National Interagency

Coordination Center
Wildland Fire
Summary and Statistics
Annual Report
2020

Cameron Peak Fire, Colorado

 Table of Contents
Preface ...................................................................................................................................... 1
2020 Fire Environment Summary ............................................................................................... 2
National Fire Activity Synopsis ................................................................................................... 5
Significant Wildland Fires over 40,000 acres .............................................................................. 7
Wildfires and Acres .................................................................................................................... 9
Large Wildfires by Geographic Area and Agency ......................................................................10
Overall Wildfire Activity Reported to the NICC ..........................................................................10
Wildfire Activity Levels by Geographic Area ..............................................................................11
Wildfires and Acres by Agency..................................................................................................12
Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area .........................................................................13
Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area ...............................................................13
Wildfires and Acres Burned by Agency and GACC – 2010 to 2020 ...........................................14
National Preparedness Levels ..................................................................................................15
National Preparedness Level Summary ....................................................................................16
International Resource Mobilizations.........................................................................................17
Incident Management Team Mobilizations ................................................................................17
National Incident Management Organization and Area Command Teams .............................17
Type 1 Incident Management Teams ....................................................................................17
Type 1 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area ...................................................................18
Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilizations .................................................................18
Type 2 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area ...................................................................19
Department of Defense Mobilizations ........................................................................................19
Crew Mobilizations ....................................................................................................................20
Crew Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area .................................21
Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations.......................................................................22
Engine Request Summary by Requesting Agency ................................................................23
Engine Request Summary by Requesting Geographic Area..................................................24
Overhead Mobilizations.............................................................................................................25
Overhead Requests Summary ..............................................................................................25
Helicopter Mobilizations ............................................................................................................26

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 Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Agency ..........................................................27
Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area ...........................................27
Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations ..............................................................................................28
Airtanker Mobilizations ..........................................................................................................28
Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS).................................................................29
Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Agency ............................................30
Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area .............................31
Large Transportation Aircraft.....................................................................................................32
Exclusive-Use and Charter Large Transport Requests Summary by Destination Agency and
Geographic Area ...................................................................................................................32
Light Cargo and Passenger Flights Summary by Destination Agency and Geographic Area .33
Equipment Service Mobilization ................................................................................................33
Equipment Services Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area..........34
Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations ............................................................................35
Radio and Weather Equipment Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Requesting
Geographic Area ...................................................................................................................35
National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State...................................................36
NICC Benchmarks ....................................................................................................................47
Identifier Legend .......................................................................................................................48
Acronyms and Terminology.......................................................................................................49

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Preface
Statistics used in this report were gathered from the Situation Report and Incident Status
Summary (ICS-209) programs 1. Previous National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC)
annual reports and other sources were also used in this document. The statistics presented
here are intended to provide a national perspective of annual fire activity, but they may not
reflect official figures for a specific agency. The statistics are delineated by agency and
Geographic Area. This document and prior year annual reports are available electronically on
NICC’s Intelligence web page:
https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/intelligence/intelligence.htm

Resource mobilization statistics used in this report were gathered from the Interagency
Resource Ordering Capability system (IROC), which tracks tactical, logistical, service, and
support resources mobilized by the national incident dispatch coordination system. Statistics
presented in this report are resources requested by any of the ten Geographic Area
Coordination Centers (GACCs) and processed through NICC, apart from incident management
teams 2. Requests by FEMA are placed to NICC through Emergency Support Function (ESF) #4
(Firefighting). The resource ordering process and procedures may be found in the National
Mobilization Guide. The National Mobilization Guide can be found on the NICC web site
(https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/) under reference materials.

Geographic Area Coordination Centers

1
Situation Report and ICS-209 data are considered situational and provisional, as they are reported while wildfire activity and
incidents are occurring, plus they do not account for all wildland fires and their final outcomes. Some wildfires, including many that
are suppressed solely by private citizens or local fire departments (not by wildland fire management agencies), are never reported to
any Dispatch Center that submits Situation Report data. Additionally, ICS-209 reports are not required for the small, short duration
wildfires that comprise the vast majority of overall fire occurrence annually. For official data and summary statistics, one must
contact each of the individual agencies affected and refer to their final fire reports and other authoritative sources of agency-specific
information.
2
This report only tallies resource requests processed through NICC, with the exception of Incident Management Team
mobilizations, it excludes the substantial number of IROC orders that were placed and filled within the same GACC. It also excludes
any resource usage not tracked in IROC, such as local dispatch of initial attack resources.

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2020 Fire Environment Summary
January – March
The northwestern portion of the US saw significant improvement in snowpack accrual as basin
snowpack averages went from 35% to nearly 100% of average in January. The Midwest and the
eastern states generally received average to above average precipitation. Temperatures across
the West were generally average to below average for the first three weeks of January, but well
above average temperatures developed the last week of January as an upper-level ridge
resided over the California coast. In the East, temperatures were generally 4°F to 10°F above
average for the month.

After progressive weather patterns in January, most locations along the West Coast became
increasingly impacted by persistent upper-level ridges that promoted very dry conditions
across California, northern Arizona, and the western Great Basin in February. Many locations
across these areas received less than 25% of average precipitation for the month. In the
East, the presence of persistent troughs over the Great Plains promoted a warm and very
moist southwesterly flow pattern. Despite persistent high pressure along the West Coast,
temperatures generally remained near normal across the West in February with below
normal temperatures in Alaska. In the East, temperatures were 2°F to 9°F above average.

An upper-level ridge along the West Coast weakened and reformed over the central Pacific
Ocean in mid-March. A series of weather systems moved southeast from the Gulf of Alaska
into the contiguous US with storms tracking south along the coast, onshore into California,
and across the Southwest. Central portions of the Great Basin and the northwest portion of
the Northern Rockies experienced drier than average conditions with generally less than
25% of average precipitation falling. In the East, conditions were generally wet except across
Florida, which was much drier than average. Across the Great Plains, below average
precipitation was received except across Oklahoma and central through North Texas.
Temperatures across the country were generally 2°F to 6°F above average except along the
West Coast, Montana, Wyoming, and northern Idaho where they were generally below
average.

Drought expanded and intensified in South Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and on the Florida
Peninsula from the end of December to the end of March. Drought also developed in
California, Nevada, and Oregon. Drought remained over the Four Corners region and
intensified in parts of the Pacific Northwest. By the end of March, mountain snowpack
remained near to above average on the Continental Divide, along the Canadian Border, and
across the Alaskan Interior. Snowpack was below average to well below average across the
High Sierra, southern Cascades, Great Basin, Sawtooth Mountains, Kenai Peninsula, and
the Chugach Mountains.

April – June
Drought continued to intensify and expand across much of the Northwest in April and May.
Across the Four Corner states, Great Basin, and west Texas, the drought began to expand
and intensify with moderate to severe drought in the Four Corners region and southeast
Colorado. Florida experienced some drought intensification in early spring but was followed
by improvement in late May. Mountain snowpack melting accelerated in late April and
continued through May with most basins without snowpack by the end of May.

National fire activity remained light in April and May with the Southern Area recording the

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most activity. This included several large fires in Florida, with most of the activity in the Florida
Panhandle. The western Great Lakes and portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
experienced increased fire activity during late spring due to very dry fuels and multiple dry
cold frontal passages. On May 30, a significant severe weather event occurred in the Pacific
Northwest and into portions of Utah and Idaho with abundant lightning in northern California,
the Pacific Northwest, and portions of the Intermountain West. A derecho, a long-lived,
widespread windstorm associated with thunderstorms, occurred on June 6. It started in Utah
and spread northeast across Colorado and Wyoming into western Nebraska and South
Dakota.

The western fire season began in earnest during June with a notable increase of fire activity
as fine fuels became critically dry across the southern half of the West. Overall, drought
continued and intensified in many areas of the West during June with an early loss of
snowpack across much of the West, especially in the High Sierra and southern Cascades,
leading to the larger and high-elevation fuels becoming mostly receptive by the end of June.
Persistent hot and dry conditions along with periodic wind events allowed for the
development of large fires across the Southwest, Colorado, and southern California. Drier
thunderstorms followed by multiple periods of dry and windy conditions in the Southwest and
southern High Plains resulted in multiple new large fires in early and mid-June. A three-day
lighting event led to an increase in fire activity during third week of June across the Great
Basin and California.

July – September
The North American Monsoon onset was delayed across the Southwest and more focused
on eastern Arizona and much of New Mexico. Due to the late onset and lack of robust
moisture surges into most of Arizona, much of the state remained at below normal
precipitation with above normal temperatures, including some locations recording some of
their lowest rainfall totals during a monsoon season.

A significant increase of fire activity was observed in July as fuels continued to cure across
the West and lightning spread farther north and west into the Great Basin, northern
California, Pacific Northwest, and Northern Rockies. While the Rocky Mountain Area,
Southwest, and southern Great Basin saw an increase in fire activity into mid-July, Alaska,
the Eastern Area, and most of the Southern Area all experienced downward trends in fire
activity. However, portions of central, west, and southwest Texas remained dry through July
with continued initial attack and large fire activity.

A dramatic increase in fire activity was observed across the West in August as several multi-
day heat wave and lightning events primed and ignited fuels that had become critically dry
and, in some areas, historically dry. Wind events, while not frequent, were impactful. Among
the hardest hit states was California where several hundred wildfires were ignited by a multi-
day lightning event in mid-August, which was preceded and followed by record setting heat
waves, including 130°F in Death Valley on August 16.

Other states greatly impacted by the increase in activity were Oregon, Colorado, and
Arizona—which experienced an untimely pause in the monsoon. The resulting hot, dry, and
unstable conditions led to multiple fires producing pyrocumulonimbus clouds, including
pyrotornadoes on the Loyalton Fire in northeast California near the Nevada border. This
prompted the first ever Tornado Warning to be issued by the National Weather Service for a
wildfire. The Great Basin remained active, as did west Texas, with increased initial attack

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and large fire activity by mid-August in the Northern Rockies. A heat wave developed on the
West Coast during the first week of September that resulted in hot, dry, and unstable
conditions with explosive large fire growth across much of the West. The Creek Fire in
southern California produced multiple pyrocumulonimbus clouds including lightning and
multiple pyrotornadoes on September 5.

Multiple wind events resulted in significant large fire activity, including a historic offshore wind
event that began Labor Day and continued during the following few days. Rapid fire spread
and extreme fire behavior developed on numerous new and existing large fires in
Washington, Oregon, and California leading to hundreds of thousands of acres being burned
in a matter of days. Other notable wind events led to significant increases of fire activity in
Montana on September 2 and California in late September.

A series of upper-level troughs produced wetting rain across portions of the Pacific Northwest
and Northern Rockies later in September, which helped reduce fire activity and significant
fire potential across these regions. A pause in fire activity was observed in the Rocky
Mountain Area due to cold, wet conditions during the week of Labor Day, but rebounded later
in the month. Additionally, tropical storm activity and generally above normal precipitation
improved drought conditions across portions of the Plains and eastern US.

While lightning was relatively infrequent during September, widely scattered dry
thunderstorms resulted in an increase of initial attack and new large fires for portions of the
Southwest, Great Basin, Rocky Mountain, and Northern Rockies areas on September 21-
24. As a cold front pushed south through the West during the last weekend of September,
producing another round of strong offshore winds that resulted in extreme behavior and rapid
fire spread in northern California.

October – December
During October, much of the large fire activity occurred in California and Colorado, although
new large fires and growth on existing large fires continued in Arizona, New Mexico, and
Utah. Multiple strong wind events led to rapid and record-setting fire growth on the Cameron
Peak and East Troublesome Fires in Colorado, and a strong offshore wind event in California
led to increased fire activity as well. Consistent cold frontal passages in the Northwest and
Northern Rockies Geographic Areas ended fire season with landfalling tropical cyclones
providing precipitation relief for portions of Southern Area.

Upper-level ridging over California and the Southwest led to well below normal
precipitation and above normal temperatures across much of the West except for portions
of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies during October. Season ending
precipitation finally came to the Northwest and Northern Rockies Geographic Areas by
mid-month. Hurricane Delta made landfall in Louisiana on October 9, breaking the
previous record of US landfalling tropical cyclones in a season of nine. Hurricanes Zeta
and Eta made landfall on October 28 and November 7, respectively, setting a new record
of twelve tropical cyclone landfalls in the US for a season. Hurricane Eta actually made
landfall twice in Florida, once over the Florida Keys and again north of Tampa on
November 10.

The Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires became the largest two fires in Colorado
history, surpassing the Pine Gulch Fire, which set the record earlier in the year. Of note, the
East Troublesome Fire made a 20-mile run and spotted over the Continental Divide during

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a 24-hour period on October 21-22. Record breaking snow and cold arrived on October 24-
27 in the central and southern Rockies, which significantly reduced fire activity.

Large fire activity diminished over the West in November, continuing the trend from late
October. Precipitation and colder temperatures spread farther south across the West,
leading to increasing fuel moisture and greatly reduced large fire potential through mid-
month. However, by the end of November, most of the US experienced below normal
precipitation with average to above normal temperatures. Remnants of Hurricane Eta
dropped significant rainfall in South Florida and into portions of the Carolinas and Mid-
Atlantic. Heavy rain also fell late in the month across portions of the Gulf states.

Several significant wildfires occurred along the Sierra Front and across the Plains in mid-
November. On November 17 during a downslope wind event, three rapidly spreading
significant wildfires emerged along the Sierra Front, and a day later, several large wildfires
ignited on the central and southern Plains. Multiple offshore wind events developed across
California, with the strongest around Thanksgiving. While initial attack increased, no
significant large fires were reported.

Large fires were largely absent from the West, but scattered fire activity continued in the
Southern Area, during December. While multiple offshore wind events affected California
during December, much needed precipitation arrived in northern California in mid and late
December, with precipitation arriving in southern California the last week of December.

Much of the US experienced below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures,
most prominently in the northern Plains, in December. However, much of the Mid-Atlantic
and Northeast observed above normal precipitation, with near to below normal temperatures
in the Southeast. Drought persisted across much of the West and Plains, with some
intensification and expansion in portions of these regions. Large portions of the Southwest,
Great Basin, Colorado Rockies, and southern High Plains remained in exceptional drought
(i.e., the highest category) at the end of the year.

Snowfall and snowpack across the West remain mostly below normal, generally 50-75% of
the 30-year median for snow water equivalent, according to Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) data. Near to above normal snowfall is present across portions of
Washington and the Northern Rockies due to the northerly storm track. The Southwest has
remained dry with snow water equivalent mostly below 50% of median, including some
basins reporting below 20%.

National Fire Activity Synopsis

From a national perspective, the 2020 fire season's wildfire statistics conformed to the recent
general trends (5-year vs 10-year averages), where the average annual number of wildfires
has been decreasing slightly, yet the average annual number of acres burned has
been increasing. However, with over 10 million acres burned, the large fire activity in 2020
was well above average. Over the last half-century, the era for which reasonably reliable
and comprehensive national wildfire statistics have been tallied, only two other years (2015,
2017) saw in excess of 10 million acres burned. In comparison to other years with
significantly elevated acreage burned, 2020 was particularly notable because neither Alaska
nor Southern Area contributed significantly to the total acreage burned. Moreover, 2020 saw
the first reported million acre wildfire incident (August Complex) in Northern California;

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numerous large fires resulting in fatalities and significant property losses in Oregon,
Washington, California, and Colorado; the three largest wildfires (Cameron Peak, East
Troublesome, Pine Gulch) in Colorado's history; and an unusually prolonged fire season in
the Southwestern US.

Nationally, there were 58,950 wildfires reported in 2020, compared to 50,477 wildfires
reported in 2019. The 2020 fire season was active considering the number of reported
wildfires, over 90% of the 10-year annual average. Reported wildfires consumed 10,122,336
acres nationally, compared to 4,664,364 acres 2019. The number of acres burned was well
above average in 2020. A large proportion of the burned acreage occurred in California,
accounting for 38% of the nation’s total burned acres.

In 2020, the reported number of wildfires was well above 10-year averages in all Geographic
Areas, except in Alaska (65%), Southern Area (60%), and Rocky Mountain Area (95%). The
remaining Geographic Areas were well above average: Eastern Area (138%), Great Basin
(117%), Northern California (122%), Northern Rockies (121%), Northwest (115%),
Southern
California (123%), and Southwest (121%).

When comparing burned acreage versus the 10-year average, several Geographic Areas
saw above average statistics. Northern California (611%) and Southern California (446%)
shattered previous 10-year averages by far. The Northwest (223%), Rocky Mountain (217%),
and the Southwest (172%) were also well above average. The remaining Geographic Areas
were below average: Alaska (15%), Eastern Area (67%), Great Basin (85%), Northern
Rockies (84%), and Southern Area (45%).

A total of 17,904 structures were reported destroyed by wildfires in 2020, including 9,630
residences, 7,255 minor structures, and 1,119 commercial/mixed residential structures. This
is well above the annual average of 2,913 residences, 1,857 minor structures, and 141
commercial/mixed residential structures destroyed by wildfire. California accounted for the
highest number of structures lost in one state in 2020: 6,198 residences, 741
commercial/mixed residential structures and 4,534 minor structures. Oregon was second
with 2,274 residences, 205 commercial/mixed residential structures and 1,352 minor
structures.

Requests for firefighting resources placed to the NICC during the 2020 fire season were near
or above the 10-year average in all categories. Filled requests for crews, engines, and
overhead were well above their respective 10-year averages. Requests processed through
the NICC for helicopters and heavy airtankers were at or below their respective 10-year
averages due in part to the greater availability of “surge” aircraft used in 2020.

National Type 1 Incident Management Teams (IMTs) were mobilized 53 times (up from 14
in 2019) and spent a total of 861 days on assignments (up from 183 days in 2019). Type 2
IMTs were mobilized 107 times (up from 44 in 2019), for a total of 1,491 days assigned to
incidents (up from 480 days in 2019). Area Command teams were mobilized eight times in
2020 (up from zero assignments in 2019), for a total of 268 days. National Incident
Management Organizations (NIMO) mobilized 6 times in 2020 (same as 2019), for a total of
208 days (up from 75 days in 2019).

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 Significant Wildland Fires over 40,000 acres
Of the 50 largest fires in 2020, 44% (22 fires) occurred in California.

Start Contain or Last Size Estimated

Name GACC State Cause*
Date Report Date (acres) Cost
August Complex NO CA 8/17 11/11 1,032,648 U $115,511,218
SCU Lightning NO CA 8/16 9/14 396,624 U $69,412,351
Complex
SHF Elkhorn NO CA 8/29 9/9 391,493 L NR
Creek SO CA 9/4 12/17 379,895 U $193,000,000
LNU Lightning NO CA 8/17 10/1 363,220 U $94,646,381
Complex
North Complex NO CA 8/17 12/2 318,935 U $112,711,950
Pearl Hill NW WA 9/7 9/15 223,730 U $4,241,353
Cameron Peak RM CO 8/13 12/4 208,913 U $133,300,000
Lionshead NW OR 8/16 11/12 204,469 L $65,440,000
East Troublesome RM WY 10/14 11/25 193,812 U $15,682,681
Beachie Creek NW OR 8/16 10/28 193,573 U $29,838,526
Bush SW AZ 6/13 7/3 193,455 H $11,642,634
Cold Springs NW WA 9/6 9/19 189,923 U $3,917,998
Mullen RM WY 9/17 12/10 176,878 U $42,400,000
Castle SO CA 8/19 8/24 174,178 L NR
SQF Complex SO CA 8/24 12/17 174,178 NR
Holiday Farm NW OR 9/7 10/27 173,393 U $29,100,932
Slater NO CA 9/8 11/15 157,270 U $55,043,900
Red Salmon NO CA 7/28 11/16 144,698 L NR
Complex
August Complex NO CA 9/10 10/14 140,944 L $115,300,000
West Zone
Pine Gulch RM CO 7/31 9/22 139,007 U $35,000,000
Riverside NW OR 9/8 11/26 138,054 H $20,482,000
Archie Creek NW OR 9/8 11/26 131,542 U $40,000,000
Whitney NW WA 9/7 9/15 127,430 U $3,300,000
Dolan SO CA 8/18 12/24 124,924 U $74,000,000
Bighorn SW AZ 6/5 7/22 119,978 L $44,463,612
Bobcat SO CA 9/6 11/27 115,997 U $100,000,000
Woodhead GB ID 9/7 10/22 96,614 H $11,230,000
Badger GB ID 9/12 10/10 90,143 U $15,800,000
East Fork GB UT 8/21 11/19 90,000 L $23,523,403
CZU August NO CA 8/16 9/21 86,509 U $55,900,466
Lightning
W-5 Cold Springs NO CA 8/18 9/13 84,817 U $10,300,000
July Complex NO CA 7/22 8/18 83,261 U $35,000,000
Caldwall NO CA 7/22 7/24 80,859 U $34,500,000

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 Start Contain or Last Size Estimated
Name GACC State Cause*
Date Report Date (acres) Cost
Canal GB UT 6/26 7/13 78,065 L $7,105,375
Evans Canyon NW WA 8/31 9/25 75,817 U $1,120,000
Evans Canyon NW WA 8/31 9/25 75,817 U $1,120,000
Magnum SW AZ 6/8 7/22 71,450 U $25,000,000
Glass NO CA 9/27 10/13 67,484 U $59,887,000
Griffin SW AZ 8/17 9/5 61,821 L $5,750,000
Meadow Valley GB NV 7/7 7/14 59,265 H $2,800,000
Zogg NO CA 9/27 10/12 56,338 U $31,004,496
Ingakslugwat Hills AK AK 5/30 6/25 53,515 L $43,590
Sarpy NR MT 9/2 9/10 52,010 U $950,000
Brattain NW OR 9/7 10/5 50,951 H $9,900,000
Indian Creek NW OR 8/16 9/16 48,128 U $7,000,000
River SO CA 8/16 9/4 48,088 U $24,493,709
Star Mountain Ln. NW OR 9/8 9/11 48,000 U $6,000,000
Loyalton NO CA 8/14 9/4 47,029 U $50,000
Huff NR MT 9/2 9/5 46,892 H $50,000
Dome SO CA 8/15 8/23 43,273 L $2,200,000

* L – Lightning H – Human U – Unknown/Under Investigation OT - Other NR – Not

Reported
Information in the above table was derived from ICS-209 reports submitted via FAMWEB. This information may not
reflect final official figures.

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Wildfires and Acres
Large fires are defined in the National Mobilization Guide as fires that burn a minimum of
100 acres in timber fuel types, 300 acres in grass and brush fuel types, or are otherwise
managed by a Type 1 or 2 Incident Management Team or NIMO.

There were 999 large wildfires and complexes reported in 2020 (derived from ICS-209
reports submitted through FAMWEB). These large wildfires represented less than 2% of total
wildfires reported nationally in 2020. The map below depicts the locations of these fires.

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Large Wildfires by Geographic Area and Agency
As is typical in most years, the greatest number of large fires occurred in Southern Area
and on lands protected by a state-level or other non-federal fire management
organization. As noted under “Significant Wildfires” above, the largest fires in 2020
occurred in the West.

Overall Wildfire Activity Reported to the NICC

In 2020, there were 58,950 wildfires that burned 10,122,336 acres. The number of fires
reported were below both the five and ten-year national averages. Acres burned were well
above both the five and ten-year national averages.

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Wildfire Activity Levels by Geographic Area
Overall, the distribution of the number of wildfires in 2020 was similar to previous years, with
the Southern Area and Eastern Area accounting for nearly half of the fires in the U.S. In
comparison to their annual averages from the prior 10 years, Southern Area and Alaska
experienced below average number of fires.

A large proportion of the burned acreage shifted to California in 2020, which accounted for
38% of the nation’s total burned acres (in contrast, Alaska burned 53% of the total acres in
2019). Acres burned was below prior year averages for Alaska, Eastern Area, and Southern
Area. Northwest, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest Area had above average acres burned
while Northern California and Southern California experienced a significant increase in
comparison to previous years.

The charts below depict fires and acres as a percentage of the national total.

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The charts below show the 2020 fire activity for each Geographic Area as a percentage
change from its annual average from the prior ten years.

Wildfires and Acres by Agency

The distribution of wildfires by protection agency in 2020 was very similar to prior years.
About one-quarter of the nation’s fires occurred on federally protected lands, nearly evenly
split between US Forest Service lands and the combined lands protected by the Department
of Interior agencies. The large majority of wildfires, however, ignited on private lands or
other areas under state or local protection.

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Lightning Fires and Acres by Geographic Area

Human Caused Fires and Acres by Geographic Area

13
Wildfires and Acres Burned by Agency and GACC – 2010 to 2020

14
National Preparedness Levels
In 2020, the national Preparedness Level (PL) was elevated and decreased accordingly:

• After 153 days (from January 1) at PL 1, elevated to PL 2 on June 2

• After 13 days at PL 2, elevated to PL 3 on June 15
• After 50 days at PL 3, elevated to PL 4 on August 4
• After 14 days at PL 4, elevated to PL 5 on August 18
• After 45 days at PL 5, decreased to PL 4 on October 2
• After 12 days at PL 4, decreased to PL 3 on October 14
• After 16 days at PL 3, decreased to PL 2 on October 30
• After 11 days at PL 2, decreased to PL 1 on November 10
• For 52 days (through December 31), remained at PL 1

15
National Preparedness Level Summary

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International Resource Mobilizations
United States support to Australia: Between January 1 and March 23, through the NIFC-
Australia Agreement, 270 wildland fire personnel from the US were assigned to support large
fires in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, Australia.

International assistance to the United States: Canada sent 23 crews, 48 overhead, and
18 engines to the US. Mexico, in the first ever exchange of this kind, sent five crews to the
US.

Incident Management Team Mobilizations

National Incident Management Organization and Area Command
Teams
National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) teams were assigned to five wildfire
incidents and one support assignment for a total of 208 days.

Area Command Teams were assigned to four wildfire incidents and four support assignments
for a total of 268 days.

Type 1 Incident Management Teams

Sixteen national Type 1 Incident Management Teams (IMT) were available in 2020 and were
mobilized to 53 incidents. Of those assignments, 50 were to wildland fires and 3 were to non-
wildland fire incidents. Type 1 IMTs were assigned for 861 days. The NICC processed 31
orders for Type 1 IMTS.

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Type 1 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area
The following charts depict the mobilization of Type 1 IMTs by sending and receiving
Geographic Area.

Type 2 Incident Management Team Mobilizations

Thirty-three Type 2 Incident Management Teams (IMT) were available in 2020. Type 2 IMTs
were mobilized to 107 incidents and assigned for 1,491 days. The NICC processed 28 orders
for Type 2 IMTs.

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Type 2 IMT Assignments by Geographic Area
The following charts depict the mobilization of Type 2 IMTs by sending and receiving
Geographic Area.

Department of Defense Mobilizations

In 2020, the NICC processed two military battalion requests, provided by the US Army (Joint
Base Lewis-McChord) and Marine Corps (Base Camp Pendleton) and mobilized other
members of the Department of Defense to support wildfires in California. The number of
military battalions and task forces requested through the NICC and deployed in the last ten
years is shown below.

In addition to the military battalion (crew) requests, the DOD provided aviation resources for
aerial firefighting (MAFFS) and wildfire detection and mapping (DRTI), which are included in
the tallies in the section for Fixed Wing Aircraft.

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Crew Mobilizations
The NICC received 2,604 crew requests in 2020. Of these requests: 1,017 were filled, 1,248
were canceled, and 339 were UTF. The NICC received 1,153 orders for Type 1 crews, 746
orders for Type 2 crews, and 705 orders for Type 2 IA crews.

20
Crew Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Geographic Area

21
Engine and Tactical Water Tender Mobilizations
The NICC received 3,906 engine requests in 2020. Of those requests, 2,387 were filled, 1,318
were canceled and 201 were UTF.

The NICC also received 174 requests for tactical water tenders. Of those requests, 68 were
filled, 79 were canceled, and 27 were UTF.

22
Engine Request Summary by Requesting Agency

23
Engine Request Summary by Requesting Geographic Area

24
Overhead Mobilizations
The NICC received 26,684 overhead requests in 2020. Of those requests, 12,794 were filled,
7,933 were canceled, and 5,957 were UTF.

Overhead Requests Summary

25
Helicopter Mobilizations
The NICC received 862 orders for Type 1, 2, and 3 helicopters in 2020. Of those requests, 468
were filled, 285 were canceled, and 109 were UTF. Individual statistics are listed below:

• Type 1 Helicopter requests: The NICC received 379 requests. 232 were filled, 100
were canceled, and 47 were UTF.
• Type 2 Helicopter requests: The NICC received 243 requests. 216 were filled, 17
were canceled, and 10 were UTF.
• Type 3 Helicopter requests: The NICC received 240 requests. 137 were filled, 82
were canceled, and 21 were UTF.

26
Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Agency

Helicopter Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area

27
Fixed Wing Aircraft Mobilizations
Fixed wing aircraft include heavy airtankers, multi-engine airtankers (CL-215/415), single-
engine airtankers (SEATs), lead planes, aerial supervision modules (ASM), air attack,
infrared, and smokejumper aircraft. The NICC received 4,718 requests for fixed wing aircraft
in 2020. Of those requests, 3,288 were filled, 990 were canceled, and 440 were UTF.

The number of fixed wing aircraft requests for thermal detection and fire perimeter mapping
using infrared sensors increased significantly in 2020. This increase was primarily due to the
addition of several new contract aircraft that were used for IR mapping, in addition to the one
dedicated government owned (USFS) aircraft.

Airtanker Mobilizations
The NICC received 1,168 requests for very large and heavy airtankers in 2020. Of those
requests, 778 were filled, 296 were canceled, and 105 were UTF.

The NICC received 317 requests for multi-engine and single engine airtankers. Of those
requests, 219 were filled, 76 were canceled, and 22 were UTF.

28
Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS)
The NICC processed 11 requests for MAFFS in 2020. MAFFS were activated starting on July
23rd and released on October 4th. National statistics are listed below:

• Total missions: 517

• Total employment hours: 604
• Total retardant drops: 488
• Total gallons of retardant dropped: 1,350,298

29
Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Agency

30
Fixed Wing Aircraft Requests Summary by Requesting Geographic Area

31
Large Transportation Aircraft
In 2020, there was one exclusive-use contract for large transportation aircraft. The contract
was filled with a B737-2T4 jet aircraft. This exclusive-use jet flew 24 times. There were also
two additional large aircraft charter flights arranged by the NICC. Due to Covid-19 mitigations,
the large transport aircraft was only able to carry 60 passengers at one time, limiting the
number of passengers in 2020.

Exclusive-Use and Charter Large Transport Requests Summary by

Destination Agency and Geographic Area

32
Light Cargo and Passenger Flights Summary by Destination Agency
and Geographic Area
In support of other resource requests, the NICC arranged 19 cargo transportation flights in
2020. No passenger flights were arranged by the NICC in 2020, other than the Large
Transport activity described in the preceding section.

Equipment Service Mobilization

The NICC received 151 requests for mobile food services in 2020. Of those requests, 131 were
filled, 14 were canceled, and seven were UTF.

The NICC received 212 requests for mobile shower services in 2020. Of those requests, 197 were
filled, 14 were canceled, and one was UTF.

33
Equipment Services Request Summary by Requesting Agency and
Geographic Area

34
Radio and Weather Equipment Mobilizations
The NICC received 939 requests for radio kits and weather equipment in 2020. Of those requests, 834 were filled, 82 were
canceled, and 23 were UTF.

Radio and Weather Equipment Request Summary by Requesting Agency and Requesting
Geographic Area

35
National Report of Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State
(Figures are from the SIT/209 Application)

Alabama
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 23 1,217 0 0 23 1,217
FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 813 19,340 0 0 813 19,340
Totals: 836 20,557 0 0 836 20,557

Alaska
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BLM 11 11 131 45,245 142 45,256
DVF 154 260 37 135,640 191 135,900
FS 16 13 0 0 16 13
Totals: 181 284 168 180,885 349 181,169

Arizona
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 795 5,083 98 180,124 893 185,207
BLM 190 15,175 60 61,029 250 76,204
DOD 0 0 0 0 0 0
DVF 338 31,192 50 52,765 388 83,957
FS 711 299,285 235 329,817 946 629,102
FWS 23 3,031 2 268 25 3,299
NPS 16 30 6 768 22 798
Totals: 2,073 353,796 451 624,771 2,524 978,567

Arkansas
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 58 1,599 2 0 60 1,599
FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0
NPS 14 138 0 0 14 138
OTHR 581 10,815 0 0 581 10,815
Totals: 653 12,552 2 0 655 12,552

California
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 97 450 0 21,760 97 22,210
BLM 159 43,263 58 98,938 217 142,201
C&L 48 40,772 8 15 56 40,787

36
 Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
CDF 8,483 1,286,878 60 30 8,543 1,286,908
FS 1,019 867,073 400 1,560,872 1,419 2,427,945
FWS 13 45 0 0 13 45
LGR 5 2,257 0 0 5 2,257
NPS 42 32,193 37 44,603 79 76,796
OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0
USN 2 93,000 0 0 2 93,000
Totals: 9,868 2,365,932 563 1,726,218 10,431 4,092,150

Colorado
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 17 40 32 238 49 278
BLM 68 19,647 170 148,076 238 167,723
C&L 243 80,327 113 23,807 356 104,134
FS 288 315,154 125 1,255 413 316,409
FWS 1 96 3 1 4 97
NPS 3 30,154 11 118 14 30,272
OES 1 2,313 2 156 3 2,469
OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0
USA 0 0 3 3,975 3 3,975
Totals: 621 447,731 459 177,626 1,080 625,357

Connecticut
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
ST 585 382 1 1 586 383
Totals: 585 382 1 1 586 383

Delaware
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
ST 426 1,356 0 0 426 1,356
Totals: 426 1,356 0 0 426 1,356

Florida
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 8 329 0 0 8 329
DOD 35 1,870 0 0 35 1,870
FS 66 8,671 22 1,506 88 10,177
FWS 4 4,052 1 760 5 4,812
NPS 12 3,051 33 30,076 45 33,127
OTHR 200 4,920 3 13 203 4,933
ST 1,645 34,485 325 9,668 1,970 44,153
USAF 27 12 0 0 27 12

37
 Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
Totals: 1,997 57,390 384 42,023 2,381 99,413

Georgia
Fires – Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres – Human Acres – Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
DOD 0 0 0 0 0 0
FS 2 1 0 0 2 1
FWS 0 0 1 1 1 1
NPS 5 1 0 0 5 1
OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 1,691 5,674 0 0 1,691 5,674
Totals: 1,698 5,676 1 1 1,699 5,677

Hawaii
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
C&L 57 470 0 0 57 470
NPS 1 2 0 0 1 2
Totals: 58 472 0 0 58 472

Idaho
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 23 171 0 0 23 171
BLM 138 44,010 39 16,137 177 60,147
BOR 6 12 0 0 6 12
C&L 79 8,662 5 662 84 9,324
DOD 2 2,183 1 914 3 3,097
FS 174 176,175 185 58,895 359 235,070
FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 239 5,806 53 725 292 6,531
Totals: 661 237,019 283 77,333 944 314,352

Illinois
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 12 201 0 0 12 201
FWS 2 22 0 0 2 22
ST 5 16 0 0 5 16
Totals: 19 239 0 0 19 239

Indiana
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
DOD 0 0 0 0 0 0
FS 0 0 0 0 0 0

38
 Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FWS 4 259 0 0 4 259
NPS 6 52 0 0 6 52
ST 1 2 0 0 1 2
Totals: 11 313 0 0 11 313

Iowa
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 126 2,168 0 0 126 2,168
Totals: 126 2,168 0 0 126 2,168

Kansas
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 9 101 0 0 9 101
C&L 35 33,477 0 0 35 33,477
FS 0 0 0 0 0 0
FWS 6 363 0 0 6 363
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
USA 2 640 0 0 2 640
Totals: 52 34,581 0 0 52 34,581

Kentucky
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 21 170 1 108 22 278
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 502 7,672 0 0 502 7,672
Totals: 523 7,842 1 108 524 7,950

Louisiana
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 78 2,869 2 28 80 2,897
FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 321 2,983 0 0 321 2,983
Totals: 399 5,852 2 28 401 5,880

Maine
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 0 0 0 0 0 0
FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0
NPS 1 0 0 0 1 0
ST 1,107 992 47 40 1,154 1,032
Totals: 1,109 992 47 40 1,156 1,032

39
Maryland
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0
ST 1 930 0 0 1 930
Totals: 2 930 0 0 2 930

Massachusetts
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
ST 1,178 767 11 67 1,189 834
Totals: 1,178 767 11 67 1,189 834

Michigan
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 8 2 0 0 8 2
FS 196 177 1 0 197 177
FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0
NPS 3 0 0 0 3 0
ST 194 942 7 10 201 952
Totals: 401 1,121 8 10 409 1,131

Minnesota
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 340 453 1 0 341 453
FS 97 107 11 13 108 120
FWS 27 3,076 0 0 27 3,076
NPS 5 0 1 0 6 0
ST 888 5,189 2 0 890 5,189
Totals: 1,357 8,825 15 13 1,372 8,838

Mississippi
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 101 4,498 0 0 101 4,498
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 989 13,442 0 0 989 13,442
Totals: 1,090 17,940 0 0 1,090 17,940

Missouri
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 101 4,498 0 0 101 4,498
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 989 13,442 0 0 989 13,442
Totals: 1,090 17,940 0 0 1,090 17,940

40
Montana
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 956 106,528 98 19,168 1,054 125,696
BLM 30 2,345 52 9,325 82 11,670
C&L 413 95,909 153 85,355 566 181,264
FS 317 13,691 130 35,381 447 49,072
FWS 0 0 2 42 2 42
NPS 2 5 0 0 2 5
ST 225 1,548 55 336 280 1,884
Totals: 1,943 220,026 490 149,607 2,433 369,633

Nebraska
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 0 0 0 0 0 0
DOF 14 6,357 11 637 25 6,994
FS 6 134 9 481 15 615
FWS 1 2 0 0 1 2
Totals: 21 6,493 20 1,118 41 7,611

Nevada
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BLM 296 64,989 161 158,062 457 223,051
C&L 142 3,523 36 7,363 178 10,887
DOD 0 0 1 3,130 1 3,130
FS 30 5,634 52 16,414 82 22,048
FWS 16 154 0 0 16 154
NPS 30 4 0 0 30 4
ST 6 0 0 0 6 0
Totals: 520 74,305 250 184,969 770 259,275

New Hampshire
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 34 4 2 0 36 4
NPS 1 0 0 0 1 0
ST 206 80 9 4 215 84
Totals: 241 84 11 4 252 88

New Jersey
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
DOD 1 865 0 0 1 865
FWS 3 1 0 0 3 1
ST 1,976 9,535 1 1,518 1,977 11,053
Totals: 1,980 10,401 1 1,518 1,981 11,919

41
New Mexico
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 139 843 27 449 166 1,292
BLM 69 3,748 36 3,061 105 6,809
DOE 2 1 0 0 2 1
FS 304 6,940 178 85,561 482 92,501
FWS 2 1 0 0 2 1
NPS 2 62 8 10 10 72
OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0
SF 179 4,068 72 4,768 251 8,836
Totals: 697 15,663 321 93,849 1,018 109,512

New York
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
ST 187 1,104 5 19 192 1,123
Totals: 187 1,104 5 19 192 1,123

North Carolina
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 5 2 0 0 5 2
FS 20 1,056 2 73 22 1,129
FWS 3 60 0 0 3 60
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 2,270 7,574 27 246 2,297 7,820
USM 37 3,863 0 0 37 3,863
Totals: 2,335 12,555 29 319 2,364 12,874

North Dakota
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 627 2,602 5 13 632 2,615
BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0
FS 10 350 4 25 14 375
FWS 4 780 1 12 5 792
ST 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals: 641 3,732 10 50 651 3,782

Ohio
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 49 49 1 17 50 66
ST 599 1,485 0 0 599 1,485
Totals: 648 1,534 1 17 649 1,551

42
Oklahoma
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 449 23,887 3 10 452 23,897
FWS 10 133 1 5 11 138
OTHR 165 2,430 0 0 165 2,430
ST 613 75,836 0 0 613 75,836
Totals: 1,237 102,287 4 15 1,241 102,302

Oregon
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 159 2,069 25 213,747 184 215,817
BLM 86 184,205 73 49,842 159 234,047
C&L 5 8 0 0 5 8
DL 0 0 0 0 0 0
DOF 798 44,677 158 3,095 956 47,772
FS 488 447,518 397 194,629 885 642,147
FWS 9 1,021 3 798 12 1,819
NPS 8 1 6 1 14 2
Totals: 1,553 679,499 662 462,113 2,215 1,141,612

Pennsylvania
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 7 13 0 0 7 13
ST 1,473 2,976 8 8 1,481 2,984
Totals: 1,480 2,989 8 8 1,488 2,997

Rhode Island
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
ST 112 85 1 0 113 85
Totals: 112 85 1 0 113 85

South Carolina
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 14 31 1 1 15 32
FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
OTHR 440 1,664 5 47 445 1,711
ST 2 7 0 0 2 7
USA 3 4 0 0 3 4
Totals: 459 1,706 6 48 465 1,754

43
South Dakota
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 431 8,831 22 4,374 453 13,205
BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0
C&L 10 631 0 0 10 631
FS 34 56 50 41 84 97
FWS 0 0 1 2 1 2
NPS 0 0 2 28 2 28
ST 264 3,964 38 1,709 302 5,673
Totals: 739 13,482 113 6,154 852 19,636

Tennessee
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 23 41 1 3 24 44
NPS 1 1 0 0 1 1
ST 342 4,118 0 0 342 4,118

Totals: 545 4,936 5 1 550 4,937

Texas
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0
C&L 5,749 49,673 180 7,177 5,929 56,850
FS 50 290 10 287 60 577
FWS 21 6,032 11 137 32 6,169
NPS 5 12 11 668 16 680
OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 556 127,205 120 65,345 676 192,550
Totals: 6,381 183,212 332 73,614 6,713 256,826

Utah
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 31 141 8 6,791 39 6,932
BLM 179 42,693 148 59,662 327 102,355
DOD 0 0 0 0 0 0
FS 176 11,184 85 115,042 261 126,226
FWS 1 0 0 0 1 0
NPS 9 20 3 0 12 20
ST 750 42,778 93 42,403 843 85,181
USA 8 9,020 2 1 10 9,021
Totals: 1,154 105,836 339 223,899 1,493 329,735

44
Vermont
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 4 4 0 0 4 4
ST 89 120 3 2 92 122
Totals: 93 124 3 2 96 126

Virginia
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BLM 0 0 0 0 0 0
FS 19 305 4 12 23 317
FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 365 4,803 22 476 387 5,279
Totals: 384 5,108 26 488 410 5,596

Washington
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 171 324,487 3 4 174 324,491
BLM 68 30,101 2 79 70 30,180
C&L 89 2,674 0 0 89 2,674
DNR 991 204,994 33 144 1,024 205,138
FS 182 25,590 38 4,470 220 30,061
FWS 50 30,924 4 249 54 31,173
NPS 3 84.2 4 0.8 7 85
ST 8 218,568 0 0 8 218,568
Totals: 1,562 837,422 84 4,947 1,646 842,370

West Virginia
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
FS 9 30 0 0 9 30
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 1,166 6,694 55 1,472 1,221 8,166
Totals: 1,175 6,724 55 1,472 1,230 8,196

Wisconsin
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 8 6 0 0 8 6
FS 14 5 0 0 14 5
FWS 3 241 0 0 3 241
NPS 0 0 0 0 0 0
ST 752 1,526 4 7 756 1,533
Totals: 777 1,778 4 7 781 1,785

45
Wyoming
Fires - Fires – Acres – Fires –
Agency Acres - Human Acres - Total
Human Lightning Lightning Total
BIA 138 397 5 62 143 459
BLM 100 25,033 44 5,356 144 30,389
BOR 7 49 0 0 7 49
C&L 242 47,268 96 16,710 338 63,978
FS 78 211,393 45 21,879 123 233,272
FWS 0 0 0 0 0 0
NPS 9 4 8 4,128 17 4,132
OTHR 0 0 0 0 0 0
SF 35 5,933 21 1,570 56 7,503
Totals: 609 290,077 219 49,705 828 339,782

46
NICC Benchmarks
The figures below represent national-level totals for fire activity and numbers of resources
mobilized through the National Interagency Coordination Center, except for Incident
Management Team mobilizations, which are displayed in totality of mobilizations nationwide.
Records set during the year of this report are in bold.

Category Record Year Record 2020 Stats

Wildfires 2006 96,385 58,950
Wildfire Acres Burned 2015 10,125,149 10,122,336
Significant Fires 2006 1,801 999
Days at Preparedness Level 1&2 2010 365 229
Days at Preparedness Level 4&5 2002 88 71
Days at Preparedness Level 5 2002 62 45
Type 1 IMT Mobilizations* 2002 85 31
Type 2 IMT Mobilizations* 2000 58 28
Dept. of Defense Battalions/Task Forces 1988 8 2
MAFFS (millions of gallons delivered) 1994 5.03 1.350
Tactical Crew Mobilizations 2003 1,796 1,017
Engine Mobilizations 2020 2,387 2,387
Overhead Mobilizations 2000 17,898 12,794
Type 1 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 288 232
Type 2 Helicopter Mobilizations 2006 323 99
Heavy Airtankers (VLAT/LAT/MAFFS) 2017 2,298 778
Large Transport Flights 1994 552 26
Mobile Food Units 1994 195 131
Shower Units 1994 256 197

47
Identifier Legend
Interagency Coordination Centers
NICC: National Interagency Coordination Center
NIFC: National Interagency Fire Center
CIIFC: Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
AK: Alaska Area
EA: Eastern Area
GB: Great Basin Area
NO: Northern California Area
NR: Northern Rockies Area
NW: Northwest Area
RM: Rocky Mountain Area
SA: Southern Area
SW: Southwest Area
SO: Southern California Area

Federal Government Agencies

FS: Forest Service
BIA: Bureau of Indian Affairs
BLM: Bureau of Land Management
FWS: Fish and Wildlife Service
NPS: National Park Service
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency
ESF4: Emergency Support Function, Firefighting
NWS: National Weather Service
DOE: Department of Energy
DOD: Department of Defense

International Partners
AU: Australia
CN: Canada
MX: Mexico
NZ: New Zealand

Other Providers/Ownership
CNTY: County
OT: Other
PRI: Private
ST: State
ST/OT: State/Other Combined

48
Acronyms and Terminology
Air Attack: Light aircraft (airplane or helicopter) that carries the ATGS.
ASM: Aerial Supervision Module, light twin-engine airplane that combines the lead
plane function and tactical supervision (pilot and Air Tactical Supervisor - ATS).
CWN: Call When Needed, refers to aircraft that have a call when needed contract.
DRTI: Distributed Real-Time Infrared aircraft (operated by DOD).
EXCL: Exclusive-Use Contract. Refers to aircraft that have an exclusive-use contact
with an agency.
IA: Initial attack.
IMT: Incident Management Team.
Infrared: Aircraft outfitted with infrared sensing equipment.
IROC: Interagency Resource Ordering Capability System.
Large fire: A large fire is defined as 100 acres or greater in timber, 300 acres or greater in
grass/brush, or a Type 1, Type 2 or NIMO team is assigned.
LAT: Large Airtanker.
Lead Plane: Twin-engine airplane that guides airtankers over a fire.
MAFFS: Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (military C-130 aircraft).
NIMO: National Incident Management Organization.
Pax: Passengers.
RAWS: Remote Automated Weather Station.
Starter: Type of portable radio kit.
Repeater: Type of portable radio kit.
Tactical: Type of portable radio kit.
SEAT: Single engine airtanker.
TFR: Temporary Flight Restriction.
UTF: Unable to Fill resource request (the requested resource couldn’t be filled).
UAS: Unmanned aircraft systems.
VLAT: Very Large Airtanker.

49