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Prescribed Fire Planning & Implementation

Prescribed Fire Planning & Implementation

Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation (PFPI) is a USFWS-specific course that prepares employees for the Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) roles on agency lands. Currently the USFWS, BLM and BIA use the RXB3 position on their land bases and recognize the RXB3 position task book. PFPI introduces students to prescribed fire planning, budgeting, implementation, smoke management and provides the tools to successfully perform these activities. PFPI includes the same subject matter as RX-300 Prescribed Fire Burn Boss with a focus on USFWS policy and procedures.

Highlights of the course include:

• setting objectives
• designing prescriptions to accomplish objectives
• monitoring results to insure objectives are being met

The final exercise requires students to complete a prescribed fire plan utilizing the Service plan format in the Service Fire Management Handbook.

The course requirements for PFPI include successful completion of S-390 and proficient use of BEHAVE software. A RXB3 taskbook will be provided for you at the course.

For additional information on PFPI contact the National Fire Training Specialist, Joette Borzik at (304) 876-7749. Contact your Regional Fire Management Coordinator for upcoming course locations and dates.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages public land in every U.S. state and territory, including 547 national wildlife refuges and 69 national fish hatcheries.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 75 million burnable acres, including 24 million acres of forest/brushland and 4 million acres of grassland.

More than 50% of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands in the continental U.S. (and more than 90% in Alaska) include fire-adapted ecosystems with vegetation dependent on periodic fire.

An average of 500 wildfires burn 260,000 acres each year on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands. The Service also burns about 300,000 acres a year using prescribed fire.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service annual fire program budget is approximately $80 million.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employs more than 530 permanent fire professionals, along with 270 seasonal and temporary fire employees during fire season.

More than 3,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees are qualified to assist with wildland fire management on an interagency basis.

The U.S. Fish and Wildland Service Fire Management Program protects more than 700 communities and wildland-urban interface areas.

Historically, an acre was the amount of land tillable by one man behind an ox in one day. This measures 90% of a football field. There are 640 acres in a square mile.

More than 90% of the hazardous fuels reduction by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is completed using prescribed fire.