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**NATIONAL WILDFIRE**

##### COORDINATING GROUP

September 23, 2002

Memorandum

TO: NWCG Members, Working Team, Advisory Group Chairs

FROM: Executive Secretary

SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2002 Annual Report

Attached is the annual report on activities for NWCG, Working Teams and
Advisory Groups. No reports were received from the WFIWT, FEWT, TWT, and
Radio Communication Advisory Group. Please contact me if you have
questions.

Jim Stumpf

**NATIONAL WILDFIRE COORDINATING GROUP**

**FISCAL YEAR 2002**

**ANNUAL REPORT**

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) was formed in 1976 by an
interagency agreement signed by the Secretaries of the Interior and
Agriculture. In 1993 the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
specifically the U.S. Fire Administration, was added by agreement.

The Governing body of NWCG consists of representatives of Federal
agencies and State partners:

Department of Agriculture:

Fire and Aviation Management, Forest Service

> Forest Fire and Atmospheric Sciences Research, Forest Service

Department of the Interior:

> Bureau of Land Management

Bureau of Indian Affairs

National Park Service

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Emergency Management Agency:

> U.S. Fire Administration

Tribal interests:

Intertribal Timber Council

State interests:

NASF has an eastern and western representative on the group
representative to ensure optimal use of all State personnel during
emergencies.

> This includes the state foresters from:

Arizona

Missouri

The National Fire Protection Association and Fire Control Officers Group
(Australia/New Zealand) are Associate members of the organization.

Don Artley, State Forester for Montana retired from his position with
the state and as the Chair of NWCG. Don was replaced in his position as
Chair by Jim Stires, Bureau of Indian Affairs. The detailed products of
the NWCG are produced by the thirteen Working Teams and Advisory Groups.
The remainder of this report is a listing of the major projects or
products which are the Working Teams or Advisory Groups. Additional
information on any issue can be obtained by contacting the NWCG Chair,
the Executive Secretary or the Chair of the particular Working Team or
Advisory Group.

**[PUBLICATIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

PMS is the only working Team that we have accepted a calendar year
report on accomplishments. This report coincides with the annual
inventory at the Great Basin Warehouse in Boise, Idaho.

PMS has no established budget and manages the system of publications for
all agencies through the Great Basin Warehouse. They have established a
Home Page that is receiving fairly heavy public and agency use. They
will be communicating with other Working Teams and Advisory Groups about
making more publications available on this web site. The PMS Home Page
address is: http://fwspceaa.nifc.r9.fws.gov/\~olson/pms/pms.html.

**[FIRE USE WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

**Team Management** (\$4,000 for 2 meetings) - Working Team business
included two travel meetings: Boise, Idaho (November 14-15, 2001) and
Boise, Idaho (June 6-8, 2002).

**Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System**

As requested:

# 1The Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating System Guide was updated - a hardcopy and downloadable web version (portable document format) is available through the Publication Management System (PMS-424) (\$0). 

# 2A NWCG Go/NO-Go Checklist was developed - a downloadable web version (portable document format) is available through the Publication Management System (PMS-421) (\$0).

# 3Definitions for contingency forces/resources and contingency plan were developed and sent to the IOSWT for inclusion in the NWCG Glossary of Terms update. 

An appendix to the Fireline Handbook (PMS-410-1) of Fire Use positions
and responsibilities was developed and forwarded to the IOSWT for
inclusion in the next update (\$0).

A draft proposal and revised position task book for creating a type 1
and 2 Fire Use Manager was developed and circulated among NWCG member
agencies for review and comment (\$0).

**Fire Use Training Development**

# 4Scheduled update of RX-410 (Smoke Management) began and continues on schedule (\$17,500).

# 5Work on RX-480 (Advanced Fire Use Applications) continues on schedule (\$4,000). 

# 6A task group developed an 8 hour first order fire effects monitoring training module as a stand alone course or for inclusion in the Field Observer (S-244) training course (\$0).

# 7The Team produced a list of standard basic prescribed fire planning elements in preparation for beginning development of a Prescribed Fire Planning training course. 

**Air Quality/Smoke Management Issues** (\$0) **-** The Smoke Management
Guide for Prescribed and Wildland Fire 2001 Edition was complete - a
hardcopy and downloadable web version (portable document format) is
available through the Publication Management System (PMS-420-2).

**Team Web Presence** (\$0) - The FUWT has a full presence on the NWCG
Web Page including the team charter, membership, business (minutes and
annual action plans, FY96 to present), and activities.

**[TRAINING WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

This team, Chaired by Logan Lee, Forest Service, was budgeted for
\$170,000. No record of accomplishments has been received.

**[FIRE DANGER WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

Following are the detailed accomplishments for the FRWT:

1.  Reviewed and clarified the intent and appropriate application of the
    Fire Danger Pocket Card for Firefighter Safety (Pocket Card).
    Developed guidance on the creation of Pocket Cards. Developed
    briefing package on use of Pocket Cards. Posted these materials on
    the team's Pocket Card website:
    <http://famweb.nwcg.gov/pocketcards/>. Assisted development of
    Pocket Card briefing for Six Minutes for Safety.

These efforts took place in cooperation with the NWCG Risk Mitigation
Project; the Forest Service policy following the 30-mile fire incident;
Tom Wordell, NICC Predictive Services; and Ed Hollenshead, Safety and
Health WT and Six Minutes for Safety coordinator.

2.  Completed development of the following 3 training documents: S491
    --Intermediate National Fire Danger Rating System, Gaining an
    Understanding of the National Fire Danger Rating System, National
    Fire Danger Rating System Reference Material CD-ROM. All three have
    been submitted to the Publications Management System and should be
    available later this year. We would like to thank Jim Brain for his
    work on the first two documents and Larry Bradshaw for his work on
    the CD.

3.  Provided Lead Instructor support to the Geographic Areas for some of
    their presentations of the draft S491 courses in FY2002.

4.  To follow-up on previous NAGFDR IMRT recommendations, recommended to
    the Fire Behavior Advisory Committee (TWT) to include fire danger
    modules in S-290/390 courses now under development.

5.  Provided input to the responsible agencies regarding the
    re-engineering of the Automated Sorting, Conversion, and
    Distribution System (ASCADS) (BLM), the Weather Information
    Management System (WIMS) (FS), and the Wildland Fire Assessment
    System (WFAS) (FS).

6.  Provided response to BLM Remote Sensing Support Unit regarding
    future directions of RAWS program.

7.  At field request, developed recommendation for the number of years
    of data (such as weather data) appropriate for making historical
    analysis calculations: Ten years is the planning increment for Fire
    Planning processes. For Fire Danger processing: 30 years is best, 10
    or more years is good. Be careful with less than 10 years; use other
    sources if available.

8.  At the request of the NARTC NFDRS Steering Committee, recommended
    appropriate applications for the terms "climatic breakpoints" and
    "fire business thresholds."

9.  FDWT data steward began interfacing with the new Data Administration
    Working Group (DAWG).

10. Provided travel funding for a FDWT liaison (state agency FDWT
    member) to meet with the new Southern Geographic Area Fire Danger
    Working Group. These funds were available within the current state
    travel budget.

11. Reviewed status of 1978 and 1988 versions of NFDRS with respect to
    future evolution of NFDRS calculations and display.

12. Recommended fix of minor typographical error in the NFDRS code,
    which may have impacted calculations in fuel model C, 1988 version.

13. Drafted responses to the NWCG proposal of a possible merger of the
    FDWT and the FWWT.

14. No progress was made in development of FDWT web page, budgeted in FY
    02 for \$5,000.

15. Conducted 2 FDWT meetings, in January 2002 (Austin) and June 2002
    (Washington D.C.). Both of these meetings explored regional
    (Southern Area and Texas in particular in January, Eastern Area in
    June) issues and applications of fire danger.

**[INCIDENT OPERATIONS STANDARDS WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

The 2002 year was filled with re-current issues, finalization of the
draft 410-1 book, Thirty Mile Action Items, and ongoing discussion
concerning IMT configuration and crew typing. A brief list of the issues
and projects worked on by the team is as follows:

-   Crew Typing, completed and revised to meet fire season 2002 needs.

-   410-1 revision, 90% done, is being formatted and reviewed in draft
    format for finalization during winter 2003.

-   Supported National All-Risk ICS review

-   Participated in NFPA 1051 committee

-   Revised Helicopter Manager organization, qualifications, task books,
    and training in cooperation with IHOP.

-   Joint meeting with TWT

-   Continued active relationship with IMS Consortium

-   Continued discussion and interaction with GACC's and I.C.'s on IMT
    configuration issue, to be presented and discussed with parent group
    at October, 2002 meeting.

-   Continued work with Fire Investigation Working Group on Fire
    Investigator position in 310-1.

-   Participated in Canadian ICS committee.

-   Assisted in the development of USCG Incident Mgmt. Handbook

-   Working on updating Glossary of Wildland Terminology with assistance
    from IRM and several other Working Teams.

-   Approval of National ICS 209 committee development of automated ICS
    209.

-   Preliminary Review of Thirty Mile Action Items for inclusion into
    410-1.

-   Numerous and minor changes to qualification standards and PTB's
    associated with 310-1 positions, as recommended by the field and
    agreed to by the IOSWT.

-   Involved in the development of a National Incident Management System
    as part of Homeland Security, with FEMA.

**[FIRE EQUIPMENT WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

This team chaired by Paul Solarz, Forest Service, was budgeted at
\$55,500. No report of accomplishment has been received.

**[WILDLAND FIRE EDUCATION WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

The final draft of the brochure, Wildland Fire in the United States, has
been approved and is being printed. The brochure will be stocked and
available through the Center of Excellence web site. The project is 90%
completed and the final cost will be \$25,000.

The WFEWT is updating the Electronic Bibliography on the web site. The
contractor has been selected and started working on the project. The
funds for this contracted project (\$10,000) are obligated for the
projected completion date of January 2003.

The team has contracted with Lifetime Learning Systems to develop,
produce and distribute an educational insert targeting fourth graders
about wildland fire in the United States. The teacher and student
material will be in classrooms throughout the US the first week of
November. The team has partnered with the NFPA to complete this project
at a cost of \$85,000.

The WFEWT has developed a powerpoint presentation about the team to be
used at meetings to promote the work of the team and NWCG. This project
was completed at no cost.

In FY 2002, the WFEWT was given the responsibility to develop the
National Fire Prevention and Education Teams into resources that are
incorporated into the ordering system and provide for training and
qualifications to meet the needs of the members. Funding for this
project will begin in FY2003. However, the team has begun work through a
task group which developed a strategic plan for the project which will
be finalized in October 2002.

The Communicator's Guide to Wildland Fire was made available on CD Rom
through the Center of Excellence this year. This was a no cost project
in FY2002 as it was under the obligation of the contractor to supply.

The WFEWT is currently undergoing a long term strategic planning
exercise that will be completed in FY03.

The team welcomed two new members to the WFEWT in FY02: Bernie Andersen,
Kentucky Division of Forestry, and Dennis Dupuis, Bureau of Indian
Affairs and met twice in FY2002: New Orleans, January 2002 and Boise,
May 2002.

**[FIRE WEATHER WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

Fire Weather Working Team FY 2002 Annual Report

1.  *Budget level applied to funded projects*.

# The Fire Weather Working Team has no funded projects.

2.  *Percent of the project to be completed by September 30, 2002. If
    not completed, is the funding for the completion of the project
    carried over in the 2003 request for funding*.

> The Fire Weather Working Team has no funded projects.

3.  *Specific significant occurrences during 2002 that should be
    addressed in the report. These should be brief*.

The FWWT met once during 2002. Various fire weather issues were
discussed, the most significant of these concerned the Fire Weather
Interagency Agreement between the National Weather Service and the Fire
Agencies. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group assigned the task to
develop the Fire Weather Interagency Agreement to a select working group
at NIFC. This group is under the leadership of the Vice Chair of NWCG.
The FWWT is now waiting for the results of this working group's efforts
and is considering issues likely to emerge from the new agreement.
Discussions are focusing on the annual operating plan as outlined in the
agreement. The annual operating plan review meeting at the GACC may
prove to be the appropriate time and place to review quality control
concerns and develop operational improvements as necessary. The FWWT is
anticipating policy and procedure questions likely to emerge as the
various interagency fire weather partners develop their plans.

The Department of the Interior Prediction Services program at the
geographic coordination centers is in operation. The DOI's Prediction
Services program manager is serving as the Vice-Chair of the Fire
Weather Working Team. The FWWT is providing a sounding board for the
program manager as prediction services products are developed. This will
be an ongoing workload for the FWWT with task implementation carried out
by the program manager.

Members of the FWWT participated in a meeting with Under Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to explore new directions for the
NOAA Strategic Plan. The FWWT comments focused on the importance of the
Fire Weather Program, the need for a strong partnership between the
wildland fire agencies and the National Weather Service, and desires for
improved medium to long-range weather forecasts.

The FWWT reviewed the charter and drafted a few changes. The biggest
change was on the membership of the team. Our recommendation is to add
the National Weather Service as a full member of the FWWT. Further
development of the charter has stalled as NWCG has asked this team and
the Fire Danger Working Team to consider merging into one team. Much
discussion has followed on the implications of such a merger. This
discussion is currently ongoing and hasn't developed to the point of a
draft charter at this time.

The FWWT has assigned one member to work with the Data Advisory Working
Group (DAWG). The FWWT is currently considering 210 of the DAWG's 1800
terms to be within our purview. This work is on going on a schedule
established by the DAWG.

**[INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

**Accomplishments for the IRMWT and PMO**

**FY2002 Budget**

-   IRM Program Manager

    -   Budget: \$128,000

    -   Spent: \$128,000

-   Interagency IRM Support Tools

    -   Budget: \$50,000

    -   Spent: \$50,000

-   Update IRM Strategy Plan

    -   Budget: \$50,000

    -   Spent: \$10,000

    -   Redirected to GTG: \$29,000

    -   \% of project completed: 20%

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-   Geospatial Strategic Plan

    -   Budget \$10,000

    -   Spent: \$10,000

    -   \% of project completed: 25%

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-   NWCG Website support

    -   Budget: \$ 2,000

    -   Spent: \$ 1,500

-   CASE Tool Support

    -   Budget: \$ 5,000

    -   Spent: \$ 5,000

-   State Travel

    -   Budget: \$13,000

**Accomplishments for the IRMWT and PMO**

These are the joint accomplishments of the PMO, DAWG, GTG and IRMWT.
These groups work together to determine the direction for the
interagency IRM fire program. The PMO, DAWG, and GTG produce the
products resulting from a coordinated planning effort. The IRMWT reviews
products and provides feedback to these groups as well as provides
recommendations to NWCG.

> ***Administration and Management***

-   Revised **PMO** Strategic Plan and FY2002 Annual Work Plan

-   **IRMWT/PMO** Developed a draft NWCG IRM Strategy

-   Implemented a task order with NITS for DNS services

-   Identified and approved Internet roles & responsibilities

-   Developed and tracked FY2002 **PMO** budget and procurement plan

-   **PMO** Personnel Development/Training

    -   Cost Xpert Workshop training (2 attendees)

    -   DAMA Int'l. Data Management Conference (2 attendees)

    -   Interagency GIS Conference (1 attendee)

    -   UTA (Interagency Help Desk) orientation (2 attendees)

    -   USFS IRM orientation (2 attendees)

    -   BLM IRM orientation (2 attendees)

    -   ESI-GWU 6 Week Project Management certification training (1
        attendee)

    -   Landmark Personal Awareness training (1 attendee)

    -   Strategic Planning Advance (4 attendees)

    -   EEO, Diversity, Computer Security, Travel training (4 attendees)

    -   Conduct and Ethics (1 attendees)

    -   National Business Center reorientation (2 attendees)

> ***Products Developed by PMO and reviewed by IRMWT***

-   DAWG

    -   Data Standards (3)

-   Data Architecture

    -   DAWG Concept Paper

    -   DAWG Charter

    -   Draft DAWG Operating Guidelines

    -   Meta-data Definition Template

-   Application Architecture

    -   Draft Data Exchange Guidelines & Principles

    -   ROSS-IQCS Data Exchange Principles

    -   Draft Application Architecture Principles, Guidelines, and
        Standards

    -   Wildland Fire Software Application Inventory Concept Paper

-   Project Management

    -   Project Charter Format

    -   Project Charter Guidelines

    -   Project Management Guidelines

    -   Project Plan Guidelines

    -   Project Status Report Template

    -   Draft -- *From Idea to NWCG Sponsorship* white paper

-   Repository Management

    -   PMO Products List

    -   PMO Web Pages

    -   Draft -- NWCG IRM-PMO Repository Guidelines & Standards

    -   NWCG Glossary on web

-   Other

    -   White Paper Guidelines

    -   PMO Brochure

    -   PMO Document Review Guidelines

    -   BLM ITIB Process/LCM/Information Engineering cross-walk diagram

    -   Comparison of Virtual vs. Co-located Project Teams

    -   NWCG Organizational charts

    -   Whitepaper - Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) evaluation

> ***PMO Program Development***

-   Data Architecture

    -   Chartered and established NWCG Data Administration Working Group
        (DAWG) as an official IRMWT Working Group

    -   Established NWCG Data Stewardship Program (guidelines &
        procedures)

    -   Facilitated the approval process for NWCG data standards

-   Applications Architecture

    -   Further development of Wildland Fire Application Inventory

        -   Application Inventory migrated into MS ACCESS database

        -   Continuing research and validation of inventory information

    -   Established "Default" application standards policy

    -   Initiated development of Data Exchange strategies

-   Project Management

    -   Identified and selected a standard project cost estimating tool
        (CostXpert)

    -   Established NWCG Project Management program

    -   Coordinated discussions between IQCS and ROSS projects

-   Repository

    -   Selected and procured document repository software

    -   Developed and presented PMO web pages

    -   Technical and administrative contact responsibilities for the
        NWCG domain transferred to the PMO Repository Manager

        -   Clarification of roles and responsibilities for domain and
            sub-domain contacts and administrators

        -   Facilitated security certificates for ROSS sub-domains

### NWCG

-   NWCG IRM Program Manager

    -   Attended NWCG meetings

    -   Identified IRM activities and initiatives for feedback to the
        IRMWT

> ***PMO Support of Projects and Initiatives***

-   Project Coordination

    -   Coordinated the project status reporting process

    -   Communicated on a near daily basis with NWCG Project Managers
        and teams

-   IQCS Project

    -   Reviewed and reported on the Information Study Report

    -   Revised the Design Phase Project Charter

    -   Served on Technical Proposal Evaluation Committee

    -   Attended DOI IRM & HRM briefings

    -   Reviewed and drafted the SOW system interface amendment

    -   Coordinated facilities for IQCS team

    -   Attended IQCS project kick-off meeting

    -   Participated in Rating and Selection Panels for the IQCS Project
        Manager

-   ROSS Project

    -   Attended Core Team and other meetings

    -   Reviewed correspondence and documentation

    -   Reviewed SOW for ROSS support organization

-   Incident Business Practices Working Team (IBPWT) Task Group

    -   Attended meetings and helped draft charter for IBP Incident Base
        Task Group

    -   Presented PMO orientation

    -   Developed IRM Initiatives at Incidents paper

-   GeoMAC Project

    -   Provided project charter guidelines and helped draft
        inter-agency charter for FY2001 Prototype Project

-   RERAP Project

    -   Provided project charter guidelines

-   National Fire Plan Operations and Reporting System (NFPORS)

    -   Attended meetings and developed observations regarding dual
        Forest Service (FS) / Department of the Interior (DOI) efforts.
        Encouraged and developed contacts between FS & DOI

    -   Provided composite dictionary of wildland fire terminology

    -   Participated in design review and alpha test of data collection
        tool

-   Fire Planning Analysis Project (FPA)

    -   Provided assistance with project cost estimation

    -   Provided project charter guidelines and project organization
        guidance

    -   Reviewed Project Charter

-   Fuels Applications

    -   Provided initial fire applications inventory to Dan Keller in
        support of fuels applications research and analysis

-   WIMS Reengineering

    -   Attended meeting in Kansas City

    -   Provided guidance on chartering as an NWCG project

-   Incident Cache Business System (ICBS)

    -   Reviewed and provided comments on draft charter

    -   Provided guidance on chartering as an NWCG project

## Other Meetings Attended by PMO

-   USFS IRM Meeting

-   BLM IRM Meeting

-   BLM ITIB Meeting

-   NPS Fire Mgmt Conference

-   National Coordinator's Meeting

    -   Presented PMO and DAWG orientation

-   Attended Cache Managers meeting

    -   Presented PMO and DAWG orientation

-   NFPORS Listening Session

-   NFPORS Design Review

-   NFPORS July 2002 Alpha test

-   OAS Interagency Aviation IT Project Planning Conference

## GTG Accomplishments

-   Scheduled and held two Task Group meetings during fy02

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-   Produced the white paper 'Developing an Interagency Standard for the
    Transfer and Documentation of GIS Fire Perimeters'

-   Produced the white paper 'Geospatial Technology for Incident
    Support'

    -   Members of the GTG participated in the 'Investigation of
        Geospatial support of Incident Management' initiated by the
        'Geospatial Technology for Incident Support' white paper.

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    -   During the 2002 western states fire season, members of the GTG
        in conjunction with the investigators form the National Center
        for Landscape Fire Analysis and the Bolle Center for People and
        Forests, University of Montana visited, three Area Command
        Teams, Seven Type 1 Incident Management teams, and Two Type 2
        Incident Management teams while they were on assignment in
        Arizona, Oregon and California. The purpose of the visits was to
        document the business processes, procedures, GIS products and
        skills needed as well as limitation or problems encountered with
        the use of geospatial data to support the needs of the Incident
        Management Teams. The visits were documented and interim reports
        developed and supplied to the Teams. A preliminary summary
        report will be published before the end of the calendar year.

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    -   Members of the GTG produced for review, proposed guidelines
        (duties, responsibilities, and required skills) for the GIS
        Technical Specialist position on Incident Management Teams.

**[SAFETY AND HEALTH WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

The following is the NWCG's Safety and health Working Team's Annual
Report for fiscal year 2002. It provides an overview as to the
accomplishments of the Working Team's budget and Action Items.

The total FY 2002 budget was \$95,000. The funds were assigned and
expended for the following projects.

+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
| * | ***Project***   | ***A     | ***Des      | ***S     | **       |
| * |                 | mount*** | cription*** | tatus*** | *Lead*** |
| * |                 |          |             |          |          |
| \ |                 |          |             |          |          |
| # |                 |          |             |          |          |
| * |                 |          |             |          |          |
| * |                 |          |             |          |          |
| * |                 |          |             |          |          |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
| 1 | Work/Rest       | \$15,000 | Field       | On-going | FS-MTDC  |
|   | Issues          |          | research:   |          |          |
|   |                 | (All     | assignment  |          |          |
|   |                 | u        | length,     |          |          |
|   |                 | tilized) | operational |          |          |
|   |                 |          | period      |          |          |
|   |                 |          | length, R&R |          |          |
|   |                 |          | among       |          |          |
|   |                 |          | various     |          |          |
|   |                 |          | crews       |          |          |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
| 2 | Energy,         | \$25,000 | Field       | On-going | FS-MTDC  |
|   | nutrition and   |          | research:   |          |          |
|   | health          | (All     | Type I & II |          |          |
|   |                 | u        | crews (inc. |          |          |
|   |                 | tilized) | measures of |          |          |
|   |                 |          | immune fx,  |          |          |
|   |                 |          | oxidative   |          |          |
|   |                 |          | stress,     |          |          |
|   |                 |          | nutrit      |          |          |
|   |                 |          | ion/intake, |          |          |
|   |                 |          | energy      |          |          |
|   |                 |          | e           |          |          |
|   |                 |          | xpenditure, |          |          |
|   |                 |          | body        |          |          |
|   |                 |          | compo       |          |          |
|   |                 |          | sition-pre, |          |          |
|   |                 |          | during and  |          |          |
|   |                 |          | post fire   |          |          |
|   |                 |          | season      |          |          |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
| 3 | Fitness & work  | \$10,000 | Develop,    | On-going | FS-MTDC  |
|   | capacity        |          | evaluate,   |          |          |
|   |                 | (All     | and         |          |          |
|   |                 | u        | implement   |          |          |
|   |                 | tilized) | medical     |          |          |
|   |                 |          | standards,  |          |          |
|   |                 |          | monitor     |          |          |
|   |                 |          | work        |          |          |
|   |                 |          | capacity    |          |          |
|   |                 |          | test admin; |          |          |
|   |                 |          | study need  |          |          |
|   |                 |          | for         |          |          |
|   |                 |          | graduated   |          |          |
|   |                 |          | standards   |          |          |
|   |                 |          | for Type I  |          |          |
|   |                 |          | & II crews. |          |          |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
| 4 | ##              | \$5,000  | Continued   | C        | Jim Cook |
|   | # "Safety Gram" |          | and         | ompleted |          |
|   |                 | (All     | expanded to | &        |          |
|   |                 | u        | include     | On-going |          |
|   |                 | tilized) | "Lessons    |          |          |
|   |                 |          | Learned"    |          |          |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
| 5 | State Travel    | \$15,000 | Cover costs | C        |          |
|   |                 |          | of 3 state  | ompleted |          |
|   |                 | (All     | reps:       | &        |          |
|   |                 | u        | (West,      | On-going |          |
|   |                 | tilized) | South &     |          |          |
|   |                 |          | East)       |          |          |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
| 6 | IAWF Safety     | \$5,000  |             |          |          |
|   | Summit,         |          |             |          |          |
|   | Missoula, MT    |          |             |          |          |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
| 7 | Canadian CD-ROM | \$20,000 | Convert     | C        | Paul     |
|   | Conversion:     |          | Canadian CD | ompleted | Broy     |
|   | "Safety on the  |          | to American |          | les/Dave |
|   | Fireline"       |          | version     |          | Aldrich  |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+
|   | **TOTAL**       | **\$     |             |          |          |
|   |                 | 95,000** |             |          |          |
+---+-----------------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+

The Safety & Health Working Team only met twice during the past fiscal
year due to the extended fire season in 2001 and the early advent of the
2002 fire season:

-   Week of November 5, Missoula, MT in conjunction with International
    Association of Wildland Firefighter's Wildland Fire Safety
    Conference

-   Week of April 22, San Diego, CA in conjunction with California
    Interagency Wildfire Safety Officer's Workshop.

The activities and accomplishments of the Safety and Health Working Team
involved team members, Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC)
staff, members of the Federal Fire and Aviation Safety Team (FFAST) at
NIFC, and Janelle Smith, NIFC External Affairs.

The Safety & Health Working Team took action on 22 items received during
the past fiscal year.

Twenty-one (21) projects on the Team's *Action Log* were successfully
completed or made significant progress on many issues. Some of the
notable actions include:

-   **Safety Alert:** The new electronic messaging three level alert
    system to quickly ensure safety related items and breaking news be
    directed to and from the key safety personnel through appropriate
    federal and state wildland agencies is operational. Several changes
    were made this year to address NWCG concerns. This notification
    system has three levels of alert: ***Safety Warning*** - a safety
    hazard that poses an imminent treat to life or property, ***Safety
    Advisory*** - an advisory on safety information that isn't related
    to imminent or potential threats of injury, and ***Safety
    Bulletin*** -- a factual confirmation of a serious accident,
    incident or fatality. They all can be reached from the SHWT web
    site.

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-   **SHWT Web Site Development:** The SHWT web site was further
    developed and enhanced. This information is posted on the web at the
    NWCG parent group site. The SHWT site provides visitors with access
    to: Reference Material; Team Activities; Safety Alerts; Entrapment
    and Fatalities Information; and various links including to MTDC. It
    also lists "What's New in Safety." Currently, *"Annual Wildland Fire
    Safety Refresher Training"* a site that provides and interagency
    centralized resources for instructors of refresher training, and
    *"Firefighter Accident Reports from the National Interagency Fire
    Center."*

> The web address is: **www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt/index2.htm**

-   **Wildland Fire Safety CD-ROM:** The "Americanized" version of the
    Canadian *Wildland Fire Safety on the Fireline* CD-ROM interactive
    training program has been completed, following development and beta
    testing. The CD is targeted towards seasoned wildland firefighters
    at all levels.

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```
-   **FY2001-2002 *Safety Gram*:** The past year's report was compiled
    and disseminated. The *Safety Gram* is the most comprehensive
    listing of US fatalities, major accidents and entrapments on
    wildland fires. It summarizes data involving wildland and prescribed
    fire entrapments, major accidents including those with and without
    injures, and fatalities for all wildland fire management
    organizations throughout the United States including contractors.
    The additional of "major accidents" is an addition to the *Safety
    Gram* that will appear in the 2002 report. The SHWT felt that the
    *Safety Gram* also should capture significant incident(s) that had
    no loss of life and/or injures.

> In CY2001, there were eighteen (18) fatalities, twentyfive (25)
> shelters deployed, and 34 entrapments reported to NWCG. The *Safety
> Gram* is also posted on the SHWT website.

-   **Safety Flagging:** After researching the problem of the existing
    color scheme for "escape route" flagging, MTDC has recommended, and
    the SHWT has concurred that the color for "escape route" be changed
    to hot pink with "escape route" in black lettering printed on it.
    Further, the SHWT recommended that this be placed into national
    cache system; a memo requesting a Jan. 1, 2002 implementation date
    was sent to the Fire Equipment Working Team for implementation. NWCG
    concurred. The cache system sent out an informational advisory.

-   **Historical Wildland Firefighter Fatality Report:** This report has
    been updated and is currently available on the SHWT web page.
    Additional data from the 1930's circa CCC era has been added.

-   ***Agency's Administrators Guide to Critical Incident Management:***
    Reviewed and passed recommendations to IBMWT for inclusion.
    Completion of revised version scheduled FY 2003.

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```
-   **Work/Rest Issues:** MTDC continues to review research on prolonged
    work, including long shifts, extended assignments (up to twenty one
    days), and other factors that influence health and performance of
    wildland firefighters.

-   **Energy, Nutrition and Health:** MTDC contracted with the
    University of Montana to conduct laboratory and field studies on
    immune function during prolonged work, in training and on the
    fireline. A "*Fire Tech Tip"*, "Feeding the Wildland Firefighter",
    was issued in July, 2002.

-   **Work Capacity Tests and Medical Examination:** MTDC continues the
    tracking of federal, state and other fire agency implementation.
    Investigating the "arduous" category for non-line positions;
    analyzing wildland firefighter fatalities to make recommendations to
    prevent them in future; and assisting in field trails of medical
    standards for wildland firefighters.

**[INCIDENT BUSINESS PRACTICES WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

The NWCG Incident Business Practices WT accomplished the following
during FY 2002:

# MEETINGS CONDUCTED

-   Conference Call December 2001

-   January 2002

-   Conference Call February 2002

-   May 2002

-   Conference Call September 2002

-   Postponed September 2002 meeting until November 2002

Budget Applied: \$1,794.12

# PROJECTS

## Incident Base Automation

Submitted recommendation to NWCG at their January meeting on Incident
Base Automation based on the Task Group's report. NWCG requested the
working team meet with the IRMWT to identify additional issues and
solutions.

-   Met with IRMWT in April Automation Task Group

-   Developed strategy and outline to present to NWCG at their May
    meeting relative to short term and long term automation needs

May 2002 -- presented the Incident Base Automation Report and project
request to NWCG. Included a request for funding for FY 2003 in the
amount of \$300,000 for the Interim Automation System, but also
identified the long term automation need that should begin with the
business requirements. Estimated cost to complete that is \$500,000 to
\$750,000.

NWCG agreed to both phases, approved funding of \$300,000 for FY 2003
for the interim, approved the long term, however did not provide any
funding or positions at this time.

Budget Applied: \$2,300

Percent Accomplished: 100%

Carryover into FY 2003: YES

## Incident Business Coordinator's Meeting

Attended, participated, and gave IBPWT progress report at this December
2001 meeting.

## IBPWT January Meeting

## The IBPWT established three task groups to work on issues brought to the attention of the working team during 2000-2001. The following task groups were established:

-   AD Pay Plan -- review of the positions and pay plan level

-   AD Pay Plan structure -- review the pay plan in general, uses of,
    ratings, and need for additional standardization

-   EERA/Contracting -- review of language of EERA's, utilization, lack
    of standardized rates, certifications, qualifications, training
    requirements

Each of these task groups were established through the requests for
interested participants and are composed of an interagency group of
individuals. Completion of the tasks is to be during 2003.

Held a joint session with the SHWT to discuss issues that effect both
working teams' business:

Agency Administrator's Guide to Critical Incident Management, EMT and
Paramedic qualifications, and contracted resources
training/certficiation safety requirements.

## National Interagency Incident Business Practices Workshop

Assisted in the development, participated in, and met with attendees
relative to incident business practices. Focused on issues that arose
during the 2000-2001 season. Meeting notes are posted to the web. Issues
for the working team to respond to were identified during this meeting.

Budget Applied: \$1,345

Percent Accomplished: 100%

## Incident Business Advisor Course

Continued sponsorship of course development. Work with Subject Matter
Expert's. Test teaching of revision of the course completed in May 2002,
sponsored by the Great Basin.

Final teaching to be conducted in the Fall of 2002, with submission of
the course to the Training Working Team for review and adoption in
January 2003.

Budget Applied: \$0

Percent Accomplished: 95%

Carryover into FY2003: YES

## IBPWT Strategic Budget and Goals

Updated and submitted WT budget and goals.

Completed September 2001.

## Revised/Improved IBPWT Web Pages

Completed the redesign of the working team's web page and replaced the
old web page in April, 2002. Many thanks to Ted Tower, NWCG web master.

Continuing to develop a method for posting current issues and concerns
on the web page. To be completed by January 2003.

Budget Applied: \$0

Percent Accomplished: 100%

Carryover into FY2003: YES

## Presented at the Incident Commander/Area Commander Spring metting, March 2002

Updated the attendees on the folliwing relative to incident business:

-   Semi-annual National Interagency Incident Business Practices meeting
    held Janaury 2002, which focused on basck to basics

-   Issues to focus on during 2002-2003:

> Emergency equipment renatal agreement problems
>
> Time Keeping procedures
>
> Injury/compensation paperwork problems
>
> Agreements
>
> Final Finance Fire package

-   Incidetn Business Guidelines for incident agency are a key to
    assisting the IMT while working with that agency

-   Cost containment issues and how the IMT can be engaged

-   Incident Business Advisors roles and responsibilities and the
    current status of course development

Budge Applied: \$0

## Miscellaneous Memos

The working team was approached on several occasions to provide input
and/or support to other issues. The working team responded to those with
memos to the appropriate audience. The memos addressed the following:

-   Agency Administrator's Guide to Critical Incident Management --
    request to participate in the review of the guide by the SHWT.
    Review completed and submitted response to SHWT with suggested
    changes in June 2002.

-   Responded to request for opinion on a Contractor/Vendor Performance
    Evaluation Form submitted by the IOSWT. Provided our input relative
    to the form back to IOSWT in June 2002.

## Other Business 

Participating on the DAWG developed by NWCG, with primary applications
involved being EFF/Vendor Pay and the interim automation application
ISUITE.

Participating in the review of the Glossary of Wildland Fire Terminology
sponsored by the IOSWT.

Updating the Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook relative
to the following:

-   2 to 1 work rest guidelines

-   Length of assignment and rest and recuperation

-   Incident expenses changes

-   Authorities to purchase recreational equipment

-   Pay Equity Act changes relative to true time and one half pay rate
    for overtime

Established a process for IIBMH revision to begin in 2003 and final
printing in 2004. Will distribute memo to the field in the Fall of 2002.

**[WILDLAND/URBAN INTERFACE WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

**The Wildland/Urban Interface and Firewise:**

# History of the Wildland/Urban Interface

Wildfire on the landscape is older than human history. In October of
1871, it claimed the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin: 1300 people dead. In
1910, a series of wildland fires swept over five towns in Montana and
Idaho (burning three to the ground): 87 people were killed (most of them
firefighters). During the 1960s and 70s, it settled in the canyon and
high-country communities of California, claiming

homes, lives and headlines. In 1985, wind-driven fire began visiting
more ancient haunts. Florida experienced Black Friday: 400 homes lost
during a single May day. It visited Michigan and Oregon, and by year's
end, 1400 families nationwide had lost their homes to the phenomenon of
wildland/urban interface fire. So began the modern era of learning to
live firewise on a fire planet.

# History of the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program

After the catastrophic fire season of 1985, representatives of the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA® International) and the US
Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) met to discuss the
increasing trend of wind-driven fire in populated areas. From this
initial meeting in May of 1986, blossomed the National Wildland/Urban
Interface Fire Protection Initiative and its landmark report "Wildland
Fires Strike Home." Galvanized again by the fatal fires of 1987, the
Initiative evolved to have four goals:

• Protect lives

• Create general public awareness

• Encourage partnerships

• Focus on development of local solutions

The potential for destruction of property and lives by wildland fire
exists in nearly community in the United States. Affected by seasonal
changes, vegetation, land use, and community planning, the
wildland/urban interface defies geographical definition. As a means of
doing this, the Initiative began publishing case studies, hosting
interdisciplinary conferences, and creating informational videos and
guides, such as the Wildfire Strikes Home series. The importance of the
Initiative's work was underscored again in mid-October of 1991, when
within the span of a week, 30 lives and more than 4,000 structures were
lost in the Oakland (CA) and Spokane (WA) firestorms. The word
"firewise" was coined the following year. A botanist participating on an
Initiative task force on Firewise landscaping proposed the term to
describe the state of being knowledge-able and prepared for wildfire in
residential or urban settings. In 1993, the advisory group to the
Initiative joined forces with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group
(see NWCG in Appendix A) and became the Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI)
Working Team. In turn, the Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Protection
Initiative became the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program. In
1996, the Working Team launched a Firewise website www.firewise.org) to
share decades of collected fire information with the public. In 1999,
they added another major component to the Firewise platform: the
national workshop series. Each piece they add is proving to have
successful outreach.

## The Firewise Community Program

To-date, there are about a dozen components that make up the Firewise
Communities Program. Each was implemented to satisfy a public need that
has arisen as a result of the community outreach project. Each is
explained below. The national program is implemented by the Firewise
Team, which consists of public and private representatives. This Team
works under the umbrella of the NWCG's WUI Working Team. (See Appendix A
for the WUI Working Team members and Appendix C for the Firewise Team
members.) The Firewise Communities Workshop Series

**National Workshops:** In 1998, the WUI Working Team suggested a series
of geographically based, nationally sponsored, computer-supported
workshops as a method for sharing fire knowledge and grassroots
solutions on an interactive

and interpersonal basis. The Firewise Communities Workshop series was
launched in October of 1999, with a pilot workshop in Deerfield Beach,
Florida. It was led by an interagency organizing crew that included Jim
Smalley (NFPA® International), Pat Durland (USDI Bureau of Land
Management), Dan Bailey (USDA Forest Service), and David Halstead
(National Emergency Management Association), who developed the idea of a
workshop series consisting of a two-and-a-half day event with an agenda
that features a nationally known motivational speaker, local
dignitaries, stakeholder and community representatives, and a day-long,
visually aided exercise that helps participants discuss the complexities
of designing and building Firewise communities in a real-world setting.
Initially, there were nine workshops scheduled around the country
through 2002. Today, there are 24 national workshops offered through
2003. As of April 2002, 13 national workshops have been completed.
They've attracted 953 people, from 425 communities and more than 47
states. Each is considered a success, due primarily to its mix of
participants. Workshop attendees represent a spectrum of community
leaders, including land developers, builders, elected officials,
community planners, landscapers, real estate brokers, insurance agents,
college professors and homeowners as well as fire and emergency service
officials. Workshop organizers say these are the people who influence
how a community is built. To help capture this target audience, project
organizers have enlisted the endorsement of national "stakeholder"
groups, such as the American Planning Association, the National
Association of Home

## The Wildland/Urban Interface and Firewise: A Project History and Overview 

The Firewise Communities Workshops are guided by a Participant Workbook
(above), extensive reading materials and a computer simulation exercise.
The benchmark report Wildfire Strikes Home(1987) outlined the nature of
the wildland/urban interface and the scope of the problem and set a
course for the future.

### The Wildland/Urban Interface and Firewise: A Project History and Overview

Builders, the Insurance Services Office, the Institute for Business &
Home Safety, and the American Red Cross. To-date, there are more than 30
national stakeholders (see Appendix B). In addition, each national
workshop offers 1.6 continuing education credits/units, an important
attraction for professionals such

as Realtors and architects, who must continue their professional study
to remain certified. The success of each national workshop also relies
heavily on volunteers assigned as "Geographic Coordinators" for each
site. These individuals work to find local speakers and community
success stories to share at the workshop, as well as helping to ensure
that the right mix of participants are in attendance. See Appendix E for
a list of Geographic Coordinators. The national workshops will wrap up
at the end of 2003. In spring 2004, the Firewise Communities Program
will sponsor its first national conference of Firewise Communities.
Coordinators say this event will be the mechanism for setting the next
generation of Firewise activity into motion. State and Local Workshops:
Inspired by the national workshops, and supported by the Firewise
Communities Program, a series of state and local (one-day) workshops are
being offered around the country. As of spring 2002, approximately 30
such workshops have been offered in at least 5 different states,
reaching an estimated 800 individuals and over 400 communities. This
spin-off trend began in Florida in April of 2000, just months after the
pilot Firewise Communities Workshop.

# Firewise Community Support Programs

**Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Program:** Very early in the life
of the workshop series, project organizers understood that they were
unearthing a growing need for community follow-up and support. To
address this need, they've developed the Firewise Communities/USA
Recognition Program. In 2001, seven communities participated in the
pilot project that tests process and

standards. Another six joined in 2002. Each has agreed to develop a
local, interdisciplinary Firewise board or committee, to assess their
wildfire risks and to create a plan with achievable solutions. They also
agree to observe an annual Firewise Day and invest a small sum per
capita in local Firewise projects. In exchange, community leaders
receive ongoing technical advice and national sup-port that will assist
them in successfully implementing grassroots solutions. As the national
workshop series comes to its conclusion in late 2003, this community
recognition program will become a key component in perpetuating the
Firewise Communities concept and motivating local Firewise activity.

**Mapping and Hazard Assessment Assistance:** Recognizing that smaller
communities have urban planning needs similar to their big city
counterparts but without the same resources, project organizers have
arranged help through one of its series sponsors. The Environmental
Systems Research Institute (ESRI) is donating ArcViewGIS software (limit
one package per national workshop) to communities that have participated
in the national workshops and that are willing to make a commitment to
becoming Firewise. As part of the Community Support Program, the
Firewise Communities Technology Assistance includes mapping software and
site licensing from ESRI, and technical support through the

Firewise Community Support Program. To further aid with local mapping
needs, several Firewise groups have enlisted the help of junior high and
senior high students in assisting local fire authorities in assessments.
For example, in the communities of Frenchtown and Florence, Montana,
contractors have developed software that allows community data
collection and input by students. This program encourages
community-based mapping, which benefits fire officials, students,
teachers, and the community at large. Additional support for communities
is taking shape in the form of information sharing at meetings and
through the Firewise website, as well as specific advice and information
on a range of issues. In order to update the technology and provide more
information for non-technical users, the first edition of Firewise
Communities Workbook was revised in its second year. First published in
1994, Fire Protection in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Everyone's
Responsibility provided the basic tenets of community participation and
decision making used in the Firewise Communities Workshops. A revised
edition is planned for 2003.

# Firewise Videotape Productions

The Firewise Team continues to produce original informative videos for
use in fire organizations. They're reissuing three popular videos: Fire
Behavior in the Wildland/Urban Interface, Firefighter Safety in the
Wildland/Urban Interface, and a new version of the Cooperative Approach
video. Their anticipated

release date is 2003.

**Keeper Of The Flame:** Firewise Communities coordinators are currently
working with a national production crew to create a 120-minute
documentary on the history of wildland fire in America and the
development of the Firewise Communities movement. Actor Stacy Keach is
narrating, and noted fire historian Stephen Pyne is featured. The
project will be completed in late 2002. Organizers want to air the film
on a major educational channel. A 14-minute trailer of the project (in
DVD and video format) is available and will be used in workshop
outreach.

**Firewise Communities Mini-Documentaries:** To capture the local
success stories associated with the Firewise USA Recognition Program,
project organizers plan to create a series of mini Firewise Communities
documentaries. Each will profile a pilot recognition community, of which
there are currently 12. The length of each will be approximately eight
minutes.

**Other Firewise Story Tools:** Other Firewise storytelling projects
include a PowerPoint Presentation titled "Firewise Communities Action
Program," which introduces the Firewise Communities concept to a general
audience, and a six-minute video that captures the workshop experience
through the words of its participants. Both items are available on the
Firewise website at www.firewise.org. Additionally, a series of
attractive displays have been built to highlight the Firewise
Communities Program at meetings and conferences throughout the U.S.

# Firewise Publications

**Everyone's Responsibility:** Despite their best efforts, America's
fire officials cannot protect every resident of the wildland/urban
interface during a severe fire event. There are simply not enough
resources to go around. Firewise organizers believe that fire safety in
the wildland/urban interface is everyone's responsibility. Personal
responsibility forms the backbone of the workshop series with its
diversity of participants, and it has long been the focus of a National
WUI Fire Program publication called *Fire Protection in the
Wildland/Urban Interface: Everyone's Responsibility*. This document,
originally published in 1993, will be updated and re-released in 2003.

**Stakeholder's Perspective Book:** To capture the viewpoints of the
"stakeholders" involved in the wildland/urban interface fire safety
issue, program organizers are collecting their stories. Some are being
generated through the workshop series. Others will be captured from
selected interviews. All will be compiled into a book for national
distribution. Expected publication date is 2003.

**Firewise Communities Photo Book:** To capture the changing vistas of
the communities involved in the Firewise Communities/USA Recognition
Program and to document the mitigation work of other locations,
organizers are producing a "coffee table" photo book of Firewise
Communities. Expected publication date is 2003.

#### The Wildland/Urban Interface and Firewise: A Project History and Overview Easy to understand checklists, such as Firewise Landscaping (above) and Firewise Construction(below), provide basic guidance for homeowners to begin making their property more survivable from wildfire. 

**Wildfire News & Notes Magazine:** Published quarterly by the NWCG's
WUI Working Team, this popular newsletter highlights the activities and
developments in the world of wildland fire fighting and fire prevention.
It is available both electronically from the Firewise website and in
print format.

**Firewise Stakeholders Newsletter:** In 2001, organizers created a
Project Newsletter to keep the NWCG and the Wildland/Urban Interface
Working Team, the Firewise staff and their geographic coordinators,
stakeholders and other Firewise followers up-to-date on the latest
developments of the Firewise Program. This letter is sent out
electronically.

# Firewise Public Education and Marketing

**Firewise Website:** A wealth of fire safety information is accessible
by visiting the Firewise website at www.firewise.org. Sponsored by the
NWCG through the National Wildland/Urban Interface Working Team, this
website received 164,528 hits in August of 2001 and now averages 115,000
hits monthly. It features streaming video and downloadable documents and
an extensive list of important links, including the Firewise Communities
Workshop series website at www.firewise.org/communities and a searchable
library of national, state and local documents on a range of wildfire
safety issues at www.firewise.org/library. During fire season, the
Firewise website is featured on the CNN and USA Today websites.

**Firewise CD-Rom Library:** The National WUI Fire Program has a wealth
of data, ranging from case studies of catastrophic fires to national
standards for building in the urban interface to tips on fire-wise
landscaping. While part of this information is available on the Firewise
website, the entire library, contained on four CD-Roms, is given to
national workshop participants. The CDRoms also include the national
workshop exercise, which uses the geographic information system (GIS) to
display critical data layers in Firewise Communities design, such as
land use planning, road building and protection of ecological or
cultural considerations. This library helps attendees incorporate their
new fire knowledge into home communities. One of the latest additions to
the library, Is Your Home Protected From Wildfire Disaster? A
Homeowner's Guide to Wildfire Retrofit, was produced by a Firewise
stakeholder, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). When the
national workshop series concludes in late 2003, this library will
become part of an Internet-based Firewise Communities self-study
program.

**National Media Campaign:** Project organizers have contracted with
Guttman

Associates, a Beverly Hills public relations and marketing firm, to help
raise the national profile of the Firewise Communities Program. The
company will help solicit workshop support and media exposure through
its celebrity clients. It will also market the Firewise Communities
documentary. The Advertising Council --- in conjunction with the USDA
Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the
Firewise Communities Program --- is also developing Firewise public
service messages and support materials. The US Department of the
Interior in 2001 issued a series of Firewise PSAs for radio. Other
public relations

material, e.g., press releases for the media and feature articles for
industry or stakeholder publications, have been generated by Firewise
contractors. Some of these documents are available on the Firewise
Communities website.

**Firewise Kiosk and Mobile Exhibit:** The NWCG's WUI Working Team is
developing a number of public outreach projects, including an
informational kiosk that will be tested over the coming year in major
building supply stores, such as Home Depot or Lowe's. Also under
consideration is a mobile Firewise exhibit that could be used in
different venues across the country.

**School Education Projects:** For America's school children, project
organizers are creating a poster that will be inserted into the National
Science Foundation's teacher magazines. They're also developing a
Firewise Kids magazine and considering adding a kids' page to the
Firewise website. Potentially reaching about 60,000 children, the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA ® International) is revising
its RiskWatch® program in 2002 to include a section on natural
disasters. Firewise technical consultants are helping with this project,
which is set for release in 2003.

**Wildfire News & Notes**, begun in 1988, now has a print circulation of
over 16,000 and an Internet circulation of approximately 60,000. Is Your
Home

Protected from Wildfire Disaster? was developed by Firewise Stakeholder

Institute for Business & Home Safety (IHBS) and is now being distributed
by the

Firewise Communities program.

## The Wildland/Urban Interface and Firewise: A Project History and Overview 

**Firewise And National Fire Prevention Week®:** Project organizers say
that the

Firewise Communities message dovetails nicely with the intent of
National Fire

Prevention Week. Occurring in early October, this week traditionally
carried a structural fire message. In 2000, the Firewise team
collaborated nationally to include a wildland fire/Firewise component.
They anticipate this collaboration will continue.

# Firewise Special Projects

Almost as soon as they arrived at the idea of a national workshop
series, project

organizers recognized that the wildland/urban interface and its
diversity of stakeholders would require an array of tools to address
their array of needs. The following are a few of these:

**ISO Initiative:** The Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), the
rating organization

for the insurance industry, has been a long-term Firewise partner.
Currently, they are exploring ways to use insurance rating to motivate
Firewise behavior

in the wildland/urban interface.

**National WUI Roundtable:** As a means of staying abreast of new
developments in the wildland/urban interface and of developing new
opportunities for iteragency collaboration, the NWCG WUI Working Team
has initiated a Roundtable series, which invites industry leaders and
community stakeholders to a day-long gathering in Washington DC. A
transcript of these roundtable discussions will be available through the
Firewise website (www.firewise.org). The first roundtable occurred on
December 13th, 2001.

**Outreach to Elected Officials:** As a means of sharing the details of
the Firewise Communities Program with America's political leaders,
organizers are corresponding with members of Congress, the US Senate,
the Western Governor's Association, and mayors of at-risk communities as
designated by the

Federal Register.

**Firewise Poster:** Every national workshop attendee receives the
Firewise poster, which was commissioned by project organizers before the
startup of the workshop series in 1999. Created by Montana artist Monte
Dolack, the poster debuted at the Stevenson, Washington, Firewise
Communities Workshop in

March of 2000. The original print will be hung prominently somewhere in
our nation's capital in 2003, the same year the image may become a US
postage stamp. Members of Congress and the US Senate have also received
a copy of the Firewise poster, which depicts a firewise homeowner in the
midst of a

raging interface fire.

# Conclusion

After decades of trying, America's fire managers know today that they
cannot

stop wildfire from occurring. The best they can do is help their
constituents

prepare for it ahead of time. When a neighborhood is prepared for fire,
the

flames and embers are easier to manage and less damaging because
everyone

has become responsible for fire on the landscape. At the dawn of the
21st century, the stated Firewise goal is now to help homes survive
wildfire without the intervention of a nearby fire department, because
chances are, during a severe event, local resources (mostly volunteer
firefighters) cannot come to the

rescue. Typically, they're fighting fire elsewhere, and they're often
risking their lives to do it. These are the facts of the interface:
There are not enough resources--firefighters or equipment--to protect
every home threatened by a severe wildfire. Second, the wildland/urban
interface is a dangerous place when a wind-driven fire is occurring.
Anyone in its vicinity is at risk and the risk increases in an area
unprepared for the arrival of wildfire. Thirdly, the effort to save
homes that are often "un-protectable" not only puts firefighters and
residents at risk, it drives up the cost of fire suppression.

Hazard and risk assessments are essential to planning future changes in
community design. The Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Hazard Assessment
Methodology(1997) provides guidance for communities wishing to design a
custom assessment tool for benchmarking the local level of risk. The
December 2001 National Roundtable meeting provide some insight into
national activities by a numbers of public and private organizations.

In the face of these facts, Firewise provides a solution to seemingly
intractable problems. Creating Firewise homes and communities will help
reduce deaths and injuries, improve the effectiveness of response
agencies, reduce the total cost of fire suppression required in
interface incidents, and help fuel treatment programs become more
productive by reducing the exposure of prescribed fires initiated on
national and state lands to the communities that are growing up beside
them. This then is the landscape of wildland/urban interface fire.
Projects such as the Firewise Communities Program are like seeds in the
wind. Nurtured by an unprecedented partnership of multi-level government
initiative, American private enterprise and old-fashioned community
leadership, these seeds are landing in fertile soil and germinating into
a layer of grassroots projects that will let us all--firefighters,
residents, and taxpayers--sleep easier the next time smoke appears on
the horizon.

**[WILDLAND FIRE INVESTIGATION WORKING TEAM]{.underline}**

Paul Steensland, Forest Service is the Chair of this WT. \$38,000 was
budgeted but no report on accomplishments were received.

**[RADIO NARROWBAND ADVISORY GROUP]{.underline}**

Steve Jenkins, Forest Service is Chair of this Advisory Group. The
budget was limited to \$5,000 for state travel