This document is contained within the Fire Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting the following URL:

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• This document is contained within the Fire
  Management Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other
  related resources found in this toolbox may be of
  interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting
  the following URL http//www.wilderness.net/index
  .cfm?fusetoolboxessecfire. All toolboxes are
  products of the Arthur Carhart National
  Wilderness Training Center.

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Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized
people are beginning to find out that going to
the mountains is going home that wilderness is a
necessity that mountain parks and reservations
are useful not only as fountains of timber and
irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.
-John Muir
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Wilderness Considerations for Fire Resource
Advisors
Wilderness Fire Resource Advisor Training 2007
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PERCEPTIONS and ASSUMPTIONS
All Wilderness Resource Advisors
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PERCEPTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS
All Firefighters
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Wilderness Fire Managementis a Balancing Act

• Wilderness and Fire Management Goals are the
  same.
• Allow fire to play a natural role in the
  ecosystem to the greatest extent possible.
• Manage fire in wilderness to minimize risk to
  resources outside wilderness

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Wilderness Fire Managementis a Balancing Act
Necessary fire management activities
Wilderness resource protection needs
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Objectives

1. Become familiar with wilderness law and policy
   and the role of fire management in wilderness .
2. Understand the wilderness resource and how
   decisions are made related to fire management in
   wilderness.
3. Examine the wilderness challenges for the Fire
   Resource Advisor task.
4. Provide tools to be used in wilderness fire
   management.

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The Wilderness Act of 1964 P.L. 88-577

• After 8 years of debate in Congress
• 66 different rewrites of the bill
• 18 public hearings that generated over 6,000
  pages of testimony

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Signed by President Johnson on September 3, 1964
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National Wilderness Preservation System -
Percentage by Agency
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19.8
33.2
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Definition of WildernessSection 2(c)

• affected primarily by the forces of nature
• mans work substantially unnoticeable
• outstanding opportunities for solitude or
  primitive recreation
• managed to preserve natural conditions

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Wilderness Stewardship means

• Manage for ecological health and integrity
• Provide opportunities for a wilderness experience
• Minimize human caused
  impacts
• Provide education and
  information about the
  wilderness resource,
  values, and benefits

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Wilderness Management Direction Section 2 (a)

• ... shall be administered in such a manner as
  will leave them unimpaired for future use and
  enjoyment as wilderness
• provide for the protection of these areas, the
  preservation of their wilderness character.

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Wilderness Management Agency Responsibility
Section 4 (b)

• each agency shall be responsible for
  preserving the wilderness character of the area
  and shall so administer such area for such other
  purposes for which it may have been established
  as also to preserve its wilderness character.
• The managing agencies must preserve wilderness
  character.
• It is the over-riding criteria for all decisions,
  including those involving fire management.

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The Four Statutory Qualities of Wilderness
Character

• Undeveloped
• Untrammeled
• Natural
• Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a
  primitive and unconfined type of recreation

• A National Framework for Monitoring Wilderness
  Character, 2006
• http//www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuseWC

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The Four Statutory Qualities of Wilderness
Character

• Undeveloped
• Untrammeled
• Natural
• Outstanding opportunities for solitude or a
  primitive and unconfined type of recreation

• A National Framework for Monitoring Wilderness
  Character, 2006
• http//www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuseWC

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Untrammeled UnhinderedNot being subject to
human controls and manipulations that hamper the
free play of natural forces.
- Howard Zahniser, Principal author of The
Wilderness Act
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FOUR STATUTORY QUALITIES OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER

• Untrammeled

Wilderness is generally unhindered and free from
intentional modern human control or manipulation
Threats to this setting Suppression and
prescribed fire
Wilderness setting
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EXAMPLES OF MANIPULATION TO RESTORE NATURAL
CONDITIONS IN WILDERNESS
Reducing fuels to restore natural fire regimes
and fire effects
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FOUR STATUTORY QUALITIES OF WILDERNESS CHARACTER

• Natural

Wilderness ecological systems are substantially
free from the unintentional effects of modern
civilization
Threats to this setting Suppression and
suppression activities
Wilderness setting
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Fire Control vs. Fire Management
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Fire and Wilderness
This used to be called a disaster.
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Wilderness Fire Damage or Natural Event?

• Catastrophic Fire
• Stand Replacing Fire
• Ground Fire
• High Intensity
• Low Intensity

A natural part of the ecological process and
wilderness
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Wilderness Natural Appearing or Wild ?

• Long-term fire suppression is an example of
  large-scale manipulation of natural conditions.
• Fire use creates, for some visitors, a less
  natural appealing or less scenic landscape

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Fire and Wilderness Natural role
The fire and the effects of the fire
Erosion-sedimentation
Smoke-air quality
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The Wilderness Act Agency Responsibility
Section 4 (d)

• such measures may be taken as may be necessary
  in the control of fire subject to such
  conditions as the Secretary deems desirable.
• The managing agencies have discretion for how
  fire in wilderness is managed
• The National Fire Policy and agency fire and
  wilderness management policy describe
  implementation

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The Wilderness ActAgency Responsibility Section
4 (c)

• no temporary road
• no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or
  motorboats
• no landing of aircraft
• no form of mechanical transport
• no structure or installation

EXCEPT
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The Wilderness ActAgency Responsibility Section
4 (c)

• except as necessary to meet the minimum
  requirements for the administration of the area
  for the purpose of this Act
• The minimum requirements and minimum tool
  provision of the Act.
• Applies to fire management activities.

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Determining the Minimum Requirement

• The minimum requirement analysis is a two step
  process

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Determining the Minimum Requirement

• The minimum requirement analysis is a two step
  process

Step 1 Is administrative action needed?

• Do you really need to do something?
• Could another strategy avoid the need for
  unnecessary effects to wilderness?

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Determining the Minimum Tool

• Step 2 What is the minimum necessary management
  action?
• If it is necessary to take action
• what is the minimum necessary tool or method that
  will have the least impact on wilderness
  resources and values?

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Wilderness Fire ManagementDetermining the
Minimum Requirement

• 1) Determining if any action is necessary
• 2) Selecting the method, tool, or tactic which
  represents the minimum necessary administrative
  action.

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Determining the Minimum Requirement

• The minimum requirement analysis is a two step
  process

The Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (MRDG) is
a commonly used process for making these
decisions. http//www.wilderness.net/mrdg/
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Wilderness Fire ManagementDetermining the
Minimum Requirement for Fire Management

• The Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (MRDG) is
  not designed for use in emergency situations
• A lengthy analysis is not always possible or
  desirable in fire emergency situations.

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Wilderness Fire ManagementDetermining the
Minimum Requirement

1. Incorporate wilderness management objectives and
   the minimum requirements decision process into
   programmatic fire management planning
2. Develop GO/NO GO checklists and decision trees
   that will aid in the emergency decision making
   situations that arise.
3. Make use of the proper authority (who in the
   agency can make the decision).
4. Document the rationale and the decision to track
   the process and improve future decision making.

Fire Management Toolbox at http//www.wilderness.
net/toolboxes/
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Wilderness Fire ManagementDetermining the
Minimum Requirementand Documenting the Decision

• Examples
• BWCAW Matrix and Reporting Form
• Medicine Bow Routt NF
• Approval for Motorized Equipment in Wilderness
  in Support of Fire Management Activities
• 3) Wallowa-Whitman NF
• Approval for Motorized Equipment in Wilderness
• 4) Other examples ???

Fire Management Toolbox at http//www.wilderness.
net/toolboxes/
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Wilderness ManagementDetermining the Minimum
Requirement

• Example - Method of transport

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Preferences for Limiting ImpactsLong term
impacts vs. short term disturbances

• Aircraft use (if necessary)
• Preferred
• Aircraft flights
• Helicopter landings and/or sling loads in natural
  openings
• Least acceptable
• New constructed helispots

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Wilderness ManagementDetermining the Minimum
Requirement

• Example - Suppression activities

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Preferences for Limiting ImpactsLong term
impacts vs. short term disturbances

• Suppression activities (if necessary)
• Preferred
• Natural fuel breaks
• Cold trailing
• Burnouts and backfires
• Wetlines and pumps
• Least acceptable
• Constructed fireline

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Wilderness ManagementDetermining the Minimum
Requirement

• Example - Spike and coyote camps

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The Minimum Tool vs. the Minimum RequirementWhat
really matters?
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Other Concerns for Wilderness Fire Management
Subdivisions on the Wilderness boundary

• Threats to lives and property outside wilderness
• Challenges for restoring the natural role of fire
  and fire use

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Wilderness Fire Management Information and
Education
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Wilderness and Fire

• The effects of fire in wilderness should be
  considered neither good nor bad.

• In fire dependent ecosystems, fire is a
  critically important part of the natural process.

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Wilderness and Fire

• Unnecessary, negative impacts from suppression
  are not part of the natural condition.
• Always ask, is this action really necessary?
• Manage fire in wilderness using only the minimum
  necessary actions, tools, and methods.

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Use information and education to

• Provide feasible alternatives to meet both
  wilderness and fire goals
• Capitalize on a teachable moment for wilderness
  
• Explain why it matters based on actual effects to
  the wilderness resource
• 4. Use The Authority of the Resource
  communication technique

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The Authority of the Resource

• The Authority of the Resource is a communication
  technique that allows the message to be delivered
  as the right thing to do for the wilderness
  resource.

• The communication is not focused on law and
  policy as the primary reason for strategy or
  tactics.

Education Planning Toolbox at
http//www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/
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Use (MIST)
MIST Minimum Impact Suppression
Techniques MIST Minimum Impact Strategies and
Tactics MIST Most Intelligent Sensible Tactics
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Federal Wildland Fire Policy Application to
Wilderness
Fire Management Toolbox at http//www.wilderness.
net/toolboxes/
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Federal Wildland Fire Policy Guiding Principles

• First and foremost is
• Firefighter and public safety is the first
  priority in every fire management activity.

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Continuing to suppress natural fires, causes a
significant alteration to natural conditions.
Federal Wildland Fire Policy Application to
Wilderness

• Replicates natural conditions
• Creates edge effects
• Recycles
• Adds to diversity
• Creates fuel breaks

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Suppression actions can have a significant impact
to the resource.
Federal Wildland Fire Policy Application to
Wilderness

• Suppression activities
• Unnatural fuel conditions

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Federal Wildland Fire Policy Guiding Principles

• The second principle is
• The role of wildland fire as an essential
  ecological process and natural change agent will
  be incorporated into the planning process.

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Federal Wildland Fire Policy Guiding Principles

• The third principle is
• Fire management plans, programs, and activities
  support land and resource management plans and
  their implementation.

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Federal Wildland Fire Policy Application to
Wilderness

• Land Management Plans (LMP)
• Fire Management Plans (FMP)
• Provide wilderness input to help address the
  opportunities for natural fire in wilderness.
• Ensure that wilderness law and policy is included
  in planning and implementation.
• Help create the direction for management of fire
  in wilderness

Fire Management Toolbox at http//www.wilderness.
net/toolboxes/
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Wilderness Considerations Roles for the
Wilderness Resource Advisor

• The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning
• Fire Management Toolbox
• http//www.wilderness.net/toolboxes

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• PURPOSE
• The purpose of this document is to provide
  wilderness managers with a checklist of topics,
  issues and concerns to consider when involved in
  preparation or review of the
  LMP or FMP.

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning The

• 1. WILDERNESS ACT (P.L. 88-577)
• Is the LMP consistent with or does the LMP
  specifically cite the relevant statutes from the
  Wilderness Act of 1964 or subsequent wilderness
  legislation?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 2. WILDERNESS POLICY
• Does the LMP specifically cite the relevant
  direction for fire in wilderness from agency
  policy?
• the natural role of fire
• use of prescribed fire

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 3. AREA/REFUGE/FOREST/PARK PLAN LANGUAGE
• Is there appropriate language in the LMP that
• addresses the natural role of fire
• considers the full range of management responses

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 4. DESIRED CONDITION
• Does the LMP have goals for fire in wilderness
  consistent with the desired condition and the
  Wilderness Act?
• Additionally, does the LMP address the desired
  outcome to preserve natural conditions ?
• wilderness generally appears to have been
  affected primarily by the forces of nature with
  the imprint of human work substantially
  unnoticeable

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 5. MULTI-JURISDICTION
• Does the FMP address multi-jurisdictional issues
  and coordination needs to facilitate appropriate
  wilderness fire management?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 6. ASSIGN A RESOURCE ADVISOR
• Does the FMP require assignment of a Wilderness
  Resource Advisor (WRA) to wilderness fires under
  the Delegation of Authority letter

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 7. FIRE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
• Does the FMP address the objective to conduct all
  fire management actions in wilderness in a manner
  compatible with overall wilderness management
  objectives?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 8. MINIMUM IMPACT STRATEGIES AND TACTICS (MIST)
• Does the FMP address MIST guidelines specific to
  your wilderness
• bear food storage or other safety concerns
• listed species
• invasive species
• archaeological sites
• other???

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 9a. MINIMUM REQUIREMENT PROCESS
• Does the FMP recognize that fire management
  related exceptions for temporary roads or
  structures, or use of motorized equipment or
  mechanical transport must be
• (1) the necessary and required action for
  administration of wilderness
• (2) the action that has the least adverse
  effects on wilderness as directed in the
  Wilderness Act, Section 4(c)?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 9b. MINIMUM REQUIREMENT PROCESS
• Does the FMP utilize a Motorized Equipment
  Mechanical Transport Evaluation and Approval
  Process?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 10. BURNED AREA EMERGENCY REHABILITATION (BAER)
• Does the FMP address the objectives for
  conducting BAER in wilderness?
• Under what circumstances would there be any
  restoration measures other than natural recovery?
• What are the standards for seeding, mulching,
  erosion control, etc.?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 11. RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS
• Does the FMP (Wilderness Polygon) address
  specific wilderness resource concerns such as
  fire management effects to the wilderness
  resource such as
• heritage/cultural
• wildlife and fisheries
• hydrology and soils
• invasive species
• threatened, endangered, or sensitive species
• other issues unique to the wilderness

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 11. RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS
• Does the FMP (Wilderness Polygon) address
  specific wilderness resource concerns for
  Outfitter and Guide (commercial services)
  operations, recreation, and public safety ?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 12. IMPROVEMENTS
• Does the FMP list or reference improvements such
  as grazing allotments fences, administrative
  sites, bridges, stock tanks, etc.?
• Does the FMP provide objectives for these
  improvements during fire management activities?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 13. WATER LOCATIONS
• Does the FMP identify water sources
  inside/outside wilderness that are to be
  used/avoided for water dips?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 14. HELISPOTS and FIRE CAMPS
• Does the FMP identify helispots and spike camps
  locations outside of wilderness, whenever
  feasible ?
• Does the FMP identify existing helispots and
  spike camps locations inside wilderness ?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 15. FMP REVIEW AND REVISION
• Does the FMP identify a wilderness staff role for
  review and revision of the FMP annually ?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• 16. LINE OFFICER APPROVAL
• Does the FMP identify the agency administrators
  (line officers) who have authority for the
  approval of motorized or mechanical use per
  agency direction ?

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• PART II Management Efficiency
• Pre-planning information to gather
• Training needed

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The Wilderness Checklist for Fire Planning

• Fire Management Toolbox
• http//www.wilderness.net/toolboxes

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Agency Policy Fire Management in Wilderness
 
Fire Management Toolbox at http//www.wilderness.
net/toolboxes/
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• Wilderness Resource Advisor Tips
• Know your role with the Incident Mgmt. Team,
  Agency Administrator, and others.
• Be prepared to stand up and present your case for
  wilderness.
• Understand the effects of fire and fire
  management activities in wilderness.
• Allow and assist fire managers to do what they
  should, not what they could.
• Be a credible wilderness advocate, not a zealot.

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BLM Policy 8560.35 A

• Fire suppression measures and techniques must be
  used which achieve the wilderness management
  objectives with the minimum adverse impact on the
  wilderness resource.
• Methods and equipment which least alter the
  landscape or disturb the land surface are best.

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FWS Policy 6 RM 8.8b C.

• While an aggressive approach to wildfire control
  on certain wilderness areas may be in order, the
  methods utilized should be the minimum tool.

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Forest Service Policy 2320

• Conduct all fire management activities within
  wilderness in a manner compatible with overall
  wilderness management objectives.
• Give preference to using methods and
  equipment that cause the least

1. Alteration of the wilderness landscape.
2. Disturbance of the land surface.
3. Disturbance to visitor solitude.
4. Reduction of visibility during periods of visitor
   use.
5. Adverse effect on other air quality related
   values.

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Forest Service Policy 2320

• Locate fire camps, helispots, and other temporary
  facilities or improvements outside of the
  wilderness boundary whenever feasible.
• Rehabilitate disturbed areas caused by
  suppression activities within wilderness to as
  natural an appearance as possible.

 
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NPS General Mgmt. Policy

• Fire management or suppression activities
  conducted within wilderness, including the
  categories of designated, recommended, potential,
  proposed, and eligible areas, will be consistent
  with the minimum requirement concept identified
  in Chapter 6 (of the General Management Policies)
  and Directors Order 41 Wilderness Preservation
  and Management.

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NPS Policy - Directors Order 41

• The park's fire management and wilderness
  management plans must identify and reconcile the
  natural and historic roles of fire in the
  wilderness, and will provide a prescription for
  response, if any, to natural and human-caused
  wildlfires.

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Wilderness Fire Management PolicyObjectives

• Whenever possible, scrutinize the use of motor
  vehicles, motorized equipment, mechanical
  transport, and aircraft in support of suppression
  activities.

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Wilderness Fire Management PolicyObjectives

• Whenever possible, scrutinize the use of motor
  vehicles, motorized equipment, mechanical
  transport and aircraft in support of suppression
  activities.
• Activities that may have longer-term impacts,
  such as retardant drops, line construction, and
  dozer lines should be minimized.

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