Policy
Policy
The U.S. Fish & Wildland Service Fire Management Program implements the overall mission of the Service as well as that of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a sub-program within the Service. These missions operate in tandem with the goals of the National Fire Plan, which is a joint initiative of the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior guiding the priorities of all federal wildland fire programs. The best available science guides Service fire management plans in promoting human safety as well as reducing hazardous conditions, conserving wildlife and its habitat, minimizing air quality impacts and meeting other desirable goals.
(see Guiding Principles of Fire Policy - download PDF)
(see also NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire Terminology)
Mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
(see U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Manual - Fire-Related Chapters)
Mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System: To administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
(see Guiding Principles of the National Wildlife Refuge System)
National Fire Plan was developed in August 2000, following a landmark wildland fire season, with the intent of actively responding to severe wildland fires and their impacts to communities while ensuring sufficient firefighting capacity for the future. The plan addresses five key points: Firefighting, Rehabilitation, Hazardous Fuels Reduction, Community Assistance and Accountability.
(see National Fire Plan website)
Vision of FWS Fire Management Program: All Service lands are maintained in desired ecological condition. Fire management activities contribute by suppressing unwanted wildland fires, allowing naturally ignited fires to burn when appropriate, implementing fire treatments that approximate the natural ecological role of fire, and implementing other fuels treatments that conserve Service trust resources to the greatest extent possible without compromising firefighter and public safety. Threats to communities from wildland fire are mitigated to socially and ecologically acceptable levels. The need for emergency stabilization and rehabilitation is minimal. Fire programs, resources and personnel are integrated into Service and Refuge programs seamlessly. The best available science, as developed through research and monitoring, is applied to management practices. Full interagency partnerships are maintained.
(see FWS Fire Management Strategic Plan - download PDF)
(see also FWS Fire Management Handbook)
Fire Management Planning
The National Wildlife Refuge System and fire management planning processes are accomplished by assessing the purpose for which the refuge was established, applicable laws and ordinances, policies and regulations, local conditions, and social concerns, which in turn identifies the appropriate management option(s) (i.e. how, when, and where fire will be used and/or excluded.) The refuge fire management plan formulates the appropriate management options(s) into an operational plan, which could include a range of fire suppression methods, prescribed burning, or wildland fire use. Fire management plans, prescribed fire plans, and wildland fire use plans are opeartional plans developed to implement land use management decisions made in approved refuge Comprehensive Conservation and Habitat Management Plans. Operational plans determine the range of appropriate management responses available; if no plan is in place, the only option is aggressive suppression.
The Fire Program Analysis (FPA) system is currently being developed to provide managers with a common interagency process for fire management planning and budgeting to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative fire management strategies. Involved agencies include the Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs along with other federal partners, as well as various state entities.
Legal Mandates and Fire Management
NEPA
As required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FWS follows procedures for assessing the environmental impacts of specific Service actions. Except for actions categorically excluded (those which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the environment), an Environmental Assessment (EA), and if necessary an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), is prepared before making any land use decision, including fire management actions. (See FWS NEPA guidance in 30 AM 2-3, 550 FW 1-3, and Departmental procedures in 516 DM 1-6; or consult with the Regional Environmental (NEPA) Coordinator for details on the NEPA process.
Operational plans for FWS fire management are usually categorically excluded from further NEPA analysis when there is an approved Comprehensive Conservation and Habitat Management Plan (CCP) that adequately addressed fire management activities, the CCP has been through the NEPA process, and all prescribed burning is being done for habitat improvement or prevention purposes.
Categorical exclusions which apply to Service fire management activities include:
- Personnel training, environmental interpretation, public safety efforts, and other educational activities, which do not involve new construction or major additions to existing facilities;
- Minor changes in existing master plans, comprehensive conservation plans, or operations, when no or minor effects are anticipated. Examples could include minor changes in the type or location of compatible public use activities and land management practices.
- The issuance of new or revised site, unit, or activity-specific management plans for public use, land use, or other management activities when only minor changes are planned. Examples include amended public use plan or fire management plan.
- Fire management activities, including prevention and restoration measures, when conducted in accordance with Departmental and Service procedures.
- The use of prescribed burning for habitat improvement purposes, when conducted in accordance with local and state ordinances and laws.
Other Legal Mandates
The Service's management of fire comply with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Under the provisions of the ESA, with a priority on human safety, the Service provides biological expertise for fire management plans, hazardous fuels reduction projects and wildfires to maximize protection and management of threatened and endangered species.
Policy related to wildland fire management, human safety, ESA, and conservation of candidate, threatened and endangered species is available at ESA fire-related policy
Other compliance requirements include: Section 106 of the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act, Section 810 of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act (ANILCA), and Section 118 of the Clean Air Act (as amended in 1990). Additional state and local compliance requirements may also exist.