After fifteen years on the front lines, Montana firefighter Frank Dahlquist sees hope in a season that finally broke the trend of worsening wildfires.
(PRUnderground) November 13th, 2025
After more than a decade of record-breaking fire seasons, 2025 marked a dramatic decline in new wildfire starts and acres burned across the United States — a welcome shift that wildfire professionals hope signals the beginning of a long-term downward trend.
Following catastrophic years that included the 2018 Camp Fire, 2021’s Dixie Fire, and the 2023 Maui Fire, experts note that the 2025 season represented a turning point. Early data suggest that strengthened federal suppression strategies, combined with modernization efforts and improved inter-agency coordination, played a key role in reducing overall fire activity.
“This year, we saw a renewed national commitment to full suppression and the modernization of wildfire response,” said Frank Dahlquist, a 15-year wildland fire professional who served on large-scale mobilizations across California, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. “The outcome speaks for itself — fewer fires, fewer acres burned, and greater alignment between federal, state, and local teams than we’ve seen in years.”
At the policy level, new federal guidance reaffirmed a Full Suppression Strategy, outlined in the 2025 Letter of Intent by U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. Additionally, national modernization efforts gained momentum with the Fix Our Forests Act and the Fit for Purpose Wildfire Readiness Act, both advanced by Senator Matt Sheehy (R-MT) earlier this month.
While the overall number of fires and acres burned declined, risk remains elevated in certain regions. Southern California, the Northeast, and portions of the Southeast are entering shorter but more volatile late-season fire periods due to Santa Ana winds and increased leaf litter, according to the National Interagency Fire Center’s October 2025 Outlook.
With the official fire season winding down, Dahlquist encourages communities to stay proactive.
“Wildfire season is now a year-round concern,” he said. “Every homeowner can take small steps that make a real difference — from clearing brush to creating defensible space. Use Firewise resources, check with your local agencies, and make a plan before the next spark flies.”
Residents are urged to visit local and national resources, including Ready.gov/wildfires, Firewise.org, and their state or county fire departments for preparedness tips and community planning tools.
Frank Dahlquist is a veteran wildland fire professional with more than 15 seasons of experience responding to large-scale incidents across the western United States. He has served alongside Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Service, and multiple state and local fire agencies, contributing to national fire suppression and training efforts.
To learn more about Frank Dahlquist, please visit https://frankdahlquist.com/ or find him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankdahlquist/
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Original Press Release.
