The U.S. National Science Foundation supports research on wildland fire (including controlled burns and wildfires), building knowledge that creates resilient communities, supports national security, safeguards public health and strengthens the economy.
Through efforts spanning biological, geological, physical and social sciences and engineering, NSF-supported researchers focus on:
- Understanding how wildland fires start, spread and interact with natural and human-made environments.
- Developing new technologies and systems to mitigate wildland fire risks and impacts.
- Investigating how wildland fire is managed, including social and ecological factors.
On this page
Brought to you by NSF
Better forecasting
NSF-funded research into how wildfires create their own weather and affect air quality has improved fire, smoke and weather forecasting capabilities.
A safer electrical grid
NSF-funded research has helped improve decision-making around public safety power shutoffs and reduce the vulnerability of electrical infrastructure to wildfires.
Fire-resistant buildings
Research funded by NSF and the National Institute of Standards and Technology led to the development of new construction standards that help save lives during fires.
Cyberinfrastructure for real-time monitoring
The NSF-funded decision-support platform WIFIRE helps fire managers understand risks and tradeoffs when planning and conducting prescribed burns.
What we support
Fundamental and use-inspired research
We support multidisciplinary research on topics such as conditions for wildfire ignition, detection and growth; controlled burns and fire management; the impact of fire on infrastructure, communities and land; and the development of technologies to prevent and fight wildfire.
Education and workforce development
We support the creation of a highly skilled workforce ready to design and manage innovative solutions to understanding, tracking and mitigating wildfire.
Partnerships and collaboration
We partner with other federal agencies, industry and nonprofits to advance research on wildland fire and spur collaborations among NSF-funded researchers across different disciplines.
Featured funding
To determine the best fit for your research idea, please contact the NSF Wildland Fire Working Group at wildlandfire@nsf.gov.
NSF directorates and offices supporting fire-related research
Featured news
Science Matters
Fire at the field site: What we can learn from disturbances at NSF National Ecological Observatory Network sites
January 24, 2025
