Department of Interior Wildland Fire Service BLM-National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP)Fire Leaders And Managers, Emerging Scientists (FLAMES)
🏛 Bureau of Land Management
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for current master's and doctoral students enrolled at U.S. colleges or universities studying wildland fire and related physical, biological, or social sciences. Applicants must have an approved thesis or dissertation research plan and an advisor or advisory committee. The research project must be new, unfunded, and directly address management or policy questions in fuels management, changing fire environment, emissions, fire effects, or human dimensions of fire management.
Successful applicants are expected to complete a research supplement, gain practical fire management experience, attend virtual JFSP cohort meetings, participate in at least one in-person science-to-practice event, and develop a management-relevant product like a webinar or factsheet.
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Program description
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) is seeking proposals from current master and doctoral students enrolled at colleges or universities within the US in the field of wildland fire and related physical, biological, and social sciences to apply for a Fire Leaders And Managers, Emerging Scientists (FLAMES) award.
The purpose of a FLAMES award is to enhance student exposure to the management and policy relevance of their research, to provide opportunities for experiential learning and exposure to fire management practices, and to foster peer-learning, mentorship and career development.
Successful applicants will be expected to meet the following program requirements during the project period:
1. Complete a research project that supplements the student’s current thesis or dissertation research plan.
2. Gain practical experience and exposure to wildland fire practitioners, through participation in prescribed fire, wildfire, or other activity related to fire management (management activities relevant to the student’s area of expertise).
3. Attend regularly scheduled JFSP-organized virtual meetings designed to build a student cohort, share information, and introduce students to training and engagement opportunities.
4. Participate in at least one in-person event to exchange science with practitioners (i.e., workshop, training, field tour) and develop at least one management-relevant product (e.g., webinar, factsheet) that describes the management relevance of their research.
Proposals must describe a new, unfunded wildland fire research project that extends ongoing or planned research that is the subject of a thesis or dissertation that has been approved by the graduate student’s advisor or advisory committee.
Research projects must be directly related to the mission and goals of JFSP to be considered. Applicants are encouraged to search the JFSP website (www.firescience.gov) to learn more about the scope of JFSP funded research. In addition, proposals must directly address management- or policy-related questions related to one or more of the following topic areas:
· Fuels management and prescribed fire
· Changing fire environment
· Emissions and air quality
· Fire effects and post-fire recovery
· Human dimensions of fire management
Proposals on topics not listed above will not be reviewed.
Please consult the JFSP database for the specific requirements on each individual task statement, https://www.firescience.gov/
All proposals must be submitted by September 17, 2026, 5:00 pm MT, using the electronic submission process provided by the JFSP website (https://www.firescience.gov).
Proposals cannot be submitted through Grants.gov. No exceptions are allowed to this closing date or time.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Project narrative/proposal
- Budget and budget justification
- Resume or CV
- Academic advisor/committee approval letter
- Evidence of graduate status and thesis/dissertation approval
Program contact
- 👤 Patricia Glass Grantor
- 📧 pglass@blm.gov
- 📞 8015732957
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.232 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$659,000
-
$643,948
-
$606,000
-
$606,000
-
$604,000
-
$524,000
-
$524,000
-
$524,000
-
$523,997
-
$523,941
Top States by Funding
- CA 11 awards $3.7M
- CO 11 awards $3.0M
- AZ 7 awards $2.2M
- OR 5 awards $2.1M
- FL 4 awards $2.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.232). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $834,175 | |
| 2020 | $4,287,160 | |
| 2021 est. | $3,200,000 | |
| 2022 | $1,211,897 | |
| 2023 | $13,294,678 | |
| 2024 | $8,534,531 | |
| 2025 est. | $330,269 | |
| 2026 est. | $500,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for FLAMES awards?
Current master's and doctoral students enrolled at U.S. colleges or universities in wildland fire or related sciences. Your thesis or dissertation must be approved by your advisor or committee.
What topics are eligible for funding?
Proposals must address fuels management, changing fire environment, emissions and air quality, fire effects and recovery, or human dimensions of fire management. Other topics will not be reviewed.
When is the deadline and how do I apply?
September 17, 2026 at 5:00 pm MT. Submit through the JFSP website at https://www.firescience.gov. Grants.gov submissions are not accepted.
What activities must I complete if I win?
You must conduct research supplementing your thesis, gain field experience with fire practitioners, attend virtual meetings, participate in an in-person event, and create a management-relevant product describing your research's relevance to fire management.
What's the funding range for FLAMES awards?
Individual awards range from $5,000 to $40,000. The total program pool is $500,000, with no cost-sharing requirement.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Search the JFSP website (www.firescience.gov) before writing to understand funded research scope and align your project with program priorities.
- Frame your research through a management or policy lens. Generic science without clear fire management application will be rejected.
- Build relationships with fire practitioners early. Your proposal should demonstrate realistic access to field experience and mentorship.
- Create a detailed timeline showing how you'll balance thesis research, field experience, virtual meetings, and the required management product.
- Start writing early and involve your advisor. They'll review your proposal concept and confirm it complements your thesis work appropriately.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals lacking clear management or policy relevance are rejected frequently. Unrealistic timelines that try to do too much in one funding period often fail. Weak plans for gaining hands-on fire management experience undermine competitiveness.
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