FIRELINE The official publication of the National Wildfire Suppression Association Summer 2025 LESSONS LEARNED GOLDEN STATETable of Contents Published for: The National Wildfire Suppression Association Physical Address: 228 SW Broadway Mill City, OR 97360 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 169 Mill City, OR 97360 Executive Director: Debbie Miley Tel: (877) 676-6972 Direct Line: (503) 897-6150 Published by: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. 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Account Executives Colleen Bell, Jackie Casburn, Chandler Cousins, Rich Cowan, Helaina Van Dommelen, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Chad Morris, Lynn Murphy, Wilma Gray-Rose, Monique Simons, Joseph Ukaoha Advertising Design James Robinson Layout & Design Kayti McDonald ©2025 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Printed in Canada. Photo courtesy of Grayback Forestry. Up Front 07 A Message from the NWSA President, Claren Nilsson 09 The Role of the National Wildfire Suppression Association in Wildland Fire & Emergency Incident Support 11 NWSA Sponsorship Opportunities NWSA Insider 30 Meet NWSA’s Members 35 NWSA’s Corporate Sponsors 36 Meet NWSA’s Instructors 37 Tools of the Trade 37 NWSA News 38 Index to Advertisers Features 12 Lessons Learned from the Golden State 15 Different Roles, Same Goals 17 Wildland Friends in High Places 23 Help Wanted: Recruiting and Retaining the Future of Wildland Firefighting 25 Wildfire Water Solutions: Water Where and When It’s Needed Most On the cover: The wildfires that swept through southern California this year burned through more than 23,000 acres, as well as destroyed nearly 3,500 structures and caused several deaths. However, the lessons learned from this tragedy are providing insights that crews across the country can learn from for future incidents. Photo courtesy of Tod Vincencio.The National Wildfire Suppression Association 7 Up Front A Message from the NWSA President, Claren Nilsson Claren Nisson NWSA President The private wildland fire service continues to meet the demands of a complex, high-risk mission with professionalism, consistency, and experience. Every season, members of the National Wildfire Suppression Association (NWSA) face the challenges of difficult fire behavior, shifting policy, and the daily reality of staying ready – all without the stability or support that should come with that responsibility. This is the kind of commitment that has shaped this industry, and it is the reason the NWSA continues to have a powerful voice at the national level. The role of the private wildland fire service has become both essential and increasingly visible. The federal government relies on the private wildland fire service for over half of all suppression resources and nearly all ground and aviation support. This high level of involvement should come with fair policy, sustained opportunity, and a seat at the table. The NWSA is working to ensure it does. In recent conversations with agency leadership and congressional offices in Washington, D.C., we emphasized that the system needs to reflect the reality on the ground. Response capacity, safety, and experience must be prioritized. Policy should empower qualified responders to act quickly without delay from dispatch practices that sideline closest forces – even when they might be available within their home forests. We’ve outlined five key priorities for a stronger, more responsive fire system: 1. Put the fire out first: Rapid, aggressive initial attack must remain the foundation of suppression. Closest capable resources should be dispatched without delay to contain fires early and safely. 2. Establish stronger partnerships: Our presence would bring field-based insight into national coordination and planning. 3. Secure long-term, sustainable contracts: Stability allows employers to retain their workforce, invest in equipment, and stay mission ready. Year-to-year uncertainty only undermines both preparedness and performance. 4. Promote merit-based awards: Experience matters. Contracts should reflect qualifications, safety records, and operational reliability – not just cost. 5. Remove training barriers: Current limits on course delivery and capacity hinder workforce growth. The private wildland fire service is ready to scale up if given the opportunity. Agency leaders have expressed interest in reform. Our conversations with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have been productive, and legislation like the Fix Our Forests Act and Fix America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act may offer real pathways forward. NWSA remains fully engaged as these discussions evolve. This is a pivotal time for the private wildland fire service. The work is demanding, and the system is shifting. The good news is that more leaders are beginning to understand that the private wildland fire service is not optional – it is essential. On behalf of the NWSA Board of Directors, thank you for your leadership, professionalism, and commitment. We’re proud to represent you and remain committed to driving meaningful change. � The NWSA Executive Board was on Capitol Hill to meet with key congressional leaders and the new Chief of the Forest Service, as well as other key members of the Department Committee.The National Wildfire Suppression Association 9 Up Front Thirty-five years ago, a group of private contractors were approached by the agencies with a suggestion that perhaps the private industry needed a united voice when dealing with them on contract and training issues. Out of that, the National Wildfire Suppression Association (NWSA) was formed in 1991 at a meeting of 10 companies in Reno, Nevada. Their mission was to provide a voice for the professional private fire services. Braving the smoke, heat, and danger of wildland fires, as well as the aftermath of other national disasters, is a multitude of federal, state, and local agencies. When the magnitude of the event exceeds their available resources, these agencies can call in reinforcements from the professional private fire services through pre-existing agreements and contracts. Today, the NWSA represents 375 private firefighting companies in 21 states, as well as Canada and Australia. We can field a workforce of over 12,000 trained firefighters, as well as a large contingency of equipment, during the height of wildfire season. These folks provide resources that include water handling resources, heavy equipment, faller modules, 20-person hand crews, and other specialized resources that complement the toolbox of resources the agencies have for wildland fire response. Today, approximately 45 percent of all fire resources are provided by the professional private fire services. When lives are on the line, the agencies must have confidence in all the resources that are part of the fire community. Since 1991, the mission of the NWSA has been to ensure that its members earn that confidence. NWSA advocacy includes working as a cooperator in the wildland fire services to build positive relationships with agency partners, and to advocate for professionalism within the industry, as well as providing an exchange of information on issues related to the industry. Why is there a need for the private professional contract fire services? It was started in the 1980s during an era of shrinking agency budgets, and a growing The Role of the National Wildfire Suppression Association in Wildland Fire and Emergency Incident Support number of large fires. By the end of the 1990s, these events led to the first hand-crew agreement between private wildland fire services and the agencies. NWSA has built many working relationships with the federal, state, and local governments as well as national and state politicians, and prides itself on working to resolve issues of concern to create a better working environment for all parties. Not only do NWSA members provide resources for wildfire response, but they also perform a lot of project work for wildfire recovery and wildfire mitigation. NWSA has long held onto the value of protecting the forest through mitigation work rather than protection by wildfire suppression efforts and the industry stands ready to perform that work not only for agency partners, but for many landowners as well. The majority of NWSA member companies are located in rural America and provide family wage jobs to folks in their areas. Most of their employees live, play, and work in these forests and therefore, they have a personal stake in helping to protect these landscapes and take a strong sense of pride in their accomplishments. � Along with providing wildfire response, the NWSA protects forests across the country through its various mitigation efforts.Next >