International Association of Wildland Fire

What International Association of Wildland Fire does

The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit professional membership association founded in 1990 and headquartered in Missoula, Montana, with a 11–50 person staff. Its stated mission is to facilitate communication and provide leadership for the global wildland fire community, and it serves as an independent, neutral forum for wildland fire practitioners, scientists, agency officials, and vendors across all continents. Membership comprises individuals in fire operations, research, and management, alongside government agencies, non-profits, and fire industry firms ranging from small businesses to enterprise sponsors.

IAWF's product portfolio centers on content and convening rather than proprietary technology. Core assets include the peer-reviewed International Journal of Wildland Fire (IJWF), published by CSIRO Publishing and transitioned to open access on January 1, 2024; Wildfire Magazine, a quarterly publication; the Wildfire Today | Fire Aviation news platform; and the monthly E-News Dispatch. Programming is delivered through international conferences (International Wildland Fire Safety Summit, Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference, International Smoke Symposium, National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop), monthly Partner Webinars co-hosted with the Pau Costa Foundation and Association for Fire Ecology, a Workforce Resilience Ignite Talk Series, a six-month Mentoring Program, two annual $3,000 graduate scholarships, an awards program (Ember, Firebreak, Wildland Fire Safety, Early Career, Spark), and position papers on issues including prescribed fire and climate change.

IAWF's revenue model is built on tiered recurring subscriptions. Individual memberships range from $20 (students, early career, volunteers, seasonal firefighters, retirees) to $80 (full individual) and $1,500 (lifetime). Organizational memberships span $500 (non-profit/small business) to $2,500 (Supporting), $10,000 (Sustaining), and $25,000+ (Patron), each conferring logo placement, advertising discounts, and conference exhibit benefits. Additional revenue comes from conference registration fees, journal and publication partnerships via CSIRO Publishing, and advertising in Wildfire Magazine and Wildfire Today | Fire Aviation. Need-based membership waivers and donations are also accepted.

Name

International Association of Wildland Fire

Legal name

International Association of Wildland Fire

Website

https://iawfonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional membership association founded in 1990 and headquartered in Missoula, Montana, serving wildland fire practitioners, scientists, agencies, and vendors worldwide through publications, conferences, webinars, scholarships, and policy position papers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Forest Health & Fire Management Planning (AFAMAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Timberland Risk Management (Fire, Storm, Insurance, Disaster Recovery) (AFAMAKAJ)

Keywords

• Wildland fire management
• Fire science publications
• Wildfire professional association
• Wildfire conferences events
• Firefighter safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $20 USD (student, early career, retired, volunteer/seasonal firefighter) to $80 USD (individual), and $1,500 USD (lifetime). Provides subscription to Wildfire Magazine, online access to IJWF, discounts on conferences, and eligibility for scholarships and board positions.
2. Organizational Memberships: Four tiers of organizational membership: Non-Profit/Small Business ($500), Supporting Members ($2,500), Sustaining Members ($10,000), Patron Member ($25,000+). Includes website logo display, newsletter mentions, conference discounts, and advertising discounts.
3. Conference Registration Fees: IAWF hosts and co-hosts multiple international conferences including the International Wildland Fire Safety Summit, Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference, International Smoke Symposium, and partners with regional conferences worldwide. Registration fees provide revenue with member discounts.
4. Journal and Publication Revenue: The International Journal of Wildland Fire is published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF. IAWF members receive free online access to the IJWF. As of January 1, 2024, IJWF is open access. CSIRO publishes books with 20% discount for IAWF members.
5. Advertising Revenue: Advertising opportunities in Wildfire Magazine, Wildfire Today and Fire Aviation platform. Organizational members receive discounts on advertising rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IAWF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) professional membership association that operates as a global community platform for the wildland fire sector. It sells individual and organizational memberships ($20-$25,000+ annually) and provides member benefits including quarterly publications (Wildfire Magazine), online access to the peer-reviewed International Journal of Wildland Fire, conference discounts, and eligibility for scholarships, awards, and board positions. It hosts international conferences and webinars and supports the wildland fire community through publications, events, and professional development programs.

Product overview

The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) is a professional membership association offering a portfolio of publications, events, professional development programs, and networking services for the global wildland fire community. The core offerings include Wildfire Magazine (quarterly publication), the International Journal of Wildland Fire (peer-reviewed open access journal published by CSIRO), E-News Dispatch (monthly newsletter), and Wildfire Today | Fire Aviation (news platform). Professional development is delivered through conferences (International Wildland Fire Safety Summit, Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference, National Cohesive Strategy Workshop, International Smoke Symposium), the Partner Webinar Series (with Pau Costa Foundation and Association for Fire Ecology), Workforce Resilience Ignite Talk Series, Mentoring Program, Scholarship Program (two $3,000 annual awards for graduate students), and Awards Program recognizing contributions in safety, science, and management. Policy engagement is supported through Position and Issue Papers on topics including prescribed fire, climate change, and fire suppression. Membership tiers serve individuals (ranging from $20-$1,500) and organizations ($500-$25,000+).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wildfire Magazine A quarterly publication covering wildfire news, research, and analysis for the global wildland fire community, featuring articles on mitigation, fire science, leadership, and international fire management topics. Available to members and subscribers, this is a standalone print and digital magazine offering from IAWF.
• International Journal of Wildland Fire (IJWF) A peer-reviewed scientific journal published on behalf of IAWF by CSIRO Publishing, covering basic and applied research concerning wildland fire including fire behavior, ecological impact, modeling, and fire management. Open access as of January 1, 2024; IAWF members receive free online access with a 20% CSIRO book discount.
• Conferences and Events IAWF organizes and hosts international conferences including the International Wildland Fire Safety Summit, Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference, National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, International Smoke Symposium, and partners with other organizations on additional fire conferences worldwide. Sold via registration fees with member discounts.
• Partner Webinar Series A monthly collaborative webinar series organized jointly with the Pau Costa Foundation and Association for Fire Ecology, bringing together diverse voices from the global wildland fire community on a wide range of topics. Available to members and the wider community.
• Workforce Resilience Ignite Talk Series A webinar series focusing on mental health, wellness, diversity, and resilience topics for wildland fire professionals and their families. Free educational offering targeting workforce wellbeing in the wildland fire community.
• Scholarship Program IAWF awards two graduate-level scholarships valued at $3,000 USD annually to MSc and PhD students studying wildland fire or related topics. The program has been presenting awards annually since 2007 to support emerging researchers in the wildland fire field.
• Awards Program A recognition program that identifies and honors outstanding contributions to the wildland fire community through multiple awards including the Wildland Fire Safety Award, Ember Award for Excellence in Wildland Fire Science, Distinguished Service Award, Firebreak Award, Early Career Awards, and Spark Award for student presentations.
• Mentoring Program A six-month structured mentoring program matching experienced fire professionals with mentees, with applications accepted twice yearly. IAWF membership is required, though mentees may request a membership waiver.
• Individual Membership Individual professional membership tiers priced at $20 (Student, Early Career, Volunteer/Seasonal Firefighter, Retired), $80 (full Individual), and $1,500 (Lifetime), providing subscription to Wildfire Magazine, online access to IJWF, conference discounts, and eligibility for scholarships and board positions.
• Organizational Membership Corporate membership tiers (Non-Profit/Small Business at $500, Supporting at $2,500, Sustaining at $10,000, Patron at $25,000+) offering logo placement on the IAWF website and Dispatch newsletter, advertising discounts in Wildfire Magazine, Wildfire Today and Fire Aviation, and exhibit booth discounts at IAWF conferences.
• Fired Up Initiative A recognition initiative featuring stories of individuals and groups making unique contributions to the wildland fire community through operations, mitigation, training, or research. Featured regularly in Wildfire Magazine.
• Conference Proceedings An online archive of proceedings from past IAWF-hosted and partner conferences dating back to 1995, documenting research and presentations on fire behavior, safety, and management.
• Position and Issue Papers Policy documents addressing key wildland fire issues including Health & Wellbeing, Prescribed Fire, Climate Change, Extreme Fires, Fire Suppression, Competing Priorities, and International Cooperation. Published as standalone policy resources on the IAWF website.
• Wildfire Today | Fire Aviation A news platform dedicated to wildland fire and aerial firefighting news from around the world, providing insights into major fires, safety, science, and operational updates. Published as part of the IAWF media portfolio.
• E-News Dispatch A monthly newsletter providing updates on wildland fire issues, events, and community news to subscribers and the broader 5,000+ contact mailing list.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• CSIRO PublishingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSIRO Publishing publishes the International Journal of Wildland Fire (IJWF) on behalf of IAWF. The journal is published on a continuous publication model and as of January 1, 2024, IJWF is open access. IAWF members receive free online access to the full text of all issues prior to January 1, 2024, back to Volume 1, and 20% discount on all CSIRO books.
• Pau Costa Foundation (PCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF, Pau Costa Foundation (PCF), and Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) organize the Partner Webinar Series, a monthly series of webinars bringing together diverse voices from the global wildland fire community. Partner conference announcements are sent to IAWF mailing list of 5,000+ and shared on social media platforms.
• Association for Fire Ecology (AFE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF partners with AFE to organize the Partner Webinar Series, a monthly series of webinars bringing together diverse voices from the global wildland fire community. The organizations co-present on important wildland fire issues, future activities and goals.
• Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF partners with WFLC and its three regional strategy committees (Western, Southeast, Northeast) to present the Annual National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, focusing on implementation rooted in science and building relationships across federal, tribal, state, local, and non-governmental stakeholders.
• UK Wildfire ConferenceregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIAWF partners with the UK Wildfire Conference as a collaborating partner, providing conference listings on IAWF calendar, home page, and sending announcements to IAWF mailing list. IAWF logo appears on partner conference webpage with complimentary registration for IAWF representatives.
• 8th International Wildland Fire Conference (Porto 2023)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF is an Institutional Partner for the 8th International Wildland Fire Conference held at Alfândega do Porto Congress Center, Portugal in May 2023. The conference focused on responding to severe and widespread forest fire seasons worldwide.
• Association of Independent Firefighting Experts (SNEP)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF is proud to partner with SNEP's Forest Camp in Gubin, Poland. The Forest Camp provides participants with current knowledge and practical exercises under expert guidance, featuring themed stations for safely and effectively extinguishing forest fires.
• Northern Ireland Environment AgencyregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF partnered with Northern Ireland Environment Agency and NI Fire & Rescue Service to co-host the UK Wildfire Conference 2022 in Belfast, focusing on 'Wildfires - The Human Dimension' with delegates from professional firefighters, land managers, academics, researchers and government officials worldwide.
• Fire Continuum Conference (Association for Fire Ecology)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF co-presented the Fire Continuum Conference in Missoula, Montana in May 2018 with the Association for Fire Ecology, focused on preparing for the future of wildland fire.
• 10th International Conference on Forest Fire ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF is honored to host the 19th International Wildland Fire Safety Summit jointly with the 10th International Conference on Forest Fire Research in Coimbra, Portugal (October 31 - November 6, 2026). This is a pivotal forum for advancing research and safety discussions.
• 8th Fire Behaviour and Fuels ConferencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF is a key partner for the 8th Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (April 28 - May 1, 2026), bringing together fire behavior researchers and practitioners.
• Wildland Fire Canada ConferenceregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF partners with the Wildland Fire Canada Conference bringing together wildland fire management agencies, Indigenous knowledge holders, scientists, partners, and collaborators from across Canada and around the world. The biennial conference focuses on wildland fire management, science, and knowledge-sharing.
• 9th International Conference on Forest Fire ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF partnered with the 9th International Conference on Forest Fire Research in Coimbra, Portugal (November 2022), which provided updates on developments in forest fire science and technology and promoted international cooperation.
• Mission Critical Team InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAWF hosts Workforce Resilience Ignite Talk Series featuring Mission Critical Team Institute founder Dr. Preston B. Cline on topics of reflection, reset, and residue in wildland fire management for mission critical teams.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Association for Fire Ecology: International professional association for fire ecology science and application. Co-hosts IAWF's Partner Webinar Series, the Fire Continuum Conference, and serves a closely overlapping academic and practitioner audience.
• Pau Costa Foundation: European non-profit focused on wildfire knowledge exchange and firefighter safety. Co-organizes the IAWF Partner Webinar Series and serves an overlapping community of fire science and operations professionals.

Others

• Fire Management Today (USDA Forest Service publication): Long-running US government publication covering wildland fire management topics. An adjacent content channel that overlaps with Wildfire Magazine's editorial scope but is funded publicly rather than via membership.
• Forest Europe / UNECE Timber and Forest Dialogue: Pan-European forest policy process including wildland fire. Adjacent policy engagement relevant to IAWF's international cooperation position papers but focused on broader sustainable forestry rather than dedicated wildland fire programming.

Emerging players

• Wildfire Research Center / Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils: US-based coalition advancing prescribed fire use. Adjacent mission to IAWF's prescribed fire position papers and overlapping practitioner community, with growing influence on US fire policy.
• The Nature Conservancy (Fire Programs): Large environmental NGO with significant fire management programs (prescribed fire, fire-adapted communities). Overlaps with IAWF on fire science, position papers, and ecosystem-based fire management but as a programmatic effort, not a dedicated membership association.

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC): US-based professional association for fire and emergency service chiefs. A broader incumbent with some overlap on wildland-urban interface issues but primarily focused on structural fire and EMS leadership.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Large US-based standards and codes organization covering all fire types. A broader incumbent with overlapping wildland fire standards work but a much wider portfolio that includes building, electrical, and structural fire protection.

Regional players

• Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC): Canadian national wildland fire coordination body. Partners with IAWF on the Wildland Fire Canada Conference and serves an overlapping cross-border fire management audience from a different geography.
• National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): US federal interagency coordination center for wildfire response and policy. Overlaps with IAWF in coordinating the US wildland fire community but operates as a government body, not a membership association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-association-of-wildland-fire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Association of Wildland Fire