Fire Timeline - Text Version
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Operational Inventions & Developments
Line drawing of city street scene in 1686. Courtesy of New York State Museum.
1638
Massachusetts Bans Smoking Outdoors
Massachusetts passed first law banning smoking outdoors. Passed because of heightened awareness of fire and associated devastation.
Image of Peter Stuyvesant.
1648
Peter Stuyvesant
Governor Peter Stuyvesant of New Amsterdam (New York City) adopted building codes and established Fire Wardens to protect the settlement. This was the first fire organization in America.
Image of Ben Franklin.
1736
Ben Franklin
Ben Franklin helped establish the volunteer Union Fire Company and formed the first insurance company in the U.S. in 1752.OCTOBER 29, 1804
William Clark Journal Entry
William Clark’s entry for an incident is recorded near Ft. Mandan, North Dakota. This may be the first recorded wildland fire fatality and use of a fire shelter.“The Prarie was Set on fire (or cought by accident) by a young man of the Mandins, the fire went with such velocity that it burnt to death a man & woman, who Could not get to any place of Safty, one man a woman & Child much burnt and Several narrowly escaped the flame. a boy half white was saved unhurt in the midst of the flaim” ….”The couse of his being Saved was a Green buffalow Skin was thrown over him by his mother who perhaps had more fore Sight for the pertection of her Son, and [l]ess for herself than those who escaped the flame, the Fire did not burn under the Skin leaveing the grass round the boy. This fire passed our camp last [night] about 8 oClock P.M. it went with great rapitidity and looked Tremendious.”.
REFERENCE ITEMS
From Bernard DeVoto, ed., The Journals of Lewis and Clark (Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997 [1953]), p. 60.
Helena Fire Tower rebuilt in 1874. Courtesy of MontanaPictures.net.
1869
First Fire Tower
First fire tower built to protect buildings in Helena, Montana.
US Cavalry on horseback in Yellowstone National Park. Courtesy of National Park Service.
AUGUST 20, 1886
First Wildland Fire Fighters
Captain Moses Harris, Troop M, First US Cavalry assumes command of Yellowstone National Park. Their charge was the protection and administration of the park. The Cavalry remained in the park for the next 32 years. Within days of arriving at Yellowstone, soldiers began fighting wildfires throughout the park and were in reality the nation’s first paid wildland fire fighters. Orders that set forth the regulations the soldiers would enforce included “Camping parties will only build fires when actually necessary.”
REFERENCE ITEMS
How the U.S. Cavalry Saved Our National Parks, H. Duane Hampton, Indiana University Press, 1971.
Men camped by lake. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1889
Designated Campgrounds
In an attempt to reduce wildfires, Captain Boutelle ordered that camping be allowed only in designated areas. This led to the system of designated campgrounds now common on public lands.
REFERENCE ITEMS
How the U.S. Cavalry Saved Our National Parks, H. Duane Hampton, Indiana University Press, 1971.
US Cavalry posed near large fallent tree in Sequoia National Park. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1890
Military Assistance
Secretary of the Interior requests military assistance to administer and protect the new California parks, Yosemite, Sequoia and General Grant National Parks. Unlike Yellowstone, no permanent garrison was built and the military only occupied the parks during the summer months for patrols, fire fighting and protection activities. The military remained until 1914.
Soldiers on parade grounds in Yellowstone National Park. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1894
Yellowstone Wildfires
As visitors to Yellowstone increased so did the number of wildfires. The Cavalry discovered that increased vigilance on the part of fire patrols was necessary to protect the forest. The commanding officer insisted upon rigorous enforcement of the camping regulations that required expulsion from the park of any campers who left campfires burning. He found that "one or two expulsions each year served as healthy warnings" and that these reinforced by a system of frequent patrols, "brought about the particularly good results of which we can boast."
REFERENCE ITEMS
How the U.S. Cavalry Saved Our National Parks, H. Duane Hampton, Indiana University Press, 1971.
Man standing near Twin Sisters Lookout in Colorado. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1902
First Firewatch Lookout Tower
First firewatch lookout tower built to protect forest from fires built on private wood land in Idaho.
Hamilton Mountain fire tower under construction. Courtesy of Adirondack Architectural Heritage.
1909
First Adirondacks Fire Tower
The first fire tower in the Adirondacks, made of logs, was erected on Mount Morris near Big Tupper Lake. Many others were built over the next several years.
Pulaski used in firefighting.
1911
Pulaski Fire Tool Invented
Pulaski fire tool invented and named after Ed Pulaski the hero of the 1910 Big Blowup.
Woman fire lookout standing by an Osborne Fire Finder. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1914
First Woman
The first woman employed by the Forest Service as a lookout was Hallie M. Daggett, who started work at Eddy's Gulch Lookout Station atop Klamath Peak (Klamath NF) in the summer of 1913 (she worked as lookout for 14 years).
Fire lookout tower on Mount Hood, Oregon. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1915
U.S. Forest Service Fire Lookout
The U.S. Forest Service constructed its first fire lookout in Oregon, a 12-foot by 12-foot log cabin perched atop Mount Hood at an altitude of more than 11,200 feet.
Modern female firefighter carrying a pulaski. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1915
First Women Firefighters
Mrs. Durham, wife of one of the pioneer rangers on what was then known as the California National Forest, and her friend, Ms. Kloppenburg, were the first women firefighters. The California National Forest is now known as the Mendocino National Forest.
Man leaning against weather station. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1916
Weather Forecasts
U.S. Weather Bureau, a part of the Department of Agriculture, began providing weather forecasts specific to wildland fire.
Woman fire lookout standing by an Osborne Fire Finder. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1918
Osborne Fire Finder
Fire towers begin using table maps and the Osborne Fire Finder to more accurately pinpoint fire locations.1919
A Policy of Forestry for the Nation
A Policy of Forestry for the Nation, by Henry B. Graves, USFS Forester, presented before the Forestry Conferences of 1919 outlined the objectives of fire protection:1. To prevent destruction and injury to standing timber by fire.
2. To safeguard young growth already established within the older timber and on cut-over lands.
3. To promote natural reproduction so far as this can be done by fire protective measures.
Effective fire protection is achieved only through a joint undertaking between public and private agencies in which all lands, regardless of ownership, are brought under an organized system.
1922
Studies Of Fire Damage
US Forest Service Appalachian Forest Experiment Station conducted studies of fire damage on area burned under control.
Man leaning against weather station. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1923
Fire Weather Warning Service
The Fire Weather Warning Service was established by the U.S. Weather Bureau and was headquartered in San Francisco.
Man working at weather station in forest. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1924
Fire Warning Service
US Forest Service Appalachian Forest Experiment Station works in collaboration with the local Weather Bureau office for the creation of a far-reaching and carefully organized fire warning service.
Missoula Technology & Development Center. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1926
Fire-control Research
Fire-control research begins in Missoula, Montana. Research continues today at the Missoula Fire Lab, and at labs in Macon, Georgia and Riverside, California.
Man leaning against weather station. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1926
First Daily Reporting
The first daily reporting of local fire weather data was transmitted to the Weather Bureau from Forest Service field stations.
Osborne Photo Recording Transit used in panoramic photography. Courtesy of firetower.org.
1932
Osborne Photo Recording Transit
W.B. Osborne designed his Osborne Photo Recording Transit, a swing lens panoramic camera made by Lupold-Volpel of Portland, OR. It was used by the USDA Forest Service and turned out 120-degree 4" x 6" photographs.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt having lunch at Civilian Conversation Corps camp in Shenandoah National Park. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1933
Civilian Conservation Corps Established
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established “…that the unemployed could work for the prevention of forest fires and for soil erosion, flood control, removal of undesirable plants, insect control, and construction or maintenance of paths, tracks, and fire lanes on public lands.”1933
Fire-weather Forecasting Service
After years of preliminary work, the badly needed and keenly desired fire-weather forecasting service was started in the spring of 1933 by L.T. Pierce, head of the Asheville office of the Weather Bureau. Through fifteen stations within the mountain district containing the Unaka, Nantahala, Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this service gathered data which was assembled and interpreted in the Asheville office, and from there distributed in various ways to serve depended on close cooperation between the experiment station and the Weather Bureau, for while the meteorological information comes from the latter, the weather conditions most likely to promote fires must be discovered through prolonged investigations.
View of firefighters parachuting into smoky fire. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1934
Smokejumping
Smokejumping was first proposed by T.V. Pearson, the Forest Service Intermountain Regional Forester, as a means to quickly provide initial attack on forest fires. By parachuting in, self-sufficient firefighters could arrive fresh and ready for the strenuous work of fighting fires in rugged terrain.
Pilot in cockpit holding parachute. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1935
Airplane Tests Began
Tests began on using airplanes to drop fire retardants. It was not until 1947 that a formal aerial bombing project began, with the christening of a B-29 bomber called the Rocky Mountain Ranger.
Harry Gisborne using visibility meter he helped design. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1935
Visibility Meter Designed
Harry Gisborne and his staff at the Priest River Experiment Station designed the visibility meter to help gauge fire danger. Gisborne's fire-danger meter incorporated multiple components to estimate fire hazard, visibility combined with factors such as relative humidity, hours of sunshine, wind speed, and fuel moisture to create a unified rating. Using Gisborne's model, greater visibility corresponded to heightened fire danger.
Magazine cover of Fire Management Today. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1936
Fire Control Notes
Roy Headley, head of the U.S. Forest Service Division of Fire Control, introduced Fire Control Notes to establish "a common meeting ground" for wildland fire professionals. In 1961 the journal was renamed Fire Control Notes. Changes in wildland fire management policy in the 1970s led the journal to adopt a new name, Fire Management Notes, which was changed to Fire Management Today in 2000.
View of firefighters parachuting into smoky fire. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1939
Smokejumper Program
The smokejumper program was initiated as an experiment in the USFS Pacific Northwest Region and was partly designed to reduce the time it took for crews to reach a wildland fire after incidents such as the 1937 Blackwater Fire.
Two parachutists silhouetted against clouds. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1940
First Fire Jump
The first fire jump was made on Idaho's Nez Perce National Forest in the Northern Region.
Civilian Conservation Corps building wooden suspension bridge in Yellowstone National Park. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1942
Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) report that since 1933 every state had received permanent projects from "Roosevelt's Tree Army." Some of the specific accomplishments of the Corps during its existence included 3,470 fire towers erected, 97,000 miles of fire roads built, 4,235,000 man-days devoted to fighting fires, and more than three billion trees planted. Five hundred camps under control of the Soil Conservation Service, performed erosion control on more than 20 million acres. The CCC also made outstanding contributions in the development of recreational facilities in national, state, county and metropolitan parks.
Ford Tri-motor airplane and smokejumpers at McCall, ID Smokejumper baes in 1948. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
AUGUST 14, 1943
McCall Smokejumper Base
The first fire jump out of the McCall Smokejumper base was made by John Furguson and Lester Gohler at the head of Captain John Creek. The McCall Smokejumper Base was started in 1943 when five jumpers, who were trained in Missoula, Montana, were stationed in McCall.
San Dimas Equipment Development Center. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1945
Arcadia Fire Equipment Development Center
U.S. Forest Service established the Arcadia Fire Equipment Development Center. The center resulted from the consolidation of all Forest Service fire equipment problem-solving efforts into a "laboratory sufficient to serve the fire control requirements of the Western Regions."
1958 vie of plane dropping fire retardant on fire. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1947
Aerial Bombing
The Northern Rocky Mountain Station published results of experiments with the Army Air Force in aerial bombing of forest fires, and published the results of investigations of aerial seeding of burned over timberlands.
Back view of six firefighters with tools. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1948
First Hotshot Crew
The first hotshot crew, the Los Padres Hotshots, was established on the Los Padres National Forest.
Modern California inmate fire crew marching. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1949
Inmate Fire Crews
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) first implemented fire crews using adult male inmates when a tent camp operation was established at the Minewawa Camp in southern San Diego County.
Man with hardhat fighting fire using a backpack pump. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1952
Hardhats
Some Forest Service wildland fire fighters begin wearing hardhats.
Smokejumpers preparing to board plane. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1953
Missoula Aerial Equipment Development Center
The U.S. Forest Service Missoula Aerial Equipment Development Center was established largely because of the Northern Region's success in the use of aircraft for fighting forest fires. This center's mission was to develop equipment for air operations throughout the Forest Service.
Men with hose fighting fire in brush. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1953
Principles of Organization for Fighting Forest Fires
Principles of Organization for Fighting Forest Fires issued by the U.S. Forest Service.
1958 view of plane dropping fire retardant on fire. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
AUGUST 12, 1955
First Air Tanker Drop
First Air Tanker Drop on a wildfire was made on the Mendonhall Fire, on the Mendocino National Forest. Vance Nolta Was the Pilot.
1950s view of helicopter at Yosemite National Park. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1956
Helicopters
The first practical drops of water and chemicals onto wildfires began, and helicopters began to assist with firefighting in the 1950's.
Men standing near smoky fire in forest. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1957
Ten Standard Fire Orders
U.S. Forest Service convenes a special task force to study fires where firefighter fatalities occurred, and devise safety guidelines; among other recommendations, the Ten Standard Fire Orders (SFO) are implemented modeled after US Marine Corps general orders. In addition to the SFO, this report marks the origin of the 18 Watchout Situations and of the research into and use of fire behavior knowledge in wildland firefighting. It was also a milestone in the development of both National Advanced Resources Training Center and the incident command system.
Four early designs for fire shelters. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1958
Fire Shelters
Australians begin work on a bell shaped fire shelter made of aluminum foil/glass cloth laminate.
Four early designs for fire shelters. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1959
A-shaped Fire Shelter
Australians drop bell-shaped fire shelter and replace it with an A-shaped shelter. Work begins at USFS Missoula Equipment Development Center (MEDC) on fire shelters and fire resistant clothing.
Crew of firefighters marching on road. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1961
El Cariso Hotshots
El Cariso Hotshots field test early fire shelter design.
Old pickup truck parked near trailer and airplanes. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1962
Appalachian Air Tanker Project
Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest join forces to establish the "Appalachian Air Tanker Project". This collaboration evolved into what is now the Southern Appalachian Air Attack Base - Knoxville Tanker Base. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest have enjoyed this relationship for 40 years and continue to enjoy this partnership to the present day.
Boise Interagency Fire Center entrance sign. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1965
Boise Interagency Fire Center
The Boise Interagency Fire Center (BIFC) was established cooperatively by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to improve fire and aviation support throughout much of the Great Basin and Intermountain West.
Students practicing use of fire shelters. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1966
Missoula Equipment Development Center
U.S. Forest Service Missoula Equipment Development Center (MEDC) adapts A-shaped fire shelter using aluminum foil/glass laminate with a kraft paper barrier inner liner.
Men standing near smoky fire in forest. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1967
Report of the Fire Safety Review Team
Report of the Fire Safety Review Team - A Plan to Further Reduce the Chances of Men Being Burned While Fighting Fires, 1967 released.Recommendations made were three significant changes: The Downhill Line Construction Checklist, and emphasis on portable weather equipment including direction and training for firefighters to use belt weather kits on the fireline, and the push to develop more effective fire shelters and fire resistant clothing.
View of fire shelter case. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1967
6000 Fire Shelters Ordered
Missoula Equipment Development Center orders 6000 fire shelters that include instruction sheet and carry case. This is essentially the same shelter that remains in use until the M-2002 shelter is developed.
Smokejumper landing. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1968
West Yellowstone Interagency Air Operations Center
West Yellowstone Interagency Air Operations Center was activated and smokejumpers made 14 jumps on five fires in the park the first year. The only NPS smokejumpers are still stationed here.1971
Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies
Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies (FIRESCOPE) formed to create and implement new applications in fire service management, technology and coordination, with an emphasis on incident command and multi-agency coordination. FIRESCOPE identified several recurring problems involving multi-agency responses, such as: Nonstandard terminology among responding agencies. Lack of capability to expand and contract as required by the situation. Nonstandard and nonintegrated communications. Lack of consolidated action plans. Lack of designated facilities.Efforts to address these difficulties resulted in the development of the original ICS model for effective incident management of wildland fires. The system has been expanded to address any type of incident (wildland fire, Search & rescue, structural fire, special events, storms, etc.). It consists of procedures for controlling personnel, facilities, equipment and communications.
Forest shrouded in smoke. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1971
U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Forest Service modified its suppression policy and begins initiating natural fire experiments.
Smoke billowing up from brush and trees. Courtesy of National Park Service.
July, 1972
Moccasin Mesa Fire
Mesa Verde National ParkA lightning caused fire, burned a total of 2,680 acres in Mesa Verde National Park and on Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Lands. The Park failed to recognize the potential for cultural resource damage from fire suppression activities. Fire suppression activities (primarily dozers) resulted in the destruction of numerous archeological sites. A post-fire review and investigation resulted in the establishment of a national policy to include cultural resource oversight in the management of wildland fires on all federal lands.
Boise Interagency Fire Center entrance sign. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1973
Office of Aircraft Services
Department of the Interior establishes the Office of Aircraft Services with its headquarters at BIFC.
Firefighter standing by Type 6 engine watching flames. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1974
Wildland Fire Management Program Moves
National Park Service moves its Wildland Fire Management Program to the Boise Interagency Fire Center.
Crew of firefighters with tools. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1975
Federal Agencies Screen Candidates
Federal agencies begin using a 5-minute step test and an alternative 1.5-mile run to screen candidates for wildland firefighting.
Modern female firefighter carrying a Pulaski. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1976
First Woman Hotshot
Deanne Shulman Joined the Los Prietos Hotshots as the first woman hotshot in Region 5.
Bureau of Indian Affairs logo. Courtesy of Bureau of Indian Affairs.
1976
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs joins other agencies at Boise Interagency Fire Center.
Man using drip torch to light fire in pine forest. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1976
Walsh Ditch Fire
Refuge managers at Seney National Wildlife Refuge on the Upper Peninsula in Michigan were unable to contain Walsh Ditch Fire, a lightning-caused fire burning in designated wilderness area, which acted as a wake-up call that the Fish and Wildlife Service needed to professionalize its fire program and led to establishment a formal fire management program in 1978.
National Wildfire Coordinating Group logo. Courtesy of National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
1976
National Wildfire Coordinating Group
National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Chartered by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to facilitate the development of common practices, standards, and training among the wildfire community.
View of Fire Shelter case. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1977
Mandatory Fire Shelters
US Forest Service makes it mandatory that all Forest Service firefighters carry a fire shelter.
Fire burning in pine trees. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
JUNE 16, 1977
La Mesa Fire
Bandelier National MonumentBurned over 15,000 acres of lands administered by three federal agencies. The major portion of the burn was within Bandelier, burning over 10,000 acres and affecting numerous cultural sites containing artifacts dating back to the early 1100-1200's. This is the first known wildland fire event in which archeologists were used as cultural resource locators and many sites were saved as a result of this action.
Pine trees silhouetted in smoky fire. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1978
National Forest Manual
USDA Forest Service released the National Forest Manual that accepted fire management and the use of fire, and abandoned the 10 A.M. Policy.
Logo of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
1978
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service establishes a formal Fire Management Program.
Logo of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
1979
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Joins Other Federal Agencies
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joins other federal agencies at Boise Interagency Fire Center.
Modern woman smokejumper. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1981
First Woman Smokejumper
Deanne Shulman became the first woman smokejumper in the nation when she successfully completed the smokejumper training program at the McCall Smokejumper Base in Idaho.
Man pointing to chart at fire briefing. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1985
National Interagency Incident Management System
National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) adopted by federal land management agencies.
Modern view of Missoula Technology and Design Center. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
October, 1987
Technology and Development Program
U.S. Forest Service Equipment Development and Testing program was changed to the Technology and Development (T&D) Program. The T&D centers are located in San Dimas, CA and Missoula, MT.
Sun glowing above firefighters working in smoky forest. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
June, 1989
Bush Administration
Bush administration directed the Department of Interior to fight all fires, regardless of origin or prescription, until each park or management area had revised its fire management plan to reflect the new, tightened policy.
Paul Gleason. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1991
Paul Gleason
Paul Gleason publishes paper on LCES (Lookout(s), Communication(s), Escape routes and Safety zone(s)) to improve firefighter safety after his experiences on the Dude Fire.
National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1993
Boise Interagency Fire Center Name Change
Boise Interagency Fire Center name changed to National Interagency Fire Center to better reflect its national mission and coordination between member agencies.
Modern firefighters with tools and protective clothing. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1993
New NFPA Standard
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) approved newly Developed standards on protective clothing and equipment for wildland firefighting. This new NFPA standard is the first to specifically address the wildland firefighter.
Numerous wisps of smoke on mountainside. Courtesy of National Park Service.
1994
Howing Fire
Glacier National ParkExperienced problems getting resources to manage the fire as a “prescribed natural fire.” Managers discussed the need for crews to manage these type fires similar to fire fighting crews. This led the National Park Service to create four Fire Use Modules and four Fire Use Management Teams.
Burn trees silhouetted against colored sky. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
JULY 6, 1994
South Canyon Fire
near Glenwood Springs, Coloradokills 14 firefighters
An interagency team was formed to investigate the fatalities and contributing factors. The subsequent 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Policy and Program Review, signed by both Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior, directed Federal wildland fire agencies to establish fire management qualifications standards to improve firefighter safety and increase professionalism in fire management programs.
Fire shelters being tested in burning forest. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
1995 - 1996
Field Testing
Field testing of fire shelters to determine the actual fire environment to be expected in a fire entrapment.f fire shelters to determine the actual fire environment to be expected in a fire entrapment.1996
Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review
The Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review was chartered by the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to ensure that Federal policies are uniform and programs are cooperative and cohesive. The report addresses five major topic areas, presents nine guiding principles that are fundamental to wildland fire management, and recommends a set of thirteen Federal wildland fire policies. While unique agency missions may result in minor operational differences, having, for the first time, one set of "umbrella" Federal fire policies will enhance effective and efficient operations across administrative boundaries and improve our capability to meet the challenges posed by current wildland fire conditions.
Fire burning on ground and up Ponderosa Pine. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
MAY 23, 1996
Action Plan Report Released
Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review Implementation Action Plan Report released.
Fire crew building fireline on steep mountainside. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
1999
Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System Revised
The Incident Operations Standards Working Team of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) revised the National Interagency Incident Management System's Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System (PMS 310-1).
Firefighters with water hose suppressing a wildland fire. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
2000
Fire Stats
There were 28,462 firefighters on duty; 667 crews; 1,294 engines; 226 helicopters; 42 air tankers; 84 fires greater than 100 acres and 1,642,579 acres on fire in 16 states.
Firefighters walking on road through smoke. Courtesy of National Park Service.
July, 2001
Thirty Mile Accident Prevention Plan
Following review of the fire, the Thirty Mile Accident Prevention Plan was developed and contained 38 action items, including 28 that are Interagency in nature to enhance fire fighter safety and training.
National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
2002
Full-time Representative Established
A full-time representative of the National Association of State Foresters was established at NIFC.
Night view of burning trees and power tower. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
MAY 18, 2002
Cerro Grande Report
Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire Investigation report released and found that federal personnel failed to properly plan and implement the Upper Frijoles Prescribed Fire, which became known as the Cerro Grande Prescribed Fire. Throughout the planning and implementation, critical mistakes were made. Findings and recommendations cover planning, implementation, and qualifications.
Federal Emergency Management Administration logo. Courtesy of Federal Emergency Management Administration.
2003
FEMA Joins NIFC
A permanent representative of the Federal Emergency Management Administration joined the NIFC team.
2004 version of Fire Shelter setup. Courtesy of USDA Forest Service.
2003
New Generation Fire Shelters
New generation fire shelters become available for fire fighter use.
Burned trees silhouetted against colored sky. Courtesy of National Interagency Fire Center.
JANUARY 12, 2004
Cramer Fire investigation Report
Cramer Fire investigation report and accident prevention action is released. The investigation report contains 44 findings, nine causal factors and three contributing factors; the accident prevention action plan, which has agency-wide ramifications, contains five steps to implement. The key actions that, when implemented, would best prevent similar mishaps in the future, include strengthening command and control performance of agency administrators and fire managers and periodically re-certifying fire management leadership positions nationally.OCTOBER 1, 2004
Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications Standard and Guide
Implementation of the Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications Standard and Guide (IFPM Standard) begins.* 14 key fire management positions (Appendix B) and established minimum qualification standards with consideration for the complexity of the fire program where the position is located.
* Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved Supplemental Qualification Standard for GS-0401 Fire Management Specialist, the selected series for professional fire management positions.
* Competency descriptors for key fire management positions.
* A rating guide for evaluating fire program complexity.
* Minimum grade levels predetermined by application of the complexity guide and the appropriate position classification standard.
* Standard Key Performance Elements based on the competencies for each position.
* A list of required and recommended training for designated agency managers.
* A system to determine when a "specialist" or center manager position is professional or technical based on pre-determined competencies and job complexity.
* Agreement that all IFPM fire positions classifiable at GS-11 and above are professional positions based on the required competencies and job complexity.
