Federal Fire Policy

1. Federal Fire Policy A Quick Overview Local Fire Management Leadership McClellan WFTC - March 17, 2009

2. Overview • Federal Fire Policy • Redbook Introduction • Guiding Principles • Policy Statements • Operational Clarification • Mission • All Hazards • Local Emergencies • Structure Protection

3. Guiding Principles • Firefighter and public safety… • The role of wildland fire… • Fire Management Plans (LRMPS)… • Sound risk management… • Fire management programs… • Fire Management Plans (science)… • Fire Management Plans (support)… • Fed, state, tribal, local (coordination)… • Standardization of policies (consistency)…

4. 17 Policy Statements • Safety • Fire Management and Ecosystem Sustainability • Response to Wildland Fire • Use of Wildland Fire • Rehabilitation and Restoration • Protection Priorities • Wildland Urban Interface • Planning • Science

5. 17 Policy Statements • Preparedness • Suppression • Prevention • Standardization • Interagency Cooperation • Communication and Education • Agency Administrator and Employee Roles • Evaluation

6. Operational Clarification Only one management objective will be applied to a wildland fire. Wildland fires will either be managed for resource benefits or suppressed. A wildland fire cannot be managed for both objectives concurrently. If two wildland fires converge, they will be managed as a single wildland fire. Wildland fires can be managed for one or more objective(s) based on the Land/Resource Management Plan direction.

7. Operational Clarification Once a wildland fire has been managed for suppression objectives, it may never be managed for resource benefit objectives. When two or more wildland fires 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.

8. Operational Clarification The Wildland Fire Situation Analysis process is used to determine and document the suppression strategy from the full range of responses available for suppression operations. Suppression strategies are designed to meet the policy objectives of suppression. Wildland fire use is the result of a natural event. The Land/Resource Management Plan, or the Fire Management Plan, will identify areas where the strategy of wildland fire use is suitable. The Wildland Fire Implementation Plan (WFIP) is the tool that examines the available response strategies to determine if a fire is being considered for wildland fire use.* 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 Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS).

9. Operational Clarification When a prescribed fire or a fire designated for wildland fire use is no longer achieving the intended resource management objectives and contingency or mitigation actions have failed, the fire will be declared a wildfire. Once a wildfire, it cannot be returned to a prescribed fire or wildland fire use status. Once a prescribed fire is no longer meeting those resources objectives stated specifically in the prescribed fire plan or project level NEPA and is declared a wildfire it receives the same reassessment and selection of response objectives as any other wildfire event given the location, current conditions (fuels, weather, etc) and identified management considerations.

10. Terminology • Wildland Fire • Wildland Fire Use • Prescribed Fire • Planned Ignitions:Prescribed Fire • Unplanned Ignitions: Wildfire • Suppression and Resource Benefit

11. Questions?

12. Mission Shuttle Recovery Support

13. Is this Our Mission? • All risk incidents • Disaster mitigation • Support to state, local and tribes • Local emergencies • Structure Protection

14. Authorities • Reciprocal Fire Protection Act of May 27, 1955, (69 Stat. 66; 42 U.S.C. 1856) (Federal Agencies) • Clarke-McNary Act of June 7, 1942 (Ch 38, 43 Stat. 653) • Economy Act of June 30, 1932, (31 U.S.C., 1535 as amended) (Federal Agencies) • Disaster Relief Act of May 22, 1974, (42 U.S.C. 5121 as amended) (Federal Agencies) • Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288) (Federal Agencies) • Homeland Security Act of 2002 (H.R. 5005-8) • Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5) • Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 (HSPD-8) • National Response Framework (1/2008) • Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Act of 1998, P.L. 105-77; • Taylor Grazing Act of June 28, 1934, (48 Stat. 1269; 43 U.S.C. 315) (BLM, FS) • Granger-Thye Act of April 24, 1950, (16 U.S.C., Sec 572) (FS) • Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act of Dec 12, 1975, (P.L. 94‑148, 16 U.S.C. 565) (FS) • Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of July 1, 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 2101) (FS) • Cooperative Funds Act of June 30, 1914, (16 U.S.C. 498) (FS)

15. Reciprocal Fire Protection Act Reciprocal Fire Protection Act, May 27, 1955, Public Law 84-46 (42 U.S.C. 1856a-d) *2006 • 42 USC 1856: Definitions: a) agency head, b) fire protection and c) fire organizations • 42 USC 1856a: Authority to enter into Agreements • 42 USC 1856b: Emergency assistance (without an agreement) in the best interest of… • 42 USC 1856c: Service in the line of duty • 42 USC 1856d: Funds

16. Stafford Act “In any major disaster, the President may direct any Federal agency, with or without reimbursement, to utilize its authorities and the resources granted to it under Federal law (including personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities; and managerial, technical, and advisory services) in support of State and local assistance efforts.” Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93288

17. National Response Framework National Response Framework: Federal support to the States under the Stafford Act or non Stafford Act requests interdependent of declaring an emergency disaster. Under the Emergency Support Function (ESF) annexes, it addresses the capabilities and or functional support provided during an emergency. Under the 15 ESF, it describes those agencies with primary and support responsibilities.

18. Transportation Communications Public Works and Engineering Firefighting Emergency Mgmt Mass Care, Emergency Assistance Logistics Mgmt Public Health & Medical Services Search & Rescue Oil & Hazardous Materials Response Agriculture & Natural Resources Energy Public Safety & Security Long-Term Recovery External Affairs ESF Annexes (15)

19. ESF Designations

20. Mission Perspective The Forest Service is a land management agency with a unique combination of people, skills, and resources that add significant value to our national all-hazard response capability. The Agency accepts this all-hazard role as complimentary to its overall land management mission. The Forest Service is an exceptional land management agency, a good neighbor, and a willing partner in all-hazard response. The Forest Service all-hazard response is based on the assumption that other agencies will fulfill their primary roles and responsibilities with National Incident Management System (NIMS) qualified and trained people as outlined in the National Response Plan. Support for all-hazard national responses may take priority over Forest Service accomplishments and targets. The Forest Service leadership will clearly communicate its roles, capabilities and limitations with its partners. Chief Dale Bosworth, 1590/5100 All Hazard Response, May 31, 2006

21. Questions?

22. Structure Protection Old Fire 2003 Angora Fire 2007

23. Role of the Federal Agencies • What are our responsibilities? • Authorities • Agreements • Expectations

24. WUI Principles “Before engaging in a structure protection assignment the leader and members of the crew must establish situational awareness that proves to them that the location and fire behavior do not pose an immitigable risk to their safety.” • 9 WUI Principles

25. Federal Fire Policy Websites • http://www.nifc.gov/fire_policy/mission/1995_fed_wildland_fire_policy_program_report.pdf • http://www.nifc.gov/fire_policy/docs/exsum.pdf • http://www.nifc.gov/fire_policy/mission/2008_mod_impl_fed_fire_policy.pdf • http://www.nifc.gov/policies/red_book.htm • http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/ • http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/fire/intel/mob_guide/index.php • http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/mobguide/index.html