We hit a #wildfire milestone today. It is the 63rd day for @NIFC_Fire to be at Preparedness Level (PL) 5 in 2021, breaking the record of 62 days set in 2002 (records start in 1990). 1/4
If you're not familiar with the PL index, great explainer here: nifc.gov/sites/default/β¦
If you're not familiar with the PL index, great explainer here: nifc.gov/sites/default/β¦
When @NIFC_Fire is at PL5, it means everyone eligible becomes available for fire assignments. It means we have too many complex fires going in multiple regions. It means firefighters are exhausted and can't catch a break, because they go from one assignment to the next. 2/4
In some years we never even hit PL5 (e.g., 2019). In 2020, we had 45 days at PL5. But in 2021, we're at 63 and counting in mid-September. This is a huge contributor to the mental/physical strain on firefighters, and the hidden epidemic of PTSD and suicide in seasonals. 3/4
This is yet another indicator of how complex #wildfire management has become, and that we need a new approach. A full-time, year-round workforce that focuses more on mitigation, and helps protect resources and communities during wildfires. That helps us all live with fire. 4/4
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