How can you respond to a wildfire with limited resources?

1 Assess the situation

The first step in responding to a wildfire is to assess the situation and gather as much information as possible. You need to know the location, size, direction, and intensity of the fire, as well as the weather conditions, terrain, and potential hazards. You also need to identify the affected and at-risk populations, infrastructure, and resources, and the available and needed capabilities and assets. You can use various sources of information, such as satellite imagery, aerial reconnaissance, ground observations, and reports from local authorities and communities.

2 Establish objectives and priorities

The next step is to establish clear and realistic objectives and priorities for the response. You need to consider the safety of the responders and the public, the protection of critical infrastructure and assets, the containment and suppression of the fire, and the provision of humanitarian assistance and relief. You also need to balance the short-term and long-term goals, such as minimizing the environmental and economic impacts, restoring the affected areas, and enhancing the resilience and preparedness of the communities. You should communicate your objectives and priorities to all the stakeholders and partners involved in the response.

3 Mobilize and allocate resources

The third step is to mobilize and allocate the resources that you have or can access for the response. You need to identify and activate the appropriate personnel, equipment, and materials, such as firefighters, emergency medical services, law enforcement, helicopters, water tenders, bulldozers, fire retardants, and shelters. You also need to coordinate and collaborate with other agencies, organizations, and sectors, such as federal, state, and local governments, non-governmental organizations, private companies, and volunteers. You should optimize the use of your resources by assigning them to the most critical and urgent tasks and locations, and by sharing and pooling them with other responders.

4 Monitor and adapt

The fourth step is to monitor and adapt your response as the situation evolves and changes. You need to collect and analyze data and feedback from the field, such as the fire behavior, the effectiveness of the response actions, the emerging needs and gaps, and the stakeholder satisfaction and expectations. You also need to adjust and update your objectives, priorities, and resource allocation accordingly, and to communicate any changes to your team and partners. You should be flexible and innovative in your response, and be ready to face new challenges and opportunities.

5 Learn and improve

The fifth step is to learn and improve your response based on the lessons learned and best practices from the wildfire situation. You need to evaluate and document the strengths and weaknesses of your response, such as the planning, coordination, communication, execution, and impact. You also need to identify and implement the recommendations and actions for improvement, such as enhancing the training, equipment, policies, and procedures of your team and partners. You should share your learning and improvement with other emergency managers and stakeholders, and apply them to future wildfire situations.

6 Prepare and prevent

The sixth and final step is to prepare and prevent for the next wildfire situation. You need to assess and reduce the risk and vulnerability of your area and community to wildfires, such as by creating and maintaining defensible space, clearing and thinning vegetation, and implementing fire-resistant building codes and materials. You also need to educate and engage the public and stakeholders on wildfire awareness, prevention, and preparedness, such as by providing information, guidance, and resources on how to protect themselves, their property, and their environment from wildfires. You should strive to create and sustain a culture of fire safety and resilience in your community.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?