10/05/2026
NASHVILLE — This summer, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) deployed 128 wildland fire personnel and 44 pieces of equipment to support wildfire suppression operations in 14 states.
“Deployments play a vital role in our wildland fire program, providing an opportunity for our firefighters to develop and hone skills that they bring back to wildfire suppression here at home,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “We are proud to support wildfire suppression nationwide and of the expertise our crews bring to wildland fire operations in Tennessee and beyond.”
Since 2020, TDF has deployed more than 1,000 wildland fire personnel and 168 pieces of equipment, including dozers and wildland fire engines, to support emergency operations ranging from wildland fire suppression to flood, hurricane and tropical storm response.
Despite Tennessee’s high summer temperatures, wildfires are rare from June through September because humidity is high and vegetation is green and moist. This allows TDF wildland fire personnel to deploy out of state without putting Tennessee communities and landscapes at risk. Tennessee’s wildfire season typically runs from mid-October to mid-May, with fire activity peaking in fall and spring when humidity and precipitation are low and dry leaves and debris cover the ground.
TDF personnel also deploy in-state to respond to emergencies beyond wildfire, including winter storms, tornadoes and hurricanes. For example, TDF deployed more than 80 personnel and 30 pieces of equipment to East Tennessee for storm response after Hurricane Helene in 2024, and more than 150 personnel to Middle Tennessee for storm cleanup after Winter Storm Fern earlier this year.
“While on deployment, our personnel work in a wide range of roles, dealing with diverse weather, fuel types and topography,” Director of Forest Protection Wade Waters said. “These experiences enhance their ability to stay calm under pressure and expand their qualifications and skill sets.”
Wildland fire deployments function within the incident management team (IMT) framework, with qualified teams rotating into wildfire incidents to direct, coordinate and carry out emergency response operations. Each IMT provides command, communications, logistics, planning, operations and finance personnel to manage the incident. After deployments end, the federal government reimburses TDF’s costs.
Out-of-state assignments also help TDF personnel broaden and deepen their capabilities. In wildland fire, nationwide training and mentoring allow personnel to develop expertise in new areas. This year, TDF deployed personnel in command, operations, planning, logistics, finance, dispatch, aviation and communications roles.
Behind the scenes, TDF employees, other Tennessee Department of Agriculture staff and Tennessee Department of General Services personnel coordinated the large-scale deployment of TDF personnel. This cross-functional, cross-agency team included TDF’s fire logistics coordinator and staff from finance and administration, human resources, and vehicle and asset management. Together, they handled the moving pieces required for a successful deployment season.
TDF protects and promotes the responsible use of forest resources in Tennessee. Focus areas include assisting landowners with a variety of services, providing quality tree seedlings, supporting forest health programs, collecting forest inventory data, assisting forest industries and fighting wildland fires.
