An Integer Programming Model to Optimize Resource Allocation for Wildfire Containment

Determining the specific mix of fire-fighting resources for a given fire is a necessary condition for identifying the minimum of the Cost Plus Net Value Change (C+NVC) function. Current wildland fire management models may not reliably do so. The problem of identifying the most efficient wildland fire organization is characterized mathematically using integer-programming techniques. This mathematical exposition is then solved using the LINGO optimization language. Sensitivity analysis is conducted on model inputs to demonstrate the flexibility of the model architecture. Further, the model is used to model budget constraints commonly faced by fire managers. FOR. SCI. 49(2):331–335.