As wildfire seasons grow longer and record-breaking acreage burns, it's crucial for wildland firefighters to stay prepared with reliable gear and equipment. This year, we’ve witnessed increased wildfire activity worldwide, with Oregon’s 2024 season setting a record with 1,784,627 acres burned as of September 9th. According to Cal Fire’s
social media update on July 30th, “This year’s wildfire activity is 2,816% higher than last year, 29 times the amount of acreage burned”. In Texas, the Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned over a million acres, making it the largest fire in the state’s history. Meanwhile, the Jasper Park Fire in Alberta has scorched over 79,000 acres, the largest wildfire the town has faced in a century.
The rise in global wildfire activity highlights the importance of ensuring that wildland firefighters are well-prepared to face these challenges both the remainder of this season and for all future seasons.
EVALUATING CURRENT GEAR FOR THE ONGOING SEASON
The demands of wildfire season make effective gear crucial for both safety and success in battling wildfires. Wildland firefighters rely heavily on their tools and equipment to withstand intense heat, unpredictable environments, and long hours in rough terrain. Is your gear meeting those expectations? Whether you’re on the fireline or planning for next season, having top-quality, reliable gear starts with gear and equipment evaluations and preparation. Frequent evaluations are essential to ensure that everything from flame-resistant clothing to specialized tools like drip torches function properly and work well in the field.
You don’t want to be fireline-ready but have gear that falls short. Take time to evaluate your equipment and think about any challenges you’ve faced. Identifying what gear and tools performed well and where improvements are needed will help ensure you and your crew are fully prepared for both the current and future seasons. National Fire Fighter’s wide range of gear—from personal protective equipment (PPE) to tools and accessories—helps ensure you're always equipped with reliable, field-tested products when it matters most.
PREPARING FOR THE "OFF-SEASON"
While wildfire season continues into the fall, the “off-season” is an essential time to prepare for what’s ahead. This time allows many wildland firefighters to focus on rest, recovery, and strategic planning, ensuring they’re fully prepared for the upcoming season.
Beyond evaluating your current equipment inventory, it's also important to consider what additional gear might be needed for the off-season for those still active on the fireline. This includes cold-weather clothing to stay warm and specialized tools like drip torches for prescribed burns and fuel management. Proper preparation for these needs ensures crews are well-equipped to handle cold-weather conditions.
GEAR UP NOW, PREPARE FOR WHAT'S NEXT
Wildland firefighting requires continuous preparation and adaptability. As the current wildfire season continues, it’s crucial to evaluate and upgrade your gear to ensure effectiveness and safety on the line. The off-season offers a valuable opportunity to focus on rest, recovery, and strategic planning, but it’s also a time to prepare for the challenges faced outside peak fire weather. By investing in high-quality gear and addressing any equipment needs, including cold-weather clothing and specialized tools, you’ll be ready for whatever comes next. NFFC is dedicated to providing essential gear and support needed to keep your crews ready year-round.
PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE SEASON WITH NFFC
SHOP CLOTHING, PPE, FIRE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SKID UNITS, AND MORE HERE!
National Fire Fighter helps provide wildland firefighters with the products they need to protect themselves, their communities, and their property from the devastating effects of fire. NFFC is a trusted source for quality, reliable firefighting gear to help effectively extinguish fires, stay protected, and minimize injury. With innovative designs, and high-quality, durable materials, NFFC wildland fire equipment and products help keep the brave men and women fighting fires safe when things get hot.