Climate-change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires across the globe, devastating local livelihoods and critical native habitat - often the last refuge for at-risk species. Wildfires can burn for three to four weeks when they reach the steep slopes of Afi Mountain Wildlife, Nigeria, causing population crashes. Wildfires originate on small-holder farms when farmers deploy brush burning as a traditional technique that aids soil conditioning and weed removal before the planting season. Poor farm fire management, in conjunction with climate-induced ultra dry conditions lead to wildfires that spread quickly from source farm to other farms and forest in the absence of overwhelming firefighting. We are tackling forest wildfires through an early-warning program that predicts fire risk based on year-round climate data, prevent outbreaks by supporting farmers to burn responsibly, and launched a 50-person fire ranger force (aka Forest Guardians) that mount a remote response against wildfires, decisively fireproofing one of Nigeria’s last remaining primary forest.