Central Sierra Interagency Resource Advisor Training Wildland Fire Implementation Plan Mike Beasley Fire Use Manager Yosemite National Park 209-375-9574 michael_beasley@nps.gov

Prescriptive criteria Successful FMP not approved or human caused Initial Attack Unsuccessful WFIP 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

Background Documentation - wildland fire implementation process Broad-scale land management plan Resource Management Plan (NPS, BLM), Forest Management Plan (USFS), Comprehensive Conservation Plan (FWS) Provides land use decisions, general direction for wildland fire management

Background Documentation - wildland fire implementation process Functional activity plan Fire Management Plan (NPS, USFS, BIA, FWS), A strategic plan that defines a program to manage wildland and prescribed fire and documents the Fire Management Program in the land use plan. Provides specific objectives and operational direction for wildland fire management Provides NEPA compliance and required documentation

Background Documentation - wildland fire implementation process Fire Management Plan Objectives Constraints Decision Criteria Checklist (to complete GO/NO-GO Decision) Implementation Criteria for fire use and suppression NEPA compliance May include: Pre-planned MMA, pre-planned GO/NO-GO decision, initial actions

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

Wildland Fire Implementation- No Approved FMP Not the “wildfire pathway” Responses not developed to gain resource benefits FMP not completed or approved Suppression actions taken for all fires

Prescriptive criteria 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

Wildland Fire Implementation- Approved FMP Most complex scenario FMP must be completed NEPA compliance must be completed Not a replacement pathway for PNF Full range of management responses available

Wildland Fire Implementation- Approved FMP (continued) Human caused fires will be suppressed

Prescriptive criteria 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

Appropriate Management Response Objectives Protection Use Monitoring + Holding Actions Partial High Suppression Management Boundary Defensibility Relative Risk Monitoring + Contingency Actions Monitoring Total Low High Low External influences 10/3/97

Appropriate Management Response Suppression response intensity Aggressive Initial Attack High Threats to life, property, and resources Multiple strategies to confine fire Low Extreme Low Fire danger indicator 10/3/97

Wildland Fire Implementation Process Appropriate Management Response Suppression Response Successful Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Stage I: Initial Fire Assessment FMP approved Stage III: Long-Term Implementation Actions Stage II: Short-Term Implementation Actions Periodic Fire Assessment

Wildland Fire Implementation Process Appropriate Management Response Suppression Response Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Stage I: Initial Fire Assessment FMP approved Successful Stage III: Long-Term Implementation Actions Stage II: Short-Term Implementation Actions Periodic Fire Assessment

WFIP Stage I: Initial Fire Assessment Planning and Assessment Elements: Fire Situation Decision Criteria Checklist (GO/NO-GO Decision) Completion Timeframes: As soon as possible 2 hours after first fire verification

Initial GO - NO/GO Decision What is it? A process using the Decision Criteria Checklist to assess whether the situation warrants continued wildland fire use implementation or not. A “Yes” response to any element on the checklist indicates the appropriate management response will be suppression oriented. When does it have to be done? Pre-ignition: Can be pre-loaded in FMP and confirmed Immediately after initial fire assessment. Post-ignition: Within 2 hours of initial fire assessment.

Decision Criteria Checklist

Relative Risk A measure of risk posed by the particular wildland fire, risk can be inferred in relative or qualitative terms, or risk can be interpreted through quantitative measures (such as RERAP, etc.)

Wildland Fire Relative Risk Rating Time of season Early Mid Late Extreme Large High Fire danger indicator Fire size Moderate Moderate High Low Small Low High Moderate Low Potential Complexity

Fire Danger Maximum, Average, and 97th Percentile 80 Extreme 60 May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov ERC 20 40 60 80 Extreme Very High High Moderate Low

Wildland Fire Implementation Process Appropriate Management Response Suppression Response Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Stage I: Initial Fire Assessment FMP approved Successful Stage III: Long-Term Implementation Actions Stage II: Short-Term Implementation Actions Periodic Fire Assessment

Suppression Response Fire Situation Decision Criteria Checklist cause = human-caused fire, location = FMP suppression unit Decision Criteria Checklist NO-GO decision - FMP fire use unit

Wildland Fire Implementation Process Appropriate Management Response Suppression Response Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Stage I: Initial Fire Assessment FMP approved Successful Stage III: Long-Term Implementation Actions Stage II: Short-Term Implementation Actions Periodic Fire Assessment

WFIP Stage II: Short-Term Implementation Actions Planning and Assessment Elements: Fire Behavior - Risk Short-Term Implementation Actions Complexity Analysis Stage III Need Assessment Chart Completion Timeframes: All four components: 24 hours after Stage I completion

Short-Term Implementation Actions must document: Objectives and desired fire effects, safety considerations, social, political, and legal concerns (external), environmental concerns, threats, short-term implementation actions,

Wildland and Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating

Wildland and Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating

Wildland and Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating

Wildland Fire Implementation Process Appropriate Management Response Suppression Response Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Stage I: Initial Fire Assessment FMP approved Successful Stage III: Long-Term Implementation Actions Stage II: Short-Term Implementation Actions Periodic Fire Assessment

WFIP Stage III: Long-Term Implementation Actions Planning and Assessment Elements: MMA Definition Fire Behavior Predictions Long-Term Risk Assessment Long-Term Implementation Actions Completion Timeframes: All components: 24 hours after Stage II or Periodic Fire Assessment indicates need

Wildland Fire Implementation Process Appropriate Management Response Suppression Response Wildland Fire Situation Analysis Stage I: Initial Fire Assessment FMP approved Successful Stage III: Long-Term Implementation Actions Stage II: Short-Term Implementation Actions Periodic Fire Assessment

Periodic Fire Assessment Planning and Assessment Elements: Part 1: Re-validation Part 2: Stage III Need Assessment Chart Completion Timeframes: On assigned frequency

Periodic Fire Assessment Process What is it? a process to evaluate capability to continue management of this fire, a process to determine when the WFIP Stage III will be completed. When is it completed? On a set frequency determined by management Responsibility? Agency Administrator (unless delegated).

Pereiodic Fire Assessment Process Part 1: Re-validation Instructions: Local fire staff review criteria. If one or more items are answered with “Yes,” management of this fire cannot continue within defined limits and a Wildland Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA) is necessary. Agency Administrator or Fire Use Manager must sign.

Periodic Fire Assessment Process Part 1: Re-validation Decision element Yes No

Periodic Fire Assessment Process Part 2: WFIP Stage III Need Analysis Instructions: Part 2 must be completed periodically for all wildland fire use actions where Stage III has not been completed. Validates planning status based on risk, complexity, fire behavior, and time of season. Need to complete Stage III is read directly off the chart.

Generalized Seasonal Fire Dynamics

Prescriptive criteria 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

Small scale prescribed Fire Site Maintenance

Fire Restoration Site Maintenance Wildland Fire Use Small scale prescribed fire Landscape -scale prescribed fire Landscape -scale prescribed fire Site Maintenance Fire Restoration Wildland Fire Use

Integrated Resource Management Integrated Resource Management Site Wildland fire use Small scale prescribed fire Integrated Resource Management Landscape-scale prescribed fire Landscape-scale prescribed fire Integrated Resource Management Site Maintenance Fire Restoration Wildland fire use Ecosystem Maintenance