Property and resource values are the second priority, with management decisions based on values to be protected. Wildland fire, as a critical natural process, must be reintroduced into the ecosystem. Fire will be allowed to function as nearly as possible in its natural role to achieve the long-term goals of ecosystem health. Wildland fire management decisions and resource management decisions go hand in hand and are based on approved Fire Management and land and resource management plans. Fire managers also have the ability to choose from the full spectrum of fire management options, from prompt suppression to allowing fire to function in its natural ecological role.
Primary responsibility rests at the state and local levels.
Federal agencies must place more emphasis on educating internal and external audiences about how and why we use and manage wildland fire. Fire professionals must work with agency administrators to make the policies work on the ground. Managers and staffs must actively implement the recommendations and work with their constituents to ensure success. Every employee of every agency must also be committed to follow through on the ground. F inally, agencies and the public must change their expectation that all wildfires can be controlled or suppressed.