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AT THIS SITE Fire Danger News Daily Fire Report Burning Permits State Fire Laws * Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program * Example RFD Memo Of Understanding * Wildfire Statistics Burn Safe Tennessee * Free Acrobat Reader

Fire Information The Division of Forestry protects the state's forest resource through fire readiness, wildfire suppression, training volunteer firefighters, and combating arson.  During a crisis, Division employees work closely with volunteer firefighters and rescue squads. Suppressing wildland fires in Tennessee is challenging due to wide variations in vegetation, topography and weather. Fires in mountainous areas are often fought with hand tools while fires on rolling and flat terrain are fought with bulldozers.  In either case, workers clear a firebreak from two to ten feet in width down to mineral soil.  Sometimes controlled fire is used to aid in containment.  In fires near roads or fields, small pumper units mounted on pickup trucks spray water. Tennessee typically has two fire seasons.  The spring fire season, prompted by warming weather, begins about February 15 and ends near May 15th, when the forest has "greened up".  Fall fire season begins around October 15, when the leaves begin to fall and usually ends December 15th due to shorter, cooler, wetter days.  Still, wildland fires can occur at any time.  A burning permit is required for outdoor burning between October 15th and May 15th. HOW YOU CAN HELP: Houses in the woods are vulnerable to wildfire, yet you can take steps to reduce the risk. The National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Protection Program website can show you how. One way to fight fires is through fire prevention. This is done through educational efforts such as the Smokey Bear program. From time to time, Smokey makes appearances to emphasize his message of fire safety in the forest. Contact your Forestry Division District Office to check on Smokey’s availability. Careless debris burning is a major cause of wildland fires. Please exercise extreme caution with all potential sources of wildfire ignition and avoid senseless and potentially deadly wildfires.  Learn more at BurnSafeTn.org. REPORTING A FOREST FIRE: Call the emergency number listed in the front of your telephone book or call 911. FIREWISE – protection information for homeowners Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) – forest fire links USDA Forest Service Fire Page Fire Scout – a directory of wildland fire sources Wildfire in South Carolina Texas Forest Service Fire Protection Smokey Bear Tennessee Fire Prevention Workshops Tennessee Forestry Association Current Wildland Fire Information National Wildfire Coordinating Group Firewise Communities Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency About Forestry Society of American Foresters Sparky the Fire Dog Tall Timbers Research Station FEMA For Kids: Wildfires National Weather Service Project Learning Tree Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation National Association of State Foresters Wildfire News National Park Service's Nature Net

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