The objective of this project is to strengthen the Department of War’s (DoW) capacity to assess and manage wildland fire risk on military and other federal lands. Wildland fires pose increasing challenges to mission readiness, infrastructure protection, and land stewardship. This project will evaluate and demonstrate innovative tools and data-driven approaches that improve fire behavior modeling, wildfire risk assessment, and land management decision-making in complex operational environments.  

This project integrates workshops and applied demonstrations to assess the feasibility, performance, and operational value of emerging wildland fire science and technologies. Emphasis is placed on tools that enhance situational awareness, improve risk-based planning, and support mission-relevant decision-making on DoW installations. Activities are organized into four coordinated efforts implemented across priority Innovation Landscapes in the southwestern and southeastern United States. 

Fire Behavior Modeling and Remote Sensing

A technical workshop will develop a framework for using remote sensing and related datasets to evaluate fire behavior models. This effort will identify data requirements, assess available public and government data sources, and leverage existing Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) investments to support model evaluation across diverse fire conditions. 

Demonstration of Next-Generation Fire Models

Next-generation fire behavior models will be evaluated and demonstrated across selected Innovation Landscapes to assess their utility for land management planning. Demonstrations will focus on integrating remote sensing and environmental data to support operational decisions relevant to DoW installations. 

Improved Wildfire Risk Assessment for DoW Installations

New wildfire risk assessment approaches will be demonstrated on selected DoW installations to better represent mission-critical values, such as training availability and infrastructure protection. The U.S. Geological Survey, in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will apply and compare these methods to existing approaches to evaluate improvements in decision support and mission relevance. 

Advancing Land Management Science and Tools

A workshop will convene DoW and federal partners to assess current tools, data, and expertise supporting wildland fire and land management decisions. The outcome will be improved coordination and a shared roadmap for applying existing science and technologies to meet priority DoW and federal land management needs. 

This project supports mission readiness by improving the tools and information used to manage wildfire risk on military lands. By validating emerging technologies, demonstrating practical applications, and strengthening interagency coordination, the project enhances DoW’s ability to allocate resources efficiently, protect mission-critical assets, and sustain training and operational capabilities in fire-prone landscapes. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2026)