Unique Presentation Identifier:
76
Program Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Bethany Swindell
Document Type
Poster
Location
Online
Start Date
9-4-2026 8:00 AM
Abstract
Data shows that Teton County, Wyoming faces an escalating wildfire risk driven by drought, climate variability, and continued expansion of wildland-urban interface (WUI) adjacent to the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park. Although the county is predominantly federally managed land, residential communities, tourism infrastructure, and critical services remain constantly vulnerable to rapid fire spread and constrained initial attack capacity. This study investigates the research question: How can implementation of the Department of Interior (DOI), Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) Slip-On Tanker Units Grant enhance wildfire preparedness, operational response capability, and mitigation effectiveness in Teton County.
A mixed-methods design was employed, integrating Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA), GIS-based WUI risk mapping, and response-time modeling with from county emergency management, the local fire districts, and federal land management partners. Baseline operational capacity was evaluated through apparatus inventories, deployment intervals, water-delivery capability, and interagency coordination benchmarks. Quantitative analysis utilized comparative pre- and post-grant capability modeling to estimate projected reductions in response time, improvements in water-on-fire intervals, and increased containment probability during the first operational period.
Findings suggest that strategic deployment of Slip-On Tanker Units to rural and WUI-adjacent agencies significantly strengthens rapid suppression capability, particularly in areas lacking dedicated wildland apparatus. Modeling indicates measurable decreases in time-to-initial suppression and improved containment likelihood, reducing projected structure and community loss with long-term suppression cost. Moreover, aligning equipment acquisition with defensible space education and mitigation programming enhances overall resilience by integrating operation readiness with community risk reduction strategies.
This research advances emergency management scholarships by linking equipment-based capacity enhancement with risk-informed mitigation planning, providing a scalable framework for federally influenced WUI communities confronting the intensifying wildfire threat.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Jacob, "Risk to Resilience: A Wildland Fire Preparedness and Mitigation Grant Proposal" (2026). ATU Scholars Symposium. 1.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/atu_rs/2026/2026/1
Included in
Risk to Resilience: A Wildland Fire Preparedness and Mitigation Grant Proposal
Online
Data shows that Teton County, Wyoming faces an escalating wildfire risk driven by drought, climate variability, and continued expansion of wildland-urban interface (WUI) adjacent to the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park. Although the county is predominantly federally managed land, residential communities, tourism infrastructure, and critical services remain constantly vulnerable to rapid fire spread and constrained initial attack capacity. This study investigates the research question: How can implementation of the Department of Interior (DOI), Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) Slip-On Tanker Units Grant enhance wildfire preparedness, operational response capability, and mitigation effectiveness in Teton County.
A mixed-methods design was employed, integrating Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA), GIS-based WUI risk mapping, and response-time modeling with from county emergency management, the local fire districts, and federal land management partners. Baseline operational capacity was evaluated through apparatus inventories, deployment intervals, water-delivery capability, and interagency coordination benchmarks. Quantitative analysis utilized comparative pre- and post-grant capability modeling to estimate projected reductions in response time, improvements in water-on-fire intervals, and increased containment probability during the first operational period.
Findings suggest that strategic deployment of Slip-On Tanker Units to rural and WUI-adjacent agencies significantly strengthens rapid suppression capability, particularly in areas lacking dedicated wildland apparatus. Modeling indicates measurable decreases in time-to-initial suppression and improved containment likelihood, reducing projected structure and community loss with long-term suppression cost. Moreover, aligning equipment acquisition with defensible space education and mitigation programming enhances overall resilience by integrating operation readiness with community risk reduction strategies.
This research advances emergency management scholarships by linking equipment-based capacity enhancement with risk-informed mitigation planning, providing a scalable framework for federally influenced WUI communities confronting the intensifying wildfire threat.