Transcript Slide 1

This document is contained within the Fire Management
Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources
found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this
toolbox by visiting the following URL:
http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=toolboxes&sec=fir
e. All toolboxes are products of the Arthur Carhart National
Wilderness Training Center.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, overcivilized people are beginning to find out
that going to the mountains is going home;
that wilderness is a necessity; that
mountain parks and reservations are useful
not only as fountains of timber and
irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”
-John Muir
Wilderness Considerations
for Fire Resource Advisors
Wilderness Fire Resource Advisor Training
2007
PERCEPTIONS and ASSUMPTIONS
All
Wilderness
Resource
Advisors
PERCEPTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS
All
Firefighters
Wilderness Fire Management
is a Balancing Act
Wilderness and Fire Management Goals
are the same.
• Allow fire to play a natural role in the
ecosystem to the greatest extent
possible.
• Manage fire in wilderness to minimize
risk to resources outside wilderness
Wilderness Fire Management
is a Balancing Act
Wilderness resource
protection needs
Necessary fire
management activities
Objectives:
1. Become familiar with wilderness law and
policy and the role of fire management in
wilderness .
2. Understand the wilderness resource and
how decisions are made related to fire
management in wilderness.
3. Examine the wilderness challenges for
the Fire Resource Advisor task.
4. Provide tools to be used in wilderness
fire management.
The Wilderness Act of 1964
P.L. 88-577
 After 8 years of debate
in Congress
 66 different rewrites of
the bill
 18 public hearings that
generated over 6,000
pages of testimony…
COMPLETE TEXT OF THE WILDERNESS ACT
Public Law 88-577 (16 U.S. C. 1131-1136)
88th Congress, Second Session
September 3, 1964
AN ACT
To establish a National Wilderness
Preservation System for the permanent good of the
whole people, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled.
SHORT TITLE
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Wilderness
Act."
Signed by President Johnson
on September 3, 1964
WILDERNESS SYSTEM ESTABLISHED STATEMENT
OF POLICY
SECTION 2.(a) In order to assure that an increasing
population, accompanied by expanding settlement and
growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all
areas within the United States and its possessions,
leaving no lands…
National Wilderness Preservation
System - Percentage by Agency
5%
19.8%
33.2%
BLM
FWS
NPS
USFS
42%
Definition of Wilderness
Section 2(c)
“…affected primarily by
the forces of nature…”
 “…man’s work substantially
unnoticeable…”
 “…outstanding
opportunities for solitude
or primitive recreation…”
“…managed to preserve
natural conditions…”
Wilderness Stewardship means:
Manage for ecological health and integrity
Provide opportunities for a wilderness
experience
Minimize human caused
impacts
Provide education and
information about the
wilderness resource,
values, and benefits
Wilderness Management Direction
Section 2 (a)
 “... shall be administered… in such a
manner as will leave them unimpaired
for future use and enjoyment as
wilderness…”
 “provide for the protection of these
areas, the preservation of their
wilderness character.”
Wilderness Management
Agency Responsibility
Section 4 (b)
“ …each agency shall be responsible for preserving
the wilderness character of the area and shall
so administer such area for such other purposes
for which it may have been established as also to
preserve its wilderness character.”
The managing agencies must preserve wilderness
character.
It is the over-riding criteria for all decisions,
including those involving fire management.
The Four Statutory Qualities of
Wilderness Character *
Undeveloped
Untrammeled
Natural
Outstanding opportunities for
solitude or a primitive and unconfined
type of recreation
•A National Framework for Monitoring Wilderness
Character, 2006
http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=WC
The Four Statutory Qualities of
Wilderness Character *
Undeveloped
Untrammeled
Natural
Outstanding opportunities for
solitude or a primitive and unconfined
type of recreation
•A National Framework for Monitoring Wilderness
Character, 2006
http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=WC
Untrammeled = Unhindered
“Not being subject to human controls
and manipulations that hamper the
free play of natural forces.”
- Howard Zahniser, Principal author of The Wilderness Act
FOUR STATUTORY QUALITIES OF
WILDERNESS CHARACTER
• “Untrammeled”
Wilderness is generally unhindered and free from
intentional modern human control or manipulation
Wilderness setting
Threats to this setting
Suppression and prescribed fire
EXAMPLES OF MANIPULATION
TO RESTORE NATURAL CONDITIONS IN WILDERNESS
Reducing fuels to restore natural fire regimes and
fire effects
FOUR STATUTORY QUALITIES OF
WILDERNESS CHARACTER
• “Natural”
Wilderness ecological systems are substantially
free from the unintentional effects of modern
civilization
Wilderness
setting
Threats to this setting
Suppression and suppression activities
Fire Control vs. Fire Management
Fire and Wilderness
This used to be called “a disaster”.
Wilderness Fire
Damage or Natural Event?
Catastrophic Fire
 Stand Replacing
Fire
 Ground Fire
 High Intensity
 Low Intensity

A natural part of the ecological process and wilderness
Wilderness – Natural Appearing or Wild ?
•Long-term fire suppression is an example of largescale manipulation of natural conditions.
•Fire use creates, for some visitors, a less natural
appealing or less scenic landscape
Fire and Wilderness – Natural role
The fire and the effects of the fire
Erosion-sedimentation
Smoke-air quality
The Wilderness Act
Agency Responsibility
Section 4 (d)
“…such measures may be taken as may
be necessary in the control of fire …
subject to such conditions as the
Secretary deems desirable.”
 The managing agencies have discretion
for how fire in wilderness is managed
The National Fire Policy and agency fire
and wilderness management policy describe
implementation
The Wilderness Act
Agency Responsibility
Section 4 (c)
no temporary road
no use of motor vehicles, motorized
equipment or motorboats
no landing of aircraft
no form of mechanical transport
no structure or installation
EXCEPT
The Wilderness Act
Agency Responsibility
Section 4 (c)
“…except as necessary to meet the
minimum requirements for the
administration of the area for the
purpose of this Act…”
•The ‘minimum requirements’ and
‘minimum tool’ provision of the Act.
•Applies to fire management activities.
Determining the
Minimum Requirement
The minimum requirement analysis is a
two step process *
Determining the
Minimum Requirement
The minimum requirement analysis is a
two step process
Step 1: Is administrative action needed?
•Do you really need to do something?
•Could another strategy avoid the need for
unnecessary effects to wilderness?
Determining the
Minimum Tool
Step 2: What is the minimum
necessary management action?
If it is necessary to take action:
• what is the minimum necessary tool
or method that will have the least
impact on wilderness resources and
values?
Wilderness Fire Management
Determining the Minimum Requirement
1) Determining if any
action is necessary
2) Selecting the method,
tool, or tactic which
represents the minimum
necessary administrative
action.
Determining the
Minimum Requirement
The minimum requirement analysis is a
two step process *
The Minimum Requirements Decision
Guide (MRDG) is a commonly used
process for making these decisions.
http://www.wilderness.net/mrdg/
Wilderness Fire Management
Determining the Minimum Requirement for
Fire Management
•The Minimum Requirements Decision
Guide (MRDG) is not designed for use in
emergency situations
•A lengthy analysis is not always possible
or desirable in fire emergency situations.
Wilderness Fire Management
Determining the Minimum Requirement
1. Incorporate wilderness management
objectives and the minimum requirements
decision process into programmatic fire
management planning
2. Develop GO/NO GO checklists and decision
trees that will aid in the emergency decision
making situations that arise.
3. Make use of the proper authority (who in the
agency can make the decision).
4. Document the rationale and the decision to
track the process and improve future
decision making.
Fire Management Toolbox at: http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/
Wilderness Fire Management
Determining the Minimum Requirement
and Documenting the Decision
Examples:
1) BWCAW Matrix and Reporting Form
2) Medicine Bow Routt NF
“Approval for Motorized Equipment in Wilderness in
Support of Fire Management Activities”
3) Wallowa-Whitman NF
“Approval for Motorized Equipment in Wilderness”
4) Other examples ???
Fire Management Toolbox at:
http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/
Wilderness Management
Determining the Minimum Requirement
Example - Method of transport
Preferences for Limiting Impacts
Long term impacts vs. short term disturbances
Aircraft use (if necessary)
Preferred:
• Aircraft flights
• Helicopter landings and/or sling loads in
natural openings
Least acceptable:
• New constructed helispots
Wilderness Management
Determining the Minimum Requirement
Example - Suppression activities
Preferences for Limiting Impacts
Long term impacts vs. short term disturbances
Suppression activities (if necessary)
Preferred:
• Natural fuel breaks
• Cold trailing
• Burnouts and backfires
• Wetlines and pumps
Least acceptable:
• Constructed fireline
Wilderness Management
Determining the Minimum Requirement
Example - Spike and coyote camps
The Minimum Tool vs. the Minimum Requirement
What really matters?
Other Concerns for Wilderness Fire Management
Subdivisions on the
Wilderness boundary
•Threats to lives and property
outside wilderness
•Challenges for restoring the
natural role of fire and fire use
Wilderness Fire Management
Information and Education
Wilderness and Fire
 The effects of fire
in wilderness should be
considered neither good
nor bad.
 In fire dependent
ecosystems, fire is a
critically important part
of the natural process.
Wilderness and Fire
•Unnecessary, negative impacts from
suppression are not part of the natural
condition.
•Always ask, is this action really necessary?
Manage fire in wilderness using only the
minimum necessary actions, tools, and
methods.
Use information and education to:
1. Provide feasible alternatives to meet both
wilderness and fire goals
2. Capitalize on a ‘teachable moment’ for
wilderness
3. Explain why it matters based on actual effects
to the wilderness resource
4. Use “The Authority of the Resource”
communication technique
The Authority of the Resource*
The Authority of the Resource is a
communication technique that allows
the message to be delivered as ‘the
right thing to do for the wilderness
resource.’
The communication is not focused on
law and policy as the primary reason for
strategy or tactics.
* Education Planning Toolbox at: http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/
Use (MIST):
MIST = Minimum Impact Suppression Techniques
MIST = Minimum Impact Strategies and Tactics
MIST = Most Intelligent Sensible Tactics
Federal Wildland Fire Policy
Application to Wilderness
Fire Management Toolbox at: http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/
Federal Wildland Fire Policy
Guiding Principles
First and foremost is:
“Firefighter and public safety is the first
priority in every fire management activity.”
Federal Wildland Fire Policy
Application to Wilderness
Continuing to suppress natural fires, causes a
significant alteration to natural conditions.
•
•
•
•
•
Replicates natural conditions
Creates edge effects
Recycles
Adds to diversity
Creates fuel breaks
Federal Wildland Fire Policy
Application to Wilderness
Suppression actions can have a significant
impact to the resource.
•Suppression activities
•Unnatural fuel conditions
Federal Wildland Fire Policy
Guiding Principles
The second principle is:
“The role of wildland fire as an
essential ecological process and
natural change agent will be
incorporated into the planning
process.”
Federal Wildland Fire Policy
Guiding Principles
The third principle is:
“Fire management plans, programs, and activities
support land and resource management plans
and their implementation.”
Federal Wildland Fire Policy
Application to Wilderness
Land Management Plans (LMP)
Fire Management Plans (FMP)
1. Provide wilderness input to help address the
opportunities for natural fire in wilderness.
2. Ensure that wilderness law and policy is included
in planning and implementation.
3. Help create the direction for management of
fire in wilderness
Fire Management Toolbox at: http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/
Wilderness Considerations
Roles for the Wilderness Resource Advisor
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
Fire Management Toolbox
http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this document is to provide
wilderness managers with a checklist of topics,
issues and concerns to consider when involved in
preparation or review of the
LMP or FMP.
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning The
1. WILDERNESS ACT (P.L. 88-577)
Is the LMP consistent with or does the LMP
specifically cite the relevant statutes from the
Wilderness Act of 1964 or subsequent wilderness
legislation?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
2. WILDERNESS POLICY
Does the LMP specifically cite the relevant
direction for fire in wilderness from agency
policy?
–the natural role of fire
–use of prescribed fire
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
3. AREA/REFUGE/FOREST/PARK PLAN
LANGUAGE
Is there appropriate language in the LMP that:
–addresses the natural role of fire
–considers the full range of management
responses
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
4. DESIRED CONDITION
Does the LMP have goals for fire in wilderness
consistent with the desired condition and the
Wilderness Act?
Additionally, does the LMP address the desired
outcome to preserve natural conditions ?
– wilderness generally appears to have been
affected primarily by the forces of nature
with the imprint of human work substantially
unnoticeable
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
5. MULTI-JURISDICTION
Does the FMP address multi-jurisdictional issues
and coordination needs to facilitate appropriate
wilderness fire management?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
6. ASSIGN A RESOURCE ADVISOR
Does the FMP require assignment of a Wilderness
Resource Advisor (WRA) to wilderness fires
under the Delegation of Authority letter
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
7. FIRE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Does the FMP address the objective to conduct
all fire management actions in wilderness in a
manner compatible with overall wilderness
management objectives?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
8. MINIMUM IMPACT STRATEGIES AND
TACTICS (MIST)
Does the FMP address MIST guidelines specific
to your wilderness:
–bear food storage or other safety concerns
–listed species
–invasive species
–archaeological sites
–other???
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
9a. MINIMUM REQUIREMENT PROCESS
Does the FMP recognize that fire management
related exceptions for temporary roads or
structures, or use of motorized equipment or
mechanical transport must be:
(1) the necessary and required action for
administration of wilderness
(2) the action that has the least adverse effects
on wilderness as directed in the Wilderness Act,
Section 4(c)?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire
Planning
9b. MINIMUM REQUIREMENT PROCESS
Does the FMP utilize a Motorized Equipment –
Mechanical Transport Evaluation and Approval
Process?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
10. BURNED AREA EMERGENCY
REHABILITATION (BAER)
Does the FMP address the objectives for
conducting BAER in wilderness?
–Under what circumstances would there be any
restoration measures other than natural
recovery?
–What are the standards for seeding,
mulching, erosion control, etc.?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
11. RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS
Does the FMP (Wilderness Polygon) address
specific wilderness resource concerns such as
fire management effects to the wilderness
resource such as:
–heritage/cultural
–wildlife and fisheries
–hydrology and soils
–invasive species
–threatened, endangered, or sensitive species
–other issues unique to the wilderness
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
11. RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS
Does the FMP (Wilderness Polygon) address
specific wilderness resource concerns for
Outfitter and Guide (commercial services)
operations, recreation, and public safety ?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
12. IMPROVEMENTS
Does the FMP list or reference improvements
such as grazing allotments fences, administrative
sites, bridges, stock tanks, etc.?
Does the FMP provide objectives for these
improvements during fire management activities?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
13. WATER LOCATIONS
Does the FMP identify water sources
inside/outside wilderness that are to be
used/avoided for water dips?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
14. HELISPOTS and FIRE CAMPS
Does the FMP identify helispots and spike
camps locations outside of wilderness,
whenever feasible ?
Does the FMP identify existing helispots and
spike camps locations inside wilderness ?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
15. FMP REVIEW AND REVISION
Does the FMP identify a wilderness staff role for
review and revision of the FMP annually ?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
16. LINE OFFICER APPROVAL
Does the FMP identify the agency administrators
(line officers) who have authority for the
approval of motorized or mechanical use per
agency direction ?
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
PART II Management Efficiency
–Pre-planning information to gather
–Training needed
The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
Fire Management Toolbox
http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes
Agency Policy
Fire Management in Wilderness
Fire Management Toolbox at: http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/
Wilderness Resource Advisor Tips
1. Know your role with the Incident Mgmt. Team,
Agency Administrator, and others.
2. Be prepared to stand up and present your case
for wilderness.
3. Understand the effects of fire and fire
management activities in wilderness.
4. Allow and assist fire managers to do what they
should, not what they could.
5. Be a credible wilderness advocate, not a zealot.
BLM Policy 8560.35 A
• Fire suppression measures and techniques
must be used which achieve the wilderness
management objectives with the minimum
adverse impact on the wilderness
resource.
• Methods and equipment which least alter
the landscape or disturb the land surface
are best.
FWS Policy 6 RM 8.8b C.
• While an aggressive approach to
wildfire control on certain
wilderness areas may be in order,
the methods utilized should be the
‘minimum tool.’
Forest Service Policy 2320:
Conduct all fire management activities within
wilderness in a manner compatible with overall
wilderness management objectives.
Give preference to using methods and
equipment that cause the least:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Alteration of the wilderness landscape.
Disturbance of the land surface.
Disturbance to visitor solitude.
Reduction of visibility during periods of
visitor use.
5. Adverse effect on other air quality
related values.
Forest Service Policy 2320:
• Locate fire camps, helispots, and other
temporary facilities or improvements
outside of the wilderness boundary
whenever feasible.
• Rehabilitate disturbed areas [caused by
suppression activities] within wilderness to
as natural an appearance as possible.
NPS General Mgmt. Policy
• Fire management or suppression activities
conducted within wilderness, including the
categories of designated, recommended,
potential, proposed, and eligible areas, will
be consistent with the “minimum
requirement” concept identified in Chapter
6 (of the General Management Policies) and
Director’s Order #41: Wilderness
Preservation and Management.
NPS Policy - Directors Order 41
• The park's fire management and wilderness
management plans must identify and
reconcile the natural and historic roles of
fire in the wilderness, and will provide a
prescription for response, if any, to natural
and human-caused wildlfires.
Wilderness Fire Management Policy
Objectives
• Whenever possible, scrutinize the use
of motor vehicles, motorized equipment,
mechanical transport, and aircraft in
support of suppression activities.
Wilderness Fire Management Policy
Objectives
 Whenever possible, scrutinize the use
of motor vehicles, motorized equipment,
mechanical transport and aircraft in
support of suppression activities.
 Activities that may have longer-term
impacts, such as retardant drops, line
construction, and dozer lines should be
minimized.