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IAFC Wildland Fire Policy Committee
Wildland fire kills our firefighters and citizens, threatens our communities, destroys our natural resources and costs too much.

Wildland fire and urban interface information

Page links: Resources | Links

Updates & Action Items

Ready, Set, Go Webpage Launched
3/26/2010... The IAFC has launched the Ready, Set, Go! program webpage at www.iafc.org/readySetGo. Ready, Set, Go stresses that communities situated in high fire hazard environments should be designed, constructed, retrofitted, managed and maintained in a manner that reduces the need for fire suppression assistance during wildfires. Furthermore, residents of these communities should take proactive measures to prepare for living in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Visit the Ready, Set, Go webpage for resources and additional information.

About the Wildland Fire Policy Committee

The IAFC is committed to promoting nationwide efforts to reduce wildfire threats through aggressive prevention, public information and education, mitigation, preparation and response efforts. This webpage is an online resource and information network to fire departments to promote awareness of structural/wildland fire information and issues.

The wildland-urban interface (WUI) is the fastest growing fire problem in the United States. This problem is growing each year as millions of people continue to build homes in high-risk interface areas and as local, state and federal government attempts to address fuel modification in the interface continue to meet social resistance to a balanced fuels reduction plan. The direct threat to life and high-valued property in the interface (suburbs) has been demonstrated in cities, towns, counties and communities throughout the country. The direct and indirect costs of an extreme fire event can reach multi-billion dollar dimensions; impacts on the infrastructure of a community can include damage and disruption of water supply, utilities and transportation systems. These fires threaten high-valued community assets including recreational resources, cultural icons, endangered species, grazing crops, jobs, and community health & commerce.

Resources

Missions Report (pdf)
This report examines the U.S’s current intergovernmental structure for wildland fire protection and response. The primary objective was to describe the existing legal responsibilities, authorities and roles of federal, state, local and tribal wildland fire protection organizations, with particular emphasis on the response to wildfires in the proximity of jurisdictional boundaries. The focus is on the jurisdictional and legal complexities of wildland fire protection including structure protection and structural fire suppression in the wildland-urban interface, the values at risk within jurisdictions, the implications on government’s ability to deliver effective and cost efficient wildfire protection and suppression services.

Mutual Expectations for Preparedness and Suppression In the Interface (pdf)

A Call to Action A New Wildland Fire Accord: It Is in Your Hands (pdf)
This call-to-action reflects the thoughts of a small cadre of U.S. federal, state and local wildland fire agency leaders and is meant to stimulate Presidential, Congressional and Gubernatorial leadership on what it will take for all of us collectively to fix the United States wildland fire problem.

Quadrennial Fire Review (QFR) (pdf)
Details: January 2009 IAFC On Scene

The IAFC thanks Don Artley, Kurt Latipow, David Driscoll, Bruce Suenram, Tom Kuntz, Mike Brown and Wayne Mitchell for their hard work and for ensuring that state and local government were represented throughout the development of this report.

National Wildfire Coordinating Group

1/8/2009 Update on the Modifications to the Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy (pdf)
Background: 7/18/08 Modification of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy Guidance and IAFC participation
Modification of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy Guidance – Communications Plan (pdf, 7/18/08)
Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy (pdf, 7/18/08)

Recommended Mitigation Practices for Property Owners and Guidelines for Use of Private Resources

IAFC position: Recommended Wildland Fire Mitigation Practices for Property Owners and Guidelines for Use of Private Resources (pdf)
Private Resource Utilization Guidelines (pdf)
Abstract: Wildland Fire Policy Committee Develops Private Resource Utilization Guidelines
Details: October 1, 2009 IAFC On Scene

Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) - Leaders Guide and Leaders Guide Supplement

This Leaders Guide Supplement is offered as a companion document to the Handbook and guidance for those who are considering implementing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). It explains comprehensively how to implement each of the steps needed to create an effective CWPP.

Community Guide to Preparing and Implementing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (pdf)

Preparing a Wildfire Community Protection Plan: A Handbook for WUI Communities (pdf)

Community Wildfire Protection Plan - Leaders Guide (pdf)

Community Wildfire Protection Plan - Leaders Guide Supplement (pdf)

Advancing Wildland Fire Training for Fire Departments Implementation Plan (pdf)
Implementation actions 1a-1c from the 2002 report “Changing Role and Needs of Local, Rural and Volunteer Fire Departments in the Wildland Urban Interface” and subsequent findings of the 2004 task group report “Advancing Wildland Fire Training for Fire Departments” (AWFT).

Updates & Action Items

About the Wildland Fire Policy Committee

Resources

Links

Wildland Fire Policy Committee Members