VOICES OF WFCA
The Case for Active Leadership: A Unified Approach to Wildfire Management
Authors: Mark Niemeyer, President of the Board for the Western Fire Chiefs Association; Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief for the Orange County Fire Authority; Mike Morgan, Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control; and Lucas Mayfield, President of the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters
As we face an era of increasingly devastating wildfires, the formation of a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service under the Department of the Interior represents a critical moment in reshaping how our nation responds to this ongoing crisis. However, as we work to build this new service, it is essential that we recognize and empower the role of state and local fire leaders as active partners in the process. These leaders are not just critical—they are indispensable in our ongoing fight to protect lives, property, and the landscapes of our communities.
Click to read why empowering local and state fire leaders is key to building a stronger, unified wildfire response across the nation.
