United States Department of the Interior 

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

Washington, DC 20240

 June 17, 2022 

Memorandum 

To: All Regional Directors

Attention: All Superintendents

From: Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Subject: Wildland Fire Management Readiness Review Policy and Implementation of New 

Readiness Review Checklists 

Purpose: This memorandum provides updated policy to Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Regional 

and Agency Offices on the implementation of Wildland Fire Management Readiness Reviews, to 

include the implementation of new Readiness Review Checklists. The policies identified in this 

memorandum will be updated in the 2023 revision of the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire 

Aviation Operations (Red Book). Beginning in the 2023 edition of the Red Book, any policy and 

guidance updates related to readiness reviews will be documented in the Red Book. 

Background: The BIA, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, United States Fish 

and Wildlife Service, and United States Forest Service operate Federal wildland fire 

management programs that include preparedness, aviation, fuels management, and wildland fire 

suppression and management. All Agencies are signatory to the Red Book, a guide and policy 

handbook for the safe and effective implementation of wildland fire management programs and 

activities among all the federal agencies.

Readiness reviews are methodical examinations of wildland fire management programs and 

activities related to program management, safety, leadership, operations, preparedness, training, 

staffing, business practices, budget, cost containment, planning, and interagency or interagency 

cooperation and coordination. Readiness reviews are not intended to be punitive, rather are 

intended to ensure effectiveness of the programs, to identify positive aspects, and to identify 

deficiencies and recommend specific corrective actions.

Readiness reviews provide Zone, Local Unit, Regional, and National level organizations 

situational awareness to ensure the appropriate levels of support and oversight are provided to 

ensure continued success and improvements of a professional fire management organization. 

With honest and strong readiness reviews, we can identify support improvement at all levels. 

Policy: This memorandum directs BIA Regional and Agency Offices to implement and 

participate in Wildland Fire Management Readiness Reviews as follows:

1. Regional readiness reviews will be conducted by Central Office, Branch of Wildland

Fire Management subject matter experts every 2 years. Readiness reviews are not

authorized to be self-assessments.
2. Zone and Unit level (Agency and Tribal) readiness reviews will be conducted 

annually by Regional Office wildland fire management subject matter experts. 

Readiness reviews are not authorized to be self-assessments. It is encouraged that 

Regional Offices formulate review teams consisting of subject matter experts from 

other BIA Regions, Agencies, and other interagency partners. 

3. Readiness reviews may be conducted in person, virtual, or a combination of, as long 

as thorough reviews are conducted.

4. Annual Tribal wildland fire management program readiness reviews are required for 

Tribal programs operating wildland fire preparedness and suppression, and aviation 

programs on behalf of the BIA. Tribal readiness reviews will be conducted in 

accordance with applicable regulations based on their agreement with the BIA.

5. Annual Zone and Unit level readiness reviews are required for all Agency 

jurisdictions, utilizing the appropriate readiness review checklists that pertain to their 

jurisdiction. 

6. The approved Readiness Review Checklists for Regional, Zone, and Unit level 

readiness reviews are available at www.nifc.gov/standards/bia-preparedness-review. 

Optional materials exist here that may be used to further enhance readiness reviews.

7. The minimum required readiness review checklists that will be used for all 

jurisdictions are:

a. Agency Administrator 

b. Fire Management Administration

c. Fire Management Officer

d. Fire Operations Supervisor 

e. Incident Business 

f. Fire Training and Qualifications

g. Fire Prevention & Mitigation

h. Facilities/Cache

i. Local Dispatch

j. Aviation Management 

k. Vehicles

l. Employee Orientation Checklist 

8. The following readiness review checklists are optional, however shall be used if the 

jurisdiction operates those activities:

a. Aviation Base 

b. Single Engine Airtanker (SEAT) Base

c. Helicopter Module

d. Individual Firefighter Evaluation

e. Engine 

f. Interagency Hotshot Crew

g. Handcrew non-IHC

h. Fuel Transport 

9. Readiness reviews shall truly identify all aspects of the wildland fire management 

programs to provide accurate situational awareness of program management.

10. If deficiencies or needs for improvement are identified, they will be accurately 

described in order to develop thorough corrective action plans. 
11. Corrective action plans must be developed and implemented within thirty days of the 

completed readiness review. Regional, Agency, Tribal programs will be provided up 

to six months to correct identified deficiencies or needs for improvement.

12. The organization being reviewed will be provided with the completed checklist, a 

memorandum describing the determined state of the program, and if any follow up 

actions and corrective action plans are required. The memorandum and completed 

checklists will be provided within thirty days of the completed readiness review.

13. If a deficiency or need for improvement is not correctable locally, the identified issue 

shall be formally relayed to the Regional or Central Office to provide further 

assistance and support to ensure forward progress to success.

14. If no actions are taken to correct identified deficiencies or needs for improvement, the 

next managerial level organization will need to take the appropriate steps to ensure 

safe and effective operations of wildland fire management programs occurs.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Josh Simmons, Director, Wildland Fire 

Operations at (208) 387-5372 or Aaron Baldwin, Chief, Branch of Wildland Fire Management at 

(208) 387-5697.