Integrated fire management includes social, economic, cultural and ecological values in each step of the management cycle (prevention, preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery), and therefore requires integrated and interdisciplinary training of our new leaders in fire. To provide this integrated training, PyroLife is organizing four PhD courses: three on the understanding of fire: 1) climate, risks and impact; 2) human dimensions and planning aspects; and 3) science-policy interaction. These three courses will be followed by a fourth course: 4) integrated fire management, where the way forward towards building and implementing an integrated fire management is discussed and developed. Here we announce the first course of this four PhD course series, focusing on the biophysical aspects of fire in the landscape.