Used to be, the wildland fire fighting season across the country began in late summer and continued until the first snows blanketed the countryside, or the autumn rains started.

In the last couple of decades, however, all that has changed. Due to recent global weather phenomena, the more likely scenario is that as soon as the last snow melt trickles into mountain streams and rivers, things begin to heat up in the eastern and western regions. Meanwhile, in the plains and southern areas, dry winters and arid springs have produced parched prairie lands and dry-as-a-stick forests, ripe for random lightning strikes and extensive conflagrations.

No matter what geographic area you're in, experts predict the next five years or so will see increased chances of large wildland fires. The likelihood of you being on the fire line year-round is a definite possibility. So there's no time like the present to start preparing.

Learn even more about Wildland Firefighting Gear. Continue on or click any of the links below to go directly to that topic.