Wildfire Matters

From thermal infrared flights at 10,000 feet to the daily intel reports guiding national strategy, this episode takes you inside the engine room of wildfire intelligence. We sit down with Scott Mayer with the Bureau of Land Management and Rachael Hansen with USDA Forest Service both based at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise to explore how data becomes decisions. They share how real-time intel, coordination, and infrared technology shape the way we respond to wildfires across the country. Whether you're a firefighter, land manager, or just fire-curious, this episode pulls back the curtain on the people and systems we all rely on during fire season.

What does it take to build fireline with 60,000 pound machines and protect sensitive ecosystems while doing it? In this episode of Wildfire Matters, host Caleb Ashby sits down with Dustin Hall, a seasoned dozer operator, and Erik Kriwox, a veteran Resource Advisor (READ), to explore how wildfire line construction with heavy equipment works on the ground. From navigating lava fields and avoiding buried pipelines to negotiating riparian zones and habitat concerns, this conversation digs into the risks, responsibilities, and real-time decisions that happen on the fireline. Dustin and Erik also reflect on post-fire rehabilitation, what it's like to return to a fire scar months later. Whether you're in fire management or just curious about how heavy equipment plays a role in wildfire response, this episode delivers insights, practical knowledge, and a deeper appreciation for the balance between suppression and stewardship.

You can't talk about wildland fire without talking about land. In this episode, we sit down with TJ Clifford, Diane Mastin Dixon, Casey Cheesbrough, and Lance Okeson to break down how fuels management works—and why it's a cornerstone of BLM's approach to reducing wildfire severity. From planning and partnerships to boots-on-the-ground treatments, this conversation highlights how managing vegetation today can change the trajectory of tomorrow's fires.

When you work for the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service, things are done a little differently than in the lower 48. Chena hotshots Galen Milchman and Emily Evans join us to discuss what it's like to be a hotshot in the Last Frontier. They share details about life on Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, AK, fighting fire on the tundra, and the camaraderie built while camping, working, and eating MREs with your crew in remote and rugged terrain.

Fire jobs are some of the most unique out there; piloting aircraft for the Bureau of Land Management goes above and beyond. Bob McCormick, Smokejumper Instructor Pilot, and Lisa Allen, Air Tactical Pilot, join Piper Brandt in the studio to discuss what it's like to be a pilot for BLM Fire. They share what it takes to be a smokejumper or leadplane pilot, what they encounter on the job, and how their past experiences led them to the cockpit.

When disaster strikes, such as during hurricanes, floods, or search and rescue missions, an all-hands-on-deck situation can arise. This is where wildland firefighters and management can step in to help. Mike Mattfeldt, Program Manager of International Fire Response and Support for the USDA Forest Service, with Jim Schultz, Fire Management Specialist and Scott Beacham, Regional Fuels Management Specialist from the National Park Service, join us to discuss the interagency cooperation behind all-hazard incident response, how firefighters prepare for all-hazard response, and what it's like to be on the ground helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

It's recruitment season for Fire Year 2025 and new fire job listings are opening daily on USAJOBS.gov. Kim Darnall, Human Resources Officer at the National Interagency Fire Center, and Ben Patten, Fire Program Specialist at the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office, join us to share their tips on how to land the fire job of your dreams. Kim and Ben cover how to navigate USAJOBS, what to include (and not to include) on your resume, and what hiring officials look for in a prospective wildland firefighter. Visit the BLM Fire Jobs Portal for more resources on applying for a BLM Fire Job, including step-by-step videos on how to submit an application on USAJOBS: nifc.gov/careers/blm-fire-job  For free online wildland fire trainings, visit the Wildland Fire Learning Portal: wildlandfirelearningportal.net/login/index.php and the FEMA Emergency Management Institute: training.fema.gov/apply/ These websites include information on how to sign up for an account. For descriptions and required trainings for each wildland fire position, visit the NWCG Training Catalog: nwcg.gov/training/training-catalog

Dispatch is the behind-the-scenes fire job that keeps wildland fire operations running. From ordering hotshot crews and supplies to responding to medical emergencies, dispatchers never know what might be waiting for them on the other end of the phone. Amy Lancaster, Miles City Interagency Dispatcher Center Manager; Tommy Hayes, BLM Upper Colorado River District Fire Management Officer; and Katie Williamson, BLM Colorado Dispatch Efficiency Coordinator join the conversation to share their unique perspectives on the different levels of dispatch, challenges and successes of the program, and what it's like to staff a dispatch center.

Depending on your agency, UAS stands for unmanned, uncrewed, or unoccupied aircraft systems, also referred to as drones by many people. BLM Remote Pilots and Remote Systems Program Manager Matt Dutton named the BLM program for what it is and does - remote pilots, remote systems operation. It was developed to supplement the aircraft fleet in support of resource and incident management initiatives. Matt discusses the use of UAS in wildfire suppression operations, and the benefits to assist land management activities in other program areas. He talks about starting out on a hotshot crew, getting into training development for the government UAS program - helping build it from the ground up, and the importance of keeping the program going. UAS capabilities range from enhancing fireline situational awareness, creating more accurate wildland fire maps, collecting, and displaying thermal and infrared imagery to detect hot spots along the fireline, to supporting prescribed fire operations, and so much more! All this done with the pilot safely on the ground, limiting risk and exposure to firefighters. Matt recognizes the challenges but also sees the opportunity to leverage technology to better work for us and address some of the issues that our organization is facing today. In Matt's words, "It (UAS) is a nighttime, swing shift, smoky condition tool that excels."

While on a fire assignment, Twin Falls Helitack Supervisor Brandon “Skinny” Williams and Assistant Supervisor Taylor Clelland take a break to chat about what it is like being on a helitack crew. Brandon joins the conversation from the back of a helicopter in Utah while Taylor joins us on the road as a passenger in a vehicle heading to another fire assignment in New Mexico. As good friends before getting wildland fire jobs, Brandon and Taylor talk about what it is like working together, the team aspect of fire management, the relationships you build, the beautiful views you get flying to fires in a helicopter, and sharing those incredible experiences with the people you sweat and toil with.

The award-winning National Fire Equipment Program (NFEP) located at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) incorporates firefighter innovation with industry expertise to provide the Department of the Interior with economical, safe, and efficient fire equipment. The program is responsible for around 1,200 fire vehicles in the BLM, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs fleets. John Fitchner, NFEP manager, and Justin Lammers, production assistant equipment specialist, talk about their wildland fire careers on the road to the NFEP and explain how the program operates. The NFEP continually seeks improvement in all aspects of support, evaluation, and development of fire equipment through proactive training and communication. John and Justin also discuss their involvement with training events and reviews, new technology, and improved safety features; some of which led the program to be awarded the 2018 Pulaski Award for continued excellence in equipment innovation and development. Piper Brandt, BLM Fire Public Affairs Specialist, also debuts as the new Wildfire Matters podcast co-host.

Michele Crist, landscape ecologist for the Bureau of Land Management fire planning and fuels management program, studies landscape changes in the environment including research on non-forested burned areas, invasive species, and sagebrush conservation design. Her work is focused on developing landscape-scale modeling frameworks and restoration strategies for sagebrush lands, forests, and wildlife habitats. Michele discusses her education, career, and research developing science-based land management goals and objectives to help with land management policy and planning processes and assesses the impacts of existing or proposed land management on ecological resources and wildlife habitats.

Ever wonder what happens to a burned area after a wildfire? How about the seeds used for land restoration? Jake Ferguson, the BLM National Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) program lead, talks about the immediate emergency actions taken to stabilize the land, the burned area rehabilitation (BAR) process and the work that goes into post-fire recovery which may include seeding when deemed necessary after a damaging wildfire. Brandon Brown, BLM National Seed Coordinator explains the National Seed Warehouse System (NSWS) developed to streamline seed buying for various types of land management projects, including ESR, and ensure that high-quality seed - of which 90% purchased is native seed - is readily available for the field when needed. We discuss the importance of both programs and how they are critical to support the BLM mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Coleen Haskell, Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Program Manager, and Karen Dante-Wood, JFSP Technology Transfer Specialist, introduce us to the program created by Congress in 1998 to provide funding and science delivery for studies associated with managing wildland fire, fuel, and fire-impacted ecosystems. We discuss the history, background, and the collaborative efforts among fire researchers, managers, academic professionals, and others to provide accurate, current, and scientifically based information for our wildland fire community. We talk about the studies provided by the Fire Science Exchange Network to improve firefighter safety and health along with understanding the science behind wildland fire to justify management decisions and apply scientifically proven solutions to wildfire management issues.  Learn more about JFSP and to stay informed about new research, sign up for Friday Flash eNews at https://www.firescience.gov/

BLM National Medical Director Dr. Andrew Southard, or Dr. Drew, talks about the Operational Medical Support Program (OMSP) which provides emergency medical services that focus on initial stabilization and extraction of injured employees in the wildland environment. Dr. Drew discusses the similarities and differences between OMSP and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), when OMSP was developed, and why it is an important program for our wildland firefighters. He reveals his fire background leading to BLM National Medical Director and how BLM employees can get involved with the program.

Welcome to Episode 14 of Wildlife Matters Presented by the Bureau of Land Management of Idaho. Katie Wood, Program Manager for the National Wildfire Coordinating Group or NWCG, discusses what NWCG does and how this group operates. Katie begins the session by taking about her career, from being hired right out of high school as firefighter on an engine crew to working her way to up to the National Interagency Fire Center as the NWCG Program Manager. Katie then explains how NWCG got started and how it provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. From establishing national interagency wildland fire operational standards, to NWCG committees’ operations, to developing incident training, Katie explains the role of NWCG at the national level and how NWCG uses a consensus-based decision process to develop common operating standards for the wildland fire community. As wildland fire continues to expand and become more complex, NWCG is at the tip of the spear working on an integrated incident performance and training modernization training project; an effort focused on modernizing the majority of NWCG's incident positions to include their training, incident position descriptions, development of new position standards, and next-generation position task books along with transitioning to complex incident management to better facilitate participation and increase capacity for the nation’s wildland fire response. This podcast was recorded at SB Studios and distributed and produced by SB Studios, if you or anyone you know is looking to launch or grow their podcast send them our way and mention Wildlife matters for special discounts and pricing. Visit SB Studios at https://www.sbstudios.co/ for more information

Kelly Woods, Director of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC), talks about her interagency career in wildland fire beginning as a GS-1 wildland firefighter on a type 2 hand crew, working various suppression and support jobs with different agencies, to her current position as director of the Wildland Fire LLC. We discuss the development of the center, the mission to facilitate learning from our experiences - good and bad, and the importance of emotional learning from past events through staff rides. We can become more professional, efficient, and safer at what we do through inquiry, opportunity, and dialogue. Kelly also takes a moment to reflect on being a mother while navigating her wildland fire management career. Listen to the Wildland Fire LLC podcast and follow on social media: Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wildfirelessonslearned and Twitter @WildlandFireLLC.

BLM Wildland Fire Investigator and Trespass Coordinator Court Gossard talks about his transition from the military to working in wildland fire. We discuss the importance of fire investigation - from examination and documentation to types of causes and what fire trespass involves…along with a little reminiscing. Court also provides advise to veterans looking for work in wildland fire management.

BLM Fire Deputy Division Chief of Aviation Mike Reid talks about the various types of aviation assets working in wildland fire management. Beginning his firefighting career on ground crews to taking flight in helicopters working on helitack, Mike explains how he became a firefighter, the different positions available in aviation and how aircraft is used to support the suppression efforts of the boots on the ground. He reminds us aircraft are not just a tail numbers, there are people on board and that private citizens flying unauthorized drones near wildfires put those people and our fireline personnel at risk. #KnowBeforeYouFly

BLM Fire National Critical Incident Stress Program Manager Dr. Patty O’Brien explains critical incident stress management, how firefighters can cope with traumatic events and depression, and how we break through the stigma of talking about mental health. Prior to becoming a doctor, Dr. Patty worked for several years as a Forest Service hotshot. At that time, she realized the need for fire personnel support services and became interested in firefighter mental health. We talk about the many resources available from peers, friends, family members, and employee assistance to dialing the new crisis hotline “988” on your phone - connecting the right tools to the individual to stay physically and mentally fit.

Great Basin Smokejumper Base Manager Phil Lind talks about his career in wildland fire management. Starting from the agrarian communities of Wisconsin moving to the vast open spaces of Montana, Phil explains how he got into firefighting and his transition to become a smokejumper and BLM Great Basin Smokejumper Base Manager. We chat about what it takes to hone the specialized skills of a smokejumper, and how it differs from other wildland firefighting positions in preparation, suppression, and jumping out of a “perfectly good airplane." In closing, Phil divulges what he feels is the hardest part of the job.

Boise District BLM Fuels Specialist Courtney Wyatt talks about her experience working in wildland fire suppression and transitioning to fuels management. We discuss wildland fire management at the ground level from being on an engine, helitack, and hotshot crew to planning and implementing vegetation treatments like jackpot burning and fuel break design. We also explore how fuels management can help our wildland firefighters and protect the public.

National Interagency Coordination Center meteorologists Nick Nauslar and Jim Wallmann explain the difference between prediction and potential for weather forecasting. We discuss day-to-day operations in predicative services at the National Interagency Fire Center, how the National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook is produced, and the significance of communicating fire weather to wildland fire managers, media, and the public. We also hear about anomalies such as fire-generated tornadic vortices increasing in frequency and working on wildfires as an incident meteorologist (IMET).

Recorded on May 19, 2022, Sean Peterson, Assistant Center Manager of the National Interagency Coordination Center, or NICC, talks about his career in wildland fire management from firefighter to his current position at the National Interagency Fire Center. We discuss day to day NICC operations – explaining the dispatch system and the role of the air space coordination unit, predicative services, and the intelligence section. Sean talks about working with the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group, or NMAC, on setting national wildfire resources priorities, preparedness levels, and the importance of working with interagency, state, international, and military partners to support not only wildfires nationally but also assisting FEMA during all-hazard/all-risk incidents.

Ken Schmid, Branch Chief of Preparedness and Suppression Support for BLM Fire talks about how he started working in wildland fire management, his position at the National Interagency Fire Center, and his role in the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group, NMAC. From overseeing national radio operations, rural fire readiness, and the military veterans fire crew program, Ken also explains his duties as the NMAC Chair and how NMAC functions - setting national preparedness levels, working with geographic areas and international partners, planning for military support, and how national wildland fire management resources are prioritized.

Nationally, humans cause 87% of all wildfires that average over 3.4 million acres burned annually. Jon Skinner, national lead for the BLM Fire Mitigation and Education Program, explains how people can prevent human-caused wildfires, the difference between fire prevention and fire mitigation, and what “hardening your home” means. He also describes the BLM Wildland Fire Community Assistance Program from partnerships to wildfire preparation, and the history behind Wildfire Awareness Month in May. To learn more about fire prevention and mitigation, check out the informative videos found here: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/fire-prevention-education-mitigation/fire-prevention-videos.

Jessica Gardetto, Chief, Bureau of Land Management Fire Public Affairs, explains what NIFC is, from interagency support to why and how agencies work together to manage wildfires. We discuss what external affairs does, how we communicate our mission, and some of the challenges and changes we are seeing in our workforce.

Jolie Pollet, Bureau of Land Management Division Chief, Fire Planning and Fuels Management, talks to us about her career in wildland fire management and the importance of fuels, or vegetation, management to reduce wildfire risk. She explains what fire planning is, discusses fuels management from fire breaks to community assistance, why it is so important, what people can do to reduce their own risk, and the goals and challenges we face today in fuels management to "defend and grow the core." Follow us on social media! NIFC Facebook | NIFC Twitter | Flickr | YouTube | Pinterest BLM Fire Facebook | BLM Fire Twitter | BLM Fire Instagram | BLM Tumblr

Grant Beebe, Bureau of Land Management Assistant Director, Fire and Aviation, talks to us about being a firefighter and working his way up to build a career in wildland fire management. He discusses how agencies work together nationally and internationally to share resources, what people can do to help the wildfire situation, and the issues we face today in hiring firefighters and managing wildfires as a nation. Follow us on social media! NIFC Facebook | NIFC Twitter | Flickr | YouTube | Pinterest BLM Fire Facebook | BLM Fire Twitter | BLM Fire Instagram | BLM Tumblr

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a leader in the nation’s wildland fire management. BLM Fire carries out a broad range of actions to protect the public, natural landscapes, wildlife habitat, recreational areas, and other values and resources. The national BLM Fire program focuses on public safety as its top priority, and consists of fire suppression, preparedness, predictive services, vegetative fuels management, prescribed fire, community assistance and protection, and fire prevention through education. To meet its wildland fire-related challenges, the BLM employs highly trained professional firefighters and managers who are committed to managing wildfire on our public lands. The BLM Fire program is headquartered at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho, where it works with seven other federal agencies to manage wildland fire, primarily in the western United States. Wildfire Matters takes you behind the scenes to talk with the people who strive to manage the landscape, protect our precious natural resources, and keep our communities safe as we continue to learn how to live with wildfire. #WeAreBLMFire To learn more about NIFC or the BLM, please visit our website: www.nifc.gov. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for topics please email them to: BLM_FA_NIFC_Comments@blm.gov and use ‘Wildfire Matters Podcast’ in the subject line. Follow BLM Fire on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Follow NIFC Fire on Facebook and Twitter: BLM Instagram BLM Facebook BLM Twitter NIFC Facebook