Program - Wildland Fire Protection

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Fire Control

Fire in Trees The Nebraska Forest Service Wildland Fire Protection Program provides service in five major program areas:

Wildfire Suppression Training,
Equipment,
Pre-Suppression Planning,
Wildfire Prevention and
Aerial Fire Suppression.

Unlike some states, the Nebraska Forest Service does not have a fire suppression force. The work of this agency is aimed at helping maximize the impact of the existing (predominantly volunteer) force of local firefighters across the state. The 476 rural fire districts (East and West) which blanket the state collectively have more than 14,000 firefighters. A well-developed system of 58 Mutual Aid Districts covers virtually all of the state. Mutual Aid is used when local resources prove inadequate to handle a large or complex wildfire incident. Under existing mutual aid agreements neighboring fire districts can render assistance when needed.

NFS also tracks information about wildfires across the state. For information on recent fires, click here.

Wildfire Suppression Training

The Nebraska Forest Service provides training to rural fire districts in several ways. We conduct classes in numerous communities across the state as well as at Mutual Aid Schools and State Fire School. We also provide current knowledge, training materials and funding to that portion of the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Training Division "Firefighter I " curriculum that addresses wildfire suppression.

Equipment

Through a cooperative program with the U.S. Forest Service, we are able to acquire and recondition vehicles which have become excess to the needs of the federal government. These vehicles are then assigned to participating rural fire districts for firefighting. This program is called the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program. These vehicles, while continuing to be Federal property, can be loaned to cooperating rural fire districts. When no longer needed, these vehicles must be returned to the Nebraska Forest Service and be re-assigned or sold with the proceeds being returned to the Federal treasury. Our shop, located at the University of Nebraska ARDC Field Lab south of Mead, handles the job of reconditioning and maintaining these vehicles. Click here for a map to the fire shop. For more detailed information about the Nebraska Forest Service's FEPP program, click here.

Pre-Suppression Planning

This planning service takes the form of either Mutual Aid District Planning or Community Master Planning. Mutual Aid District planning provides the member districts with Mutual Aid Resource Directories and a more condensed version of the directory to be carried in each fire vehicle. Community Master planning is done with the local fire officials to help them ensure that their needs will continue to be met in the future. The plans contain equipment replacement schedules, insurance information, and explanations of the privileges and responsibilities which rural fire districts have under state statutes.

Wildfire Prevention

Perhaps the greatest impact Nebraskans can have in the area of fire protection is through fire prevention. The Nebraska Forest Service is the state headquarters for Smokey Bear. In addition there is an annual fire prevention material mass purchase through the Nebraska Forest Service. In this program fire prevention materials are purchased in large quantities to take advantage of volume discounts. These materials are then sold (on a cost recovery basis) to Nebraskans interested in promoting fire prevention. Our fire prevention resource manager is also available to make local visits to your fire department to help you set up a year round fire prevention program. These programs are the heart and soul of effective fire prevention and can be tailored to meet your communities specific needs.

Wildfire Causes Statistics | Maps
Order Fire Prevention Material: PDF
Wildfire Awareness Month Poster:PDF
Smokey Bear Poster: JPEG
Fire Hazard Test (Ideal for Acerage Owners & Rural Residents)
Recent Fires

Fire Danger

Fire danger, in Nebraska, is determined daily by The National Weather Service (NWS). This rating is based upon the forecasted: high temperature, low relative humidity, wind speed, cloud cover and fuel moisture. Fuel moisture is a very important component and can be measured by satellite. Vegetation which is growing is actively pumping water throughout its cells. When vegetation begins to decline it no longer pumps water and begins to dry. One reliable measure of this fuel moisture is greenness and greenness can be sensed by orbiting satellites.

Greenness map of Nebraska
Forecast Areas and National Weather Service Offices
South Central	Hastings, NE	402-462-4287
North Central	North Platte, NE	308-532-4936
Western Panhandle	Cheyenne, WY	307-772-2468
Southwestern	Goodland, KS	785-899-7119
Eastern	Valley, NE	402-359-5166
Northeast	Sioux Falls, SD	605-330-4247

Aerial Fire Suppression

There are 68 Aerial Applicators (Agricultural Spray Pilots) who have agreed to cooperate with the Nebraska Forest Service, in the Aerial Fire Suppression program. Additionally, there are 26 locations around the state where foam wild land fire retardant is stored specifically for use in the aerial suppression of wildfires. Training is also offered by the Nebraska Fire Marshal Training Division. Also cooperating in this program is the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, County Sheriffs, Nebraska State Patrol and the The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. Complete details and specifics of this program are included in the publication Emergency Assistance for Wildfire Control. You can also download the Applicator Billing Form.

Newsletters

May 2008 Rural Firefighter
Past issues of Rural Firefighter

Cost Share Programs

Recent Fires

Map of Wildfires Responded to by Fire Departments (Maps available by year for fires since January 1, 2007)
Nebraska Wildfires- Summer 2006 (Story | Images)

Interesting Links

State/Local

Federal

Prevention & Wildland Urban Interface

Informational

Nebraska Forest Service