Risk Management Publications

RMRS-GTR-349: Risk Terminology Primer: Basic Principles and a Glossary for the Wildland Fire Management Community

Lead author HD Research Forester Matt Thompson, Missoula, and his team recently published RMRS-GTR-349, “Risk Terminology Primer: Basic Principles and a Glossary for the Wildland Fire Management Community,” in order to create a common understanding of risk concepts and terminology (see page 1). We increasingly promote risk management as an appropriate method for addressing wildland fire management challenges; however, a lack of a common terminology hinders effective application. In response, Matt and his team provide a set of clear, consistent, and usable definitions for terms associated with wildland fire risk management, facilitating the clear exchange of data, information, and ideas among fire management officers, staff, and scientists.

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RMRS-GTR-350: “Risk Management: Core Principles and Practices, and Their Relevance to Wildland Fire

In RMRS-GTR-350 (see page 1), “Risk Management: Core Principles and Practices, and Their Relevance to Wildland Fire,” HD Research Foresters Matt Thompson and Dave Calkin and colleagues discuss a future for the Forest Service of increasing complexity and risk, pressing financial issues, and the inescapable possibility of loss of human life. These issues are perhaps most acute for wildland fire management, the highest risk activity in which the Forest Service engages. The authors designed this report as an introduction to Risk Management (RM), repackaging and repurposing information from RM literature to help readers develop a sound, science-based understanding of RM concepts. They outline what adoption of RM would look like in practice, and recommend next steps as the Forest Service continues on its RM journey.