Fire is a natural part of many ecosystems. But on a planet rapidly changing due to climate change, habitat destruction, and resource extraction, fire is becoming an increasing threat to nature and human communities alike. Just as human-caused changes have made fire a danger in many places, human ingenuity has the power to reimagine and remember how we, and the creatures we share Earth with, can live and thrive with fire.
THE CHALLENGE
The Fire Grand Challenge is a global call to innovators from around the globe to submit solutions to transform how we manage and live with fire in Western North America. We’re offering $1,000,000+ in prizes and support to scale innovations that blend cutting-edge technology with Indigenous, rural, and place-based knowledge.
The Open Application period has now closed, but you can still explore the Challenge in detail by downloading the Innovators Handbook.
GLOBAL CHALLENGE
The Challenge plans to expand in future rounds to other regions, including the Amazon and Southeast Asia.
If you're interested in supporting this work, contact us.
CHALLENGE THEMES
+ Scaling Innovative Ecosystem Stewardship
+ Synthesizing Diverse Knowledge Bases
why wESTERN NORTH AMERICA?
For thousands of years, native peoples managed the forests of Western North America with intergenerational, place-based practices for putting fire on the landscape, developed over millennia. These practices were disrupted by the current fire management system; Western landscapes have been degraded by a century of fire suppression, land use change, and impacts from pathogens and climate change.
As a result, the region is now experiencing larger, higher severity megafires that existentially threaten communities and ecosystems alike, causing billions of dollars in damages each year. The problem has reached such a large scale that, today across the United States, over 148 million acres of forested land now require restoration (American Forests).
TIMELINE
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Challenge Launch -
Open Period -
Finalist Announcement -
Field-testing and acceleration phase -
Winners Announced
WORKING WITH PARTNER COMMUNITIES
The Challenge works with Indigenous and rural communities—including Tribal governments, organizations, nonprofits, and fire departments—to co-develop and field-test innovations, providing essential local context and expertise to the innovation process.
IGNITING INNOVATION WEBINAR SERIES
Our webinar series offered valuable insights and strategies to help you craft a successful application for the Challenge.
ways to partner
+ TECHNICAL PARTNERS
+ Funding Partners
+ Amplifying Partners
+ Scaling Partners
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRE GRAND CHALLENGE IS POWERED BY
PARTNERS
The initial round of the Fire Grand Challenge is focused on Western North America, including the western United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Future rounds are planned to expand the Challenge model to other regions, including the Amazon and Southeast Asia. If you are interested in supporting this work, please contact the team at fire@conservationxlabs.org
