*Bureau of Land Management Fire and Aviation Preparedness Review Guide*

*Bureau of Land Management Fire and Aviation Preparedness Review Guide*

**NATIONAL  SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1FIRE AND AVIATION PREPAREDNESS REVIEW GUIDE**

**CONTENTS**

**POLICY**

· What the review does

· BLM review schedules

· Schedule for future BLM national reviews

**THE REVIEW PROCESS**

· Review activities

· Functional areas reviewed

· The final report

· Interagency reviews

**RESPONDING TO THE REPORT**

· Unit level reports

· State level report

**THE REVIEW TEAM**

· Team selection

· Team member responsibilities

· Team leader

· Team member

· Functional area leader

· State office liaison

· Team member expectations

**BECOMING A TEAM MEMBER**

· Per diem and pay

· Travel and lodging

· Safety management

**CHECKLISTS**

· Checklist revisions

**DRILLS**

· Drill revisions

**BLM NATIONAL FIRE PREPAREDNESS REVIEW GUIDE**

**POLICY**

The *Review and Update of the 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy* (January 2001) states that, “*Agencies will ensure their capability to provide safe, cost-effective fire management programs in support of land and resource management plans through appropriate planning, staffing, training, equipment, and management oversight*.”

The assistant director, fire and aviation, accomplishes this in part through the fire preparedness review process.

**What the review does**

Fire preparedness reviews assess fire programs for compliance with established fire policies and procedures as outlined in the current*Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations* and other pertinent policy documents. Reviews identify organizational, operational, procedural, personnel, or equipment deficiencies, and recommend specific corrective actions.

**BLM review schedules**

· BLM districts conduct fire preparedness reviews annually.

· BLM state offices conduct statewide fire preparedness reviews every two years.

· The BLM national office conducts national fire preparedness reviews of each BLM state fire program every four years.

**Schedule for future BLM national reviews**

**THE REVIEW PROCESS**

Each unit of the state fire program is reviewed for operational preparedness.  Each review begins with a briefing of the state director and/or staff. The review team leader will then give an inbriefing to the agency administrator (district manager) at the unit level. After these briefings, team members disperse and begin to review their functional areas.  Standardized checklists are used. A written report containing commendations, and  findings and recommended actions is prepared. At the conclusion of each local unit review, the agency administrator receives an out-briefing and a draft final report for the respective unit. The draft state report, presented at the state closeout, will include all unit level draft reports. Out-briefings will be scheduled and managed to last less than one hour.  Team member participation in the out-briefing is determined by the review team leader.

**Interagency Reviews**

While the primary objective of the BLM review is to assess fire program readiness with respect to national BLM standards, it can be expanded to include cooperating agency resources. This is coordinated through the national team leader and the BLM state office.  

In order to provide a standardized assessment of agency resources, even in a blended unit, the national standard BLM checklists are required to be used on all reviews. The two most common conditions for an interagency review are:

· Units where the suppression resources and their management work in conjunction with BLM but have a separate agency specific chain of command. The BLM team will review local suppression resources, equipment, and individuals. The team leader will offer a separate verbal closeout and written assessment of the cooperating agency preparedness level to the respective agency administrator. This written assessment will not be included in the BLM local or statewide reports. Follow-up and corrective action are the responsibility of the cooperating agency. The review team requires no response to this assessment and the local BLM units are not responsible for implementation of related recommendations. The cooperating agency may assign personnel to work in conjunction with the BLM team, to review their agency program elements.

· Units where the suppression resources are fully blended and supervision takes place across agency lines. The BLM review team is required to review all employees, regardless of agency, who supervise BLM personnel. The focus of this review will be to ensure compliance with BLM national policy. The team members will identify differences in training, qualifications, and any known differences in policy between the involved agencies. Any noncompliance with BLM national requirements will be included in the written report and require remediation though the appropriate BLM office. Where local BLM units have set more stringent standards than BLM national standards, compliance with these local standards is the responsibility of the local unit.  Compliance with these additional standards is not included in the review.

**Review activities**

Review activities include:

· Interviewing fire program and related personnel

· Reviewing and verifying required documentation

· Inspecting fire equipment and facilities

· Evaluating field fire crew drill

· Writing the draft report

**Functional areas reviewed:**

Unit District Manager/Agency Administrator

Fire ManagementOfficer

Fire Operations Supervisor

Incident Business

Safety Officer

Fire Training and Qualifications

Facilities and Cache

Geographic Area Coordination Center

Local Dispatch

Aviation Management

Aviation Base

Helicopter Module

Smokejumper Unit

Firefighter

Engine

Interagency Hotshot Crew

Handcrew Non-IHC

Dozer/Tractor Plow

Vehicles

Fuel Transport****

**Final report**

The final report is submitted to the assistant director, fire and aviation, within 14 days of the state closeout. The assistant director, fire and aviation, will issue it to the state director with a request for a written action plan.

The report includes:

· Cover letter – assistant director, fire and aviation, to state director

· Commendations – recognize exemplary individual achievement

· Findings – identify specific fire program deficiencies

· Discussion – elaborate on specific findings, if necessary

· Recommendations – recommend specific corrective action

· The assistant director, fire and aviation, requests a written action plan in response to the report recommendations.

**RESPONDING TO THE REPORT**

**Unit-Level Reports**

The state office is responsible for ensuring follow-up to unit level recommendations.  Follow-up assistance will be provided by the fire and aviation directorate (FAD) team leader as requested.

**State-Level Report**

A written action plan must be submitted for approval to the assistant director, fire and aviation, for each statewide recommendation on this final report. For each of these statewide recommendations, the action plan must propose corrective action, identify individual responsible for action, and provide a proposed due date for completion.  Follow-up assistance will be provided by the FAD team leader as requested. States are required to provide formal updates every six months until all corrective actions are completed.

**THE REVIEW TEAM**

Review teams consist of technical experts from each of the functional areas listed in “The Review Process” section of this document. Team members are selected from local, state, and national offices. Interagency members are selected when appropriate. Team size and makeup depends upon program size and complexity.

**Team selection**

The division of fire operations selects a team leader to conduct a scheduled national review. The team leader contacts the state AFMO and establishes a review schedule.  Team size is determined and recruitment of team members begins. An information bulletin from the assistant director, fire and aviation, requesting available personnel is issued in  January. A roster of interested personnel is developed in February and March. All interested individuals are encouraged to submit their names and qualifications as per the request letter. Final team selection usually takes several weeks. Team members are identified and contacted to confirm availability. A briefing package is sent to each team member. Travel arrangements are made. The team will assemble and in-brief the day prior to the review to discuss objectives, organization and administration.

**Team member responsibilities**

· **Team Leader**

The team leader is responsible for the safety and welfare of team members and executing the review. The team leader maintains contact with all team members throughout the review process in order to keep members informed and to assist with administrative, organizational and logistical issues. Organizes daily activities, establishes time frames, schedules and facilitates all briefings. Assimilates information from team members and prepares the final report.

· **Team Member**

Team members are selected to be subject matter experts in their assigned functional area. Team members are responsible for communicating findings both orally and in writing to the team leader or delegate within established time frames. Team members are expected to review the subject unit to national standards as shown in the supplied checklists and not to the standard operating procedures found on their home unit. Team members are encouraged to bring laptop computers to assist in the preparation of review documentation.

· **Functional Area Leader**

In many cases, the review team leader will select a functional area leader (dispatch, engines, aviation) to assist in the management of specific areas within the review. This individual will be a highly experienced individual who can help the review team leader facilitate the review process and streamline the information gathering process. The functional area leader will compile and summarize inputs from their team of specialists. Each functional area leader will be expected to ensure the completion of checklists and provide draft findings and recommendations to the team leader. The functional area leader is responsible for briefing the review team leader on any finding that could cause question in the unit being reviewed and as needed, accompany the review team leader to closeouts to explain findings and recommendations to the local unit administrators.

· **State Office Liaison**

A state office fire program manager serves as the liaison between the review team and the local agency administrators and fire staffs. The state liaison coordinates team activities with the local units and the state office, negotiates review itinerary with the team leader and ensures that agency administrators and fire staff are aware of schedules. The state liaison coordinates team logistics, including travel schedules and lodging with the team leader. Communicates review finding to the state fire staff on an on-going basis. Provides the team with a list of key contacts, locations and phone numbers. The liaison is not responsible for contributing to or editing the documents prepared by the team.

**Expectations of team members**

The evaluation process requires a great deal of time and effort. Team members will conduct themselves professionally. They should not discuss personal business or biases, should work only in designated areas, and should maintain control of review documents at all times.

It is extremely important that team members are accurate and remain focused on specific tasks they are assigned. Team members who complete their assigned workload will be expected to assist others in completing their work. No one will be released from duty until their assigned work is completed and no other team members require assistance. The review is a team effort.

**BECOMING A TEAM MEMBER**

Solicitation for participation on the review team is sent out as an information bulletin (IB) from the assistant director, fire and aviation, in January. Prospective team members need to apply through the process outlined in the IB. Prospective team members will need to have the approval of their supervisor to apply. Selection to a team will involve a significant commitment of time and effort. Prospective team members should ensure that the commitment can be met if selected. The FAD operations staff is available to answer any questions you have regarding the qualifications, duties, and requirements of a team member.

**Perdiem and Pay**

Pay for all travel and overtime expenses is covered by the FAD. Each review team member will arrange their travel to and from the review location. All arrangements for travel once the team is assembled will be done through the team leader. The base pay of the team members is the responsibility of the member’s home unit.

**Travel and Lodging**

Travel to and from each unit typically takes place in the morning or evening prior to or after the daily work has been completed. Team members will travel in groups to share driving responsibilities. One team member will be designated to track all team members to ensure that they depart and arrive on time. Coordination of departure times will allow team members adequate time to get from one place to another. A formal check-in system will be established. Maintaining a set travel schedule and checking-in with the team or functional area leader is required. Lodging will be coordinated through the team leader.  Meals are not scheduled and may take place at odd hours. Work hours are long and may include working or traveling on weekends.

**Safety Management**

Safe work procedures are the responsibility of all team members. Driving, travel and work rest are critical safety issues facing the team. The review requires long hours and frequent driving early in the morning and late in the evening. Time must be allowed for adequate rest and relaxation.

**CHECKLISTS**

The standards reflected in the checklists are established national policy requirements. The checklists reflect the agency standard for operations and performance in each area of review and are not arbitrary standards set by the review team. These checklists are used on all FAD national preparedness reviews to maintain a consistent level of review nationwide. The individual states can request individual items of interest be added to the checklists used in their state review, but these additions must not contradict any established national policy requirements outlined in the standard checklist.

Unit District Manager/Agency AdministratorAviation Base

Fire Management OfficerHelicopter Module

Fire Operations SupervisorSmokejumper Unit

Incident BusinessFirefighter

Safety OfficerEngine

Fire Training and QualificationsInteragency Hotshot Crew

Facilities and CacheHandcrew Non-IHC

Geographic Area Coordination CenterDozer/Tractor Plow

Local Dispatch CenterVehicles

Aviation ManagementFuel Transport

**Checklist Revisions**

Proposed revisions to the checklists can be sent to Fire Management Specialist Marlene Eno-Hendren at meno@blm.gov. Comments should be typed into the “remarks” section of the checklist proposed for change. These checklists can be sent electronically to the above address for consideration. Proposed changes need to reflect current national policy and be a quantifiable item that directly applies to fire preparedness. The proposed revisions should include the exact verbiage that is being proposed. Checklists are reviewed for compliance with agency policy and standards. Proposed changes will need to be submitted by the end of February for consideration that year.

**DRILLS AND SKILLS**

All resources will be given a field exercise. All field exercises will be reviewed for operational proficiency. The drills can be done in the field on “mock” fires or they can be done in the station. The same items will be reviewed regardless of the location of the drill.  These drill formats are for reference only and not part of the written package that is submitted to the local unit at the completion of the review. These drills give the review team members and the local units an opportunity to know in advance what the standards are and what the team will be looking for and give a standardized set of skills testing for agency resources nationwide.

Drills & Skills Summary

Initial Response Protocol

Initial Report from Scene

Briefing Checklist/Risk Management

Mobile Attack

Stationary Attack/Hose Lay

Use of Foam

Spot Fire

Fireline Construction

Portable Pump Exercise

Helitack/Initial Attack

Helitack Bucket/Fixed Tank Operations

Helitack/Helispot

Helitack – Longline

Helitack – Personnel Transport

Dispatching

Smokejumper Response Procedures

Smokejumper Mission

Medical Emergency Response

Vehicle Inspection and Equipment Location

Handtool Safety Check

Firing Devices

Belt Weather Kit

Hydraulic Knowledge Test

Fire Shelter Deployment

Pump Check and Flow Test

**Drill Revisions**

Proposed revisions to the checklists can be sent to Fire Management Specialist Marlene Eno-Hendren at meno@blm.gov. Comments should be typed into the “remarks” section of the drill proposed for change. These proposed changes can be sent electronically to the above address for consideration. Proposed changes need to reflect a quantifiable item that directly applies to fire preparedness. The proposed revisions should include the exact verbiage that is being proposed. Drills are reviewed for compliance with agency policy and standards. Proposed changes must be submitted by the end of February for consideration that year.

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