The U.S. military is being tested by the many fires it is fighting overseas. These crises draw assets from the nation’s military network. Hundreds of foreign bases,is more than 170,000 soldiersExpanded internationally, Mutual Defense TreatyMore than 50 countries are participating.
But in these global missions, the militaryThe burden becomes ever moreThey are responsible for putting out fires across the United States.
The U.S. military has been working to put out wildfires across the country. Over a century,but, Climate Changehistoric Forestry FraudAs wildfires become more frequent and intense, the military’s role in responding to them is expanding.
On average, the U.S.Over 100 large wildfiresSince 2015, the annual risk of fire has increased DoublingOver the past two decades, deployments of the National Guard to fight wildfires have expanded. More than 10 timesOf further concern is the increasing use of active duty troops as firefighters.
For example, hundreds of Mechanized infantry In 2021, he participated in firefighting in California. Army Engineers They have been deployed to fires in Washington and other western states over the past decade. Recent Reports The report, by the Progressive Policy Institute, where one of us works on energy and environmental policy, outlines the challenges posed by engaging the military in firefighting and details possible solutions.
Using military forces as wildfire firefighters is an underestimated threat to the U.S. military posture. Soldiers who respond to wildfires are unable to train, deploy, or serve other traditional military duties, often for long periods of time. Moreover, some of the military most useful in suppressing wildfires are often prized for their fighting abilities.
according to Erin Sikorski“Many of these troops are troops that are called up in times of conflict,” said John F. Kennedy, a former member of the National Intelligence Council and director of the Center for Climate Security. “If they’re going to be deployed at the levels we’ve seen in recent years around the country and needed on the front lines, there are going to be challenges.”
Conversely, firefighters who have come to rely on the military are not always able to respond adequately without it. Oregon’s response capacity to the massive wildfires of 2020 was ConstrainedBy sending National Guard helicopters to Afghanistan.
These examples are not evidence of firefighter incompetence, but rather show the dangers of relying too heavily on the military to suppress wildfires. If the United States faced a major war and a severe wildfire season simultaneously, it would lack the resources to adequately address both challenges.
Many of the platforms fielded by the National Guard and Reserves are critical to firefighting, especially the C-130s with modular aerial firefighting systems, logistics units and engineers. With limited budgets and already struggling to meet obligations, duplicating these capabilities may not be worth it.
Ideally, the U.S. Forest Service and state firefighting agencies would be able to acquire a large number of retired military systems.Cost reductionRetired Blackhawk helicopters used in firefighting operations can be purchased for a fraction of the price of a new, similarly capable Sikorsky S-70M Firehawk.Up to $25 million.
However, limited funding means the desire to use U.S. military platforms for wildfire battling remains strong, forcing the Defense Department to identify which platforms can serve a dual purpose and develop contingency plans for fighting wildfires during large-scale, resource-intensive conflicts.
This type of planning is done extensively by the Department of Defense, but it needs to be coordinated with the National Interagency Fire Prevention Center, FEMA, the Department of the Interior, and other key agencies to avoid an outcome in which the United States is ravaged by wildfires while the nation is fighting an existential war.
The most significant shortfall in America’s wildfire response is a chronic lack of dedicated firefighting resources.hindered its abilityTo combat worsening wildfires,DedicationA larger portion of the budget will be dedicated to fire response, reducing resources for fire prevention and other missions.
The agency also:Huge budget cutsThis will further weaken our ability to respond to wildfires. We need to strengthen budgets and expand firefighting forces for the Forest Service, Department of the Interior, and local firefighting agencies to reduce our reliance on the military.Pay a fair wageandStrengthening partnershipsWorking with private contractors.
Growing security challenges abroad and intensifying wildfires at home are forcing the United States to develop a more sustainable strategy to protect both its military and its forests, which could require the U.S. to consider scaling back its role as the world’s firefighter and prioritizing fighting blazes at home.
Evan Cooper is a research analyst with the Stimson Center’s Rethinking American Grand Strategy program. Alec Evans is an energy policy fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute.
