Prescribed Fire/Fuels Specialist Planning Tool: 

This tool has been developed as a means to identify developmental criteria which will help to meet Position Comand further outlined through the Competency Descriptors, for each position in the IFPM Qualifications StandardIntroduction: The purpose of this planning tool is to provide the current employee or an aspiring employee with suggested dev

to achieve the required competencies for this position. Individual agency requirements, employee’s background initiative may dictate alternate developmental activities to achieve these competencies. The suggested developm

used (a) by the employee and supervisor to customize an Individual Development Plan towards meeting position described in the IFPM Qualifications Standards and Guide; and/or (b) to identify the employee’s future training towards this position as a short or long term goal. For complete competency details, refer to the Competency Descriptors for each key position in the IFPM Qualifiand Guide.Element Element Descriptions Development Elements Program Management 

• Develop, implement and evaluate program goals and 

objectives in support of mission accomplishments. Implement corrective actions. 

• Develop, implement and evaluate fire management 

budgets. 

• Supervise and develop employees. • Develop and maintain agency/bureau and interagency 

partnerships. 

• Identify research needs and apply new technologies. 

• Competency in program manag

Fire Program Management leve

technician, Engine or Crew sup

• Knowledge of agency financial 

project work plans, expenditureworking knowledge of FPA. 

• Proficiency with PC and Windo

and working knowledge of fire-applications. 

• Suggested Training: 

o M-581 Fire Program Mao M-580 Ecosystem Manao Supervisory curriculum 

40 hr and 2nd 40 hr). 

o Technical Fire Managemo –or- Continuing Educati
Element Element Descriptions Development Elements 

Management curriculum

o –or- Natural Resource D

Science) 

Program Planning 

• Develop plans compliant with environmental laws, 

regulations and policies. 

• Participate in agency and interagency planning 

processes. 

• Prepare and review plans, and/or plan components 

including, but not limited to: 

1. Annual Operating Plans 2. Training Plans 3. Prescribed fire/fuels management plans 4. Safety plans 5. Individual project plans 6. Fire effects monitoring plans 7. Integrate operational plans into unit and 

interagency plans 

• Conduct smoke management planning and analysis. 

• Participation on IDT as fire/fue

Leader 

• Working knowledge of agency 

HFRA, NFP Implementation Pl

• Expert knowledge of unit Fire M• Experience with developing or i

Cooperative Agreements and Mfederal agencies, state, county, ofor joint fuels reduction projects

• Job experience in writing prescr

(RXBP), and expert knowledge manual or handbook direction. 

• Participation with state-wide or 

Smoke Implementation Plan (SIplan. 

• Knowledge of smoke modeling 

FOFEM, and SIS) 

• Suggested Training: 

o RX-410 Smoke Manageo NEPA Training (1900-1o S-490 Advanced Wildla

Calculations 

o Fire computer applicatioo Rx-510 Applied Fire Effo Aviation safety, operatio

training 

o S-580 Advanced Fire U
Element Element Descriptions Development Elements 

Operations • Manage fuels and prescribed fire programs including 

but not limited to: 1. Fuels management projects 2. Prescribed fire activities 3. Priority setting coordination 4. Logistics / support 5. Reporting 

• Manage wildland fire program components to include 

but not limited to: 1. Strategy and tactics 2. Incident management 3. Appropriate management response 

• Manage unit fire aviation programs or operations as 

appropriate including, but not limited to: 1. Tactical application of aircraft 2. Aviation safety management 3. Administration 

• Knowledge of unit specific Lan

standards and guidelines for fue

implementation. 

• Working knowledge of agency 

handbooks relating to fire use. 

• Knowledge and experience in p

fuels input to vegetation managExperience in designing fuels trmanagement objectives. 

• Job experience in developing sp

mechanical fuels treatments, incand inspection. 

• Job experience in fuels program 

expenditure tracking, and agencaccomplishment reporting proceand/or NFPORS). 

• Job experience in developing ou

project work plans, tracking exp

• Develop ICS qualifications to m

complexities of fire use and fire operations, such as burn boss, pmanager, FUMA, FBAN, LTAN

• Knowledge of WIMS, FireFami• Knowledge of fire behavior, eff

modeling (Fire Management AnFVS...) 

• Knowledge of monitoring and p

evaluation. 

• WFSA knowledge and experien

develop and analyze range of apmanagement response. 

• Suggested training: 
Element Element Descriptions Development Elements 

o L-380 Fireline Leadersho L-381 Incident Managemo S-490 Advanced Fire Beo S-491 National Fire Dano S-492 Long Term Fire Ro S-493 FARSITE Fire Ar

Safety and Welfare 

• Conduct prescribed fire/fuels modification operations 

in accordance with safety-related laws, policies and guidelines, including: 1. Occupational Safety and Health Act 2. Applicable state safety regulations 3. Department and agency policies and guidelines 4. NWCG guidelines 

• Conduct safety related education programs focusing 

on: 1. Training 2. Certification 

• Prepare hazard, risk, and trend analyses for: 

1. Wildland fire environment hazards including, but 

not limited to: 

a. Fuels b. Weather c. Topography 

2. Associated hazards including, but not limited to: 

a. Aviation b. Mechanized equipment c. Hazardous materials 

• Follow up identified hazards and risks with 

appropriate mitigation actions. 

• Evaluate personnel for compete

and experience to provide safe aprescribed fire operations. 

• Seek opportunities to develop su

qualifications and experience in wildland fire use. 

• Working knowledge of agency 

safety code handbook. 

• Ensure all fire personnel are tra

prepared for wildland fire operafire implementation. 

• Experience in assessing hazards 

projects, and ensuring risk mitigengagement or implementation Mitigation, Complexity AnalysiAssessment...). 

• Adhere to qualification standard

FSH 5109.17 for all ICS positiounit Redcard Review Committe

• Involvement with instructor cad

geographic level training. 

• Coordinate with local, regional, 

officers on accident reviews and 

• Ensure all JHA’s are updated ea

reviewed by personnel.