Release No. 0140.02 | |
DOI: John Wright 202-208-6416 | |
USDA: Alisa Harrison 202-720-4623 |
BUSH ADMINISTRATION CREATES NEW INTERAGENCY WILDLAND FIRE
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
New council to provide cabinet-level coordination of wildland firefighting
WASHINGTON-- April 10, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and Interior Secretary Gale Norton today announced the creation of a new Interagency Wildland Fire Leadership Council to further implement the National Fire Plan. The new council is comprised of departmental and land management officials from both departments who are responsible for wildland fire management.
"The objective of this council is to provide a coordinated seamless management structure to all aspects of wildland fire policy," Veneman said. "It continues our efforts to effectively cooperate with our partners at the federal, state and local levels."
The council consists of the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and the Environment and the chief of the USDA Forest Service, the directors for the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and the chief of staff to the Secretary of the Interior. Each of these officials has bureau or department-wide National Fire Plan responsibilities. Staffing of the council will be coordinated by the USDA Office of Fire Aviation Management and the DOI Office of Wildland Fire Coordination.
"This agreement formalizes the efforts already underway at Agriculture and Interior to coordinate our wildland fire management strategies and to ensure implementation of the National Fire Plan," Norton said. "Drought conditions are an indication that we could have an active season. Interior is working closely with Agriculture in all aspects of the fire program."
The council will work with elected state and local officials, tribal officials and other federal official partners on wildland fire management policies. The council will also work to integrate federal wildland fire activities with state and tribal activities.
The council will coordinate with state partners and local communities to help restore landscapes, rebuild communities, invest in projects to reduce fire risk and assess economic needs of areas damaged by fire.
The new council will have an important role in identifying and prioritizing projects targeted at communities most at risk, hazardous fuel reduction, improving forest health and monitoring and evaluating project implementation. The council will oversee interagency performance and ensure common procedures for the seamless delivery of an effective natural fuels reduction program.
The council was formed because in recent years federal fire efforts have greatly expanded and new strategies like fuels treatment programs are being developed to prevent catastrophic fire. The two federal agencies currently employ 17,633 firefighters, up over 5,000 more than two years ago and hundreds more air tankers, fire engines and other heavy equipment.
The National Fire Plan recognizes that effective fire management requires close coordination with state and local communities, particularly those communities that are in the wildland-urban interface. The council will work to provide outreach, education and support for local communities to help reduce potential fire hazards in and near local communities.
Memorandum of Understanding