[Forest Service Direction on Severity Authorizations]{.underline}

[Forest Fire Severity Authorizations]{.underline}. Authorization may be
granted at the Regional and national levels (FSM 5192.21) for
adjustments of planned specific actions and staffing in excess of the
planned and budgeted program to improve initial attack response
capabilities and wildfire prevention activities and the subsequent use
of emergency funds for those adjustments. Base requests for such
authorization upon seasonal variations in Regional weather or fire
occurrence which increase fire severity significantly above the level
normally expected

(FSM 5192.24). Follow the procedures in FSM 5192.25 in requesting
severity authorization.

These funds are not provided for the purpose of restoring funding
reductions or for raising funding levels to those identified in fire
management plans as the Most Efficient Level (MEL).

Regardless of the length of the severity authorization, funding
activities shall be terminated when abnormal conditions no longer exist.

Severity authorizations cover expenditures approved by the Chief only
when the Region\'s preparedness allocation is fully programmed or
obligated for planned fire management activities and significant threat
of wildfire continues.

Unobligated year-end Regional preparedness funds shall be used to offset
severity expenditures to the extent possible.

[Levels]{.underline}. There are two levels of severity authorizations,
national and Regional. The direction on use and management of severity
funding in

FSM 5192.22 - 5192.26 applies to both levels.

1\. [Regional Level]{.underline}. The Regional Forester may authorize
severity expenditures to address short-term needs which require special
preparedness activities. Short term needs normally last less than one
week. Regional Foresters have the responsibility to ensure that these
funds are used in accordance with national direction and that
expenditures do not exceed amounts approved.

Short-term needs may be prompted by extraordinary events (wind or
lightning) or unexpected social events that increase the potential for
human-caused fire.

Concurrent with Regional Forester approval, Regions shall submit a copy
of each Regional-level authorization to the Washington Office, Director
of Fire and Aviation Management.

2\. [National Level]{.underline}. The Deputy Chief for State and Private
Forestry may authorize severity requests for specified time frames not
exceeding 30 days. The need for these funds must be based on weather
conditions which are creating, or have the potential to create, abnormal
fire protection workloads.

[Typical Uses.]{.underline} Typical uses of severity funds are to:

1\. Temporarily increase firefighting staffing;

2\. Provide standby resources and pay;

3\. Preposition initial attack forces;

4\. Provide additional aerial reconnaissance or other means of
detection;

5\. Increase aircraft availability, including airtankers outside the
mandatory availability period;

6\. Increase prevention activities; and

7\. Supplement contractual services.

[Inappropriate Uses]{.underline}. Severity funds may not be used for:

1\. Administrative surcharges, indirect costs, and fringe benefits;

2\. Equipment purchases;

3\. Vehicle maintenance, F.O.R., upgrades, and repairs; and

4\. Aircraft availability during the mandatory availability period of
contracts.

[Criteria]{.underline}. Units may request severity authorizations to
provide essential preparedness forces and activities when either of the
following conditions exists:

1\. Unusual weather and fire conditions result in the occurrence, or
substantial threat of occurrence, of wildfires with significant damage
potential before or after the historic fire season identified in the
Forest fire management plan.

2\. Weather conditions result in a period of fire severity which is, or
is anticipated to be, higher than the ninetieth percentile of the base
period used in the fire program planning to determine MEL.

[Severity Request Components]{.underline}. The Regional Forester must
make a written request to the Chief for authorization to expend
emergency funds for preparedness activities. The request must include a
narrative and maps of current and forecasted fire severity, including
weather, fuel moisture, and fire danger. The request must include the
descriptions or documents in the following paragraphs 1 to 11 and may
also include the optional documents in paragraph 12:

1\. The area affected.

2\. How fire weather conditions exceed those upon which the current fire
management program is based, in both duration and magnitude.

3\. Adjustments of Regional forces and funds which have been made or are
planned.

4\. Cooperators\' fire situation and status of forces.

5\. Current status of Regional fire preparedness funds and an estimate
of when these funds will be fully obligated.

6\. The amount and purpose of the requested authorization, including
description, period and cost of forces, equipment, and contracts.

7\. The latest Palmer Drought Index map or Keetch-Byram Drought Index
(KBDI) map.

8\. The latest 30- and 90-day outlook maps for precipitation and
temperature.

9\. The latest map showing the current month departure from normal
precipitation and temperature.

10\. Except for the Southern Region (Region 8), a graph of the current
year energy release component (ERC), using the current National Fire
Management Analysis System (NFMAS) weather database and representative
weather stations in the severity request area. Plot the current year ERC
track, the database average ERC track, the database highest recorded ERC
track, and the database 90th and 97th percentile ERC values on one
chart.

The Regional Forester, Southern Region shall submit a graph of the
current year KBDI, using the current NFMAS weather database and
representative weather stations in the severity request area. Plot the
current year KBDI track, the database average KBDI track, the database
highest recorded KBDI track, and the database 90th and 97th percentile
KBDI values on one chart.

11\. A narrative regarding how fire prevention personnel and fire
prevention activities will be used.

12\. Optional: A narrative or trend graphs depicting the departure from
normal of initial attack activity, initial attack failures, and acres
burned in the severity request area.

[5192.26]{.underline} - [Required Documentation]{.underline}. Units
requesting severity authorizations shall maintain adequate records
documenting the actual severity conditions for which approval was
granted.

Additionally, annual direction is issued by the Forest Service to
provide additional direction.