USU Wildland Fire Club Explores Fire Management in Greater Yellowstone Area

Chris Archibald and J. Bradley Washa

USU Department of Wildland Resources

USU Wildland Fire Club

USU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources

In September, Utah State University's Wildland Fire Club traveled to the Greater Yellowstone Area to learn about wildland fire policy, ecology, and interagency management. The trip gave students the chance to meet with professionals including the Fire Management Officers from Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Fuels Specialist from Yellowstone National Park, seeing firsthand how each agency manages wildland fire and fuels across diverse landscapes.

At Yellowstone, the fuels specialist explained the park’s current focus, which is largely influenced by the park’s forest composition, as about 80 percent of Yellowstone is forested, and roughly 80 percent of that is lodgepole pine; A species whose fire regime is characterized by naturally long fire return intervals and high severity fire. Nearly one-third of the park has burned since 1988, leading managers to believe the landscape is in a healthy balance of burned and unburned areas. As a result, the park does not see a need for prescribed fire on the landscape at the moment, though wildland fire will need to return in the future.

In contrast, Grand Teton National Park takes a different approach. In the park, prescribed fire is used more frequently, particularly in the sagebrush ecosystems where fire maintains healthy plant communities. The Fire Management Officer explained how carefully planned burns reduce the risk of large, high-intensity wildfires and support wildlife by promoting new growth and providing forage. He also noted that fire helps limit woody encroachment and can reduce the spread of invasive plants. The comparison between the two parks highlights how differing ecosystems and the size of the park drive fire policy.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest offered yet another perspective. While details on specific strategies were limited, the forest is managed on the premise of multiple-use, sustained yield. Students learned about the staffing challenges the Forest Service and other federal agencies experienced this fire season. The North Zone Fire Management Officer explained shortages of seasonal and permanent fire personnel often require the forest to rely on Administratively Determined Emergency Hires, or ADs, to meet seasonal staffing needs. This is one of many examples that show how fire management is carried out during busy fire seasons and highlights that workforce capacity is just as important as policy or ecology in determining management outcomes.

Despite their differences, all three agencies emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation. Fire doesn’t stop at park or forest boundaries, and managers highlighted how interagency collaboration within the Greater Yellowstone Area allows them to respond more effectively to fires that cross jurisdictions. Effective collaboration is critical for managing a landscape of this size and complexity.

Wildfire policies are constantly changing, shaped by recent events and lessons learned in the field. When asked about how the Dragon Bravo Fire has affected policy, the Fire Management Officer at Grand Teton explained that before the fire, he had freedom to allow naturally ignited fires to burn if conditions were met. After the fire destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim, direction changed, and fires in Grand Teton were suppressed regardless of location or risk, even when facilities or high-use areas were not immediately threatened. The fuels specialist at Yellowstone similarly noted that political and public pressure since Dragon Bravo has made parks more cautious in their fire management decisions.

In addition to policy discussions, students were able to observe how both Yellowstone and Grand Teton implement Firewise practices to protect structures and infrastructure from wildfire. Managers use techniques such as thinning and piling, mastication, clearing defensible space and creating buffer zones around visitor centers and other structures. When a fire approaches, these measures are designed to keep flames out of the canopy and on the ground, making it easier to suppress. This approach not only keeps buildings safe, but also helps protect surrounding wildlands if a fire starts in or near a structure. Seeing these efforts in person helped students understand that fire management extends beyond wilderness landscapes to include the built environment and the communities that live and work within it.

Career conversations added another layer of value to the trip. The seasoned professionals emphasized that the most effective fire managers combine operational fire experience with an academic foundation in fire ecology and management. Having both perspectives prepares students to understand fire behavior and ecology on the ground while also making informed management decisions. Students also received practical advice on applying for federal jobs, including tips on the new two-page federal résumé format. Guidance on financial planning and retirement highlighted the long-term realities of fire careers, while encouragement to continue education and embrace lifelong learning reinforced the idea that wildland fire is a field that evolves with both science and practice.

In addition to studying aspects of fire management within the Greater Yellowstone Area, applying knowledge learned in the classroom to real world examples, students were able to explore the parks and surrounding forests. This included sights like the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, camping on Colter Bay and Hebgen Lake, to hiking six miles up the Cabin Creek Trail in the vicinity of the 2000 Beaver Creek Fire on the Gallatin National Forest. Students also organized themselves as squads, similar to a fire crew, to prepare meals and tend to the campfire, developing leadership and group skills.

Making the trip possible required careful planning by the club’s leaders and advisor, along with fundraising. As part of this effort, students contributed to some of the trip costs and helped raise additional funds through pile burning in collaboration with Alpine Forestry, who donates to the club for each student who comes out and burns for the day. This opportunity not only supports the club financially but also provides students with valuable hands-on experience and practical skills in fire management.

Ultimately, the trip highlighted that wildland fire management involves both people and partnerships as much as it does vegetation and flames. Each agency has its own approach, shaped by the land, resources, and history, but all share the goal of maintaining healthy ecosystems and keeping communities safe. For students, the experience provided an opportunity to observe fire management firsthand and make connections with professionals. The trip demonstrated the complex balance of strategy, science, and coordination involved in managing fire and being stewards of the land.