You have been briefed on the policy and we have incorporated your comments to the extent we could. The policy is designed to answer, before the need arises, the question of your required commitment to support emergencies, regardless of where the emergency occurs. In establishing this policy, we hope that you and your cooperating Agency Administrators in your sub-geographic areas, will come together and discuss implementation and decide how you will proceed in order to meet these requirements. The policy should help you make your work planning more efficient by knowing the expectations of commitment ahead of time. This policy is intended to be used for all emergencies, not simply fire suppression.
Fire support is a priority along with other work on the units.
The position of the Regional Forester and State Director, relative to targets, will be negotiated with each of the unit Supervisors and Managers individually. The commitment of resources to the emergency at hand is imperative, but actual effects on targets can only be negotiated on a case by case basis. Agency Administrators are required to make increasing proportions of their workforce available to support emergencies at the Preparedness Levels in the Pacific Northwest. This includes all emergencies both on and off their units. Personnel required to meet minimum draw down levels for initial attack are considered emergency support.