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Line Officer Oversight
from theysaid 1/25/04: vfd cap'n, I borrowed and redacted this letter
from the Colorado Fire Camp site. Since we are all trying to improve safety, I
hope ya'll folks won't mind.
The letter below is just like many letters of delegation that are used in the
federal land management agencies. It would be interesting to know how the line
officers and fire managers feel about being delegated this authority in the
future.
Here is how the system works.... please excuse me and I apologize in advance for
the capital letters.... I just want to make sure the folks with bad eyes can
read... no shouting here... just the facts.
1. FACT NUMBER 1 - Authority can be delegated, RESPONSIBILITY CANNOT.
2. FACT NUMBER 2 - The WO delegates to the RO, who then delegates to the SO, who
then delegates to the District Ranger, who then delegates to the IC and fire
managers.
3. FACT NUMBER 3 - Numerous OSHA citations and investigative reviews have found
that management oversight is lacking, untrained, or inadequate.
4. FACT NUMBER 4 - There needs to be a cultural shift in federal land
management. The folks at the bottom of the food chain (Forests and Districts)
should no longer be held accountable for failed oversight programs at the
National or Regional level. The key cultural shift needed is a wildland fire
series providing fire management oversight from the GS-2 to GS-15 level.
5. FACT NUMBER 5 - Many untrained and under experienced line officers are
expected to provide oversight to a profession that they have little or no
education in.
I have around 20 of these facts.... Each of you can come up with your own facts
and determinations. Please read the responsibilities below and participate in
the future discussion. Lots of change on the horizon.
Lobotomy
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
File Code: 5100/1230
Route To:
Date: <snip>
Subject: Wildland Fire and Aviation Management Responsibilities and Delegation
of Authority
To: <snip> District Ranger
As the District Ranger for the <snip>, your specific responsibilities for
Wildland Fire and Aviation Management and the delegations of authority are
described in the paragraphs that follow.
1.) Provide leadership, management and supervision for all aspects of wildland
pre-suppression and aviation operations on your district to include: utilization
of standard or other appropriate position descriptions for all fire and aviation
personnel; hire PFT, WAE and temporary fire positions as described in NFMAS/Forest
Fire Plan: develop and implement performance standards for fire and aviation
personnel; encourage fire career path development; conduct and/or arrange for
fire training for both fire and non-fire personnel; administer the Work Capacity
Test (WCT); assure certification of fire Red Card qualifications; approve Red
Cards for fire line positions below Crew Boss and other functional positions
below the unit leader as well as all temporary positions; manage the
preparedness budget and fire program property/vehicles; implement fire
prevention and public education programs; determine the need for and implement
fire restrictions and closures in accordance with the <snip> Restrictions and
Closures Procedures Plan; provide for fire detection; utilize and operate both
fixed and rotary wing aircraft in accordance with the Forest Aviation Plan; and
operate and maintain assigned fire facilities. Provide oversight by conducting
and/or participating in fire readiness inspections on your district.
2.) Conduct initial, reinforced and extended attack fire suppression operations
on incidents that occur on National Forest Lands within or adjoining your
district, on state owned and private property within the forest boundary and on
fires outside the boundary that are a threat to National Forest Lands. Implement
suppression actions as provided for in Interagency Fire Protection Agreements
with cooperating federal, state and local governmental agencies. Utilize the
Incident Command System to manage emergency operations to include All Risk as
well as fire incidents. Assure fire equipment and personnel are available to
support large fire activity both on and off the forest.
3.) Conduct a risk assessment and a complexity analysis on all fires to
determine incident management requirements. Determine the most appropriate
management response. Assign qualified Type 3, 4 or 5 Incident Commanders (IC's)
for each incident. Initiate orders for Incident Management Teams (IMT's) as
needed to meet complexity requirements. Provide your expectations and a Line
Officer Briefing for all IC's or IMT's assigned to your incidents. Prepare and
sign Delegations of Authority to Type 2 and 3 Incident Commanders. Prepare and
approve Wildland Fire Situation Analyses (WFSA's) for all fires that escape
initial attack and that are transitioned to a Type 2 or 3 IMT. All WFSA's will
include a least cost option as part of the analysis and your approval authority
is up to 2 million dollars in total suppression cost. Recommend to the Forest
Supervisor the need to order a Type 1 IMT or an Area Command Team. Prepare
WFSA's on Type 1 incidents for approval by the Forest Supervisor (cost authority
10 million dollars) or the Regional Forester (cost authority 50 million
dollars). Any incident cost expected to exceed 50 million dollars must be
approved by the Chief.
4.) As District Ranger you are the designated Line Officer for all fires on your
district. For large fires with IMT's assigned, your direct involvement with the
Incident Commanders and their teams will be required. Assign Resource Advisors
and Technical Specialists to fire incidents as needed. There maybe some
instances where you determine that an ICS qualified Agency Representative (AREP)
or a Cost Apportionment Team is required.
5.) Personally visit and conduct supplemental health and safety inspections on
10% or more of your District's Type 3, 4 & 5 fires. Participate in fire reviews,
after action reviews and fire team closeouts. Review and implement the Direction
on Incident Management, 30 Mile Abatement dated May 29, 2003.
6.) Review and implement as applicable the additional guidance sent by the
Washington and Regional Offices: Fire and Aviation Management 2003 Operations
Action Plan dated April 1, 2003 (WO); Aviation Operations Plan 2003 dated April
22, 2003 (WO); Chief's Incident Accountability Report and 2003 Action Plan dated
March 19, 2003 (WO); and the Large Fire Cost Reduction Plan dated April 3, 2003
(RO).
Prescribed Fire Management.
1.) Plan for and implement prescribed burns for fuel reduction and other
resource program purposes. The priority should include projects that are
collaborative, reduce fuels near the urban interface and have potential for
contracting.
2.) Develop prescriptions to meet project objectives. Review and recommend
Prescribed Burn Plans. Approval authority for all burn plans remains at the
Forest supervisor level.
Wilderness Fire Management
For the <snip> Wilderness <snip> you are delegated the following additional
authorities:
1.) During periods that I am off of the forest or otherwise not available and to
assure that timely decisions are made in regard to emergency incidents (All
Risks) in the <snip>, you are delegated special authority as Acting Forest
Supervisor. You may determine the need for and authorize the use of
motorized/mechanized equipment for the duration of the emergency. This authority
cannot be redelegated to an acting District Ranger nor a staff/sub-staff on your
districts.
2.) For wildland fire incidents in the <snip> you are authorized to determine
and implement the most appropriate management response to place a fire in either
a suppression or a fire use status. Utilize the Wildland Fire Implementation
Plan (WFIP) Stage I checklist to document the decisions. Prepare and approve
Stage II and Stage III plans as needed to manage fire use incidents. Assign a
qualified Fire Use Manager for Stage II and III WIFP actions. As needed, order
Fire Use Teams for Stage III incidents. Coordinate fire use decisions with the
Forest Fire Staff and/or the Forest FMO.
3.)You are authorized to determine the need for and implement fire restrictions
and closures for the <snip> and the <snip>. This should be accomplished in
concurrence with the appropriate Line Officers with <snip>. This letter shall
replace any earlier delegations and shall remain in effect until updated.
/s/ <snip>
Forest Supervisor
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