Mexico officials say 99% of forest fires are human-caused

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsWildland Fire

Mexico agencies set 2026 actions on forest fires

Environmental authorities met to strengthen prevention, coordination and response to forest fires in Mexico.

Mexico Business News reported that the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) convened the Interinstitutional Group for Fire Management through the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR).

Alicia Bárcena, Minister, SEMARNAT, said the country has active coordination among 36 agencies including public security, civil protection, the armed forces, academia and state governments.

During the meeting, participating agencies agreed actions for 2026 including increasing ground and aerial operational capacity, improving monitoring and available information, reinforcing prevention of agricultural burning, expanding training and participation of brigades including the student community, and strengthening public prevention messaging.

Fire statistics and programme development in mexico

CONAFOR stated that in Mexico 99% of forest fires are of human origin.

Between 2018 and 2024, the country recorded an average of 7,137 forest fires per year, affecting an average area of 802,345 ha annually.

Around 31% of these fires were linked to agricultural activities associated with land-use change, with an average of 2,208 fires per year in that category during the period.

Bárcena said the Fire Management Program 2026–2050 is under development and aims to transition toward a more preventive, comprehensive and long-term sustainable management model.

Bárcena said: “Prevention, preparedness, and early coordination save ecosystems and protect lives,”

CONAFOR figures show 198 forest fires have been recorded in Mexico so far this year, affecting a total area of 5,443 ha.

Morelos reported 23 incidents, Michoacan reported 22 and Jalisco reported 21.

CONAFOR identified causes including 27.78% intentionally set, 15.66% linked to agricultural activities and 8.59% linked to livestock activities, with 34.85% not yet determined.

International response and local outreach work

Mexico Business News reported that Bárcena said Mexico has supported Chile and Canada by deploying Mexican firefighters to assist with large-scale forest fires.

Bárcena said: “Over the past two years, 525 firefighters and specialized technical personnel from CONAFOR have participated in international assistance efforts, which reflects the prestige Mexico holds internationally in fire management,”

SEMARNAT reported that a contingent of 145 firefighters and fire management specialists deployed to Chile, transported starting on Jan. 21, carried out actions including 8,390 m of firebreak construction, 2,803 m of direct suppression and control, 4,384 m of hotspot extinguishment, and 47,745 m of perimeter surveillance and hotspot tracking.

As part of fire prevention work and sustainable forest management within the framework of the Michoacan Plan for Peace and Justice, CONAFOR held outreach meetings in Michoacan to present the 2026 Operating Rules of the Sustainable Forestry Development for Wellbeing Program to landowners with forest resources.

The sessions presented the programme’s six components as Community Forest Management and Value Chains, Commercial Forest Plantations, Forest Restoration, Environmental Services, Forest Protection, and Capacity Building and Local Development.

Chilean authorities declared a state of catastrophe in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, where fires have burned approximately 20,000–24,000 ha and displaced more than 20,000 people.

US funding law boosts 9/11 health programme and fire service grants

by Americas - Featured NewsAssociations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsHealth and Safety

One 9/11 law, two fire service impacts

The US government has been funded through Sept. 30, 2026 under a 2026 funding package signed into law by President Donald Trump.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) said the package advances priorities including protecting health care for 9/11 responders through the World Trade Center Health Program and increasing fire service staffing and equipment grants nationwide.

9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding fix

The IAFF said the legislation includes a fix to the World Trade Center Health Program.

The package incorporates key components of the IAFF-backed 9/11 Responders and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act.

The IAFF said this corrects the programme’s funding formula and supports long-term solvency.

Kelly said: “Fire fighters who responded to the terrorist attack at Ground Zero answered the call without hesitation.

“‘Never forget’ means making sure these brave men and women have access to the healthcare they need to combat the long-term illnesses they’re facing due to their service on 9/11.”

Slevin said Congress is upholding its promise to 9/11 responders by fully funding the WTCHP.

Slevin said: “The WTC Health Program is critical for the thousands of first responders already diagnosed with 9/11-related illnesses – and for all those who will be diagnosed in the years ahead.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11th, New Yorkers – and all those who rushed to Ground Zero – now know this vital program will continue to be there for them.”

Fire service grants and other provisions

The IAFF said the bill increases both the Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programmes by 5.5%.

The IAFF said this makes more than $342 million available nationwide as departments face staffing shortages.

Departments can use the funds to hire additional fire fighters and acquire new apparatus.

Departments can use the funds to better protect communities and fire fighters on the job.

The bill includes a $1 million increase for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s National Fire Fighter Cancer Registry.

The bill includes a two-year extension for Medicare Ambulance Extender Payments.

The bill includes the IAFF-endorsed Honoring Our Living Donor (HOLD) Act, which improves income replacement for living organ donors who are temporarily unable to return to work while recovering from their surgery.

Technosylva and Pano AI announce technical integration for wildfire decisions

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsWildland Fire

Wildfire integration aims to connect forecasts and live incident context

Technosylva and Pano AI have announced a partnership to integrate their systems to provide a unified view of wildfire risk and active incidents for utilities, fire agencies and first responders.

In a joint announcement, the companies said the integration will combine Technosylva’s predictive wildfire risk and event analysis with Pano AI’s live camera views and ignition intelligence.

The companies said they are building technical integrations that bring Pano AI’s visual confirmation of smoke and incident intelligence into Technosylva’s wildfire risk and modelling software.

The integration is also intended to allow Technosylva simulations and projections to appear within Pano AI’s incident management environment.

The companies said the goal is to move teams away from separate systems and fragmented context towards a shared operating picture that links current conditions with projected changes.

Planned workflow for utilities and agencies

Michael McGuire, Chief Commercial Officer at Technosylva, said: “We’re working to make it easier for utilities and agencies to align on the same operating picture – pairing the industry standard for predictive wildfire modeling with live AI-enabled incident visibility so teams can coordinate earlier and act with greater confidence as conditions change.”

“When you can see risk and projected behavior alongside verified, real-time incident context, it strengthens decision-making across planning, operations, and response.”

Arvind Satyam, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Pano AI, said: “Early detection and shared situational awareness are critical to reducing time to response and improving coordination.”

“By connecting Pano’s visual intelligence and situational awareness with Technosylva’s predictive analysis, we’re helping teams bring together what they’re seeing now with what the data suggests could unfold next – so they can plan resources, communicate clearly, and respond more effectively.”

Paul McGregor, Vice President of Wildfire Risk Management at Xcel Energy, said: “Bringing Technosylva’s predictive modeling together with Pano AI’s real-time visibility helps our teams connect risk conditions with what’s actually unfolding in the field.”

“That shared picture can improve coordination across our operations and with responding agencies–supporting faster, more confident decisions as incidents evolve.”

The companies said they will work with select mutual customers to validate deployments and refine integration milestones ahead of broader availability.

Patagonia fires fuel calls for more firefighters and prevention resources

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsWildland Fire

Patagonia fires in Los Alerces National Park

Two major wildfires in Argentina’s Patagonia region have burned at least 21,000 hectares of forest and grassland in and around Los Alerces National Park in Chubut province.

Mongabay reported that the fires broke out in January, threatening parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Los Alerces National Park spans more than 259,000 hectares and contains the alerce tree (Fitzroya cupressoides), a cypress that can live for more than 3,600 years.

It is also home to species including the monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) and the Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus).

NASA satellite readings put one fire starting on 5 January in the southern part of the park between the Rivadavia, Futalaufquen and Menéndez lakes.

A second fire broke out on hillsides in the north.

The cause of the fires remained unclear in the reporting, with the prosecutor’s office reportedly confirming one of them was set intentionally.

Around 3,000 residents and tourists were evacuated.

Smoke and fire reportedly spread beyond the park and came close to National Route 40, causing road closures and traffic delays.

A social media post from park officials said high temperatures, low humidity and “constant wind” would continue to be risk factors in the park.

The fires had not been completely extinguished at the time of reporting.

Budget cuts and agency capacity

Environmental groups and analysts have linked the response and prevention challenges to reduced funding and staffing for environmental programmes.

Greenpeace Argentina said: “We demand that the national government and the provinces provide more prevention, firefighters and infrastructure to respond quickly to fires, and penalize the destruction of forests.”

Mongabay cited a financial analysis by the Foundation for Environment and Natural Resources (FARN) which said the environment undersecretariat’s budget shrank by 79.4% between 2023 and 2024.

The same analysis said the National Fire Management Service lost 81% of its budget.

It said the National Fund for the Enrichment and Conservation of Native Forests had no spending for the year.

Greenpeace reported that the National Parks Administration has 400 firefighters and said the minimum should be 700.

Those firefighters were described as covering around 5 million hectares.

Manuel Jaramillo, director of the Wildlife Foundation of Argentina, told Mongabay: “Generally, at the political level, fire begins to be a topic of conversation when there is already a declared fire and when it has reached such magnitude that it has become a public issue.

“There is a lot of preparation, a lot of concern to be able to improve coordination.”

Hernán Giardini, coordinator of Greenpeace’s forests campaign, said: “The climate crisis demands preparation for an increase in fires, and political leaders must stop denying or underestimating this situation.”

The article also reported that Chubut Secretary of Forests Abel Nievas called the incident the “worst environmental tragedy in 20 years.”

Autonomous ground vehicles trialled for wildfire response supplies and PTZ overwatch

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Wildfire response demonstration at Camp Pendleton

A demonstration at Camp Pendleton, California, showcased autonomous resupply and wildfire logistics using unmanned ground vehicles and a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and Overland AI demonstrated autonomous resupply, wildfire logistics and fire suppression efforts via PTZ camera for wildfire operations.

ULTRA vehicles and payloads used in the mission

Two of Overland AI’s ULTRA autonomous ground vehicles were piloted by OverDrive, the company’s autonomy software.

The vehicles were described as fully autonomous ground platforms with off-road manoeuvrability and modular payloads.

Payloads referenced in the announcement included a PTZ camera and mission packages designed to deliver food, water, hose, batteries and other critical equipment to remote fire lines.

The coordinated mission described the vehicles autonomously delivering supplies across austere terrain and establishing persistent overwatch.

The vehicles were also described as repositioning to elevated ground to support future communications relay needs.

Deputy Chief Jack Worden, Office of Wildfire Technology, Research and Development at CAL FIRE, said: “This demonstration is in line with what CAL FIRE is trying to do today with our larger autonomy plan and how we see the future of firefighting as a force multiplier.

“That applies not only within CAL FIRE but across the fire service as a whole.”

Overland AI co-founder and chief executive officer Byron Boots said: “ULTRA continues to show how autonomous land systems can strengthen missions from national defense to critical public safety.

“It is an honor to support wildfire operations with our capability.”

Montana electrical inspectors establish NFPA Electrical Inspection Section chapter

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NFPA chapter launch in Montana

The Montana Electrical Inspectors Association has joined the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to launch an Electrical Inspection Section Affiliate Chapter (EIS).

The NFPA announcement said the Montana Electrical Inspectors Association will provide training, education and networking opportunities for the state’s electrical inspection community.

Tim McClintock, NFPA lead regional electrical specialist and Executive Secretary of the Electrical Inspection Section, said: “NFPA is proud to welcome its newest EIS Affiliate Chapter.

“Through this relationship, NFPA and the Montana electrical enforcement community can work hand-in-hand, amplifying our collective voice to tackle today’s electrical challenges and advance safety in the community.”

McClintock added: “A strong electrical inspection program plays a vital role in safety and compliance with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC) and other codes, helping safeguard people and property from electrical-related hazards.

“The new NFPA EIS Affiliate Chapter actively supports electrical inspection professionals who are charged with understanding the NEC and how its requirements are applied, and is aimed at both meeting their unique needs, as well as preserving the independent voices of those engaged in electrical inspections.”

Other EIS Affiliate Chapters and membership details

NFPA said the Montana Electrical Inspectors Association joins other electrical inspector associations among the first organisations to create an NFPA EIS Affiliate Chapter in the US.

The other associations listed were Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island.

Tim Netzley, president of the Montana Electrical Inspectors Association, said: “Electrical inspections are an essential component of community safety, ensuring compliance with the National Electrical Code and supporting an effective electrical system of safety.

“The launch of the Montana Electrical Inspection Chapter underscores our commitment to education, collaboration, and professional excellence as we work with NFPA to address evolving electrical safety challenges and strengthen our impact statewide.”

Electrical inspection members of an NFPA EIS Affiliate Chapter may qualify for the NFPA Electrical Inspection Membership, which includes membership in the NFPA Electrical Inspection Section.

The membership benefits listed include participation in the code development process, special programming and products, code changes training and events.

Fire-Dex VP appointment links operations and CEO succession plan

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsPeoplePPE

Fire-Dex appoints Maged Baskhron to operations leadership

Fire-Dex has appointed Maged Baskhron as Vice President of Operations.

Baskhron will align operational and strategic goals, strengthen cross-functional processes and support teams across the organisation.

His remit includes prioritising associate well-being, product quality and day-to-day execution to support the company’s focus on protecting manufacturing teams and frontline crews.

“Fire-Dex is mission-driven in a way you can feel on the factory floor and in the field,” Baskhron said.

“I’m eager to help our teams do their best work – build it right, deliver it right, and keep safety as the starting point.”

Role scope and leadership transition details

Fire-Dex outlined that Baskhron will support long-term execution while maintaining its people-first culture and operational values.

His background includes global manufacturing experience and previous roles as Project Manager and Industrial Engineer and Training Manager, working closely across the business under current Vice President of Operations John Karban.

The appointment forms part of a wider executive transition previously announced by the company.

Lauren Burke DeVere is due to assume the role of CEO in early 2026, partnering with current CEO Steve Allison ahead of his planned retirement in early 2027.

Karban will move into the role of President.

“To me, leadership is simple: show up for your people and be clear about what matters,” Baskhron said.

“When teams know the goal, have the support they need, and are relied on to make decisions, great work follows.

“That’s how we keep delivering for the departments and firefighters who need us to get it right.”

Classic Fire + Life Safety launches first Atlantic branch in Nova Scotia

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsSafety

Nova Scotia expansion details

Classic Fire + Life Safety has announced it is opening a branch in Amherst, Nova Scotia, its first in the Atlantic Provinces.

The company said the branch will be led by Ryan Rees, a second-generation fire and life safety professional with roots in the region.

The branch is scheduled to open in February and is expected to operate as a regional hub.

Classic Fire + Life Safety expects to hire about 10 to 15 employees by the end of 2026.

Leadership and timing

Mike Farren, CEO of Classic Fire + Life Safety, said: “This is an exciting and significant milestone for our company.

“As a proudly Canadian company, opening a branch in Atlantic Canada has been on our minds for years.

“We are delighted to embark on this new adventure with someone like Ryan, who shares our passion for this region and the work that we do.”

Rees was born in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia and the company said he developed an appreciation for fire safety at a young age, watching his father build a fire sprinkler business.

The statement said that after his father died in 2006, Rees took over the family business and later held roles at other fire safety businesses in the region.

Rees said: “I am incredibly excited and honoured to have been invited to help build Classic’s business in the region.

“As a boy, I watched my father build our family business from the ground up.

“Having the opportunity to do the same is something that is very personal for me.

“I thank Classic Fire + Life Safety for their trust in me, and I look forward to what’s next.”

The company said the Amherst site will be its first permanent presence in the region.

At least 19 dead as Chile wildfires destroy hundreds of homes

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Chile wildfires leave at least 19 dead and force mass evacuations

Wildfires in central and southern Chile have left at least 19 people dead, forced 50,000 people to evacuate and destroyed hundreds of homes.

AP News reported the toll and evacuations as Chile sweltered under a heat wave and firefighters struggled to contain more than two dozen active wildfires.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the central Biobio region and the neighbouring Ñuble region, around 500 kilometres south of Santiago.

The emergency designation allows greater coordination with the military to rein in the fires.

The national forestry agency said the wildfires had burned through 8,500 hectares.

Boric said initial reports of 19 people killed and 300 houses destroyed were expected to rise as the extent of the losses came into focus.

He estimated the total number of affected homes in the Biobio region alone to be “certainly more than a thousand, just so far.”

Boric said: “The first priority, as you know, in these emergencies is always to fight and extinguish the fire.

“But we cannot forget, at any time, that there are human tragedies here, families who are suffering.

“These are difficult times.”

Firefighters faced heat and strong winds as temperatures topped 38C on Sunday and the scorching weather was expected to persist through Monday.

Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde said: “Weather conditions for coming hours are not good and indicate extreme temperatures.”

Residents in Penco said the fires took them by surprise after midnight and some people stayed in their houses because they thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest.

John Guzmán said: “Many people didn’t evacuate.

“They stayed in their houses because they thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest.

“It was completely out of control.

“No one expected it.”

Residents described fleeing in the dark and scrambling for makeshift emergency shelters as the fire engulfed most of Penco, burning cars, a school and a church.

Juan Lagos said: “We fled running, with the kids, in the dark.”

A nighttime curfew was imposed in the area.

Rodrigo Vera, the mayor of Penco, said: “Dear President Boric, from the bottom of my heart, I have been here for four hours, a community is burning and there is no (government) presence.

“How can a minister do nothing but call me to tell me that the military is going to arrive at some point?”

Chile wildfires reported as 19 dead and 15 fires still active

The latest AP News report put the death toll at at least 19 people, with 15 wildfires still active on Monday after fires started on Sunday.

The National Service for the Prevention of Disasters said the wildfires have destroyed homes, vehicles, infrastructure and forests.

Boric said the wildfires have blazed through at least 30,000 hectares, an area he described as roughly five times the size of Manhattan Island.

Boric said: “Controlling fires of this magnitude, with unfavorable weather conditions like high temperature, wind, and a lack of humidity is a tremendously difficult job,”

He thanked nations that have sent firefighters and supplies to Chile, including Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

Chilean officials said 325 homes have been destroyed and another 1,140 homes have been damaged.

Police are investigating the causes of the current spate of wildfires.

Boric said that in “99% of cases” wildfires in Chile are the result of human behavior.

Wildfires are common in Chile during the summer due to high temperatures and dry weather.

In 2024, fires across Chile’s central coastline killed at least 130 people, which AP News described as the nation’s deadliest natural disaster since the 2010 earthquake.

Outdated NFIRS shuts down as NERIS takes over

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US Fire departments transition to cloud-based NERIS platform

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has fully launched the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) to provide fire departments with a comprehensive data platform for resource allocation and risk assessment.

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) affiliates were central to the development and rollout of this modernised, nationwide collection system.

As of 1 January 2026, NERIS serves as the primary and only fire and all-hazards data system in the United States.

Modernising data through the NERIS platform

The cloud-based system documents workload and operational risk across all-hazards responses using standardised data to inform safety policies and staffing models.

It replaces the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), which was built on outdated code and lacked compatibility with modern tools such as GIS mapping.

USFA developed the new platform in partnership with the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, and the wider fire service.

Assistant to the General President for Health & Safety Sean DeCrane said: “Accurate, comprehensive data strengthens the IAFF’s ability to protect staffing, improve safety, and secure the resources members need.

“It is critical that our members fill out the entire NERIS report.

“Inaccurate or missing data will potentially negatively impact our staffing and funding because decision makers would be acting on incomplete or false information.”

Implementation and departmental feedback on NERIS

A prototype version was tested in March 2024 by six departments, including Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and West Metro Fire Rescue, to capture information on structure fires and medical calls.

Following this pilot, NERIS Version 1 launched to 100 departments in November 2024, operating alongside NFIRS for one year before the legacy system was decommissioned.

This transition period allowed the UL Research Institute to verify the system’s capacity for high user volumes and emerging threats like lithium-ion battery incidents.

Steve Aseltine, a division chief with West Metro Fire Rescue and member of West Metro Local 1309, was instrumental in onboarding the system for his department.

Aseltine said: “The interface is designed to make it user-friendly.

“Data entry is more efficient, and the data is easier to access once it’s in the system.

“With this data, you can see trends and determine what and where the real safety risks are, and whether a deployment structure is or isn’t working.”

Dave Thorson, a battalion chief and Local 385 member with the Omaha Fire Department, added: “NERIS gathers data, not just from the incident commander, but also from individual fire companies.

“This way, there is a clear picture of what occurred with each incident.

“Departments like ours can use this data to make informed decisions.”

Regular updates are being issued based on feedback from participating departments as development continues towards a second version of the system.