Federal and State Crews Brace for a Long, Dry Wildfire Season Out West

Federal and state fire agencies are staffing up early this year as forecasts point to elevated wildfire risk across much of the Mountain West. Dry conditions and an early snowmelt have set the stage for a potentially long season.

Coordination between federal land agencies, states, and local departments has become increasingly practiced, with shared command structures that allow crews to surge to where they are needed. Aircraft and equipment are being prepositioned in high-risk regions.

Prevention and preparation

Beyond suppression, agencies are emphasizing prevention: prescribed burns to reduce fuel loads, defensible-space campaigns for homeowners, and updated evacuation planning in communities that abut forests. These measures rarely make headlines but shape outcomes.

Firefighter recruitment and retention remain concerns, with the demanding, seasonal nature of the work making it hard to keep experienced crews. Recent pay changes aimed to help, though officials say more is needed.

Residents in fire-prone areas from Colorado to the Pacific Northwest are being urged to prepare go-bags and sign up for local alerts. Agencies stress that early action, both by government and by households, is the best defense against a bad season.