In 2001, the fire directors approved specific medical standards and established the Federal Interagency Wildland Firefighter Medical Qualification Standards Program to implement the standards. The medical standards apply only for arduous duty wildland firefighting positions as described in PMS 310-1. Specific medical standards are required because of the arduous and hazardous nature of the job, in addition to providing a means of tracking occupational health relative to acute and chronic exposure to the wildland firefighter environment. The information gathered will assist the agencies in improving their fire safety programs and their commitment to maintain a high degree of responsibility toward public and firefighter safety.

The program is phased in nationwide over a five year time frame for DOI and seven years for USFS. Because the program phase in is based on geographic areas, some arduous duty wildland firefighters will receive exams while others won't based on their duty station and location. All arduous duty wildland firefighters will be enrolled by the end of FY2010.

No. You must have clearance by the Medical Standards Program Medical Review Officer stating that you meet the medical standards for arduous duty before you can participate in the arduous duty work capacity test (pack test).

A waiver, waiver with restriction(s) or waiver with accommodation(s) is renewed annually unless the underlying medical concern changes. When the medical concern changes, the firefighter must notify their FMO and SHRO. The FMO and SHRO will then notify the Medical Standards Program to initiate a review of the medical clearance and applicable waiver/accommodation.

The best advise is to start early! There can be delays if the Medical Review Officer requires additional information from your personal health provider. Allow a minimum of eight weeks before the pack test.

Most delays happen on the firefighter's side. If a firefighter doesn't respond to a further evaluation letter from the Medical Review Officer, medical clearance will not occur.

Only arduous federal wildland firefighters, primary and collateral duty. State and local wildland firefighters must meet NWCG standards.

Baseline: Permanent applicant/incumbent first exam.

Periodic: Permanent and GS/WG applicant/incumbent based on age and, if applicable, number of years since their baseline exam.

Annual: Permanent employees in those years between the Baseline and Periodic exams, all GS/WG temporary seasonal hires under 45 years of age and in the interim years between Periodic exams, and AD/EFFs older than 45 years of age.

Exit: Permanent employees at the end of federal fire employment.

If you are an applicant for permanent employment, your Servicing Human Resource Office (SHRO) will provide you with a Baseline exam form.

If you are an applicant for a GS/WG temporary seasonal hire position, your Servicing Human Resources Officer (SHRO) will provide you with either the Annual or Periodic exam form based upon your age.

If you are an incumbent, your FMO has a checklist identifying which exam form you should be provided based upon your employment classification, age, and the number of years since your last exam.

If you are an AD/EFF over 45 years of age, your FMO will provide you with the Annual exam form.

A federal retiree who accepts re-employment in a position that requires a red card at the arduous level will be subject to the medical examination for that employment category (Permanent/Career Seasonal/Term, Temporary Seasonal Hire, or AD/EFF). Medical exams and clearances must be completed prior to taking the Work Capacity Test and reporting form employment. In addition, when a federal retiree moves from one employment category to another (AD/EFF to Temporary Seasonal Hire), they will be subject to the medical examination for their new employment category.

Comprehensive Health Services (CHS) will contact you within seven working days, usually on your cell or home phone, to schedule an appointment at a clinic in your area, unless the FMO coordinated directly with CHS.

After two attempts with no response over 48 hours, CHS inputs "Unable to Contact Firefighter" as a signal to the FMO or SHRO that the applicant/incumbent needs to contact CHS at 866-416-5941 to reinitiate the scheduling process.

Complete all of the required information on the exam form given to you. Include your medical history, explain any medical problems you have, and provide prescription medications. Do some research if you can't remember dates of old surgeries. Provide as much information dates, types of surgery, and rehabilitation.

If you wear glasses, bring them with you.

Bring any medical documents from specialists stating that you can perform wildland firefighting (i.e. a note from your orthopedic surgeon stating that your artificial knee is stable and can withstand the rigors of wildland firefighting). Remember, only a Medical Standards Program Review Officer can "clear you" for arduous duty, so the more supporting documentation you can provide up front, the smoother the process.

The TB test must be read within a 48-72 hour window after test administration. If you are in a remote location, you must coordinate with the clinic on how/who will be reading your TB test and how those results will be forwarded to CHS.

The agency pays for the medical examination.

However, if you receive a Further Evaluation Letter that requires you to see your personal physician, it becomes your responsibility to reimburse your physician for an incurred medical costs. Much of the information requested in a further evaluation letter can be obtained from your physician's office without an office visit. If you had a workman's compensation injury, you should contact your local Department of Labor Workers Compensation Office Claim Coordinator to coordinate payment of any further evaluation expenses.

If the bill was only for the exam, and not additional clinical services you received (such as a Tetanus shot), write a short note with your contact information, explaining the situation, then fax the bill to the Interagency Medical Standards Program office at 208-947-3722. The Interagency Medical Standards Program will coordinate with CHS to resolve the issue.

You may also want to mention this to your FMO.

There are many unknowns regarding the effects of working in a fire environment, including the long term impacts of smoke inhalation and exposure, continuous heavy lifting, and more. This full range of medical information is gathered to monitor firefighter health.

If you had an Annual exam, the local health care professional will give you a clearance sheet that you can take back to your FMO. However, all new clinics undergo a quality control review to verify the clinic is correctly completing the exam and assessing to the medical standards. If it is found that clearance should not have been provided at the clinic, CHS immediately notifies the FMO or SHRO and sends the examinee a further letter.

If you had a Baseline or Periodic exam, you will be notified either from the FMO or SHRO once clearance is provided in CAS.

Allowing for the postal system, you should receive a further evaluation letter within 10 working days from the "Pending" status date. If you do not:

Verify with your FMO/SHRO that your demographic information is correct in CAS.

Then contact a Customer Service Representative at wlffcsr@blm.gov or 208-947-3750 to have a further evaluation letter sent.

The sooner you provide the requested information to CHS, the quicker a decision on your clearance status can be made. Unfortunately, some firefighters procrastinate and do not respond to further evaluation letters, missing all or part of the fire season.

All medical expenses incurred to provide additional information from your private physician are your responsibility as the firefighter.

On a case-by-case basin, the disqualifying medical condition(s) and the impact on your ability to safely and efficiently perform wildland firefighter duties without endangering yourself or your fellow firefighters will be assessed through the waiver/accommodation process.