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Sherman told The Associated Press in a phone interview Thursday that setting priorities will be key.
• "It's not going away," Sherman said of the threat of wildfire. "We're going to have to be more comprehensive and smarter in how we deal with these issues in the future."
• He noted the need for government agencies to be proactive in their efforts to protect not only property but vital resources such as watersheds that provide drinking water.
• Development of the strategy comes as firefighters grapple with overgrown forests and another consecutive year of dry, windy conditions. Currently, they are battling 20 large fires across the country. They range from a few hundred acres in South Dakota to more than 263,500 acres in New Mexico.

• The New Mexico blaze has finally stalled at about 412 square miles in the Gila National Forest after burning for weeks. Nearly 1,000 firefighters continue to patrol the lines and watch for flare-ups on the fire, the largest in the state's recorded history.
• A dozen cabins were destroyed by the lightning-sparked fire, and surrounding communities are concerned about flooding that could result from summer rains washing ash, soil and charred debris down steep, denuded mountainsides.

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