# Guide to Completing the Incident Complexity Analysis.

# (Type 1, 2)

**1)** If positive responses exceed, or are equal to, negative responses
within any primary factor (A through G), the primary factor should be
considered as a positive response.

**2)** If any three of the primary factors (A through G) are positive
responses, this indicates the fire situation is or is predicted to be of
Type 1 complexity.

**3)** Factor H should be considered after numbers 1--3 are completed.
If more than two of the items in factor H are answered yes, and three or
more of the other primary factors are positive responses, a Type 1 team
should be considered. If the composites of H are negative, and there are
fewer than three positive responses in the primary factors (A-G), a Type
2 team should be considered. If the answers to all questions in H are
negative, it may be advisable to allow the existing overhead to continue
action on the fire.

+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| ### Incident Complexity Analysis Type 1 & 2               | *  | **N |
|                                                           | *Y | O** |
|                                                           | ES |     |
|                                                           | ** |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| **A. Fire Behavior** (Observed or Predicted)              |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 1.  Burning index (from on-site measurement of weather    |    |     |
|     conditions) predicted to be above the 90% level using |    |     |
|     the major fuel model in which the fire is burning.    |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 2.  Potential exists for extreme fire behavior (fuel      |    |     |
|     moisture, winds, etc.).                               |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 3.  Crowning, profuse or long-range spotting.             |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 4.  Weather forecast indicating no significant relief or  |    |     |
|     worsening conditions.                                 |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| Total                                                     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| **B. Resources Committed**                                |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 1.  200 or more personnel assigned.                       |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 2.  Three or more divisions.                              |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 3.  Wide variety of special support personnel.            |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 4.  Substantial air operation which is not properly       |    |     |
|     staffed.                                              |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 5.  Majority of initial attack resources committed.       |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| Total                                                     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| **C. Resources Threatened**                               |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 1.  Urban interface.                                      |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 2.  Developments and facilities.                          |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 3.  Restricted, threatened, or endangered species         |    |     |
|     habitat.                                              |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 4.  Cultural sites.                                       |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 5.  Unique natural resources, special-designation areas,  |    |     |
|     wilderness.                                           |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 6.  Other special resources.                              |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| Total                                                     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| **D. Safety**                                             |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 1.  Unusually hazardous fireline construction.            |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 2.  Serious accidents or fatalities.                      |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 3.  Threat to safety of visitors from fire and related    |    |     |
|     operations.                                           |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 4.  Restrictions and/or closures in effect or being       |    |     |
|     considered.                                           |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 5.  No night operations in place for safety reasons.      |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| Total                                                     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| **E. Ownership**                                          |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 1.  Fire burning or threatening more than one             |    |     |
|     jurisdiction.                                         |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 2.  Potential for claims (damages).                       |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 3.  Different or conflicting management objectives.       |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 4.  Disputes over suppression responsibility.             |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 5.  Potential for unified command.                        |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| Total                                                     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| **F. External Influences**                                |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 1.  Controversial fire policy.                            |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 2.  Pre-existing controversies/relationships.             |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 3.  Sensitive media relationships.                        |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 4.  Smoke management problems.                            |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 5.  Sensitive political interests.                        |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 6.  Other external influences.                            |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| Total                                                     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| **G. Change in Strategy**                                 |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 1.  Change in strategy to control from confine or contain |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 2.  Large amounts of unburned fuel within planned         |    |     |
|     perimeter.                                            |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 3.  WFSA invalid or requires updating.                    |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| Total                                                     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+

+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| **H. Existing Overhead**                                  |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 1.  Worked two operational periods without achieving      |    |     |
|     initial objectives.                                   |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 2.  Existing management organization ineffective.         |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 3.  Overhead overextended mentally and/or physically.     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| 4.  Incident action plans, briefings, etc. missing or     |    |     |
|     poorly prepared.                                      |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+
| Total                                                     |    |     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+----+-----+