An assessment of the economic impacts in affected areas
"The report should focus on the short-term actions that federal agencies, in cooperation with states and local communities, can take to reduce immediate hazards to other communities in the wildland/urban interface," said the President's memorandum. "As part of these efforts, the report will examine how the federal government – in cooperation with state and tribal governments and local communities – can prepare for anticipated extreme fire conditions in the future by analyzing fire management planning and firefighter personnel and resources."
The Departments of Agriculture and Interior convened a joint team to analyze and prepare recommendations based on their findings. Their report to the President, Managing the Impacts of Wildfires on Communities and the Environment, is available online. On September 9, 2000, President Clinton accepted the recommendations contained in the report and directed the two Secretaries to implement those actions. The National Fire Plan represents our response to the President's charge and subsequent funding requests to Congress.
The National Fire Plan includes five major areas or key points:
Key Point #1: Firefighting Resources
This point addresses preparedness for fire seasons, including personnel, training, equipment, and facilities. Regional Office Fire & Aviation Management staff, Forest Supervisors, and Fire Management Officers (FMOs) determined the needs for the Most Efficient Level (MEL) of suppression resources, including firefighters, engines, aircraft, and other fire personnel.
Key Point #2: Rehabilitation and Restoration
After the 2000 fire season, Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) teams were formed to identify necessary emergency projects for protection of life and property. The teams have been working on those projects since the fires ended. The next phase is long-term restoration within the burned areas. As the BAER teams handled emergency needs, the "Black Area Teams" collected lists of proposed projects from each Forest to submit for funding for continued restoration in the burned areas.
Key Point #3: Hazardous Fuels Reduction
The Forest Service, along with State Foresters, other government agencies, and local communities, identified communities at risk and projects to reduce that risk in the wildland/urban interface. Combined with projects already identified and analyzed through NEPA, these projects will be our critical program of work into the future. Early estimates indicate a doubling of the size of our fuels program within the first three to five years.
Key Point #4: Community Assistance
The National Fire Plan includes working with communities on reducing fire risk, public involvement in NEPA for hazardous fuels reduction, creating jobs in restoration and fuels reduction projects and products, providing defensible space information, assisting volunteer and rural firefighters, and economic action programs.
More information on Community Preparedness and Landowner Assistance. may be obtained here.
Key Point #5: Accountability
More than just accounting for the money we spend, it's vital in our commitment to Congress and the public that we accomplish the critical work in each of the five key areas. We've been entrusted with a significant increase in dollars that must be well managed through our accounting systems. Equally important is our commitment to learn and work together with our communities to restore landscapes and reduce fire risks.
The Forest Service's national website on the National Fire Plan has more information on these key five points.
Last updated March 20, 2003
