The 2011 fire season in the Southwestern Region was extremely active. Several large 'mega-fires' received national media attention, including the Wallow Fire in northern Arizona and the Las Conchas Fire in New Mexico. Both of these fires were the largest incidents that their respective States have ever seen. The addition of extensive firefighting air operations-up to 132 aircraft were involved in fire operations on the peak day-to existing air traffic posed many challenges and reinforced past lessons in aviation safety.