WHY IS THE ALASKA INTERAGENCY WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPORTANT?
The plan provides a method for fire-fighting agencies to allocate limited manpower and money. This allows them to place the manpower and money where it is needed most to fight fires that threaten human life and property and, secondarily, cultural, historical, and other valuable resources. The ability to wisely allocate fire-fighting efforts is likely to become more important in the future since both federal and state moneys to fight fires are likely to decline. Federal revenues may decline due to the national deficit and competition with other federal programs for scarce funds. State revenues are expected to decline along with oil revenues. Thus, Alaskans must have a means of wisely allocating funds to ensure adequate fire protection where it is most needed. The fire management plans also allow the possibility of returning fire to its near natural and valuable role in parts of the boreal forest and tundra. All federal agencies will identify important resources that must be protected, a
