Actionable fire science can empower decision makers in a more fiery future

Wildfire activity is increasing across the western United States, causing a social-ecological crisis. Researchers and managers have partnered to make tremendous progress toward more actionable wildfire science that informs strategies. However, environmental change is accelerating, information needs are emerging, and the current presidential administration threatens the hard-earned capacity of research and management communities. Here, we (1) summarize two decades of research effort that supported management of wildfires before the current presidential administration, (2) highlight pressing research gaps that remain barriers to effective wildfire management, and (3) chart steps that could foster a new era of actionable wildfire science. The time to act is now. Opportunities to address key knowledge gaps abound, if researchers, remaining federal resource managers, state governments, US Congress, Tribes, philanthropists, and the private sector partner in a moonshot investment of research and innovation that spans from foundational to co-produced science and embraces multiple ways of knowing.