From flexibility to feasibility: identifying the policy conditions that support the management of wildfire for objectives other than full suppression

Scott T. Franz; Melanie M. Colavito; Catrin M. Edgeley

doi:10.1071/WF24031

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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From flexibility to feasibility: identifying the policy conditions that support the management of wildfire for objectives other than full suppression

Scott T. Franz

^A ^B ^* , Melanie M. Colavito

^B and Catrin M. Edgeley ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.

^B Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.

^* Correspondence to: scott.t.franz@gmail.com

International Journal of Wildland Fire 33, WF24031 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF24031

Submitted: 9 February 2024 Accepted: 6 July 2024 Published: 29 July 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

Intentional management of naturally ignited wildfires has emerged as a valuable tool for addressing the social and ecological consequences of a century of fire exclusion in policy and practice. Policy in the United States now allows wildfires to be managed for suppression and other than full suppression (OTFS) objectives simultaneously, giving flexibility to local decision makers.

Aims

To extend existing research on the history of wildfire management, investigate how wildfire professionals interpret current policy with respect to OTFS management, and better understand how they translate policy into implementation.

Methods

Interviews were conducted in south-west United States with wildfire professionals to explore policy’s impact on OTFS management.

Key results

Respondents reported that while flexible federal policy and interagency guidance was important, suitable landscape conditions, organisational capacity, support from national and regional leadership, updated management plans, increased monitoring capacity, and adequate performance measures also influence the decision to use OTFS strategies.

Conclusions

Translating flexible options into feasible operations requires aligning many layers of policy and people using proactive, collaborative, ongoing preparation.

Implications

Our research may prompt targeted discussions between management agencies and policymakers to determine how to best support successful management of wildfires OTFS.

Keywords: land management planning, managed fire, other than full suppression, Planning Service Groups, public policy, reporting, risk, suppression, USDA Forest Service, wildland fire.

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