NIFC coordinates resources for U.S. fires from Boise campus

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The 2021 fire season is just getting started.

Already, fires have burned almost 60,000 acres in eight states. This is a number that will increase throughout the summer months.

From coast to coast, all major U.S. fires have one thing in common: the coordination of resources.

CBS2 visited the National Interagency Fire Center to learn how decisions about resources are made.

"We are the single focal point for the ordering of resources for wildland fires throughout the united states," said Sean Peterson, assistant NIFC manager. "This is the place where critical decisions about fires are made."

Nine different fire management organizations call this 55-acre campus in Boise home. Their goal is to make sure crews have everything they need to protect people, wildlife, and property.

They provide it all from the latest fire engines to the food for smokejumpers.

Workers at NIFC spend all day and night closely monitoring the weather. It's what they can't plan for that makes fighting fires more challenging and dangerous.

NIFC's essential work could be made easier. According to the Center, people caused more than 53,000 fires nationwide in 2020.

Fire agencies across the west are still trying to fill many positions this summer. Each agency has its jobs posted. Click here to view the jobs.

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