Tracking Dozer Deployment for Wildfires

[MikePhua]

Overview of Dozer Use in Wildfires
Bulldozers have long been a critical tool in wildfire management. They are used to create firebreaks, clear vegetation, and assist firefighters in controlling large-scale blazes. In both the United States and Canada, dozers are deployed by government agencies and contracted companies during peak wildfire seasons. Tracking the number of machines in the field is important for logistical planning, safety, and resource allocation.

Challenges in Determining Numbers
Obtaining an exact count of deployed dozers is complicated due to several factors:

• Multiple Agencies Involved
  • In Canada, wildfire response is managed provincially. Agencies like Sustainable Resources coordinate deployment.
    
  • In the U.S., state forestry services, the U.S. Forest Service, and local fire authorities each manage their own fleets.
    
• Dynamic Deployment
  • Dozer locations change frequently based on fire behavior, weather, and tactical priorities.
    
  • Some machines are reassigned to different fire sites within hours or days.
    
• Private Contractors
  • Many dozers come from private contractors rather than government fleets, complicating centralized tracking.
    
  • Contractors often deploy excavators, loaders, and other equipment in addition to dozers, adding to reporting complexity.
    

Methods to Track Deployed Dozers

• Official Reports
  • California, for example, provides public reports listing the number of dozers at each active fire.
    
  • Aggregating totals across multiple fires or states may require consulting several regional reports.
    
• Direct Agency Contact
  • Contacting fire management agencies or provincial/state dispatch centers is often necessary for real-time data.
    
  • Agencies may provide summaries, though detailed lists might be restricted for safety or operational reasons.
    
• Secondary Observations
  • News reports, firefighting blogs, and social media sometimes provide deployment snapshots.
    
  • These sources can be used for approximate counts but are less reliable than official reporting.
    

Considerations for Accurate Tracking

• Define the scope: Are you tracking federal, state, or private equipment?
  
• Understand that counts are fluid: a machine counted at one fire may move to another within hours.
  
• Cross-reference multiple sources for validation: official reports, agency contacts, and verified media coverage.
  

Conclusion
Determining the number of bulldozers deployed during wildfire events requires combining official reporting with agency contacts and observational data. While some regions like California offer detailed fire-by-fire numbers, a comprehensive total across all fires in North America is difficult to obtain due to dynamic deployment and multiple agencies managing resources. For operational planning or research, a methodical approach that aggregates verified sources is the most reliable way to estimate the active fleet.