Fire Management Policies

1. Fire Management Policies The justification for actions Robin Wills The National Park Service

3. Why Do We Need Policy? • Provides a framework through which fire management actions can be implemented • Constructs the boundaries within which operations take place

4. Fire Management Policies • 16 USC & 41,42, 43 USC • Cooperative Fire Protection Act • Reciprocal Fire Protection Act • Taylor Grazing Act • Federal Wildland Fire Policy 2001 • NPS DO 18 and RM 18 • California Public Resources Code, Sec 4141

5. Restoring Fire-Adapted Ecosystems on Federal Lands: A Cohesive Strategy for Protecting People and Sustaining Natural Resources • Interagency (USDA-FS & DOI) • Ecosystem Based – Condition Classes • Strategy to Prevent Additional Degradation

6. Director’s Order 18Wildland Fire Management • Objectives • Institutionalize within NPS new policies, organizational and operational relationships and changes in law reflected in the revised Federal Wildland Fire Management policy • Establish a framework within which program implementation can take place.

7. Director’s Order 18Wildland Fire Management • Each Park with vegetation capable of burning will prepare a fire management plan • Parks lacking an approved plan may not use resource benefits as a primary consideration influencing selection of a suppression strategy, but must consider resource impacts of suppression alternatives

8. Director’s Order 18Wildland Fire Management • Methods used to suppress fires should minimize impacts of suppression actions commensurate with effective control and resource values to be protected • All parks will use a systematic decision making process to determine the most appropriate management strategies for all unplanned ignitions and any prescribed fire that no longer meets management objectives

9. Operational Policies and Procedures • NPS is committed to protecting park resources, but firefighting and public safety must be the first priority • Fire management activities will be performed in accordance with the principles, policies and recommendations in the Federal Fire Management Policy • All naturally caused wildland fires may be managed to accomplish resource management goals

10. Operational Policies and Procedures • Fire programs will be administered in a manner that will: • Achieve maximum overall benefits and minimize damage of wildland fire • Educate employees and the public regarding the scope and effect of wildland fire • Stabilize and prevent further degradation of natural and cultural resources through wildland fires or management activities • Maintain highest standard of professional and technical expertise in planning and implementing fire management actions

11. Operational Policies and Procedures • Integrate fire management with all other aspects of park management • Manage wildland fire incidents in accordance with accepted interagency standards • Manage wildland fire as an essential ecological process to restore, preserve or maintain ecosystem • Protect life and property and accomplish resource management objectives • Integrate the preservation of wilderness

12. Reference Manual 18Wildland Fire Management • A technical expression of wildland fire management requirement and procedures that provides detailed definitions and expanded guidance of all information presented in DO - 18

13. Reference Manual 18Wildland Fire Management • Definitions • Safety • Fire Management Plans • Interagency Coordination • Training, Qualifications and Certification • Preparedness • Prevention and Education • Wildland Fire Management • Prescribed Fire • Fire Monitoring • BAER

14. Reference Manual 18Wildland Fire Management • Evaluation and Review • Air Quality • Research • Information Management • FirePro Analysis • Fire Financial Programs • Fire Business Management

15. Successful FMP not approved or human caused Initial Attack Unsuccessful Wildland Fire Successful Successful Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Selected Alternative Appropriate Management Response FMP approved Prescriptive criteria appropriate Unsuccessful Unsuccessful Unsuccessful Prescribed Fire Prescribed fire plan approved Prescribed fire plan implemented Objectives accomplished 1995 Federal Fire Policy Framework

16. Successful Not Approved Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Unsuccessful MANAGEMENT OPTIONS WITH NO FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN Fire Management Plan Status Management Options Situation Outcome • No link with land and resource management, • No compliance, • No objectives established, • No knowledge of current or future conditions Initial Attack 2001 Federal Fire Policy Framework

17. Full range of Appropriate Management Responses Successful Approved Prescribed fire applied under an approved plan Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Unsuccessful MANAGEMENT OPTIONS WITH APPROVED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN Fire Management Plan Status Management Options Situation Outcome • Links to land and resource management • NEPA compliance, • Fire objectives established • Current and future conditions identified • All management options available 2001 Federal Fire Policy Framework

18. Wildland Fire Situation AnalysisWFSA • Systematic and reasonable approach to determine the most appropriate management strategy • Alternatives are identified and analyzed • Superintendent approved • Evaluation criteria: • Firefighter safety • Costs • Resource impacts • Social and political considerations

19. Interrelationships Among Appropriate Management Responses Wildland/Urban Interface Highly Complex Suppression H Values to be Protected Land Use Fire Use Low-Moderate Complexity Suppression L Wilderness Objectives: Resource Benefits Limited Protection Maximum Protection

20. Limited Delegation of Authority • The transfer of authority for suppression actions on a fire is done through the executions of a written limited delegation of authority from the superintendent to the incident commander.

21. Fire Management Policy • Understand Policy and its relevance to your actions • Operate with the confines of current policy boundaries

22. Policy & Procedures • Director’s Order 18 • Identify, Manage, and Reduce where appropriate, accumulations of hazardous fuels • Appropriate tools: Wildland fire use, prescribed fire, and non-fire techniques • Reduce hazardous fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface • Consider wildland fire protection in design and construction • NEPA and cultural resource protection compliance • No rehabilitation for Fuels Management Projects • Reference Manual 18 • Guidance and Procedures for getting it done!