Has the US Forest Service changed its firefighting tactics over time?
U.S. Forest Service firefighting tactics have evolved over the last century, from complete suppression to a more balanced approach.
For decades, the agency emphasized complete suppression. In 1935, the service instituted the “10 AM Policy," which stipulated that all human-caused fires were to be contained and suppressed by 10 a.m. the morning after they were reported. As scientists and policymakers learned more about how wildfires benefit ecosystems, tactics changed. In 1971, the service implemented the 10-Acre Policy, which allowed fires to burn as long as they were contained within ten acres.
In 1978, the Forest Service moved toward a philosophy of fire management rather than complete suppression. Today, this "let-burn" approach is balanced against concerns about air quality, exurban sprawl, and animal habitats.
