International Association of Fire Chiefs
National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy

The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy is a collaborative, nationwide effort by federal, state, tribal, and local partners to manage wildland fire risks, focusing on three key goals: Restore & Maintain Resilient Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Safe & Effective Wildfire Response, aiming for a future where communities and ecosystems can live with fire by using science, shared responsibility, and long-term planning to reduce losses and enhance natural resource management.

Core Goals of the Cohesive Strategy

  • Resilient Landscapes: Landscapes that can withstand fire-related disturbances, supporting healthy ecosystems.
  • Fire-Adapted Communities: Communities and infrastructure that are prepared to survive wildfires, minimizing loss of life and property.
  • Safe & Effective Response: All land management agencies and partners make and implement risk-based decisions for fire response.

Key Principles & Approach

  • All-Hands, All-Lands: Involves all levels of government, NGOs, tribes, and the public.
  • Science-Based: Uses best available science and risk assessments to inform decisions.
  • Collaborative: Fosters shared responsibility and communication across jurisdictions.
  • Long-Term Vision: Aims to shift from solely suppression to integrating fire as a natural process where appropriate, managing fuels, and building community resilience. 
  • Topics:
    • FDX
  • Resource Type:
    • Reference
  • Organizational Author:
    • External

Related Resources

  • Departments from across the country have begun to recognize the benefits of peer-to-peer exchanges. These exchanges promote the free flow of ideas and best practices between participants. Peer-to-peer learning uses guided conversation to promote the exchange of ideas between participants. While short presentations ... read more
  • The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (FAC Net) connects people nationwide—residents, fire professionals, landowners, and leaders—to share knowledge, best practices, and innovations to help communities become more resilient to wildfire, focusing on peer-to-peer learning, resource sharing, and creating local solutions ... read more
  • The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) coordinates sharing of wildfire fighting resources (personnel, equipment) between Canadian provinces, territories, and international partners, acting as a central hub for national wildland fire management, preparedness, and response, including prevention and mitigation efforts ... read more
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