# Presentation: 317534

## Fuels and Fire Use Workshop

- Changes in Rx Classes
- Updates in 310-1related to Rx
- Erik Christiansen, USFWS

## Update - New Prescribed Fire Courses

- As a result of a joint decision by the NWCG and Fire Use Working Team, RX-300- Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, was broken into two courses: RX-341- Prescribed Fire Plan Preparation, and RX-301- Prescribed Fire Implementation.
- RX-301 builds on knowledge learned during RX-341, but RX-341 is not a prerequisite to RX-301 since neither will be required in the PMS 310-1. It will be *recommended* that people take both RX-341 and RX-301 (in that order).
- Some federal agencies currently require RX-300 and may change the requirement based on the two new courses. Reference your agency policy.

## Update - New Prescribed Fire Courses

- Anyone who has taken RX-300 does not need to take either of the new courses. The new courses will be published in 2009 and at that point RX-300 will become obsolete. The Field Managers Course Guide and the PMS 310-1 will reflect the new course changes when applicable.
- Both IQCS and IQS have been alerted to the change in courses and both systems should accept the new courses.

## Purpose of RX-341

- 	Provide students with the skills/knowledge to prepare a prescribed fire burn plan for technical review and approval in accordance with the Prescribed Fire Implementation Procedures Reference Guide.

## Rx-341 COURSE OBJECTIVES

- Describe prescribed fire planning policies and guidelines.
- Identify and describe the processes involved in preparing the RX fire burn plan.
- Develop and defend a RX burn plan that safely meets management objectives.

## STUDENT PREREQUISITES(proposed)

**Fire Personnel:**
- Any single resource boss
- ICT4
- Proficient in the use of BehavePlus
- Successful completion of pre-course material
**Resource Personnel:**
- Knowledge of fire suppression principles and techniques
- Proficient in the use of BehavePlus
- Successful completion of pre-course material

**Notes:**
The intent of course prerequisites is to ensure a common standard of knowledge and experience is held by all students. If agency policy or an unusual unit need requires an employee to attend a course for which they do not meet the course prerequisites this will be documented in the remarks section of the nomination and the nomination will be submitted through the normal process. The nomination will be included with the other course nominations during the prioritization process. 

## Purpose of RX-301 Prescribed Fire Implementation 

- Students will familiarize themselves with various aspects of the Burn Boss position and its relation to the use of prescribed fire as a management tool.

## Rx-301 Objectives

- Review and be prepared to discuss interagency policy, agency specific policy and unit planning documents that permit the use of prescribed fire as a management tool.
- Demonstrate the ability to interpret and validate BehavePlus outputs as they apply to burn plan objectives and prescription.
- Demonstrate knowledge of ignition, holding, and monitoring skills necessary to implement a prescribed fire.
- Identify all required burn plan elements per national policy.

## Low Complexity Burn Boss

- RxB3
- Will not be added to 310-1
- Not a position that is mobilized nationally
- Not supported by all members of NWCG
- Minimum standards for Federal Agencies are found in the _*Prescribed Fire Implementation Procedures Reference Guide*_.
- Agency specific standards Apply

## Updates or Changes to 310-1 Prescribed Fire

- May 2008 Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS310-1)
- Some PTBs have been combined to include common tasks, with additional tasks for specific positions. The common tasks need only be completed once.
- FBAN/LTAN
- FUM1/FUM2

## Updates or Changes to 310-1 Prescribed Fire

- Changes have been made to allow agencies more flexibility in establishing local standards for prescribed fire. This makes the prescribed fire qualifications consistent with the rest of the PMS 310-1.
- PRESCRIBED FIRE COMPLEXITY
- Agencies can develop their own specific prescribed fire complexity determination procedures.
- The *Prescribed Fire Complexity Guide*, PMS 424, is an aid for use in this process.
- This document is at *http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/RxFire/rxfire.htm*.

## Updates or Changes to 310-1 Prescribed Fire

- Establish minimum qualifications for personnel involved in prescribed fires on which resources of more than one agency are utilized—unless local agreements specify otherwise.
- “The NWCG recognizes the ability of cooperating agencies at the local level to jointly define and accept each other’s qualifications...and prescribed fire.”

## Updates or Changes to 310-1 Prescribed Fire

- Competencies, Behaviors and Task, as it relates to application of fire, have been added to all task books for operations positions from the FFT1 through DIVS.
- FIRB is still recognized in 310-1.
- Intent is to build competencies throughout the operations section positions, which would eventually make the FIRB unnecessary.