Due to the current extreme wildfire risk conditions in the field nationwide, US Forest Service Chief Randy Moore announced he is initiating a pause on prescribed fire operations on National Forest System lands while a 90-day review of protocols, decision support tools and practices is conducted ahead of planned operations again this fall.
Moore says the primary goal in engaging prescribed fires is to ensure the safety of the communities involved. Forest employees who are engaging in prescribed fire operations are part of these communities across the nation.
In his announcement, Moore said, “The communities we serve, and our employees deserve the very best tools and science supporting them as we continue to navigate toward reducing the risk of severe wildfires in the future.”
Moore says the pause will have minimal impact on the objectives of prescribed fires in the short- and long-term since the agency conducts more than 90 percent of its prescribed burn operations between September and May.
