Unit Fire Program Manager 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 Performance Element Descriptions Development Elements to Meet PProgram Management 

• Develop, implement and evaluate programs in 

support of mission accomplishments, and 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 levePrescribed Fire/Fuels Specialist

• Knowledge of agency financial 

project work plans, expenditureworking knowledge of FPA. 

• Proficiency with PC and Windo

and working knowledge of fire-applications. 

• Experience in developing Coop

and/or MOUs with cooperators. 

• Suggested Training: 

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

40 hr, 2nd 40 hr, and 3rd 
Element Performance Element Descriptions Development Elements to Meet P

o Technical Fire Managem

Education Ecosystem Mcurriculum. –oro Natural Resource DegreScience)

Program Planning 

• Initiate and participate in agency and interagency 

interdisciplinary planning processes. 

• Develop plans compliant with environmental laws, 

regulations and policies. 

• Develop plans compliant with agency enabling laws, 

regulations and policies. 

• Prepare and review plans, and/or plan components, 

and integrate into overall unit and interagency plans including, but not limited to: 

1. Fire management plans 2. Annual Operating Plans 3. Preparedness fire plans 4. Prescribed fire plans 5. Aviation plans 6. Training Plans 7. Safety plans 8. Prevention plans 9. Pre-attack plans 10. Individual project plans 11. Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation 

(BAER) Plans 

12. Mobilization plans 

• Conduct fuels and prescribed fire planning and 

analysis. 

• 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 Fire Protection Ag(State-wide or local) with other state, and county (including VFMunicipal FD). 

• Job experience in writing prescr

(RXBP), and working knowledgmanual or handbook direction. 

• Knowledge and experience of u

program. 

• Job experience as fuels speciali

management. 

• Participation with state-wide or 

Smoke Implementation Plan (SIunit. 

• Knowledge of smoke modeling 

FOFEM, and SIS) 

• Suggested Training: 

o RX-410 Smoke Manageo NEPA Training (1900-1o S-490 Advanced Wildla
Element Performance Element Descriptions Development Elements to Meet P

Calculations 

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

training 

o S-580 Advanced Fire U

Operations • Implement unit preparedness program to include, but 

not limited to: 1. Detection 2. Readiness 3. Agreements 4. Fire danger/behavior predictions 5. Severity requests 6. Mobilization 

• Manage wildland fire response program component 

to include but not limited to: 1. Strategy and tactics 2. Incident management 3. Emergency rehabilitation 4. Logistics/support 5. Priority setting and coordination 6. Reporting 

• Manage prevention programs • 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 

• Monitor and analyze fuels, smoke and fire effects 

• Job experience in suppression p

at next lower Fire Program Man

• Manage and supervise initial att

engines, crews, helitack, preven

• Knowledge of WIMS, FireFami• Job experience in developing ou

project work plans, tracking exp

• WFSA knowledge and experien

develop and analyze range of apmanagement response. 

• Knowledge of unit specific stan

for fire suppression / manageme

• Working knowledge of agency 

handbooks relating to fire supprpreparedness. 

• Job experience in fire reports an

reporting process. 

• Develop ICS qualifications to m

complexity of incidents. 

• IMT experience as Unit Leader 

and General Staff. 

• Job experience in managing uni

program. 

• Knowledge and experience in p

fuels input to vegetation manag
Element Performance Element Descriptions Development Elements to Meet P

data and effectiveness of projects. 

• 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 

Experience in designing fuels trmanagement objectives. 

• Job experience in directing fire 

as burn boss, prescribed fire ma

• Job experience in developing sp

mechanical fuels treatments, incand inspection. 

• Job experience in fuels budgetin

development, expenditure trackspecific accomplishment reportitargets and/or NFPORS). 

• Knowledge of fire behavior, eff

modeling (Fire Management AnFVS...) 

• Knowledge of monitoring and p

evaluation. 

• Suggested training: 

o L-380 Fireline Leadersho L-381 Incident Managemo S-491 National Fire Dano I-400 Advanced ICS o FI-220 Wildfire Origin a

Determination 

Safety and Welfare 

• Conduct wildland and prescribed fire 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 

• Evaluate fire program for leader

qualifications, and experience oacceptable levels of managemeninitial attack and extended attac

• Monitor all initial attack fires th

extended attack. 
Element Performance Element Descriptions Development Elements to Meet P

4. NWCG guidelines 

• Conduct safety related education programs focusing 

on: 1. Training 2. Certification 

• Prepare or oversee preparation of 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. 

• Working knowledge of agency 

safety code handbook. 

• Ensuring all fire personnel are t

prepared for wildland fire operafire implementation. 

• Inspect equipment and facilities 

unsafe working conditions. 

• Ensure maintenance is conducte

and facilities. 

• 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

• Conduct pre-season critical prep

including Annual Fire Fighter Rfor Incident Commanders, helic

prescribed fire, HazMat awarendriving, Work Capacity TestingFirst Aid / CPR... etc. 

• Involvement with instructor cad

geographic, and national level t

• Involvement as Subject Matter E

course revision. 

• Involvement with pre-season EE

inspections. 

• Pre-season preparedness plannin

preparedness inspections. 

• Coordinate with local, regional, 
Element Performance Element Descriptions Development Elements to Meet P

officers on accident reviews and 

• Ensure all JHA’s are updated ea

reviewed by personnel. Ensure sessions or 6-minutes for Safety conducted. 

• Ensure Physical Training progra

for all fire personnel, and monitsafety.