Modification of Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal Wildland

Fire Management Policy

December 2008

Modification of Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal Wildland

Fire Management Policy

December 2008

Evolving Fire Management Opportunities

National Fire Policy Evolution

• Road map for today:• National fire policy evolutions• Link to R1 doctrine/what it means to us (fire

season 2009)?• Lays a foundation for our meeting as we cuss

and discuss wildland fire decision support and fire management plans/operational guides

National Fire Policy Evolution

• Modification of Federal Wildland Fire Policy:• “Wildland fires can be managed for one or more

objective(s) based on Land/Resource Management Plan direction.”

• “When two or more wildland fire burn together they will be handled as a single wildland fire and may be managed for one or more objectives based on the Land/Resource Management Plan direction as an event moves across the landscape and fuels and weather conditions change.”

National Fire Policy Evolution

• “Every wildland fire will be assessed following a decision support process that examines the full range of responses. The system currently being developed and prototyped is known as the Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS)

National Fire Policy Evolution• Agency Directors for NPS, FWS, BLM, BIA, USGS• Under Secretary USDA• Chief, USFS• Associate Deputy Secretary, DOI• US Fire Administrator• Designated tribal representative• Western Governors • National county representative• National Fire District representative

WFLC Decisions Summer 2008

Allow limited test of modifications to the 2003 Implementation Strategy for the 1995 federal Wildland Fire policy on the following forests:

R01: Lolo and Bitterroot NF

R02: White River NF and Grand Valley Ranger

District of the GMUG R03: Gila and KaibabR04: Payette, SalmonR05: Klamath, Sequoia, SierraR06: Wallowa-Whitman

Outcomes of the Test

• Test forests and DOI units indicated that the increased flexibility in managing unplanned ignitions was very helpful.– More fire on the landscape achieving benefits– Opportunities to be more transparent with

cooperators, stakeholders and the public • Lessons learned for implementation

– Need simple terms– Need aggressive communication and education

program – both internal and external• Recommendations to go further in modifying

policy– Eliminate Wildland Fire Use as a category

NIXON WEATHER STATION (#020113) ENERGY RELEASE COMPONENT

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

5/1

5/8

5/1

5

5/2

2

5/2

9

6/5

6/1

2

6/1

9

6/2

6

7/3

7/1

0

7/1

7

7/2

4

7/3

1

8/7

8/1

4

8/2

1

8/2

8

9/4

9/1

1

9/1

8

9/2

5

10

/2

10

/9

10

/16

10

/23

10

/30

DATE

ER

C

Average

Maximum

Minimum

1999

Bridger-Knoll Fire, 6/20/96, ERC 48

Mt. Emma Fire, 6/3/99, ERC 19

Issues Needing ResolutionIssues Needing Resolution

Issue

Terminology Select terms which are transparent, avoid development of many new terms

Internal Communication and Education

Ensure agency employees understand accept and support changes to implementation strategy

External Communication and Education

Develop “campaign’ to ensure understanding by cooperators and the public

Next Steps

• Development of implementation strategy/guidance– Distribute in early CY 2009– Incorporate into “Red Book” in 2010

• Each agency to implement as capability allows – land management plans and management capacity

• Begin use of WDFSS as tools, data, and training allow

Implementation Strategy Changes for

2009• Eliminate the distinction between wildland fire

use and wildfire. – Wildland fires will be differentiated by

whether the ignition is planned or unplanned.

– Wildfire = unplanned– Prescribed Fire = planned

• Recommendations from 2008 “test” will be included in new implementation strategy

• Changes will be consistent with the 2001 Federal Wildland Policy language

• Implementation strategy will clarify terminology

NIXON WEATHER STATION (#020113) ENERGY RELEASE COMPONENT

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

5/1

5/8

5/1

5

5/2

2

5/2

9

6/5

6/1

2

6/1

9

6/2

6

7/3

7/1

0

7/1

7

7/2

4

7/3

1

8/7

8/1

4

8/2

1

8/2

8

9/4

9/1

1

9/1

8

9/2

5

10

/2

10

/9

10

/16

10

/23

10

/30

DATE

ER

C

Average

Maximum

Minimum

1999

Bridger-Knoll Fire, 6/20/96, ERC 48

Mt. Emma Fire, 6/3/99, ERC 19

Issues Needing ResolutionIssues Needing Resolution

Issue

Training requirements Evaluate S 580 as a requirement; evaluate additions/amendments to other skill position training

Skill position requirements Evaluate FUMAs, FEMOs, LTANs, FBANs, FUMTs, FUMs for required versus optional staffing on wildfires of differing complexities

Smoke management requirements

Work with agency air quality specialists and regulatory agencies to develop procedures

Wildfires with “resource benefit” objectives

Linkages to LRMPs/FMPs; other requirements???

What does it mean to NR?

• “Our response to wildfires on national forest system lands in the Northern Region involves actions and expenditures that are commensurate with the values at risk and are consistent with agency policy, land management plans and fire management plan direction.”

• Responses drip with common sense

What does it mean to NR?

• Fire Season 2009 – changes to our FMPs/ops plans? (and on what scale)?

• How do we manage the need for skills and abilities regarding long duration fire management?

• 10% of the region has burned since 2000, representing a changed condition, how do we incorporate these changes into our responses?

• What is possible under existing/pending Land Use Plans?

What does it mean to NR?

• “We have never been limited by policy, only by our ability” – wise fire person, 2008

• Discussion/question/answers