Photo Gallery

The NPS Wildland Fire program is diverse and detailed. Photos reveal its stories and successes.

Big Machinery

Big Machinery can replace the exhausting or impossible work of human labor, removing vast swathes of foliage and shrubbery and move across difficult terrain faster and more efficiently.

Swamp Buggies are specially designed to transport fire crews and equipment in regions where mud and water make typical transport difficult.<br />NPS / Brodeur. Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, 2003.

Gyro-tracs are smaller bulldozers that are used to mulch trees and clear land, very useful in wildland firefighting.<br />NPS Photo. Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, 2002.

Traditional or locally used machinery can be adapted for firefighting.<br />NPS / Rudy Evenson. Everglades National Park, Florida, 2009.

Tractors and bulldozers are utilized for speed, easily plowing wider and deeper swaths of fire line in minutes, though they are not preferred for use in many of the national parks.<br />NPS Photo. Glacier National Park, Montana, 2003.

'Chippers' are useful to grind up and evenly distribute fallen and dead trees, reducing the amount of heavy fuel on the ground.<br />NPS / Jordan Reeser. Point Reyes National Seashore, California, 2003.

Potable and non-potable water is necessary for fire operations, encouraging contractors, like water tender operators, to be available during the season.<br />NPS / Davin Ivans. Zion National Park, Utah, 2005.