User:DOIWildlandFire/sandbox

DOI
Office of Wildland Fire

Logo of OWF
Agency overview
Type	Office
Headquarters	Main Interior Building 1849 C Street NW Washington, D.C., U.S. 38°53′37.11″N 77°2′33.33″W
Employees	27
Agency executive	Bryan Rice, Director
Parent agency	Department of Interior (DOI)
Website	www.doi.gov/wildlandfire/

The Office of Wildland Fire (OWF), coordinates the DOI's wildland fire program with tribes and other Federal and non-federal partners to establish policies and budgets that are consistent and within the bureaus' statutory authorities and supports the principles and goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. The goal of OWF is to reduce risk to wildland firefighters, communities, and landscapes while providing the benefits using the management of wildland fire.

History

With the issuance of Secretarial Order 3219 (January 2001), the Office of Wildland Fire Coordination (now, Office of Wildland Fire) was created when Congress provided new financial resources and direction to the Secretary of the Interior to develop aggressive planning efforts and take action to reduce the risk of wildfire in the wildland urban interface (WUI) areas. Then, in September 2008, Secretarial Order 3278 transferred the responsibility for the Department’s Wildland Fire Management Appropriation from the Bureau of Land Management to the Office of Wildland Fire.

Wildfire Management in the DOI

The OWF provides national policy direction, budget, and oversight for the DOI wildland fire management program. The DOI's wildland fire management organization is comprised of OWF and four land management bureaus with wildland fire management responsibilities, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. The Bureau of Reclamation also has limited protection responsibilities for their lands. The Office of Aviation Services provides aviation support to the DOI's wildland fire management organization. The U.S. Geological Survey plays an integral role in preparing for and responding to wildfires by providing tools and information before, during, and after wildfires to identify risk and reduce subsequent hazards, while providing real-time firefighting support during events. Each DOI land management bureau is responsible for their respective land base to manage and protect the natural and cultural resources entrusted to them in the safest, most efficient manner possible.

Wildland Fire Governance

Wildland Fire Governance Structure

The Nation’s wildland fire management program is a closely coordinated and integrated set of Federal, state, tribal, and local programs using interoperable equipment, training, qualifications, and protocols. The overall program is guided by common policy and approach, implemented through agency line organizations, and in the context of the legal mission of each agency. A number of governance structures are used to develop and maintain this common, integrated approach – ranging from the national strategic level to regional and local coordination groups.

Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC)

The Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) is an intergovernmental committee of Federal, state, tribal, county, and municipal government officials. The WFLC, convened by the Secretaries of Agriculture, the Interior, and Homeland Security, provides a forum for high-level dialogues among members to develop strategic direction for National Wildland Fire Management and help ensure consistent implementation of wildland fire policies, goals and management activities across all lands.

Federal Fire Policy Council (FFPC)

The FFPC provides common Federal interagency policy approach, direction, and coordination for wildland fire management.

Fire Executive Council (FEC)

The FEC provides a common, integrated, and coordinated Federal agency approach to wildland fire policy, leadership, budget, and program oversight. The FEC works closely with the National Association of State Foresters Forest Fire Protection Committee to coordinate common Federal-state approaches to wildland fire management issues.

Fire Management Board (FMB)

The FMB provides a mechanism for coordinated, integrated Federal wildland fire program management and implementation, and works closely with National Association of State Foresters, Intertribal Timber Council, and other partners to ensure common approach to program management and implementation.

National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)

The NWCG provides national subject matter expertise and leadership to develop, maintain, and communicate interagency standards, guidelines, qualifications, training, and other capabilities that enable interoperable operations among federal and non-federal entities. NWCG facilitates implementation of approved standards, guidelines, qualifications, and training.

NWCG developed standards, guidelines, qualifications, etc., only become policy once accepted and adopted by Forest Service, DOI, and other agencies.

External Links

Programs

• Official OWF Website
  • Aviation
  • Budget
  • Community Assistance
  • Fuels Management
  • Government-to-Government Consultations
  • Internal Coordination
  • Performance Measures
  • Wildland Fire Safety
  • Science
  • Smoke Management
  • Wildland Fire Suppression
  • Information and Technology
  • Fire Policy
  • Fire Preparedness
  • Resilient Landscapes

Further Reading

• Daily Fire Report
• Monthly Wildfire Potential Outlook

Social Media

• OWF Twitter