Interagency Fire Program Management

Decision Paper #7 and General Updates 1 of 3

Decision Paper #7 24 May 2019

Subject: Change to M-581 Fire Program Management course for Unit Fire Program Manager Positions 

and General Updates

Effective Date: This decision is effective on July 1, 2019.

Background: The Fire Management Board (FMB) has received a request to change the M-581 Fire 

Program Management course from a condition of hire (selective placement factor) to a condition of 

employment for Unit Fire Program Manager (UFPM) Positions. 

Decision: The DOI Bureaus will administer the M-581 training requirement for Unit Fire Program 

Managers as a condition of employment to be completed within one year of entry on duty. The USDA 

Forest Service will continue to administer M-581 required as a condition of hire (selective placement 

factor) for UFPM applicants.

Implementation: DOI Bureaus will ensure that all changes to automated staffing systems for positions 

impacted by this change are completed prior to July 1, 2019. Bureaus will identify M-581 as a 

condition of employment for UFPM positions after July 1, 2019. Please reference the attached updated 

IFPM Position Matrix.

The IFPM Standard and all supporting materials available on the IFPM website have been updated.

Scope: The revisions as outlined in this decision paper apply to all recruitment and qualification 

determinations effective July 1, 2019.
Interagency Fire Program Management

Decision Paper #7 and General Updates 2 of 3

General Updates: 24 May 2019

Aviation Qualifications: Upon issuance of the October 1, 2018 National Incident Management System: 

Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1) the Helibase Type 1 (HEB1) and Helibase Type 

2 (HEB2) positions have been combined to Helibase Manager (HEBM) positions. All references to 

HEB1 and HEB2 have been changed to HEBM in the IFPM standard and IFPM Position Matrix.

Course Name and Number Changes: In June 2017, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group 

(NWCG) Executive Board approved the following actions:

 Local Fire Management Leadership (LFML) and M-581, Fire Program Management courses

have been combined and will be delivered as M-581, Fire Program Management – An Overview.

 The National Fire Management Leadership (NFML) course has been assigned the M-582 course

number and retitled: Fire Program Management – Leading Complex Programs.

Specific information regarding this change can be located at the NWCG website. This change impacts 

the NWCG additional required training requirements for Unit Fire Program Manager, Geographic Fire 

Program Manager and National Fire Program Manager positions identified in the IFPM Standard.

This change has resulted in the following modifications to the UFPM, GFPM and NFPM position 

requirements:

Unit Fire Program Manager 

Additional required training as presented in the following courses or agency equivalent:

 M-581, Fire Program Management – An Overview

Geographic Fire Program Manager (GFPM) and National Fire Program Manager (NFPM)

Additional required training as presented in the following courses or agency equivalent:

 M-581, Fire Program Management – An Overview or M-582 Fire Program Management –

Leading Complex Programs

Previous completion of Local Fire Management Leadership (LFML) or M-581, Fire Program 

Management or National Fire Management Leadership (NFML) also meets the additional required 

training requirement for these positions.
 

Interagency Fire Program Management

Decision Paper #7 and General Updates 3 of 3

Elizabeth Lund Date Grant Beebe Date

USDA Forest Service Bureau of Land Management

Director, Fire Operations Fire and Aviation

Deputy Assistant Director

Leon Ben Date Christopher Wilcox Date

Bureau of Indian Affairs U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Director, Branch of Fire Management Chief, Branch of Fire Management

William Kaage Date

National Park Service

Division Chief, Fire and Aviation