Lots to see and talk about.
Here is the link to the USDA memo. It’s called Improving the Performance of the National Wildland Fire System with Targeted Federal Reform.
Here’s the DOI version. Neither is too long to read, so what do you think?
Sounds like most of the questions we had were answered. From the DOI version:
For the purposes of this Order, “unification” shall not be considered synonymous with “consolidation”; rather, “unification” shall mean the strategic alignment of resources, including
but not limited to, the following:
a. physical resources like aviation and vehicles;
b. pay, benefits, retirement, training, and human resource systems;
c. consistent application of firefighting strategies, which differs from tactics that are situational;
d. technology for early fire detection; and
e. modernization of communication and life safety tools to ensure cross-team coordination when jointly fighting wildland fires
The below seems to describe the relationship with land managers (also from DOI). We don’t have the details but it sounds like the land managers call them in for suppression and maybe prescribed fire? Would like more detail on this one.
While authority over the program, its appropriations, firefighters, and managers will be shifting to the USWFS Fire Chief, line officers in the Department’s land management
Bureaus will continue to share responsibility for delivering on the wildland fire mission. Pre-fire risk reduction, fire response, and post-fire rehabilitation and repair all require
interdisciplinary work across numerous fire and resource programs. The restructuring will in no way impede consistent collaboration with land managers to ensure aggressive
fuels treatment strategies, effective and nimble wildfire response, and thoughtful post-fire recovery. Nothing in this Order shall be construed as relieving Bureau line officers from
their responsibility to manage public lands in a manner that aggressively addresses their relevant wildfire risk
My fave of course is this one, but the research portfolio review should be all feds, NSF, NOAA, NASA, DOE all have snouts in the federal wildfire research trough. I know these Secretaries don’t have the authority, but if I were the Secretaries, I would forward a request to the White House requesting cooperation from those agencies.
To ensure wildfire research and technology investments are fit-for-purpose and field-ready, I hereby direct DOI in coordination with USFS, to take the following actions:
o Establish a joint governance structure to coordinate wildfire-related research, technology deployment, including new solutions in early fire detection, and IT modernization and integration across the Federal wildfire community within 60 days.
o Conduct a joint review of wildfire research portfolios to identify duplication and ensure alignment to support operational priorities, and firefighter and public safety within 120 days.
o Assess and make recommendations to modernize standards for Personal Protective Equipment to ensure the long-term health and safety of wildland firefighters within 270 days.
o Initiate design of a unified Wildfire Enterprise IT architecture with secure, interoperable systems accessible to Federal, Tribal, State, and academic partners; propose a timeline for implementation within 60 days.
This is also important.. remember the PM 2.5 drama?
o Work with USFS and the Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate regulatory barriers for prescribed fire and the use of fire retardant, including revising the exceptional events rule, and permitting requirements within 270 days.
I don’t know how this would affect the current fire retardant lawsuit.
Looks like the FS wildland fire org will become stovepiped administratively, similar to LEOs.
(i) Develop proposals for a restructuring of the internal wildland fire organization, consolidating fire leadership that reports directly to, and is accountable to a Forest Service Deputy Chief. Implementation of this revised structure will begin by April 1, 2026. (ii) Assess wildland fire staffing, organization, position descriptions, and job classifications to ensure consistency and develop recommendations for standardization across the agency. Implementation of these recommendations will begin by April 1, 2026.
I’m sure that many are hoping the below will help people and organizations get paid.
(ii) Immediately initiate the modernization, consolidation, and simplification processes for grants, agreements, and assistance to increase accessibility, accelerate reimbursement, and eliminate administrative delays; propose a timeline for implementation within 30 days.
Questions.. what are Geographic Area boundaries .. is that a wildfire thing?
Does the joint “Administratively Determined hiring program” mean going through a different organization than ASC?