5120
Page 1 of 3
FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
SOUTHWESTERN REGION (REGION 3)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
FSM 5100 - FIRE MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 5120 - PREPAREDNESS
Supplement No.: 5100-2010-1
Effective Date: April 26, 2010
Duration: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: GILBERT ZEPEDA
Deputy Regional Forester
Date Approved: 04/22/2010
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by title and calendar year.
Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this supplement. Retain this
transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to this title was
5100-2008-1 to FSM 5140.
New Document
5120
3 Pages
Superseded Document(s)
by Issuance Number and
Effective Date
None
0 pages
Digest:
5120.2 – Adds direction for the safe and effective use of emergency red lights and sirens on
Forest Service fleet vehicles.
5120.3 – Adds policy for the use of red lights and sirens on Forest Service emergency vehicles.
5120.4 – Adds additional responsibilities for Forest Supervisors and District Rangers.
5126.5 - Adds the training and certification standards for emergency vehicle operators.
5127.1 - Adds new code, caption and citation direction for red lights and sirens equipment
standards.
R3 SUPPLEMENT 5100-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/26/2010
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
5120
Page 2 of 3
FSM 5100 - FIRE MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 5120 - PREPAREDNESS
5120.2 - Objective
To provide for the safe and effective use of emergency red lights and sirens on Forest Service
fleet vehicles. Perform all emergency lighting related operations in accordance with FSM 5120
and FSM 5130. This guidance establishes specific Southwestern Region policy and procedures
for emergency lighting operations that is in addition to the direction provided in FSM 5120 and
FSM 5130.
5120.3 - Policy
Use of red lights and sirens are only authorized for Forest Service emergency vehicles in
compliance with applicable State statutes for emergency vehicle operations as follows:
1. Initial attack resources responding to an incident where public or firefighter safety is
threatened, or major property or resource damage is occurring on National Forest System
lands or under immediate threat from adjacent lands. Circumstances exist where traffic
congestion has resulted in either a complete stoppage of traffic, or has slowed to an extent
it impedes normal and safe progress of the vehicle.
2. Parked or traveling on or alongside Forest Service, local, County, State, or Federal roads
and highways during wildfires, prescribed fires, and other emergency responses where
identification of parked or moving vehicles is needed to prevent collision impacts from
other vehicles, and for safety purposes due to smoke conditions, adverse weather, and
other conditions that result in poor or impaired visibility.
5120.4 - Responsibility
5120.45 - Forest Supervisors
1. Maintain data base for Forest employees on training and certification of emergency
vehicle operators (EVO).
2. Ensure all off-Forest fire resources are briefed on local emergency lighting policy.
3. Conduct After Action Reviews as appropriate to monitor compliance with policy.
5120.46 - District Rangers
1. Identify emergency vehicle operators within the unit and assure they meet training and
certification standards.
2. Ensure that emergency vehicle operators operate lights only at the level of operator
certification and within Regional operating directives.
R3 SUPPLEMENT 5100-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/26/2010
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
5120
Page 3 of 3
FSM 5100 - FIRE MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 5120 - PREPAREDNESS
3. Prepare and approve Job hazard Analyses.
5126 - PREPAREDNESS TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS
5126.5 - Certification and Record Keeping
1. Training,Certification of Emergency Vehicle Operators. The training and certification
standards set forth will meet the needs of the Southwest Region as well as national fire
support. The Regional approved training curriculum may be instructed at the Regional or
Forest level.
a. Training and certification requirements
(1) Initial
(a) Driver meets pre-requisites for EVO certification as outlined in
5120
(b) Emergency Vehicle Operator Training
(c) IQCS Training Record maintained
(2) 6 Months
(a) Drivers Training
(b) IQCS Training Record maintained
(3) Annual
(a) Tactile drivers training
(b) Pull Notice / DMV
(c) IQCS Training Record maintained
(4) 3 Years
(a) Re-Certification Training
(b) Pull Notice / DMV
(c) Record OF-346
(d) IQCS Training Record maintained
5127 – EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SIRENS
5127.1 - Red Lights and Sirens
Equipment Standards - Fleet replacements in the current fire fleet replacement plan will maintain
the same equipment to ensure consistant fleet equipment within the Region. The Southwest
Regional Equipment Committee may make recommendations on fleet requiring emergency
vehicle lighting packages to the Regional Forester for approval.