The difference among states with regards to their wildland fire suppression capabilities is remarkable. California’s CAL FIRE for example has more equipment and personnel than the BIA or the FWS combined! Other states with less fire risk have few if any dedicated wildland fire resources. Rhode Island, for example, is probably not the best place to pursue a career in wildland fire. However, you never know where the opportunities are. We’ve provided a list of every state and the respective agency responsible for managing wildland fire within its borders.
State
|
Agency
|
Alabama |
Forestry Commission |
Alaska |
Fire Service |
Arizona |
Department of Forestry and Fire Management |
Arkansas |
Forestry Commission |
California |
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) |
Colorado |
Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry (Colorado State Forest Service) |
Connecticut |
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Division of Forestry |
Delaware |
Department of Agriculture – Forest Service |
District of Columbia |
n/a |
Florida |
Forest Service |
Georgia |
Forestry Commission |
Hawaii |
State of Hawaii, Division of Forestry and Wildlife |
Idaho |
Department of Lands |
Illinois |
Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Resources |
Indiana |
Department of Natural Resources, Forestry |
Iowa |
Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry |
Kansas |
Kansas Forest Service |
Kentucky |
Division of Forestry |
Louisiana |
Department of Agriculture and Forestry |
Maine |
Forest Service |
Maryland |
Department of Natural Resources |
Massachusetts |
Bureau of Forest Fire Control |
Michigan |
Department of Natural Resources |
Minnesota |
Department of Natural Resources |
Mississippi |
Forestry Commission |
Missouri |
Department of Conservation |
Montana |
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation |
Nebraska |
Forest Service |
Nevada |
Division of Forestry |
New Hampshire |
Division of Forests and Lands |
New Jersey |
Forest Fire Service |
New Mexico |
State Forestry |
New York |
Department of Environmental Conservation |
North Carolina |
Forest Service |
North Dakota |
Forest Service |
Ohio |
Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry |
Oklahoma |
Forestry Services |
Oregon |
Department of Forestry |
Pennsylvania |
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Rhode Island |
Division of Forest Environment, Wildland Fire Control |
South Carolina |
Forestry Commission |
South Dakota |
Department of Agriculture, Wildland Fire Division |
Tennessee |
Department of Agriculture |
Texas |
Forest Service |
Utah |
Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands |
Vermont |
Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation |
Virginia |
Department of Forestry |
Washington |
State Department of Natural Resources |
West Virginia |
Division of Forestry |
Wisconsin |
Forestry Division |
Wyoming |
State Forestry Division |