HEADQUARTERS • NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER

IDAHO

Refer to: BFM2024023

March 21, 2024

Memorandum

To: Regional Fire Management Coordinators, Regions 1-8

From: Chief, Branch of Fire Management

Subject: Guidance for the Wildland Fire Boot Stipend

This memorandum provides eligibility requirements and payment procedures for the wildland

fire boot stipend and supersedes the Branch of Fire Management memorandum BFM2020010 dated 

January 12, 2023. This memorandum will remain valid until modified or rescinded.

The DOI Wildland Fire Program Policy Memorandum 2021-004, Department of the Interior Fire Boot 

Stipend Amendment 7.1.2021 authorizes payment of a one-hundred and sixty-seven dollars ($167) 

stipend per calendar year for employees holding a valid incident qualification card with a fitness rating of 

moderate or arduous, and who, as a condition of employment, are required to purchase boots. Validity of 

the incident qualification card is determined by the fitness expiration date on the card. This authorization 

includes permanent full-time, term, career conditional, pathways, temporary, collateral duty, and casual 

employees hired using the administratively determined hiring authority. Protective footwear is considered 

non-specialized personal protective equipment, is personal in nature, and can be used by employees off 

the job site. Therefore, appropriate boots are a condition of employment for firefighting positions, and 

boots must be purchased by the employee prior to employment. Government purchase cards are not to be 

used to purchase boots.

Zone Fire Management Officers are responsible for determining stipend eligibility, offering the stipend to 

all eligible employees, and tracking who receives the boot stipend each calendar year. The boot stipend 

payment is considered a taxable fringe benefit and shall be processed in accordance with FWS Boot 

Stipend Payment Procedures. These procedures, forms and supporting information are located on the 

Branch of Fire Management Incident Business SharePoint.

For Administratively Determined (AD) hires, the Casual Payment Center (CPC) automatically pays the 

boot stipend to eligible AD personnel on their first qualifying incident. Hiring units are responsible for 

tracking payments to ensure there are no duplicate payments made to individuals. 

The Wildland Fire Boot Standard is described in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire and Aviation 

Operations (Red Book), Chapter 7. 

Questions regarding this program should be directed to Brian Gales, Acting National Wildland Fire 

Safety Program Manager at 503-778-0372 or Robyn Post, Administrative Officer, Branch of Fire 

Management at 208-387-5736.

United States Department of the Interior

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Branch of Fire Management

National Interagency Fire Center

3833 South Development Avenue

Boise, Idaho 83705
HEADQUARTERS • NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER

IDAHO

cc: 

Cynthia Martinez, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System

Eric Alvarez, Deputy Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System

Debbie Devore, Chief, Division of Natural Resources and Conservation Planning

Rebekah Giddings (WO-HR)

Rebecca Endicott, Casual Payment Center (CPC)