The U.S. is facing an increasingly intense wildfire season and to combat the threat, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) plans to expand its use of prescribed fires, targeting 21 priority areas across the country.
The USFS aims to treat an additional 20 million acres within the National Forest System over the next decade, alongside up to 30 million acres of federal, state, Tribal and private lands.
While the agency conducts about 4,500 prescribed fires annually, a small percentage escape control, leading to significant damage. In April 2022, two escaped prescribed fires in New Mexico merged into the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the state’s largest and most destructive wildfire. In response, USFS reviewed its prescribed fire program and introduced reforms to enhance safety, including updating plans to reflect current forest conditions.
