San Bernardino County firefighters testing sound wave technology to battle fires

The San Bernardino County Fire Department tested new technology from Sonic Fire Tech on Monday which was designed with the help of former NASA acoustics engineers to help suppress fires by using sound waves.

San Bernardino County firefighters testing sound wave technology to battle fires

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No snow. No water. Restrictions grow across West as drought fears rise

With much of the U.S. suffering under drought conditions, leaving the headwaters of the Colorado River among the driest places, along with south Texas and all of Florida, civic officials across the West have begun ordering restrictions on watering lawns and cleaning cars as they brace for what could be a daunting fire season.

No snow. No water. Restrictions grow across West as drought fears rise

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WATCH | Helicopter crashes during Hout Bay fire, pilot survives

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Patrick Ryan, the Director of Vulcan Risk Solutions in Cape Town, South Africa, sent along an article with the following comments: "There was a lucky escape for the pilot of a Kishugu Huey helicopter during aerial suppression mop-up operations in the Hout Bay Pipe Track Fire. While investigation into the crash is ongoing the link below is to the news article. What was extremely fortunate is that the Volunteer Wildfire Services ground crew, led by a very experienced Crew Leader, who were on the mountain at the time, weren't underneath the helicopter when it was water bombing but they were close enough to assist with the safe evacuation of the pilot from the downed helicopter."

WATCH | Helicopter crashes during Hout Bay fire, pilot survives

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Senators introduce bill to overhaul US power grid and reduce wildfire risks

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the Wildfire and Grid Reliability Act Wednesday to overhaul aging power line infrastructure and establish a $15 billion annual grant program to reduce wildfire risks and energy costs.

Senators introduce bill to overhaul US power grid and reduce wildfire risks

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U.S. Wildfires Have Already Claimed 1.4 Million Acres in 2026—and Experts Warn It Will Get Worse

With more than 1.45 million acres across the Western U.S. already blackened by wildfires in 2026, multiple states are now bracing for what could be one of the country's most devastating fire seasons in years.

U.S. Wildfires Have Already Claimed 1.4 Million Acres in 2026—and Experts Warn It Will Get Worse

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Wildfires rip through unusual parts of US., raising fears of a brutal season

In a Washington Post article, a staff meteorologist for Watch Duty, a nonprofit that tracks wildfires live and sends updates to users in real time, pointed to a spate of early-season wildfires across the Southwest and the Great Plains as a warning sign that a catastrophic wildfire season could be ahead.

Wildfires rip through unusual parts of US., raising fears of a brutal season

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When are wildfire evacuations most dangerous? Research finds leaving late risks lives

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Hunter Bassler, a Journalist at the IAWF's Wildfire Today, reported that a new study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction showed the virtue of evacuating early during a wildfire emergency.

When are wildfire evacuations most dangerous? Research finds leaving late risks lives

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Wildland firefighting snag hazards: Reducing the risk of falling trees

FireRescue1 provided some information on tree strike injuries, using injury data and recent research that clarify how and when these incidents occur, where exposure tends to increase and which tactics meaningfully reduce risk for wildland firefighters.

Wildland firefighting snag hazards: Reducing the risk of falling trees

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AMAP Arctic Climate Change Update 2024 features CAMS wildfire data

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Mark Parrington, Senior Scientist at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, discussed the Arctic Climate Change Update 2024 – Key Trends and Impacts study, which shows that wildfire activity across the Arctic and high northern latitudes has risen in recent decades.

AMAP Arctic Climate Change Update 2024 features CAMS wildfire data

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California Republicans propose wildfire, insurance package amid heat wave concerns

As a record-breaking mid-March heat wave grips the Golden State and much of the West, the California Senate Republican Caucus on Tuesday introduced a legislative package aimed at reducing wildfire risk and easing the financial burden on homeowners, while calling for bipartisan cooperation.

California Republicans propose wildfire, insurance package amid heat wave concerns

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Air Attack Issue #44

Wildfire NOTD subscriber Ned Dawson, Publisher of Air Attack Magazine, sent along issue #44, noting that anyone who wants to receive future issues of Air Attack Magazine directly can sign up on the VIP list.

Air Attack Issue #44

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Fifty years on, NVFC reflects on volunteer fire service history

The National Volunteer Fire Council, which was formed to support and advocate for volunteer fire services, along with emergency medical and rescue services, marked its 50th anniversary on Sunday.

Fifty years on, NVFC reflects on volunteer fire service history

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Modeling Storm Clouds Caused by Extreme Wildfires

Researchers at the Department of Energy have developed a first-of-its-kind framework to simulate the effects of Pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) clouds - powerful storm clouds created by extreme wildfires.

Modeling Storm Clouds Caused by Extreme Wildfires

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‘Smokejumpers’ leap into wildfires from 3,000 feet to fight blazes

The U.S. Wildfire Service shared some action shots of smokejumpers, first responders who receive intensive training in parachuting, aircraft safety and firefighting tactics, along with specialized skills such as tree climbing, aerial cargo delivery, chainsaw use, parachute equipment manufacturing and prescribed burning.

‘Smokejumpers’ leap into wildfires from 3,000 feet to fight blazes

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NVFC: Firefighters should press Congress to end shutdown

National Volunteer Fire Council officials are urging firefighters and EMS providers to contact members of Congress, pressing their legislators to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown which has been affecting fire and emergency services since February 14th.

NVFC: Firefighters should press Congress to end shutdown

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Wildfire season is shifting, but its new time windows vary across Canada and the US drought-prone West

A new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters shows that climate change is shifting wildfire seasons in the northern boreal forests of Alaska and Canada forward, on average, while prairie regions have seen little change, but the fire season in the arid West and California has extended further into late fall and winter.

Wildfire season is shifting, but its new time windows vary across Canada and the US drought-prone West

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Igniting Innovation: Progress and a Path Forward for Wildfire Policy

With communities across the U.S. experiencing longer, more intense wildfire seasons, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the Federation of American Scientists held a Congressional briefing on emerging solutions to tackle the wildfire crisis and federal policy strategies for getting these solutions into the field.

Igniting Innovation: Progress and a Path Forward for Wildfire Policy

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Congress must fund U.S. Wildland Fire Service

In an Op-Ed piece, the deputy fire chief of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Protection District in California urged Congress to fully fund the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and commit to sustained investment in early-detection technology and initial attack capability to better deal with wildfires.

Congress must fund U.S. Wildland Fire Service

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Applications open for 2026 wildland firefighter drinking water donations

The National Volunteer Fire Council announced that Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners have opened applications for the 2026 Anheuser-Busch Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters Program, which will distribute 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water to eligible volunteer fire departments across the United States.

Applications open for 2026 wildland firefighter drinking water donations

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Wildfire Provisions in the House 2026 Farm Bill Forestry Title Draft

The House Committee on Agriculture released H.R. 7567, The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which would create a new Public-Private Wildfire Technology Deployment and Testbed Partnership, new Categorical Exclusions for certain projects on National Forest System land, and new guidelines for suppressing wildfires on high-risk public lands.

Wildfire Provisions in the House 2026 Farm Bill Forestry Title Draft

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Climate impacts from North American boreal forest fires

In a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, researchers utilizing data from boreal fires in Alaska and western Canada between 2001 and 2019 found that wildfires across Alaska contributed to net climate warming, while blazes across Canada contributed to net cooling.

Climate impacts from North American boreal forest fires

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UAFA highlights staffing and base gaps in aerial firefighting

The United Aerial Firefighters Association published commentary on recent federal consolidation efforts under the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and their operational implications for aerial firefighting, including the benefits of joint inspections and reciprocal “single carding” as early operational changes that have reduced redundant administrative processes for pilots and operators.

UAFA highlights staffing and base gaps in aerial firefighting

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