The Fire Management Operation is an active participant in Yellowstone forestry activities. The Helitack program maintains a cadre of Class "C" (advanced) fallers for fire suppression purposes. Several of them are certified tree climbers as well. These individuals support the hazard tree management and hazard fuels management programs. In addition the Helitack provide various levels of chainsaw safety and maintenance programs to park employees on request.

Hazard tree management is the art and science of identifying and removing those trees that have both target and defect. Given the number of miles of roads, developments, campgrounds, picnic areas, and backcountry sites, this is a task that is very labor intensive and receives support from a variety of park resources. The Fire Management Operation is proud to contribute through heir tree felling skills.

Hazard fuels management is the practice of determining and removing those trees near structures that could prove dangerous to both the structure and firefighters during a wildfire incident. This is essentially timber removal and is undertaken with the greatest of care and sensitivity to wildlife needs, cultural landscapes, aesthetics, values at risk, and especially firefighter safety. The program is currently being evaluated and redesigned through the environmental assessment process.