We are seven states and associated partners working together to suppress wildfires and provide quality fire suppression training.
To us, fire is used as a tool to mitigate the spread of wildfires, as well as a tool to replenish the ecosystem of the forest floor.
We work to preserve and protect the federal and state grasslands, forests, and wildlife habitats.
The Middle-Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact (MAIFFPC) comprises seven states and associated Federal partners, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio, and the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Six of the seven states lie within the U.S. Forest Service’s Eastern Region 9, exception Virginia in USFS Southeastern Region 8.
The Compact’s primary goals are assisting in fire suppression between the states, working together in developing fire prevention programs, and combining resources to promote quality fire suppression training. These goals and more can be found in the Compact Charter.
Responsible for more than 35 million acres of woodland, the Compact promotes wildfire safety, effective fire prevention, and control of wildfires across the region. The topography and fuels across the states vary widely, stretching from the Coastal Plain, through the Piedmont and Appalachian Mountains, to the Allegheny Plateau and hills of Ohio. Fuels range from the fire-adapted Pine Barrens to interior hardwood forests, from Appalachian spruce-fir in the highest Southern peaks to grass and farmlands in the lower flats. Wildland-urban interface throughout presents challenges for the protection of life, property, and natural resource for all Compact state fire managers.
To help with these challenges, member states provide mutual support by providing resources to each other. In fact, this is the very cornerstone of the Compact. Each state maintains a list of equipment sharable with other member states. When forest fires occur near state lines, they work together to share resources in extinguishing these fires.
Training is an important objective of the Compact with an annual academy every June, the Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Training Academy. Over the last several years, the Compact has also sponsored advanced training for state personnel and volunteer fire departments. They are fortunate enough to have dedicated and well-trained people who serve as training cadres for many of the courses.
Funding for planning training sessions, covering costs of fire prevention materials, and a grant administrator is provided through the U.S. Forest Service’s State, Private, and Tribal Forestry organization grants.
The Compact’s fire prevention committee develops and produces fire prevention materials for both wildland firefighters and the public. Since these materials are provided across all the states, the committee is comprised of members from each Compact state.
The Executive Committee, consisting of each state’s State Forester or their designated representative, meets at least twice a year, including an annual business meeting in December. This meeting includes reviewing state accomplishments, planning for training sessions, and discussion of staffing for out-of-state fire details. Many Compact states have sent crews to assist wildfire fighting efforts in the West.
In March 1952, an interstate conference on cooperative fire protection was held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, under the auspices of creating a forest fire compact for the Mid-Atlantic States. States within the Mid-Atlantic region passed enabling legislation to enter a compact between 1953 and 1967. The U.S. Congress approved the creation of the Mid-Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact in 1956. The first official meeting was held in 1965 where the first bylaws were developed, including one of the main responsibilities of the compact – to provide for the maintenance of a regional forest fire plan for the member states.
The member states at that time were Pennsylvania (1953), Delaware (1955), New Jersey (1955), and Maryland (1956). They were soon joined by Virginia (1966) and West Virginia (1967). The first compact coordinator, W. M. Stiteler, was assigned in 1969 by the US Forest Service as a liaison to the Compact. The most recent member, Ohio, joined the Compact in 1988.
Since its creation, the compact has provided a medium to exchange ideas and experiences. It has fostered the idea of “get together,” as described by Maryland state forester A.R. Bond at the 1970 training meeting of the compact.
Over the years, one of the highest priorities of the compact has been to serve as a focal point for training firefighters and fire managers among the member states. The first training meeting of the compact was held in 1966 at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Many training meetings were hosted annually at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, due to its central location for easy travel by all member states. In 2007, the MAIFFPC created an annual Wildfire Academy in partnership with West Virginia University. The Mid Atlantic Wildfire Training Academy was held annually in Morgantown, WV until 2016. In 2018, the academy was moved from Morgantown to McHenry, MD as the Compact entered into a new agreement with Garrett College. The Compact continues to deliver basic and advanced wildland fire management training courses to individuals from across the region and beyond.
Delaware Forest Service
The Delaware Forest Service works to minimize damage from wildland fire through prevention and suppression activities. We provide staff and equipment at our Blackbird and Redden offices to help firefighters control wildfires. We also loan wildland fire suppression tools (backpack water tanks, hand tools, etc.) to volunteer fire companies to assist their suppression efforts. Our entire staff provides educational (Smokey Bear) programs for first-grade students as well as programs at various public events and fire company open houses. Our Forest Fire Supervisor also works with the Delaware Fire School, fire companies, and the U.S. Forest Service to train Delaware firefighters in wildland fire suppression techniques.
— Delaware Department of Agriculture “Wildland Fire Program”
Wildland Fire Program Supervisor
Sam Topper
Delaware Forest Service
2320 S. DuPont Highway
Dover, Delaware 19901
Phone: (302) 698-4544
Email: Sam.Topper@delaware.gov
Website: de.gov/wildfire
Maryland Forest Service
The mission of the Maryland Forest Service is to restore, manage, and protect Maryland’s trees, forests, and forested ecosystems to sustain Maryland’s natural resources and connect people to the land. To help fulfill this mission, they work to minimize negative impacts to the state’s forest and tree resource from wildfire, among others, and utilize working partnerships to increase and protect tree canopy cover in urban areas and improve community fire protection for Maryland’s natural resources. One strategy they implement is supporting healthy forest ecosystems through proper fire management, including suppression, prevention, and prescribed fire.
— Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service – “Forest Service Vision, Mission and Goals“, selected
State Fire Supervisor
Chris Robertson
Maryland Forest Service
Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave, E-1
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Phone: (410) 260-8503
Email: chris.robertson@maryland.gov
Website: http://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/wfm.aspx
New Jersey Forest Fire Service
Since 1906 the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has been the agency responsible for protecting life, property, as well as the state’s natural resources from wildfire.
— NJDEP | New Jersey Forest Fire Service
Chief
Bill Donnelly
New Jersey Forest Fire Service
PO Box 420, Mail Code 501-4
501 East State Street, 4th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
Main Phone: (609) 292-2977
Fax: (609) 984-0378
Web Site: www.njwildfire.org
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry
The purpose of the Ohio Division of Forestry Fire Management Program is to provide statewide leadership in wildfire management through fire department support programs, wildfire prevention efforts, and promotion of prescribed fire as a resource management tool.
— Fire Management Program | Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Fire Supervisor
Greg Guess
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry
2045 Morse Rd # H-1
Columbus, OH 43229
PA DCNR, Bureau of Forestry
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry is responsible for protecting the Commonwealth’s 17 million acres of public and private wildlands from damage by wildfire. This is accomplished by a combination of mitigation, prevention, preparedness, suppression, and investigation. The bureau works with forest fire wardens and volunteer fire departments to promote the latest advances in fire prevention and suppression. Pennsylvania wildland firefighters also assist with wildfire suppression efforts throughout the nation.
— PA DCNR, “Wildfire“
DFFP Division Chief
Michael Kern
DCNR Bureau of Forestry
Division of Forest Fire Protection
Rachel Carson State Office Building, 6th Floor
P.O. Box 8552
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8552
Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) responders suppress more than 700 wildfires and complete around 4,000 acres of controlled burns throughout the state each year. Managing fire is critical to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems and safe communities. DOF fills this need not only through prevention, suppression, and prescribed fire, but through their robust prevention program by placing emphasis on awareness and educational programs. “Prevention is our best defense against wildfires!”
— “Wildland Prescribed Fire: Virginia Department of Forestry“
Assistant Director
Resource Protection
Fred X. Turck
Virginia Department of Forestry
900 Natural Resources Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 220-8052
Email: fred.turck@dof.virginia.gov
Website: dof.virginia.gov/fire/index.htm
West Virginia Division of Forestry
“West Virginia has only one renewable resource – its forests. It stands to reason, then, that much of our energy and effort should be spent on protecting this valuable resource.
The Division of Forestry’s top priority is to do just that. We protect from poor management practices, but most importantly, we protect against the ravaging effects of wildfire. In 1908, more than 1.7 million acres of forestland were destroyed by fire. As a result of this devastation, the West Virginia Reform Law of 1909 was established to protect the state forests. Today, the DOF protects nearly 12 million acres of forestland across West Virginia.”
— “About Wildfire Control – WV Division of Forestry”
State Fire Manager
Eric Jarrell
West Virginia Division of Forestry
7 Players Club Drive
Charleston, WV 25311
Email: eric.m.jarrell@wv.gov
Phone: (304) 558-2788
Website: https://wvforestry.com/wildfire-control/
The USDA Forest Service (USFS) manages 193 million acres of Federal land across 154 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands, as well as providing support for sustainable management of around 500 million acres of private, state, and tribal forests. Five National Forests can be found within the Compact – the Allegheny, George Washington and Jefferson, Monongahela, and Wayne National Forests – as well as the Grey Towers National Historic Site, the former home of Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the US Forest Service. The USFS also provides grants and other services through State, Private, and Tribal Forestry programs and offices of the Research & Development arm’s Northern and Southern Research Stations.
For more information, see https://www.fs.usda.gov. For information on USFS Wildland Fire, see https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire. Statistics above from https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/newsroom/by-the-numbers.
The Allegheny National Forest has been a part of Northwestern Pennsylvania as its only National Forest for over 100 years. Originally referred to tongue-in-cheek as the “Allegheny National Bramble Patch” due to the amount of clear cutting in the years leading up to the Forest’s creation, the Allegheny now manages over 514,000 acres for the use and enjoyment of all. A working forest, it has a robust timber program and provides access to underground minerals while providing for the enjoyment of recreational visitors and protecting the Allegheny River watershed, a diversity of wildlife habitats, and our shared ties to the cultural history of the region. The Forest boasts wilderness areas, a National Recreation Area, National Scenic Areas, an Experimental Forest, and a Reasearch Natural Area among its many features. It truly is, as its slogan says, a “Land of Many Uses.”
Forest Supervisor
Jamie Davidson
Fire Management Officer
John Fry
Allegheny National Forest
Supervisor’s Office
4 Farm Colony Drive
Warren, PA 16365
Phone: (814) 723-5150
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/allegheny
General Email: sm.fs.anf@usda.gov
Monongahela National Forest was established in 1920 and encompasses one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States. Elevations range from just under 1,000 feet to 4,863 feet above sea level. Monongahela National Forest is a working forest providing timber, water, grazing, minerals and recreational opportunities.
Forest Supervisor
Cynthia Sandeno
Fire Management Officer
Aaron Kendall
Headquarters – Supervisor’s Office
200 Sycamore Street
Elkins, WV 26241
General Phone: (304) 636-1800
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/monongahela
The Wayne National Forest is a patchwork of public land that covers over a quarter million acres of Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio. The Forest is divided into three units managed out of two Ranger District offices located in Nelsonville and Ironton, with a field office in Marietta.
Forest Supervisor
Lee Stewart
Fire Management Officer
Andrew Pascarella
Supervisor’s Office and Athens Ranger Station
13700 US Highway 33
Nelsonville, OH 45764
General Phone: (740) 753-0101
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/wayne
Source: Grey Towers NHS website
The goal of the Cooperative Fire program is to protect people, property, and resources while encouraging an integrated, well balanced fire management program in each state. We do that through our comprehensive wildland fire management programs, including grants and technical assistance.
— “Cooperative Fire”, “State, Private, and Tribal Forestry”, “Region 9 – State“
For information on Region 9 – Eastern Region State, Private, and Tribal Forestry, please see their web site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r9/communityforests
The National Park Service was created “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” (Organic Act of 1916). The NPS protects more than 430 units across all 50 states and 5 territories, and keeps both the National Register of Historic Places and National Natural Landmark Directory. “The NPS Wildland Fire Program is part of the Visitor and Resource Protection Associateship under the Division of Fire and Aviation Management and works closely with Structural Fire and Aviation programs.” (Source)
The National Park Service divides the management area into zones. Four Fire Management Zones overlap, all or in part, within the Compact. These zones and the areas they cover are below. Please note that web sites listed for each zone are for the park that hosts the zone’s program. NPS fire management zones do not have separate public-facing web sites.
The Allegheny Fire Managment Zone is headquartered at New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in southern West Virginia. It consists of all National Park units in Ohio and West Virginia except Harpers Ferry NHP and Appalachian NST, and 5 sites in Western Pennsylvania – Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS, Flight 93 NMem, Fort Necessity NB, Friendship Hill NHS, and Johnstown Flood NMem, totaling 16 sites. Parks in Ohio are in the Midwest Region 3, while the rest are in the Northeast Region 1.
Zone Fire Management Officer
Thomas Fielden
New River Gorge NPP Headquarters
104 Main St
Glen Jean, WV 25846
Phone: (304) 640-8813
Email: thomas_fielden@nps.gov
Website: https://www.nps.gov/neri/
The Mid-Atlantic Fire Managment Zone is headquartered at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Northeastern Pennsylvania and Northwestern New Jersey. It consists of the 39 Northeast Region 1 National Park units in Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and most of Pennsylvania (excluding the 5 sites under the Allegheny Fire Management Zone). Dispatch responsibilities for the zone are split between the Northeastern Interagency Coordination Center and the Mid Atlantic Interagency Coordination Center.
Acting Zone Fire Management Officer
Matt Boss
Delaware Water Gap NRA
PO Box 2
Bushkill, PA 18324
Phone: (570) 460-1822
Email: matt_boss@nps.gov
Website: https://www.nps.gov/dewa/
The Mountains to the Sea FMZ is headquartered at Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The zone covers much of Virginia and Eastern Maryland where the National Capital Region FMZ does not cover, including at least 15 Northeast Region 1 units.
Acting Zone Fire Management Officer
Derek Casbon
Shenandoah National Park
3655 US Hwy 211 East
Luray, VA 22835
Phone: (540) 999-3443
Email: derek_casbon@nps.gov
Website: https://www.nps.gov/shen/
The National Capitol Region FMZ covers the National Capitol Area – Region 1, which includes parks on both sides of the Potomac from Cumberland to Accokeek, MD (Piscataway Park) and up to the Pennsylvania-Maryland state line. In Virginia, the NCR FMZ includes Prince William Forest Park, Manassas Battlefield Park, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The zone is headquartered in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Zone Fire Management Officer
Jeffrey ‘Zeke’ Seabright
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
123 Murphy Rd
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Phone: (240) 818-7151
Email: jeffrey_seabright@nps.gov
Website: https://www.nps.gov/hafe/
The USFWS, under the National Refuge System, manages about 95 million land acres and 850 million water acres across 565 refuges, 38 wetland management districts, and 5 marine national monuments across all 50 states and 5 territories. [1] In terms of fire management, the agency has an average of 370,000 acres of wildfires each year, despite burning almost 343,000 acres per year. [2] The US Air Force partners with the USFWS in conservation efforts on USAF lands across the US, including benefitting from wildland fire management. [3]
Within the compact, there are three fire management zones across two regions, as well as National Office staff at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The Region 5 Regional Office is located in Hadley, MA. Region 3 Regional Office is located in Bloomington, MN.
The Mid-Atlantic Zone comprises National Wildlife Refuges and other USFWS offices and resources in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The zone is headquartered at Blackwater NWR with additional fire staff at Great Swamp NWR in New Jersey.
Zone Fire Management Officer
John Ashcraft
Blackwater NWR
2145 Key Wallace Dr
Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (443) 737-7690
or
(443) 521-3921
Email: john_ashcraft@fws.gov
Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater
Northeast Region 5’s South Zone is comprised of USFWS offices and resources in Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. This includes the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. It is headquartered at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Virginia.
Zone Fire Management Officer
Gene Nawrot
Great Dismal Swamp NWR
3100 Desert Rd
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 986-3480
Email: gene_nawrot@fws.gov
Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/great-dismal-swamp
USFWS Midwest Region’s North Zone is comprised of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and most of Wisconsin. Each zone in the Region has two hubs, with the North Zone split between Necedah NWR in Wisconsin and Big Oaks NWR in Indiana. Ohio’s offices and refuges fall under the Big Oaks hub, however the current FMO at Necedah NWR.
Zone Fire Management Officer
Dan Laber
Necedah NWR
N11385 Headquarters Rd
Necedah, WI 54646
Phone: (608) 684-0185
Email: daniel_laber@fws.gov
Website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/necedah