On January 12, the Department of the Interior announced it is taking the next step to establish the U.S. Wildland Fire Service.
Currently, wildland fire management responsibilities within the Department of the Interior (DOI) are distributed across multiple bureaus and offices, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Bureau of Land Management; Fish and Wildlife Service; National Park Service; Office of Aviation Services; and the Office of Wildland Fire. The establishment of a unified U.S. Wildland Fire Service aims to streamline decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the Department’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to wildfire threats.
DOI has appointed Brian Fennessy to oversee the implementation of the new service, unifying the wildland fire management programs across the Department’s bureaus and offices. Fennessy brings decades of experience leading large-scale wildfire response efforts in California, having previously served as Chief of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority. Earlier in his career, Fennessy worked with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and has led wildfire suppression, aviation operations, and emergency response during some of the state’s most challenging fire seasons, while building partnerships with federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.