These funds will be used to help member states improve wildland fire preparedness and mobilization by providing financial, technical and related assistance to state foresters or equivalent state…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Eastern Region (Region 9) awarded Big Rivers Forest Fire Management Compact a $644,386 Project Grant on August 28, 2025, under the State & Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Assistance program (CFDA 10.698). The award supports wildland fire preparedness and mobilization initiatives across four Midwestern states—Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri—through September 30, 2029. The compact will deliver financial and technical assistance to state foresters and equivalent officials to enhance prevention, control, and suppression capabilities for wildland fires on non-federal forest and rural lands within the Eastern Area compact region.

Key deliverables include training and support programs for wildland firefighters, development of fire planning and coordination mechanisms, enhancement of initial attack capabilities, and mobilization readiness infrastructure. Additionally, the grant supports hazard mitigation activities focused on creating fire-adapted communities through hazardous fuels reduction, community wildfire preparedness plan development, prevention and mitigation education, and Firewise programming implementation. Critical emphasis areas address firefighter safety, fire planning, firefighter training, and community hazard mitigation to build sustained fire management capacity across the region's non-federal lands.

These funds will be used to help member states improve wildland fire preparedness and mobilization by providing financial, technical and related assistance to state foresters or equivalent state officials in the eastern area in the prevention, control and suppression of wildland fires. The project places emphasis on supporting and training wildland firefighters and coordinating wildland fire activities within the compact area. The area covers the states of iowa, illinois, indiana, and missouri. Critical preparedness needs include firefighter safety, fire planning, firefighter training, increased initial attack capability, and mobilization readiness for the efficient suppression and prevention of wildfires on non-federal forest lands and other non-federal lands. Hazard mitigation activities should focus on creating fire adapted communities by reducing hazardous fuels, developing community wildfire preparedness plans, providing prevention and mitigation education, and achieving firewise programming and community hazard mitigation.