Fire is a spatially heterogeneous and irregularly occurring phenomenon. Forest fire statistics extending over decades are needed in order to describe comprehensively the fire regime in a given region, to improve preventive measures and to optimize fire-fighting strategies. On commission by the Federal Office for the Environment the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL developed in 2008 the forest fire database Swissfire for the whole of Switzerland. The purpose of Swissfire is to register systematically, centrally and without gaps all data concerning forest fires in Switzerland, according to a standardized protocol. Information on fire outbreaks is organized in various tables reporting fire-specific parameters and other relevant environmental, socio-economical and organizational characteristics. This database makes it possible for the 26 cantonal forest services to register and manage forest fire data online, and also to produce forest fire statistics and printable charts. Such a comprehensive forest fire database represents a great potential for future research on forest fires in Switzerland.