Wildland fire management has become increasingly complex, due largely to past land-use practices and nearly a century of fire suppression. A particularly significant problem is the risk of catastrophic wildfire in locations where fuel loads exceed historical conditions, and in wildland/urban interfaces. The recent Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review describes several areas in which climate information can play an important role. These areas include the role of wildland fire in resource management, suppression and wildland/urban interface protection. The issues extend beyond the Department of Interior and Agriculture agencies, and affects local, State and Tribal governments. The use of climate information should be a necessary component in fire management. For example, hourly station data of wind, temperature, and humidity can provide relevant data in relation to background conditions for prescribed burning and smoke management. Historical climate data can be used to establish relationships with vegetation changes over decadal and longer scales. This paper will discuss current issues in wildland fire management, and the need for increased use of climate information in the decision-making process and policy development