Abstract:
The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy is a collaborative effort that seeks, in part,
to improve multi-jurisdictional coordination of wildfire management and expand local preparedness
and response capacity. Local workforces that are trained to prepare for and respond to wildfire risks in
their communities could play vital roles bringing together planning, risk reduction, and fire response. However,
unpredictable work, limited state and federal budgets, diverse landowner objectives, and complicated
contracting practices can create challenges for sustaining place-based workforces. How have some organizations
developed local, cross-trained workforces to address wildfire risks alongside intensifying wildfire
management needs?