6509.11g_50
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FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS (WO)
WASHINGTON, DC
FSH 6509.11g - SERVICE-WIDE APPROPRIATION USE HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 - WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
Amendment No.: 6509.11g-2009-2
Effective Date: January 8, 2009
Duration: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: KARREN ALEXANDER
For JESSE KING
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Date Approved: 11/13/2008
Posting Instructions: Amendments are numbered consecutively by handbook number and
calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this
amendment. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last amendment to
this handbook was 6509.11g-2009-1 to 6509.11g_10.
New Document
6509.11g_50
16 Pages
Superseded Document(s) by
Issuance Number and
Effective Date
6509.11g_50
(Amendment 6509.11g-2005-1, 06/01/2005)
16 Pages
Digest:
50 - Makes minor editorial changes throughout the chapter.
51 - Adds more detail to direction on Wildland Fire Management.
51.1 - Adds more detail to direction on Wildland Fire Preparedness.
51.2 - Adds more detail to direction on Fire Suppression.
51.25 - Adds more detail to direction on Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER).
51.3 - Adds more detail to direction on Hazardous Fuels Reduction.
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 6509.11g - SERVICE-WIDE APPROPRIATION USE HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 - WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
Table of Contents
50.1 - Authority........................................................................................................................... 3
51 - WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT - FUND CODE WFWF - TREASURY SYMBOL
12X1115 ............................................................................................................... 4
51.1 - Wildland Fire Preparedness - Program Code WFPR ....................................................... 4
51.11 - Preparedness Activities............................................................................................... 5
51.11a - Firefighter and Equipment Charges .......................................................................... 5
51.11b - National Resource Crews ......................................................................................... 6
51.11c - National Resource Contract Aircraft - Program Codes WFPR and WFSU.............. 6
51.11d - Casual (Administratively Determined) Firefighters - Program Codes WFPR and
WFSU ......................................................................................................................... 7
51.12 - Preparedness Personnel and Equipment ..................................................................... 7
51.13 - Fire Planning............................................................................................................... 8
51.14 - Fire Investigation ........................................................................................................ 8
51.15 - Awards ........................................................................................................................ 9
51.16 - Analysis, Evaluations, and Reviews ........................................................................... 9
51.17 - Training ...................................................................................................................... 9
51.2 - Fire Suppression and Fire Operations - Program Code WFSU ........................................ 9
51.21 - Personnel Related Expenses ..................................................................................... 10
51.21a - Project and Program Personnel ............................................................................... 10
51.21b - Indirect Personnel ................................................................................................... 10
51.21c - Base and Overtime .................................................................................................. 10
51.21d - Cooperative Work Employees ................................................................................ 10
51.21e - Human Resource Program Enrollees ...................................................................... 10
51.21f - Law Enforcement .................................................................................................... 11
51.21g - Unemployment Compensation ............................................................................... 11
51.21h - Office of Worker's Compensation Program (OWCP) Expenses ............................ 11
51.22 - Equipment and Supplies ........................................................................................... 11
51.22a - Reconditioning and Restoring................................................................................. 11
51.22b - Replacement ........................................................................................................... 11
51.22c - Emergency Purchases ............................................................................................. 11
51.23 - Roads and Trails ....................................................................................................... 12
51.24 - Property Damage Resulting from Fire Suppression Activity ................................... 13
51.25 - Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER)..................................................... 14
51.26 - Other Ownership Lands ............................................................................................ 14
51.27 - Relations With Foreign Nations ............................................................................... 14
51.27a - Provision of Emergency Wildfire Protection Resources to Foreign Nations ......... 14
51.27b - Reimbursement to Foreign Nations for Firefighting Assistance ............................ 15
51.3 - Hazardous Fuels Reduction - Program Code WFHF ..................................................... 15
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 6509.11g - SERVICE-WIDE APPROPRIATION USE HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 - WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
50.1 - Authority
1. Organic Administration Act of 1897, as amended (16 U.S.C. 551). Directs the
Secretary of Agriculture to protect National Forests against destruction by fire and
depredations.
2. Fire Protection Agreements - Mutual Aid - Agencies (May 27, 1955 - 42 U.S.C. 1856
- 1856d). Authorizes agreements between agencies of the United States Government and
other domestic agencies, including State and local entities and instrumentalities for
mutual aid in fire protection.
3. Wildfire Suppression Act (Public Law 101-11). Authorizes reciprocal agreements
with foreign fire organizations for mutual aid in wildfire protection.
4. Granger-Thye Act, (16 U.S.C. 472). Authorizes assistance to perform work on other
than Forest Service jurisdictions.
5. Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act (16 U.S.C. 565a-1 through a-3). Authorizes
cooperation for fire protection for public good and where there is mutual benefit, other
than monetary consideration.
6. Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944, as amended (16 U.S.C. 579a).
Authorizes the Forest Service, by contract or otherwise, to provide for procurement and
operation of aerial facilities and services for the protection and management of the
national forests and other lands administered by the agency.
7. Annual Department of Interior and Related Agencies’ Appropriation Act. Establishes
a no-year appropriation for necessary expenses of firefighting, preparedness, fuels
management, support to Federal emergency responses authorized by the Stafford Act
(Public Law 100-707) and emergency rehabilitation of burned over National Forest
System lands.
8. Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-148, December 3, 2003).
Improves the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct hazardous fuels
reduction projects on National Forest System lands aimed at protecting communities,
watersheds, and certain other at-risk lands from catastrophic wildfire, to enhance efforts
to protect watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health, including
catastrophic wildfire.
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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51 - WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT - FUND CODE WFWF - TREASURY SYMBOL
12X1115
Wildland Fire Management’s objective is to protect life, property, and natural resources on the
National Forest System (NFS) land and on adjacent State and private lands protected through fee
or reciprocal protection agreements in an efficient, and cost-effective manner.
The Wildland Fire Management appropriation finances necessary expenses of the following
activities:
1. Wildland fire preparedness activities on National Forest System lands;
2. Wildland fire suppression on or adjacent to such lands under a fire protection
agreement;
3. Support to Federal emergencies declared by the President and managed by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and support to emergencies declared by the
Secretary of Agriculture, and managed under the terms of an interagency agreement;
4. Emergency rehabilitation of burned-over National Forest System lands;
5. Fire severity, including specific actions and staffing in excess of the planned and
budgeted program to improve initial attack response capabilities and wildfire prevention
activities due to seasonal variations in regional weather or fire occurrence which increase
fire severity significantly above the level normally expected (FSM 5192.2); and
6. Hazardous fuels reduction.
51.1 - Wildland Fire Preparedness - Program Code WFPR
Wildland Fire Preparedness protects National Forest System lands from damage by wildfires,
commensurate with the threat of life, values, at risk, public values, and management objectives.
WFPR provides support to the basic fire organization and capability to prevent forest fires and
ensure prompt and effective initial attack suppression operations that can be used on wildfires.
Use WFPR funds for necessary expenses incurred for wildland fire preparedness activities before
wildland fires occur. Preparedness funds are allocated to each region along with guidance
pertaining to levels of local personnel and equipment such as engines, bulldozers, and
firefighters (the “Firefighter Production Capability” (FFPC) targets).
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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51.11 - Preparedness Activities
Use WFPR funds for expenses for preparedness, such as:
1. Planning.
2. Prevention.
3. Detection.
4. Information.
5. Education.
6. Pre-incident training.
7. Equipment and supply purchase and replacement.
8. Expenses including salaries, contracts, and services.
When a wildland fire occurs, each preparedness activity has its own transition point at which the
funding changes from preparedness program fund WFPR, to suppression program fund WFSU.
Each transition point is identified in sections 51.11a through 51.11d.
51.11a - Firefighter and Equipment Charges
1. Personnel.
Use WFSU funds for:
a. Necessary expenses of the base hours, non-base hours, and all other pay for
personnel and equipment planned and budgeted with WFPR, when assigned to a
specific fire.
b. All pay, including base hours, for all personnel when assigned to a specific
wildland fire.
2. Aviation and Equipment.
Charge the daily availability and guarantees for contracted aircraft to the contract’s
approved funds when it is assigned to a specific wildland fire.
a. Use WFPR funds for:
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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(1) Daily availability and guarantees for contracted aircraft, unless otherwise
approved by the Washington Office, Director of Fire and Aviation Management staff.
(2) Equipment fixed ownership rates when it is assigned to a specific wildland fire
(sec. 51.22).
b. Use WFSU funds for support and operating costs for aircraft and equipment;
starting when the aircraft and equipment are assigned to a specific wildland fire.
3. Ordered Stand by.
a. Use WFPR funds for ordered stand-by, pre-positioning, and move-up-and-cover, if
the order is based on a perceived threat (high fire danger).
b. Use WFSU funds for:
(1) Ordered stand-by, pre-positioning and move-up-and-cover, if the order is based on
actual starts in the immediate initial attack area, and the order is for time outside
normal work or work week.
(2) Expenditure in excess of the planned and budgeted WFPR account for
replacement personnel and their support is prohibited. Replacement of personnel and
equipment assigned to emergency incidents is authorized only when local fire danger
justifies the replacements.
51.11b - National Resource Crews
National Resource Crews, as defined in the National Interagency Mobilization Guide (NFES
2092), are financed from WFPR funds for an expected length of time as published in the annual
Planning and Budget Advice. When replacements are needed for smokejumpers and interagency
hotshot crews that are assigned to wildland fires, replacements are selected from the list of
National Resources in the Mobilization Guide (NFES 2092).
51.11c - National Resource Contract Aircraft - Program Codes WFPR and WFSU
Charge the daily availability and guarantees for contracted aircraft to the contract’s approved
funds, when it is assigned to a specific wildland fire.
Use procedures listed in the National Interagency Mobilization Guide (NFES 2092) to request
replacement aircraft if fire danger or other rationale warrant replacement aircraft.
When the aircraft is assigned to an incident, use WFSU funds for:
1. Personnel salary, and overtime.
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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2. Support and operating costs for aircraft and equipment, starting when the aircraft is
assigned to a specific wildland fire.
3. The availability or guarantee cost of replacement aircraft.
4. Equipment costs to support replacement aircraft operations.
51.11d - Casual (Administratively Determined) Firefighters - Program Codes
WFPR and WFSU
1. Training.
a. Use WFSU funds for fire training and associated travel, per diem and support for
casual (Administratively Determined (AD)) firefighters, up to the limit authorized in
the AD Pay Plan (FSH 5109.34).
b. Use WFPR funds for costs of agency or contract instructor salaries, per diem,
supplies, facility rental and equipment (51.17).
2. Testing.
a. Use WFSU funds for the salary costs of casual (AD) firefighters during fitness
testing.
b. Use WFPR funds for the costs of all personnel providing fitness testing for casual
(AD) firefighters.
3. Equipping.
a. Use WFPR funds for equipping casual (AD) firefighters.
b. Use WFSU funds for the replacement of casual (AD) firefighters’ equipment lost,
damaged, or destroyed on an incident.
51.12 - Preparedness Personnel and Equipment
For the purpose of this section, planned program work is defined as a project or task in the
annual program of work approved by the line officer, including mid-year adjustments.
Use WFPR funds for necessary expenses for planned and budgeted preparedness resources
engaged in preparedness activities.
Use WFSU funds for base time and for costs beyond the planned period when preparedness
resources are assigned to a wildland fire.
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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Preparedness resources that are being funded by other than WFPR funds, at the time of
assignment to an incident, will charge WFSU immediately upon assignment.
During the locally established fire season, when conditions permit, it is acceptable to deploy
preparedness resources to other Forest Service non-fire activities as long as the preparedness
resources are always able to respond to emergencies within an acceptable time limit. Assign
work to crews and equipment in the following order of priority:
1. Wildland Fire Protection. Protection activities include fuel treatment, fire equipment
maintenance, prevention, and pre-attack planning.
2. Non-fire Planned Program Work. Program work such as recreation maintenance,
reforestation, timber stand improvement, and brush disposal will finance all costs,
including salaries, supplies, materials, travel, and equipment use included in the project
plan. Do not charge WFPR funds for any costs incurred as a result of using preparedness
personnel or equipment on non-fire planned projects.
3. Non-fire Unplanned Program Work. Work projects that protect or maintain National
Forest System resources and facilities. Give high priority to maintenance of
preparedness-related improvements. Use WFPR for base salaries of preparedness
resources. Pay all other costs, such as overtime, flight time, supplies, and materials from
the program funds identified by applying the Primary Purpose principle.
51.13 - Fire Planning
Use WFPR funds for necessary expenses for preparing fire management plans and fire planning.
Charge all planned non-fire resource management activities involving support from fire
management personnel to program funds identified by applying the Primary Purpose principle.
51.14 - Fire Investigation
Use WFPR funds for the costs of non-criminal trespass investigations, preparation of claim case
reports and assessments.
Use WFSU funds for:
1. Fire origin investigation work performed by qualified investigators.
2. Investigations of motor vehicle and other accidents and injuries related to incident
management.
Use NFLE (Law Enforcement Investigations) funds when it has been determined that the fire
source is criminal in nature.
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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51.15 - Awards
Use WFPR funds for cash or nonmonetary awards for superior performance in emergency
firefighting activities.
51.16 - Analysis, Evaluations, and Reviews
Use WFPR funds for post-fire analysis and reports, including critiques and individual fire
evaluations.
Use WFSU funds for analyses, evaluations and reviews conducted during the incident.
51.17 - Training
Use WFPR funds to provide National Wildfire Coordinating Group fire training or Forest
Service-recognized equivalent courses to employees.
Use WFPR funds to pay for instructors, whether agency personnel, contractors, rehired
annuitants, or hired casual (AD) firefighters used to provide casual (AD) firefighter fire training.
For casual (AD) firefighter hires, see section 51.11d.
51.2 - Fire Suppression and Fire Operations - Program Code WFSU
Suppression provides funding for resources to efficiently suppress wildland fires on or
threatening National Forest System lands, and other Federal and non-Federal lands under fire
protection agreements.
Use WFSU funds for:
1. Wildland fire suppression, except as set forth in section 51.11a and section 51.11b.
2. Emergency stabilization of National Forest System lands that have been damaged by
wildland fire.
3. Approved severity authorizations (FSM 5192.2).
4. Support to Federal emergency response through Forest Service participation in
activities authorized by the Stafford Act (Pub. L. 100-707).
Except as noted in section 51.22a and section 51.25, discontinue using WFSU for specific
incidents when the fire is declared out by the assigned line officer (FSM 5130.42-3).
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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51.21 - Personnel Related Expenses
51.21a - Project and Program Personnel
Use WFSU funds for all program personnel assigned to emergency fire suppression duties, and
emergency stabilization activities, including:
1. Salary costs, including base time.
2. Overtime.
3. Hazard pay, and related expenses.
See sections 51.11 through 51.11a for funding rules related to WFPR preparedness personnel.
51.21b - Indirect Personnel
Use the appropriate indirect cost pool to finance base salary for indirect employees. Use WFSU
funds for overtime salary costs of indirect personnel that are performing work in support of an
incident.
51.21c - Base and Overtime
Use WFSU funds for:
1. Regular tour base hours of personnel regularly assigned and budgeted from WFPR
when they are performing duties associated with a specific wildland fire.
2. Overtime hours during a specific wildland fire assignment.
51.21d - Cooperative Work Employees
Cooperative Work-Other funds (program code CWFS) must be used for salaries of employees
financed from CWFS, when they are reassigned to wildland fire duties that are within the intent
of the appropriate fire protection agreement.
Charge all costs to WFSU when assigned to fire suppression beyond the scope of the agreement.
Charge the basic salaries of personnel assigned to replace and perform the duties (of the
employees reassigned to fire duties outside the agreement area) to CWFS funds.
51.21e - Human Resource Program Enrollees
Use WFSU funds for salaries, per diem, and transportation costs for Senior, Youth, and
Volunteer Program enrollees when they are hired as casual (AD) firefighters and paid at the
appropriate AD rate (FSH 5109.34, ch.10):
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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1. Job Corps,
2. Youth Conservation Corps, and
3. Volunteers.
51.21f - Law Enforcement
Use WFSU funds for cooperative law enforcement assistance necessary to protect forest visitors
and their property during a wildfire emergency.
51.21g - Unemployment Compensation
Prorate unemployment expenses for all personnel between time spent on wildland fire
assignments and time spent on the employee’s non-fire work duties.
51.21h - Office of Worker's Compensation Program (OWCP) Expenses
Use WFSU funds for OWCP claims arising from injuries sustained during a specific wildland
fire assignment.
51.22 - Equipment and Supplies
51.22a - Reconditioning and Restoring
Use WFSU funds to recondition and restore equipment to its former condition, only as necessary,
to continue use on a specific wildland fire and before the fire is declared out (FSM 5130.42-3).
National fire caches listed in the National Mobilization Guide (NFES 2092) may charge WFSU
until equipment refurbishment is complete.
51.22b - Replacement
Use WFSU funds to replace supplies used during a specific wildland fire assignment that were
consumed, lost, or damaged beyond repair. Personnel must submit an approved form AD-112,
Report of Unserviceable, Lost, Stolen, Damaged or Destroyed Property, to support
reimbursement request and use of WFSU funds. When Working Capital Fund equipment is
involved, use WFSU to finance only the loss in value (cost less depreciation and salvage value).
WFSU should not be used to repair or replace equipment or supplies lost, stolen, or broken
during project work. These repairs, replacements, losts, thefts are charged directly to the specific
program area.
51.22c - Emergency Purchases
Install temporary telephone lines only as needed to provide reliable communications to an
incident, using Fire Operations (WFSU) funds.
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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Use WFSU funds for emergency purchases of additional equipment or supplies when fully
justified, as follows:
1. When fire cache items are reduced to a critically low level. Do not make purchases
that exceed the minimum stocking level needed to meet existing fire emergencies.
Determine needs only after analyzing all factors involved, including stocks available
from other sources.
2. When the required equipment or supplies are essential for the safety and welfare of
firefighting personnel, and all of the following conditions apply. The required equipment
or supplies:
a. Are unavailable from Forest Service warehouses, caches, or from other programs
within the time limits necessary to suppress the fire(s).
b. May positively affect control of the fire(s).
c. May increase firefighter and public safety, reduce overall suppression costs, or
significantly reduce net resource or property losses.
d. Can be delivered in time to be effective.
51.23 - Roads and Trails
Use WFSU funds for the following activities:
1. For the minimum amount of work necessary to provide safe access to the wildland fire
when there are no roads and trails, and for the obliteration of the road or trail immediately
necessitated by the wildfire, especially after the fire is declared out.
Charge the roads or trails capital improvements and maintenance funds (CMRD or
CMTL, based on Primary Purpose principles) for any additional improvements needed to
conform a road or trail to prescribed construction standards, if necessary to add the road
or trail to the forest development transportation system. Ensure that expenditures
meeting the capitalization threshold are accounted for in accordance with property
management direction. Use the Primary Purpose principle to determine the program
funds to finance road obliteration costs if the road or trail will be kept open to facilitate
other work.
2. For removing downed timber and other obstructions from existing roads and trails to
provide safe access to a specific wildland fire. Use CMRD or CMTL, as appropriate, to
fund additional work necessary to meet the prescribed standards for forest development
roads and trails. Restore maintenance level-one roads to their original condition
immediately after the wildfire is declared out.
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DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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3. For repairing damages caused to transportation system roads as a result of wildland
fire suppression activities. Normal maintenance of system roads and trails used for fire
suppression activities is charged to CMRD or CMTL.
4. For dust abatement on a system road during a specific wildland fire suppression
project, when needed to provide for the health and safety of personnel in vehicles or in
incident camps.
51.24 - Property Damage Resulting from Fire Suppression Activity
Use WFSU funds for the following activities:
1. Repair or minimize damage to soil, water, and other resources directly attributable to
the fire suppression activity on National Forest System lands.
(This is based on the premise that Forest Service programs must include known, proven,
and reasonable precautions necessary to prevent operations from causing damage to
forest resources. Do this work before incident demobilization or as soon thereafter as
possible. Usually, work should be completed before the fire is declared out. Activities
that extend beyond that point must be documented and approved in advance by the
Regional Forester. Such documentation must be retained on file for audit purposes.)
2. Repair damage to Forest Service improvements caused by fire suppression activities;
for example, a fence that is damaged when obtaining access to the incident or to build a
fireline. Do not use WFSU funds to repair damage to Forest Service improvements
caused by the fire itself.
3. Repair Forest Service-owned airfields that are damaged by fire suppression activities.
4. Pay for damage to State, County, and private lands and improvements caused by
wildland fire suppression activities, only to the minimum extent needed to immediately
correct the damage to prevent further loss or injury. Examples are:
a. patching a wire fence around a water development,
b. placing a temporary fence to keep cattle from roaming into dangerous areas during
suppression activities, or
c. building a water bar across a fire line.
Pay for other damage only through established claims procedures (FSM 6570).
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
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51.25 - Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER)
The purpose of burned area emergency rehabilitation on National Forest System lands is to:
1. Prevent or stabilize unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources,
2. Minimize threats to life and property resulting from side effects of a fire, or
3. Repair, replace, or construct physical improvements necessary to prevent short-term
degradation of land or resources.
Use WFSU funds for emergency actions to:
1. Salaries and expenses of personnel assigned to interdisciplinary burned area
emergency response assessment and implementation teams.
2. Approved emergency stabilization of watersheds following a wildfire (FSM 2523).
51.26 - Other Ownership Lands
Use WFSU funds to suppress wildland fire on non-National Forest System lands only when:
1. There is a clear threat to National Forest System lands, no fire protection agreement
exists, and other wildland fire suppression forces cannot contain the fire.
2. A clear threat to National Forest System lands exists and resources planned under a
fire protection agreement cannot take suppression action on the wildland fire; or,
3. The terms of a specific reciprocal fire protection agreement, regardless of
reimbursement provisions, provide for this specific suppression action.
51.27 - Relations With Foreign Nations
51.27a - Provision of Emergency Wildfire Protection Resources to Foreign
Nations
Use WFSU funds for necessary expenses of furnishing emergency firefighting resources to any
foreign fire organization, as authorized by the Wildfire Assistance Act (sec. 50.1). Deposit any
reimbursements received to miscellaneous receipts (program code 3220).
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
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51.27b - Reimbursement to Foreign Nations for Firefighting Assistance
Use WFSU funds to reimburse foreign fire organizations for costs incurred in furnishing
emergency firefighting resources to the Forest Service, as authorized by the (Temporary
Emergency Wildfire Suppression Act, as amended (sec. 50.1).
51.3 - Hazardous Fuels Reduction - Program Code WFHF
The objective of the hazardous fuels reduction program is to reduce the undesired effects of
large, destructive wildfires by reducing the volume of hazardous fuels on forests, woodlands,
shrublands, and grasslands. The fuels treatment program focuses on reducing the risk of
wildland fire and long-term damage to resources and property in high priority areas. The desired
outcome of the hazardous fuels program is to reduce the risk of unplanned and unwanted
wildland fire to communities and to the environment.
Use WFHF funds for necessary expenses to plan, implement, and provide support to:
1. The inventory of hazardous fuel.
2. Analysis of treatment alternatives.
3. Determination and application of appropriate fuel treatment methods.
4. Monitoring and evaluation of fuel treatment accomplishments. Treatment methods for
fuel reduction include:
a. Prescribed fire,
b. Wildland fire management, and
c. Mechanical and chemical treatment.
When the primary purpose of fuel treatments is the accomplishment of resource objectives, and
not fuel reduction, finance the treatment of work with program funds determined by applying the
Primary Purpose principle.
Use WFSU funds for suppression action on a prescribed fire that has exceeded the prescription
and has been declared a wildland fire. Pay personnel the same as for any wildland fire. After all
costs and accomplishments have been ascertained, determine and adjust financial responsibility
in accordance with the following:
WO AMENDMENT 6509.11g-2009-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/08/2009
DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
6509.11g_50
Page 16 of 16
FSH 6509.11g - SERVICE-WIDE APPROPRIATION USE HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 50 - WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
1. If the resource objectives for the prescribed fire were accomplished, use the program
funds identified by applying the Primary Purpose principle, but do not exceed the total
planned costs. For example, if the total fire cost was $10,000 and the prescribed burn
was estimated at $4,000, then charge project funds $4,000 and WFSU $6,000.
2. When less than the full resource objective is accomplished, charge the resource
program proportionately for the cost of the work, based on the accomplishment obtained,
and reduce the costs charged to WFSU. For example, if 60 percent of the original
resource objectives are accomplished, then charge 60 percent of the budgeted cost of the
prescribed burn to project funds and the remainder to WFSU.