Maybe a Fire Person could explain what this means… is it part of removing the Regional level generally, or something else? Is a “territorial” fire and aviation portfolio the same as a Geographic Area as in Geographic Area Fire Directors? Was someone/level in the management chain who now isn’t?
Below is the announcement.
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Effective Aug. 11, 2026, pursuant to the President’s Executive Order 14308, Secretary Memorandum 1078-017 and the creation of the Deputy Chief – Fire & Aviation Management, Safety, & Employee Wellbeing position, all fire and aviation authorities are formally reassigned and delegated to this position to establish distinct lines of authority and communication.
In this role, the Deputy Chief – Fire & Aviation Management, Safety, & Employee Wellbeing is directly responsible for providing strategic oversight, implementing policies, and managing the operations of the Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management programs. This responsibility encompasses all authorities outlined in Forest Service Manual (FSM) 1230 (Delegations of Authority) and FSM 5100 (Fire Management), except where a specific delegation restricts the exercise of certain powers reserved exclusively for the Chief of the Forest Service.
Specifically, you are authorized to:
- Exercise all wildfire response, preparedness, and aviation management program oversight authorities.
- Authorize critical fire-related expenditures, resource allocations, communications and emergency response mobilizations within the scope of our national and territorial fire and aviation portfolios.
- Serve as the agency decision-maker for fire management response and emergency declarations across the agency.
- To maintain operational efficiency and field safety, you are authorized to sub-delegate these authorities as necessary to appropriate leadership positions, provided such sub-delegations are documented in writing and aligned with agency standards.
In addition to the delegation of these authorities, supervision of Geographic Area Fire Directors will shift to the Deputy Chief position.
This delegation of authority and shift of supervision is effective immediately and will remain in effect until rescinded or modified in writing. This delegation and its full authority will transfer to the Chief Fire & Safety Officer position upon agency reorganization.
Looks like it is just the formalization of following the Secretary Order 1078-17 section 4 “ (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.”
Hello, in reference to territory, There are USFS firefighters in Puerto Rico, as well some former FWS folks and some red carded NPS folks.