Over the past two years, UAFA has been collaborating closely with the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) to guide technology development and its practical implementation in wildland fire operations.
While the WFCA has successfully tested and implemented fire tech products at the local fire department level, this new joint initiative applies technological integration on a much larger state and federal scale.
Recently, this ongoing collaboration brought UAFA to the forefront of a major national initiative designed to address systemic barriers in fire management. On April 2 and 3, 2026, UAFA representatives, including Executive Director Paul Petersen, participated in Phase 2 of the National Wildland Fire Technology Summit in Boise, Idaho.
Joining nearly 100 subject matter experts from government, partner agencies, and various other organizations, UAFA provided critical input on the specific capabilities and tools needed to effectively support the on-the-ground firefighter.
This event built directly upon a Phase 1 roadmap previously established by top executive leadership from the Department of the Interior (DOI), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF).
The overall initiative focuses on six strategic national outcomes: unified interagency coordination, integrated strategic planning and workforce development, a cultural shift toward proactive fire management, integrated technology and data for intelligence, strengthened community resilience, and post-fire recovery.
Through its summit participation, UAFA is directly helping to translate these high-level priorities into the operational capabilities and requirements that will guide federal and state governments moving forward.
Aerial Fire Magazine
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