Prescribed Fire Positions

1
Prescribed Fire Positions

• Ignition Specialist 1 and 2(RXI1 and RXI2)
• Firing Boss (FIRB)
• Firing Leader (FIRL)

2
Historical Reference

• Over time, several changes have been made to the
  position that controls ignition/firing/burning
  operations on wildland, prescribed and wildland
  fire use fires.
• The BLM has gone from Ignition Specialist 1 and 2
  (RXI1, RXI2) and Firing Boss (FIRB) to just a
  Firing Boss (FIRB).
• As of October 3, 2007, the BLM endorses two
  positions in this arenaFiring Boss (FIRB) and
  Firing Leader (FIRL).

3
January 2000 / 310-1

• RXI2
• Required Training
• None
• Prerequisite Experience
• Satisfactory performance in any Single Resource
  Boss
• and
• Satisfactory position performance as an RXI2
• Physical Fitness
• Agency established

• RXI1
• Required Training
• None
• Prerequisite Experience
• Satisfactory performance as an RXI2
• and
• Satisfactory position performance as an RXI1
• Physical Fitness
• Agency established

4
Transition from RXI1 and RXI2 to FIRB

• In January 2006, the IOSWT established the new
  Firing Boss position (FIRB) to replace the
  Ignition Specialist positions (RXI1 and RXI2).
• Changes were made on recommendations from the
  field, and the Fire Use and IOS Working Teams.
• All those currently qualified as an RXI1 or RXI2
  will be awarded FIRB qualifications.
• Until December 31, 2008, FIRB qualifications will
  be awarded to all those successfully completing
  RXI2 PTBs that were initiated prior to 2/1/06.

5
Firing Boss (FIRB) - Single Resource

• Required Training
• Crew Boss, Single Resource S-230
• Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior S-290
• Annual Fireline Safety Refresher RT-130
• Required Experience
• Satisfactory performance as a Firefighter Type 1
  (FFT1)
• and
• Successful position performance as a Firing Boss
  (FIRB)
• Physical Fitness
• Moderate
• (Source 310-1, April 2006)

6
BLM Revision of the FIRB and Addition of the FIRL

• BLM field and the fire managers expressed concern
  with the creation of the FIRB position.
• The new classification did not adequately address
  the complexities of the firing operations on the
  wildland fires.
• Experience and training with multiple ignitions
  operations and/or complex firing equipment (e.g.,
  terra torch, aerial firing equipment) is not
  required for the current FIRB qualification.
• Ignition operations on prescribed fire as
  compared to a wildfire may be very different
  (i.e., meeting resources objectives vs. control).

7
BLM Revision of the FIRB and Addition of the
FIRL (continued)

• Skills and abilities to implement complex firing
  patterns and manipulation of fire behavior to
  meet the resource and control objectives need to
  be exhibited to qualify as an FIRB.

The implementation of additional standards for
FIRB and the new FIRL position will ensure that
wildland fire ignition operations are implemented
by qualified and experienced personnel.
8
FIRB (BLM specifics as of 10/03/07)

• Required Training
• Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior S-290
• Crew Boss, Single Resource S-230
• Annual Fireline Safety Refresher RT-130
• Ignition Operations S-234 (Additional BLM
  requirement)
• Required Experience
• Satisfactory performance as a FFT1 and successful
  position performance and a Single Resource FIRB
• Physical Fitness
• Arduous
• Complexity of Fire
• Low to moderate
• Resources Assigned
• Single ground ignition firing resource, no more
  then two locations

9
FIRL (BLM specifics as of 10/03/07)

• Required Training
• Introduction to Fire Behavior Calculations S-390
• Required training for FIRB
• Required Experience
• Satisfactory performance as a STL or TFLD or RXB2
  and FIRB
• plus
• Successful position performance as a FIRL (see
  PTB)
• Physical Fitness
• Moderate
• Complexity of Fire
• Moderate to high
• Resources Assigned
• Multiple ignition resources/types or more then
  two firing locations or aerial ignition

10
Transition (Specific to the BLM)

• Current qualified FIRBs and FIRB trainees must
  complete the additional training (S-234) and
  achieve an arduous fitness rating to qualify as a
  BLM FIRB.
• FIRB to FIRL
• If all current FIRB PTB elements, prerequisites
  (STL or TFDL or RXB2) and training (S-234 and
  S-390) of current FIRB have been previously
  completed and the employee and Red Card Committee
  is satisfied with the employee skills, then a
  FIRL PTB must be completed to become qualified as
  a BLM FIRL.

11
Transition(Continued)

• RXI1 to FIRL
• If all current FIRB PTB elements, prerequisites
  (STL or TFDL or RXB2) and training (S-234 and
  S-390) of a former RXI1 have been previously
  completed and the employee and Red Card Committee
  is satisfied with the employee skills, then the
  BLM FIRL position will be awarded. Otherwise, an
  FIRL PTB will be initiated.
• RXI1 (T) to FIRL (T)
• An employee who meets the prerequisite
  qualifications (STL or TFDL or RXB2), has
  completed training (S-234 and S-390) and has
  initiated and partially completed an RXI1 PTB
  prior to February 2006 will be given credit for
  those tasks which correspond to those in the BLM
  FIRL PTB. A BLM FIRL PTB will be initiated to
  these employees.

12
Transition(Continued)

• Employees who do not meet the qualification and
  training of BLM FIRL but have the RXI1 PTB
  initiated prior to February 2006 will not be
  given credit for completed tasks nor issued a BLM
  FIRL PTB until the prerequisites are met. Those
  employees have a maximum of three years from the
  date of the RXI1 PTB initiation to obtain the
  required qualifications before their RXI1 PTB
  expires.
• (Reference FA-IM 2007-023, Change 1)