About the conference 

A history of international cooperation

The International Wildland Fire Conference (IWFC) began in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1989, bringing together government and private institutions to address wildland fire challenges on a global scale. Since then, the conference has been held roughly every four years, moving between continents: 
  • 1st IWFC — Boston, United States, 1989
  • 2nd IWFC — Vancouver, Canada, 1997
  • 3rd IWFC — Sydney, Australia, 2003
  • 4th IWFC — Seville, Spain, 2007
  • 5th IWFC — Sun City, South Africa, 2011
  • 6th IWFC — Pyeongchang, South Korea, 2015
  • 7th IWFC — Campo Grande, Brazil, 2019
  • 8th IWFC — Porto, Portugal, 2023
The IWFC provides an international forum connecting fundamental science, policy makers and practitioners, supporting better policy and governance to reduce the impact of landscape fires on the environment and communities. 
 

The International Liaison Committee 

The International Liaison Committee (ILC) acts as an advisory and liaison body to each conference host, ensuring the event reflects the priorities and needs of the global wildland fire community. It brings together representatives from previous host nations and key global fire organisations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Global Fire Monitoring Center and the International Tropical Timber Organization.

The ILC provides expert advice to the host nation, supports planning, and reviews the conference theme and program to ensure it reflects the needs of the global wildland fire community.

For more information about IWFC and the work of the ILC, visit the Global Fire Monitoring website.

The ILC is a partner of the UN Global Fire Management Hub. 

Image credit: Deb Sparkes
ILC member organisations
AFAC logo Logos Prevfogo e Ibama FS logo HR ITTO LOGO FULL TEXT CIFFCLogo_Black_Tag (2) NRCan

 Australia hosts the 9th IWFC

The 9th IWFC will be held in Melbourne from 4 to 7 April 2028, alongside the 2nd United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Global Fire Management Hub Plenary. This marks the second time Australia has hosted the conference, following Sydney in 2003.

Bringing the conference to Melbourne provides an opportunity to showcase Australian and New Zealand expertise, foster international collaboration, and contribute to global discussions on managing an increasingly complex fire environment.

AFAC, the Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services, is the host organisation for the 9th IWFC.