**Chapter 09**

**Fire Management Planning &** **Response**

**Policy**

Planning: Every area with burnable vegetation must have an approved Fire
Management Plan (FMP). FMPs are strategic plans that define a program to
manage wildland and prescribed fires based on the areas approved Land
and/or Resource Management Plan s (L/RMP). FMPs must provide for
firefighter and public safety; include fire management strategies,
tactics, and alternatives; address values to be protected and public
health issues; and be consistent with resource management objectives,
activities of the area, and environmental laws and regulations. For DOI
agencies, FMPs also define fuel management programs and priorities.

(*2001Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy).*

**Operational Use of Fire Management Plans**

Fire organizations responding to wildland fires must utilize the
direction in the FMP to guide the fire management response

**Concepts and Definitions**

**Land/Resource Management Plan**

A document prepared with public participation and approved by the agency
administrator that provides general guidance and direction for land and
resource management activities for an administrative area. The L/RMP
identifies the need for fire\'s role in a particular area and for a
specific benefit. The objectives in the L/RMP provide the basis for the
development of fire management objectives and the fire management
program in the designated area. (*Interagency Strategy for the
Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, June 2003*)

**Fire Management Plan**

The FMP will identify and integrate all wildland fire management and
related activities within the context of the approved L/RMP. It defines
a program to manage wildland fires (wildfire, prescribed fire, and
wildland fire use). The plan is supplemented by operations plans,
including but not limited to preparedness plans, preplanned dispatch
plans, prescribed fire burn plans, and prevention plans. FMPs assure
that wildland fire management goals and components are coordinated.
(*Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire
Management Policy, June 2003*)

**Purpose**

The fire management planning process and requirements may differ among
agencies. However, for all agencies (Forest Service, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and
National Park Service), a common purpose of a FMP is to provide decision
support to aid managers in making informed decisions on the appropriate
management response (AMR). The FMP includes a concise summary of
information organized by fire management unit (FMU) or units.

In addition, for the Department of the Interior (DOI) agencies, the FMP
contains strategic and operational elements that describe how to manage
applicable fire program components such as: response to unplanned
ignitions, hazardous fuels and vegetation management, burned area
emergency stabilization and rehabilitation, prevention, community
interactions and collaborative partnerships roles, and monitoring and
evaluation programs. The Forest Service will have related information in
separate fire management reference documents.

Each FMP will evolve over time as new information becomes available,
conditions change on the ground and changes are made to L/RMP.
*(Interagency Fire Management Planning Template, 2007)*

**Fire Management Unit**

The primary purpose of developing Fire Management Units (FMU)s in fire
management planning is to assist in organizing information in complex
landscapes. The process of creating FMUs divides the landscape into
smaller geographic areas to more easily describe
physical/biological/social characteristics and frame associated planning
guidance based on these characteristics. If possible, FMUs should be
developed through interagency efforts and interactions to facilitate
common fire management across boundaries. (*Interagency Fire Management
Plan Template, September, 2007)*

An FMU can be any land management area definable by objectives,
management constraints, topographic features, access, values to be
protected, political boundaries, fuel types, major fire regime groups,
and so on, that set it apart from the management characteristics of an
adjacent FMU. The FMU may have dominant management objectives and
pre-selected strategies assigned to accomplish these objectives.
(*Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire
Management Policy, June 2003*)

**Wildland Fire**

Any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Three distinct types
of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire, wildland fire
use, and prescribed fire. (*Interagency Strategy for the Implementation
of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, June 2003)*

-   **Wildfire -** An unplanned, unwanted wildland fire including
    unauthorized human-caused fires, escaped wildland fire use events,
    escaped prescribed fire projects, and all other wildland fires where
    the objective is to put the fire out. *(Interagency Strategy for the
    Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, June
    2003)*

-   **Prescribed Fire -** Any fire ignited by management action to meet
    specific objectives. (*Interagency Strategy for the Implementation
    of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, June 2003)*

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-   **Wildland Fire Use (WFU) -** The application of the appropriate
    management response to naturally-ignited wildland fires to
    accomplish specific resource management objectives in predefined
    designated areas outlined in Fire Management Plans. Operational
    management is described in the wildland fire implementation plan
    (WFIP). *(Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal
    Wildland Fire Management Policy, June 2003)*

**Appropriate Management Response**

Any specific action suitable to meet FMU objectives. Typically, the AMR
ranges across a spectrum of tactical operations (from monitoring to
intensive management actions). The AMR is developed by using FMU
strategies and objectives identified in the FMP. (*Interagency Strategy
for the Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, June
2003, p. 17*). AMR encompasses all the response actions necessary to
manage a wildfire or wildland fire use event for the duration of the
event. In implementing the AMR, the full spectrum of tactical options,
from monitoring a fire at a distance to intensive suppression actions
are available to the fire manager. Beginning with the initial response
to any wildland fire, decisions will reflect the goal of using available
firefighting resources to manage the fire for the most effective, most
efficient and safest means available. The AMR strategies and tactics
used to manage a wildland fire will be based on objectives identified in
the L/RMP and/or FMP. *(NFAEB* *Memo, June 20, 2007)*

**Initial Action**

The actions taken by the first resources to arrive at a wildfire.
Initial actions may be size up, patrolling, monitoring, holding actions,
or aggressive initial attack (*NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire
Terminology, January 2005*)

**Initial Attack**

A planned response to a wildfire given the wildfire's potential
behavior. The objective of initial attack is to stop the spread of the
fire and put it out at least cost. An aggressive suppression action
consistent with firefighter and public safety and values to be
protected. (*NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire Terminology, January 2005*)

**Extended Attack**

Suppression activity for a wildfire that has not been contained or
controlled by initial attack or contingency forces and for which more
firefighting resources are arriving, en route, or being ordered by the
initial attack incident commander. (*NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire
Terminology, January 2005*)

**Wildfire Suppression**

An AMR to wildfire, escaped WFU or prescribed fire that results in
curtailment of fire spread and eliminates all identified threats from
the particular fire. (*NWCG Glossary of Wildland Fire Terminology,
January 2005*)

**Wildland Fire Management Objectives**

Only one management objective will be applied to wildland fire. Wildland
fires will either be managed for resource benefits or suppressed. A
wildfire cannot be managed for resource benefits and suppression
concurrently. If two wildland fires converge they will be managed as a
single wildland fire. (*2006 Federal Fire & Aviation Operations Action
Plan*)

Human caused Wildland fires will be suppressed in every instance and
will not be managed for resource benefits.

Once a Wildland fire has been managed for suppression objectives, it may
never be managed for resource benefit objectives.

**Wildland Fire Responses**

**Responding to a Wildland Fire**

Response to wildland fires is based on ecological, social, and legal
consequences of the fire. The circumstances under which a fire occurs,
and the likely consequences on firefighter and public safety and
welfare, natural and cultural resources and values to be protected,
dictate the appropriate response to the fire. *(Federal Wildland Fire
Management Policy, January 2001)*

**Determining Type of Fire**

When a wildland fire is reported, the pre established FMP will
determined whether the wildland fire is designated a wildfire or a
wildland fire use fire. Pre-planned, specific prescription criteria must
be established prior to fire occurrence so that the decision to
designate the fire either a wildfire or a wildland fire use fire is
immediate.

**Responding to a Wildfire**

A wildfire is defined as "an unplanned, unwanted wildland fire including
unauthorized human-caused fires, escaped wildland fire use events,
escaped prescribed fire projects, and all other wildland fires where the
objective is to put the fire out." (*Interagency Strategy for the
Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, June 2003*).
When the objective is to put the fire out, initial attack suppression is
generally the safest and most effective response option.

**Escaped Initial Attack**

A fire has escaped initial attack when:

-   The fire has not been contained by the initial attack resources
    dispatched to the fire and there is no estimate of containment or
    control and;

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-   The fire will not have been contained within the initial attack
    management objectives established for that zone or area.

**Wildland Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA)**

A WFSA is a decision making process that evaluates alternative wildfire
suppression strategies against selected environmental, social,
political, and economic criteria and provides a record of those
decisions. (*Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal
Wildland Fire Management Policy,* *June 2003*). The WFSA process is used
when a wildfire escapes initial attack. This includes prescribed fires
and wildland fire use fires that are declared wildfires. The WFSA is
used by the agency administrator or representative to describe the
wildfire situation, compare several strategic wildfire management
alternatives, evaluate the expected effects of the alternatives,
establish objectives and constraints for the management of the fire,
select the preferred alternative, and document the decision.
Multi-jurisdictional incidents will require a collaboratively developed
WFSA that is approved and signed by each of the respective agencies

-   The WFSA program (WFSA Plus Version 6.6) may be found at:
    http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/wfsa/.

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-   Additional information about the WFSA (as well as the Wildland Fire
    Implementation Plan) is located at: http://www.wildlandfireamr.net.

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-   It is acceptable to use this version. A description of the WFSA
    Elements with guidance for the completion can be found in Appendix
    S.

**WFSA Approval**

Approval entails selecting the alternative and the associated costs to
be implemented. The local agency administrator must approve the WFSA by
signing all WFSA-related Records of Decision. This responsibility may
not be delegated below the line officer level. If a new WFSA or amended
WFSA is necessary for the incident or complex, a new Approval is
necessary. The local agency administrator retains approval authorities
throughout the incident.

-   ***FS -** District Rangers have authority to develop and approve all
    WFSAs up to \$2M. Forest Supervisors have the authority and
    responsibility to develop and approve all WFSAs over \$2M, and to
    certify a WFSA up to \$10M or with a Type I or Area Command Team
    activation.*

**WFSA Daily Review**

It is the responsibility of the local agency administrator to ensure
that a daily review is conducted that documents the strategies and
tactics implemented under the selected WFSA alternative are still valid
and that costs are within the estimated costs associated with that
alternative. This review and validation may be delegated at the
discretion of the agency administrator.

**WFSA Certification**

The Certification signature acknowledges that the appropriate level of
agency administrator has been notified of anticipated agency-specific
expenses for an incident or complex. The appropriate certification
authority will vary based on cost estimates as illustrated in the table
below. For multi-jurisdictional incidents, each agency's individual cost
estimate determines the level of the agency-required certification
authority. A new Certification by the appropriate authority level is
required as expenses are recalculated whenever a WFSA is amended or if a
new WFSA is prepared for the incident.

WFSA Certification Requirements, DOI Agencies

  -------------- -------------- ---------------- -------------- --------------
  **WFSA cost    **BIA**        **BLM**          **FWS**        **NPS**
  estimate**                                                    

  \$0 - \$2M     Agency Supt.   Field/District   Project Ldr./  Park Supt.
                                Manager          Refuge Mgr.    

  \$2M - \$5M    Regional       State Director   Regional       Regional
                 Director                        Director       Director

  \>\$5M         BIA Director   BLM Director     FWS Director   NPS Director
  -------------- -------------- ---------------- -------------- --------------

WFSA Certification Requirements, USDA Forest Service

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  WFSA cost estimate                  USFS

  \$0 - \$2M                          District Ranger

  \$2M - \$10M                        Forest Supervisor

  \$10M - \$50M                       Regional Forester

  \>\$50M                             Forest Service Chief
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

For multi-jurisdictional incidents, each agency's individual cost
estimate, not the total cost estimate, will determine that agency's
certification/approval level.

**WFSA Certification Checklist**

This checklist helps the WFSA certifying authority ensure the accuracy
and completeness of the WFSA process. Updates to this list may be made
and can be found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/wfsa/

  -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
  **Certification Checklist**                                    **Y/N**

  Are key objectives for fire suppression identified and         
  measurable?                                                    

  Are there a minimum of two alternatives (with identifiable     
  differences in strategies and/or outcomes) analyzed, and an    
  extreme case considered?                                       

  Are the values at risk adequately displayed and analyzed?      

  Do the alternatives have safety issues well documented and     
  risk mitigation identified where needed?                       

  Is the rationale for the selected alternative, whether or not  
  most cost effective, compelling?                               

  Were cost estimates derived with current data, are they        
  relevant for this incident, and documented?                    

  Are the assigned probabilities for success in line with the    
  current and expected situation and documented?                 

  Are critical resources listed and available to implement       
  alternatives?                                                  

  Was the estimated suppression cost used for identifying the    
  certifying official.                                           

  Have managers/owners of adjoining jurisdictions agreed to the  
  selected strategy if it encompasses non-agency lands.          
  -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------

**Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) Tools** - Modeling tools
are available to assist fire managers and agency administrators in
decisions regarding strategies and tactics.

-   
-   

**Responding to a Wildland Fire Use Event**

When the wildland fire is determined to be a wildland fire use event,
the required action is "the application of the appropriate management
response to naturally-ignited wildland fires to accomplish specific
resource management objectives in pre-defined designated areas outlined
in the FMP". Operational management is described in the wildland fire
implementation plan (WFIP). (*Interagency Strategy for the
Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, June 2003*)

**Wildland Fire Implementation Plan**

A Wildland Fire Implementation Plan (WFIP) is a progressively developed
assessment and operational management plan that documents the analysis
and describes the AMR for a wildland fire use activity. The WFIP is a
plan that guides the management of a WFU fire. An approved FMP is
required in all cases. The FMP identifies specific resource and fire
management objectives, a predefined geographic area, and specific,
required prescription criteria that must be met prior to designating a
wildland fire for fire use. The WFIP is continually evaluated and tested
to ensure that the objectives of the WFU fire are being met. If the
objectives are not being met, mitigation actions identified in the WFIP
are implemented. Mitigation actions are not presented formally as a
distinct plan, but are integrated throughout the short term (WFIP Stage
2) and long term (WFIP Stage 3) implementation actions. If the combined
set of mitigation actions is not meeting objectives, the WFU fire is
converted to a wildfire, suppression action is taken and a WFSA is
prepared. If the mitigation actions are successful in keeping the WFU
fire within the parameters of the WFIP, the fire continues to be managed
as a WFU fire.

A WFIP will be completed for all naturally ignited wildland fires that
are managed for resource benefit. It is an operational plan for
assessing, analyzing, and selecting strategies for wildland fire use. It
is progressively developed and documents appropriate management
responses for any wildland fire managed for resource benefits. The plan
will be completed in compliance with the guidance found in the *Wildland
Fire Use, Implementation Procedures Reference Guide*, May 2005 (May 2007
revision).

A WFIP consists of three distinct stages:

-   **Stage I** - The initial fire assessment, or size-up, is the
    preliminary information gathering stage. It compares current
    information to established prescription criteria found in the FMP.
    This is an initial decision making tool which assists managers in
    classifying fires for resource benefit or suppression actions.
    Components include: strategic fire size-up, decision criteria
    checklist, management actions, and periodic fire assessment.

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-   **Stage II** - Defines management actions required in response to a
    changing fire situation as indicated by monitoring information and
    the periodic fire assessment from stage I. This stage is used to
    manage larger, more active fires with greater potential for
    geographic extent than stage I. Components include: objectives, fire
    situation, management actions, estimated costs, and periodic fire
    assessment.

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-   **Stage III** - Defines management actions required in response to
    an escalating fire situation, potential long duration, and increased
    need for management activity, as indicated by the periodic
    assessment completed in stage II. Components include: objectives and
    risk assessment considerations, maximum manageable area definition
    and maps, weather conditions and drought prognosis, long-term risk
    assessment, threats, monitoring actions, mitigation actions,
    resources needed to manage the fire, contingency actions,
    information plan, estimated costs, post-burn evaluation, signatures
    and date, and periodic fire assessment.

  -------------- --------------------------------------------------------
  WFIP           
  Completion     
  Timeframes     

  WFIP Stage     Maximum Completion Timeframe

  Stage I        8 hours after confirmed fire detection and Strategic
                 Fire Size-Up.

  Stage II       48 hours after need indicated by Planning Needs
                 Assessment.

  Stage III      7 days after need indicated by Planning Needs Assessment

  Periodic Fire  As part of all stages and on assigned frequency
  Assessment     thereafter.
  -------------- --------------------------------------------------------

-   ***NPS** - Wildland Fire Use Program Oversight. Regional office fire
    management officers are responsible for appraising and surveying all
    wildland fire use activities within their region. The regional
    office fire staff will review implementation plans for fires with a
    Complex Rating. Direct contact with parks may be necessary in order
    to stay apprised of complex situations. On rare occasions,
    circumstances or situations may exist which require the regional
    director to intervene in the wildland fire use decision process.*

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-   ***NPS** - Review by the regional fire management officer or acting
    is mandatory for Wildland Fire Implementation Plans with a projected
    cost of greater than \$500,000. Review by the NPS National Fire
    Management Officer at NIFC, or Acting, is mandatory for Wildland
    Fire Implementation Plans with a projected cost of greater than
    \$1,000,000.*

**Emergency Non-Wildland Fire Response**

**Emergency Non-Wildland Fire Response-Wildland Urban Interface**

The operational roles of the federal agencies as a partner in the
Wildland Urban Interface are wildland firefighting, hazard reduction,
cooperative prevention and education, and technical assistance.
Structural fire suppression is the responsibility of tribal, state or
local governments. Federal agencies may assist with exterior structural
fire protection activities under formal fire protection agreements that
specify the mutual responsibilities of the partners, including funding.
(Some federal agencies have full structural protection authority for
their facilities on lands they administer and may also enter into formal
agreements to assist state and local governments with structural
protection.) *2001 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, page 23.*

Although funding is not provided to prepare for or respond to emergency
non-wildland fire response activities such as structure fires, vehicle
fires, dump fires, hazardous materials releases, and emergency medical
responses, managers must ensure that fire management plans, interagency
agreements, and annual operating plans clearly state agency and
cooperator roles and responsibilities for non-wildland fire response
activities that agency personnel are exposed to as a result of working
in the wildland urban interface environment.

**Emergency Non-Wildland Fire Response-Management Controls to Mitigate
Exposure**

Agency safety and health policy states that PPE devices will be used
only when equipment guards, engineering controls, or management control
does not adequately protect employees. To meet this requirement:

-   Managers and supervisors will not knowingly place wildland
    firefighters in positions where exposure to toxic gases or chemicals
    would require the use of self-contained breathing apparatus.

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-   Managers will not sign cooperative fire protection agreements that
    would commit wildland firefighters to situations where exposure to
    toxic gases or chemicals would require the use of self-contained
    breathing apparatus.

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-   Managers will avoid giving the appearance that their wildland fire
    suppression resources are trained and equipped to perform structure,
    vehicle, and dump fire suppression, to respond to hazardous
    materials releases, or to perform emergency medical response.

**Emergency Non-Wildland Fire Response-Structure, Vehicle, and Landfill
Fires**

Structure, vehicle, and dump fire suppression is not a functional
responsibility of wildland fire suppression resources. These fires have
the potential to emit high levels of toxic gases. Firefighters will not
be dispatched to structure, vehicle, or dump fires unless there is a
significant threat to lands and resources that are under agency
protection, including by protection agreement. Firefighters will not
take direct suppression action on structure, vehicle, or dump fires.
This policy will be reflected in suppression response plans.

Should firefighters encounter structure, vehicle, or dump fires during
the performance of their normal wildland fire suppression duties,
firefighting efforts will be limited to areas where the fire has spread
onto agency protected lands. Structure protection will be limited to
exterior efforts, and only when such actions can be accomplished safely
and in accordance with established wildland fire operations standards.

-   ***FS - FSM-5137 - Structure Fires** Structure fire protection
    activities include suppression of wildfires that are threatening
    improvements. Exterior structure protection measures include actions
    such as foam or water application to exterior surfaces of buildings
    and surrounding fuels, fuel removal, and burning out around
    buildings.*

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-   ***FS - FSM-5137.02 - Objective for Structure Fire Protection**. The
    Forest Service's primary responsibility is to suppress wildfire
    before it reaches structures. The Forest Service may assist state
    and local fire departments in exterior structure fire protection
    when requested under terms of an approved cooperative agreement.*

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-   ***FS - FSM-5137.03 - Policy for Structure Fire Suppression.**
    Structure fire suppression, which includes exterior and interior
    actions on burning structures, is the responsibility of state,
    tribal, or local fire departments.*

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-   ***FS -** Forest Service officials shall avoid giving the appearance
    that the agency is prepared to serve as a structure fire suppression
    organization.*

-   ***FS -** Forest Service employees shall limit fire suppression
    actions to exterior stru*cture protection measures as described in
    Section 5137.

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-   ***FS - FSM-5137.03 2 - Structure Fire Protection and Suppression
    for Forest Service Facilities.** At those Forest Service
    administrative sites, outside the jurisdiction of state and local
    fire departments, limit fire protection measures to prevention, use
    of fire extinguishers on incipient stage fires (FSH 6709.11, Sec.
    6-4c), safe evacuation of personnel, containment by exterior attack,
    and protection of exposed improvements.*

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-   ***FS -** At Forest Service administrative sites located within the
    jurisdiction of state and local structural fire departments,
    structure fire suppression responsibility must be coordinated with
    state and local fire departments.*

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-   ***FS - FSM-5137.033 - Vehicle and Dump Fires***

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-   ***FS -** Do not undertake direct attack on vehicle or dump fires on
    National Forest System lands unless such action is absolutely
    necessary to protect life or prevent the spread of fire to the
    wildlands.*

-   ***FS -** For additional fire service and homeowner information
    regarding wildland/urban fire refer to* *http://firewise.org on the
    Internet.*

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-   ***NPS - Structural Fire (including Vehicle Fires) Response
    Requirements.** Structural fire suppression is a functional
    responsibility in many NPS units. Any structural fire response shall
    only be by personnel who have received the required training and are
    properly equipped. Vehicle fires contain a high level of toxic
    emissions and must be treated with the same care that structural
    fires are treated. Firefighters must be in full structural fire
    personal protective clothing including self-contained breathing
    apparatus. Situations exist during the incipient phase of a vehicle
    fire where the fire can be quickly suppressed with the discharge of
    a handheld fire extinguisher. Discharging a handheld fire
    extinguisher during this phase of the fire will normally be
    considered an appropriate action. If the fire has gone beyond the
    incipient stage, employees are to protect the scene and request the
    appropriate suppression resources. In order to protect the health
    and safety of National Park Service personnel, no employee shall be
    directed, dispatched, (including self-dispatching) to the
    suppression of structural fires, including vehicle fires, unless
    they are provided with the required personal protective equipment,
    firefighting equipment and training. All employees must meet or
    exceed the standards and regulations identified in Director's Order
    and Reference Manual #58, Structural Fire.*

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-   ***NPS - Training Requirements for Firefighters Responding to
    Structural Fires (including Vehicle Fires)**. All wildland
    firefighters who respond to structural fires will meet the training
    requirements identified in Director's Order and Reference Manual
    #58, Structural Fire and will be qualified at least at the
    Structural Firefighter level.*

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-   ***NPS - Medical Examination Requirements for Firefighters
    Responding to Structure Fires (including Vehicle Fires**). All
    wildland firefighters who respond to structural fires will meet the
    medical requirements identified in Director's Order and Reference
    Manual #58, Structural Fire. Medical requirements include
    respiratory testing and some other components not included in the
    wildland fire medical examination.*

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-   ***NPS - Physical Fitness for Wildland Firefighters Responding to
    Structure Fires (including Vehicle Fires**). The physical fitness
    requirements as the same as for wildland fire arduous duty.*

**Emergency Non-Wildland Fire Response-Hazardous Materials**

Wildland firefighters have the potential to be exposed to hazardous
materials releases while performing their jobs. Hazardous materials or
waste may be found on public lands in a variety of forms (e.g.
clandestine drug lab waste, mining waste, illegal dumping, and
transportation accidents).

In order to meet 29 CFR 1910.120, and to ensure familiarity with
hazardous materials releases, all wildland firefighters will complete a
one-time, two-hour First Responder Awareness training course and an
annual refresher course thereafter (First Responders are individuals who
are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release, and who
have been trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by
notifying proper authorities of the release). Awareness Class module
1703-07/11 is available from the BLM National Training Center and may be
taught in the field office by the Hazardous Materials Coordinator.

Firefighters who discover any unauthorized waste dump or spill site that
contains indicators of potential hazardous substances should take the
following precautions:

-   Follow the procedures in the *Incident Response Pocket Guide.*

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-   Treat each site as if it contains harmful materials.

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-   Do not handle, move, or open any container, breathe vapors, or make
    contact with the material.

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-   Move a safe distance upwind from the site.

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-   Contact appropriate personnel. Generally, this is the Hazardous
    Materials Coordinator for the local office.

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-   ***FS - FSM-5135.2 - Hazardous Materials** Limit actions of Forest
    Service personnel on incidents involving hazardous material to those
    emergency measures necessary for the immediate protection of
    themselves and the public. If the material is a health and safety
    hazard requiring special measures for control and abatement,
    promptly notify the appropriate public safety agencies. Provide
    training in hazardous materials recognition and avoidance to
    employees whose exposure to such materials is likely (FSM 2160).*

**Emergency Non-Wildland Fire Response-Emergency Medical Response**

Medical emergency response is not a functional responsibility of
wildland fire suppression resources. Wildland firefighters are not
trained and equipped to perform emergency medical response duties, and
should not be part of a preplanned response that requires these duties.
When wildland firefighters encounter emergency medical response
situations, their efforts should be limited to immediate care (e.g.
first aid, first responder) actions that they are trained and qualified
to perform.

-   ***NPS - Emergency Medical Response Requirements.** NPS employees
    who provide emergency medical services will adhere to the
    requirements contained in Director's Order and Reference Manual #51,
    Emergency Medical Services, once these directives receive final
    approval.*

**Roadside Response**

Positioning of vehicles and employee awareness is paramount when
responding to incidents in close proximity to roadways. Refer to
Appendix V, *Roadside Incident Response* which highlights tactical
considerations for roadway responses.

**High Visibility Vests**

A new federal regulation, 23 CFR 634, will require anyone working in a
right-of-way of a federal-aid highway to wear high-visibility clothing
that meets industry high visibility requirements. For current
information refer to:

http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/index.htm.