In July, the Federal Emergency Management Agency launched “2004 Wildland Update,” a new Web page to help firefighters and community leaders locate up-to-date wildland fire information.

Linked from the U.S. Fire Administration's home page at www.usfa.fema.gov, Wildland Update features a collection of links to critical wildland Web sites as well as weather predictions, current aviations strategy, community programs and a daily NIFC “Six-Minute Safety Briefing.”

“This nation still has a majority of the 2004 wildland fire season ahead so it's extremely important that firefighters and residents be able to access the most current information available,” said Michael D. Brown, undersecretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response.

The U.S. Fire Administration, part of FEMA, has built on the work of other federal, state and local agencies into one source of information. The Web site includes links to the National Fire Plan, FIREWISE, and handbook on “Preparing a Community Wildfire Plan.”

“We at the USFA are not wildfire experts, but we desire to serve as the information conduit to the numerous other agencies that regularly post and update excellent wildland information of great value to all firefighters,” said Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator Charlie Dickinson. “A few minutes exploring the various links at the USFA Web page will definitely enhance firefighter safety and understanding of this problem.”