23 to 25, 2027, in Austin, TX. IAFC also offers free online training and in-person programs, such as the three-day Fire Department Exchange. Members can ask peers for training advice in KnowledgeNet.
The Wildfire Resilience Hub is a central platform for wildfire preparedness and mitigation resources. It connects fire departments, emergency managers, local and tribal governments, and community partners. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Forest Service support it. It brings together IAFC wildfire programs, training, tools, and technical expertise.