The Flame Act
Faced with increasing numbers of catastrophic, emergency wildland fires, the U.S. enacted the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act (FLAME) Act in 2008 to establish a new federal fund to cover the growing costs associated with fighting these fires.
Western Region
The FLAME Act also required a cohesive wildland fire management strategy. To achieve this, the U.S. was divided into three zones: west, southeast and northeast. Representatives from agencies, governments and other stakeholders in the 16 western states are working towards a cohesive strategy that will enable them to plan for and respond to wildland fires efficiently and strategically by restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, creating fire adapted communities and encouraging jurisdictional collaboration.
Similar efforts have been underway for the last decade; however, the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture directed this to be the most all-inclusive effort ever attempted to develop a national wildfire management cohesive strategy.
