The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) mission is to facilitate communication and provide leadership for the wildland fire community.
We use Submittable to support a range of IAWF's activities, including -
- Submissions for consideration for publication in Wildfire Magazine: article ideas, complete manuscripts, suggested reprints of existing materials, photos, or graphics.
- Conference or workshop abstracts and proposals. Please review the list of open submission forms before submitting to be certain you're submitting to the correct category.
- Presentation and poster uploads
- Award nominations
- Scholarship applications
Contact us with any questions!
Mikel Robinson - Executive Director execdirec@iawfonline.org
Nominate to join the Board of Directors
Applications are now open for new members of the International Association of Wildland Fires' (IAWF) Board of Directors.
The IAWF is committed to maintaining a positive, empowering, inclusive, and innovative culture where all members of the wildland fire community feel safe, valued, heard, and included. We recognize that diversity encompasses differences between people and include recognition of ethnicity, culture (including indigenous peoples), personality, age, sexual preference, disability, religious beliefs, social and economic standing, as well as profession, education, work experiences, and professional identity. And inclusivity creates feelings among groups of diverse peoples of equal value and respect, equal access to opportunities and resources, and open and accepted contribution of perspectives and talents.
We welcome and encourage applications for all individuals meeting the requirements listed below.
Applications will be accepted through September 30, 2025, and successful candidates will begin their 3-year term on January 1, 2026.
REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION
- Must be an individual, volunteer/seasonal, or student member of the IAWF in good standing. Library, Agency and Organizational members are not eligible.
- The IAWF Board of Directors is a working Board. We expect that individuals serving the membership in these positions will contribute the time, energy and expertise to serve on committees, participate in eleven (11) conference calls per year and generally assist in furthering the mission of the Association. (Calls are scheduled the last Tuesday every month around 2-3 pm Mountain Time, except December and generally last about 90 minutes.)
- Applicants with skills/expertise in Financial Management, Board Governance, and Communication/Journalism/Media (Writing and Editing) are highly encouraged to apply.
The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) mission is to facilitate communication and provide leadership for the wildland fire community. The IAWF was formed to promote a better understanding of wildland fire, and built on the belief that an understanding of this dynamic natural force is vital for natural resource management, for firefighter safety, and for harmonious interaction between people and their environment. The Association is dedicated to communicating with the entire wildland fire community and providing global linkage for people with shared interest in wildland fire and comprehensive fire management.
- Please consider if your job or other activities will prevent you from dedicating sufficient time to committees and monthly meetings.
- Since most of the Board’s activities are conducted electronically, applicants need to be comfortable using email, opening and filing attachments to email, using Microsoft Word for very basic tasks such as creating documents, opening documents, filing them, and minor editing.
- Attending an annual face-to-face Board of Directors meeting is very helpful, but not a requirement. The IAWF at this time is not able to pay travel expenses for Board meetings. The annual meetings are one day and are generally held at one of our conferences.
- Candidates will be ranked based on knowledge and experience, IAWF service, geographic area, and diversity.
Principles of Conduct – Living Our Values – Leading by Example
In the conduct of personal and professional matters, IAWF places high importance on the values of integrity, responsibility, and reputation. We are committed to maintaining high standards both within the organization and in our dealings with others in our daily lives. Our leadership has developed these Principles of Conduct to define our accepted and unacceptable ethical behaviors. It is important that our standards are defined, available, and understandable. We have established guidelines for all members at all times and non-members who may be participating at any IAWF conducted activities. It helps ensure that IAWF promotes, achieves, and maintains high standards of practice and it provides a benchmark for members and non-members participating in IAWF activities to use for self-evaluation.
Compliance with these standards demonstrates our individual and collective respect for our profession, our professional and personal relationships with others, and our respect and commitment to the long-term vision, goals, and values of IAWF. Principles of Conduct
Deadline for Applications is September 30, 2025.
The Board of Directors will hold their election for the expiring positions during the week of October 27 and new board members will be invited to attend the board meeting in November.
For questions e-mail or call Mikel Robinson, Executive Director +01 (406) 625-7059.
The purpose of the "Ember Award" is to recognize sustained excellence in wildland fire research and to encourage innovation, exploration, application, and dissemination of important research results. The name "Ember" reflects the fact that research and science often move slowly, and their benefits or impacts may not be apparent for years. The award was established to recognize sustained and excellent research contributions to wildland fire science, innovative solutions to important wildland fire challenges, and effective and appropriate communication of wildland fire science and research results.
To nominate, please complete the form below, and compose a letter (no more than 800 words) explaining how the nominee embodies the award’s purpose, and a list of three or more individuals (with contact information) who confirm the nominee's contributions.
When submitting your nomination, please assume we don’t know the nominee, include specifics about why they are deserving in your nomination letter.
If you are writing an award nomination, and would like a little help, members of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Committee are willing to help. Perhaps English is not your first language or you can’t quite find the right words to express your thoughts, just reach out and we would be happy to help. EMail
The "Management Award" was established to honor achievements and sustained excellence in the management of wildland fire programs. This award recognizes an individual who have made lasting contributions in program management and inspired others through their creativity, innovation, leadership, application, guidance, and communication in response to challenging and controversial wildland fire management issues.
To nominate, please complete the form below, and compose a letter (no more than 800 words) explaining how the nominee embodies the award’s purpose, and a list of three or more individuals (with contact information) who confirm the nominee's contributions.
When submitting your nomination, please assume we don’t know the nominee, include specifics about why they are deserving in your nomination letter.
If you are writing an award nomination, and would like a little help, members of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Committee are willing to help. Perhaps English is not your first language or you can’t quite find the right words to express your thoughts, just reach out and we would be happy to help. EMail
This Award is to recognize a promising early-career professional who has demonstrated outstanding ability in any field of wildfire operations. Early career is nominally taken to include professionals who are under 40 years of age when nominated.
To nominate, please complete the form below, and compose a letter (no more than 800 words) explaining how the nominee embodies the award’s purpose, and a list of three or more individuals (with contact information) who confirm the nominee's contributions.
When submitting your nomination, please assume we don’t know the nominee, include specifics about why they are deserving in your nomination letter.
If you are writing an award nomination, and would like a little help, members of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Committee are willing to help. Perhaps English is not your first language or you can’t quite find the right words to express your thoughts, just reach out and we would be happy to help. EMail
The Early Career in Fire Science Award is to recognize a promising early-career professional who has demonstrated outstanding ability in any field of wildland fire science. Early career is nominally taken to include professionals who are under 40 years of age when nominated.
To nominate, please complete the form below, and compose a letter (no more than 800 words) explaining how the nominee embodies the award’s purpose, and a list of three or more individuals (with contact information) who confirm the nominee's contributions.
When submitting your nomination, please assume we don’t know the nominee, include specifics about why they are deserving in your nomination letter.
If you are writing an award nomination, and would like a little help, members of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Committee are willing to help. Perhaps English is not your first language or you can’t quite find the right words to express your thoughts, just reach out and we would be happy to help. EMail.
The IAWF Wildland Fire Safety Award is given to an individual in the international wildland fire community who has made a significant contribution to wildland firefighter safety, either directly on the fireline; or indirectly through management, cultural changes, or through wildland fire research. Their contribution is frequently beyond their normal everyday job expectations - sometimes at the potential risk to their own career, and their example can encourage others to act in a similar manner.
To nominate, please complete the form below, and compose a letter (no more than 800 words) explaining how the nominee embodies the award’s purpose, and a list of three or more individuals (with contact information) who confirm the nominee's contributions.
When submitting your nomination, please assume we don’t know the nominee, include specifics about why they are deserving in your nomination letter.
If you are writing an award nomination, and would like a little help, members of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Committee are willing to help. Perhaps English is not your first language or you can’t quite find the right words to express your thoughts, just reach out and we would be happy to help. EMail
The Award was inaugurated in 1997 at the IAWF's first Wildland Fire Safety Summit® held in Rossland, British Columbia. Over the years it has been awarded to sixteen individuals.
- 2025 - Steve Lemon (Canada)
- 2024 - Ben Strahan (USA)
- 2022 - Scott Jones (USA)
- 2021 - Bret Butler (USA)
- 2018 - Kelly Close (USA)
- 2017 - Domingos Viegas (Portugal)
- 2015 - March Castellnou (Spain)
- 2012 – Dave Thomas (USA)
- 2011 - Jim Cook (USA)
- 2009 - Brian Sharkey (USA)
- 2008 - Bob Mutch (USA)
- 2005 - Ted Putnam (USA)
- 2003 - Marty Alexander (Canada)
- 2001 - Dick Rothermel (USA)
- 2000 - Al Beaver (Canada)
- 1999 - Harry Luke (Australia)
- 1998 - Paul Gleason (USA)
- 1997 - Chuck Hartley (USA)
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Thank you for your interest in the International Association of Wildland Fire Mentoring Program.
The deadline to apply is December 15. After the deadline we will send you information about the mentors and you will be able to select your top choices.
The mentoring cycle will run from January - June 2026
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Thank you
Mikel Robinson, Executive Director, IAWF
execdir@iawfonline.org
pronouns (she/her)
Thank you for your interest in the International Association of Wildland Fire Mentoring Program.
The deadline to apply is December 15
The mentoring cycle will run from January - June 2026
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Thank you
Mikel Robinson, Executive Director, IAWF
execdir@iawfonline.org
pronouns (she/her)
"Fired Up" Initiative to Honor and Feature our Stories of Success
We at IAWF want to share stories about the unique contributions made by individuals and groups to the Wildland Fire Community. Therefore, we are launching the "Fired Up" initiative, featuring those who have made strides in advancing and contributing to wildfire/bushfire operations, mitigation/prevention, training and research. Contributions can be at the ground-level through administration, so long as they are noteworthy or innovative.
We invite members of the IAWF and the Wildland fire community at large to submit recommendations for individuals and groups that deserve to have their stories shared for publication.
Guidelines: Submit your nomination for an individual or group that you believe is worth featuring in an issue of Wildfire magazine. We will need a justification for why an individual should be recognized, a short bio, and photo of the individual or group at work (if you have one). All IAWF members as well as people supporting the global wildland fire community are eligible to nominate individuals as well as to be recognized.
Wildfire magazine will feature up to two individuals or groups an issue. Individuals who are recognized in "Fired Up" will receive a one-year membership at IAWF, and groups who are recognized will receive up to five, one-year memberships.
Thank you,
Editors of Wildfire magazine and the IAWF Membership Committee
If you are unable to cover your membership fee, you can apply for a membership waiver.
Please complete the application below and answer the following questions (complete the application as fully as possible, this will help us ensure we meet our goal . All answers will be confidential, only the review committee will see your responses.
- Tell us about your current work as it related to wildland fire.
- Why do you want to be an IAWF member?
- How would an IAWF membership make a difference to you?
If you have any questions, please contact:
Mikel Robinson
Executive Director
International Association of Wildland Fire
O. 406-625-7059
M. 406-531-8264
execdir@iawfonline.org
www.iawfonline.org
pronouns (she/her)
Pitch an article or idea for Wildfire magazine
We welcome editorial contributors to Wildfire magazine. Please join us in sharing the knowledge and promoting the tools that are so urgently needed to manage the wildfire challenge. If you are asking innovative questions about fire-management challenges, applying fire science to create field-tested solutions, or have a fire story to share you should write for Wildfire magazine.
We offer a forum through which fire managers, fire scientists, and fire-affected communities can discover solutions and support the ethics and best practices of our profession. We're looking for articles, opinions, news briefs, innovations, insights on policy, and stories that cross the borders of agencies, jurisdictions, communities, and countries. For more information, see Wildfire Author Guidelines.