01Operations & modelling
Fire behaviour analysts
Reading fuels, weather and terrain to anticipate how a fire will move — and translating that into decisions on the ground.
The Global Wildland Fire Community
Advancing the science & practice of wildland fire.
IAWF connects researchers, practitioners, policymakers, educators and professionals working across the world to better understand and manage wildland fire.
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Global · all latitudesEst. 1990 · Non-profit 501(c)(3)
IAWF at a glance
1990
Founded
Established as an independent professional association
36yrs
Advancing wildland fire knowledge
Continuous global communication and leadership since 1990
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Members worldwide
Verified figure to be supplied by IAWF
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Countries represented
Verified figure to be supplied by IAWF
01Our purpose
Wildland fire does not stop at borders. Neither should knowledge.
Established in 1990, the IAWF is the professional membership association dedicated to uniting the global wildland fire community. We are uniquely positioned as an independent organization with a membership that includes experts in all aspects of wildland fire management.
Our independence and the breadth of our global membership expertise allow us to offer a neutral forum for the consideration of important — and at times controversial — wildland fire issues.
Fig. 01 — Landscape scale
Mission
The International Association of Wildland Fire mission is to facilitate communication and provide leadership for the wildland fire community.
Vision
To be an acknowledged resource for local to global scale scientific and technical knowledge, education, networking and professional development that is depended on by members and partners in the international wildland fire community.
02The IAWF ecosystem
Four ways the field moves forward.
Convening, publishing, connecting and advancing — the work that turns individual expertise into shared professional knowledge.
What we do03Upcoming conference
Canada
52.1332° N, 106.6700° WFig. 02 — Host region
19 – 23 October 2026
2026 Wildland Fire Canada Conference
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
A gathering of the Canadian and international wildland fire community — researchers, agency leaders, practitioners and partners — listed by IAWF among the conferences shaping the field this year.
Also on the calendar
31 October – 6 November 2026
10th International Conference on Forest Fire Research
Coimbra, Portugal · 40.2033° N, 8.4103° W
Year round
Partner Webinar Series & Workforce Resilience Ignite Talks
04Knowledge
Ideas shaping the future of wildland fire.
Member access
Membership includes a subscription to the quarterly Wildfire Magazine, free online access to the International Journal of Wildland Fire, and a 20% discount on CSIRO books.
Membership benefits05Global community
A global community facing a global challenge.
Wildland fire professionals across disciplines and borders share knowledge through IAWF — in journals, at conferences, in webinars and through the networks members build with one another.
IAWF-listed conference
Member region
Regions shown indicate reach, not member locations. No personal data is represented.
Hover or focus a marker to read the location
Fire behaviourFire ecologyPrescribed fireIncident operationsRemote sensingFire weatherSmoke & air qualityFuels managementFirefighter safetyWorkforce resilienceRisk communicationPolicy & governanceIndigenous fire stewardshipClimate adaptationAviationEducation & trainingFire behaviourFire ecologyPrescribed fireIncident operationsRemote sensingFire weatherSmoke & air qualityFuels managementFirefighter safetyWorkforce resilienceRisk communicationPolicy & governanceIndigenous fire stewardshipClimate adaptationAviationEducation & training
06The community
Knowledge moves through people.
IAWF membership spans every aspect of wildland fire management. These are the disciplines that meet inside the association — and the reason a neutral, independent forum matters.
01
02Research & land management
Fire ecologists
Studying fire as a natural force in ecosystems, and the role of good fire in keeping landscapes healthy.
03Command & policy
Incident & agency leaders
Directing response and shaping the institutions, doctrine and cooperation agreements that make response possible.
04Data & technology
Remote sensing & geospatial scientists
Turning satellite, airborne and sensor data into fire perimeters, fuels maps and decision support.
05Community & workforce
Social scientists & educators
Working on the human side of fire — risk communication, community preparedness, workforce health and resilience.
06The next generation
Students & early-career professionals
Supported through IAWF scholarships, the Mentoring Program and reduced-rate membership from $20 USD.
Placeholder — named member profiles, organisations and quotes to be supplied by IAWF with authentic photography.
07Issue in focus
Wildland fire does not respect institutions, disciplines or borders.
The IAWF was formed on the belief that understanding this dynamic natural force is vital for natural resource management, for firefighter safety, and for harmonious interaction between people and their environment. Our independence and the breadth of our membership let us hold that conversation in the open.
IAWF Mission Statement · iawfonline.orgFig. 03 — Pyroconvective column
08News & insights
From the association
09Join the association
Be part of the global wildland fire community.
Connect with professionals, researchers and leaders advancing wildland fire knowledge and practice around the world.
Membership categories
$80
USD / year
Individual
$20
USD / year
Student
$20
USD / year
Early career
$20
USD / year
Volunteer / seasonal
$20
USD / year
Retired
$1,500
USD once
Lifetime
Fee waivers available for those unable to pay · iawfonline.org
Fig. 04 — Aviation operations
What membership includes
- 01Subscription to the quarterly Wildfire Magazine
- 02Free online access to the International Journal of Wildland Fire
- 0320% discount on all books published by CSIRO
- 04Special discounts on IAWF conference registration
- 05Access to contact information for all IAWF members
- 06Access to recordings of past conference presentations
- 07Eligibility to hold a Board of Directors seat
- 08Access to student scholarships and the Mentoring Program