Over the last five years, over $14 billion has been appropriated to the National Fire Plan (NFP). During this time of large federal deficits and increasing pressure to re-examine federal budget priorities, the question must be asked whether these taxpayer dollars have promoted safer communities and more resilient ecosystems. Suppression costs have skyrocketed of late, with the Forest Service's fire suppression costs exceeding $1 billion in five of the last seven years. These escalating costs threaten to consume the Forest Service's entire discretionary budget.

The Earth’s climate is changing. In the past, the climate warmed and cooled due to natural processes. Now humans are changing the climate by burning fossil fuels and permanently deforesting landscapes. Many of our wildlands are being stressed beyond their natural ability to adapt to these dramatic changes, and the full extent of how to deal with these changes remains unclear.

The Earth’s climate is changing. In the past, the climate warmed and cooled due to natural processes. Now humans are changing the climate by burning fossil fuels and permanently deforesting landscapes. Many of our wildlands are being stressed beyond their natural ability to adapt to these dramatic changes, and the full extent of how to deal with these changes remains unclear.

Given the early onset of wildland fire this season, combined with the heightened awareness of carbon storage and its relationship to global warming, this fact sheet explores the interaction of fires and climate change.