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
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)
.
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.