WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT | Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee

Wildland Fire Management Subcommittee

The 1988 wildfires in the GYE brought controversy to fire management policy and implementation, both locally and nationally. The GYCC recognized that more coordination was critical, leading to the establishment of this subcommittee in 1990.

Subcommittee Mission:

Our mission is to serve as professional wildland fire consultants to the GYCC and provide advice on management strategies for wildland and prescribed fire as requested.

The GYA Fire Management Team includes fire management officers from each GYE unit, who meet regularly to review fire management planning status and operational procedures. GYE fire managers provide peer review of individual unit fire management plans and develop procedures for coordinated management of large and/or complex fire incidents.

Subcommittee Leadership:

Co-Chair - Jon Dentinger, Deputy Fire Management Officer, Yellowstone National Park, jon_dentinger@nps.gov

Co-Chair - James Turner, Forest Fire Management Officer, Bridger-Teton National Forest, james.c.turner@usda.gov

Co-Chair - Fred Tucker, Forest Fire Management Officer, Shoshone National Forest, frederick.tucker@usda.gov

Importance to the Ecosystem:

The landscape of the GYE has been shaped by wildland fire for thousands of years. While most fires are frequent and small, occasional large fires help to maintain a mosaic of plant communities in different stages, recycle nutrients, and proliferate fire-dependent vegetation species, supporting biodiversity. The GYE is a fire dependent ecosystem. Lightning has been considered the primary source of wildland fires during the pre-settlement era.

Status and Trends in Greater Yellowstone:

Human-caused changes, including fire exclusion and climate change, have affected the frequency and severity of wildland fires. GYE climate change trends and projections include increased extreme precipitation events, warmer temperatures,
and more frequent drought periods. After prolonged dry periods, more frequent, larger, and more severe fire events are to be expected. In addition, smoke from wildfires is becoming more common and creating longer duration impacts to viewsheds and public health. Increased public visitation and the rapid expansion of the wildland urban interface pose growing challenges for fire managers across the GYE.

The Greater Yellowstone Fire Action Network has been formed to address challenges communities and the landscape face with wildfire.

Publications/Products Produced:

GYA Interagency Wildland Fire Management Planning and Coordination Guide, 2024
Wildfire Preparedness for Homeowners