2010 Incident Management Team Nomination Process and Fire Training and Development Opportunities

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Alaska State Office
222 West Seventh Avenue, #13
Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7504
http://www.blm.gov/ak

In Reply Refer To:
1400-410(351) P

January 28, 2010

Information Bulletin No. AK-IB-2010-002

To: All Employees

From: Thomas P. Lonnie

State Director

Subject: 2010 Incident Management Team Nomination Process and Fire Training and Development Opportunities.

BLM Alaska supports several Incident Management Teams (IMT) that provide an organized, professional, and highly skilled response to emergency incidents in Alaska and the Lower 48. Many of the IMT positions that are in short supply are not arduous “fireline” positions, and do not require excessive training. These positions do require individual and supervisor commitment to ensure the individual is available for one or more 14-day assignments per year.

According to the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, “Agency administrators will ensure that their employees are trained, certified, and made available to participate in the wildland fire program locally, regionally, and nationally as the situation demands. Employees with operational, administrative, or other skills will support the wildland fire program as necessary. Agency administrators are responsible and will be held accountable for making employees available.”

Employees who are funded under Management of Lands and Resources (MLR) may, when assigned to a fire, charge all of their time to the suppression functional area code, resulting in savings under their functional area’s cost center.

Many incident management skills developed by participating employees also enhance the Bureau’s Continuation of Operation Plan (COOP), and the capability of Bureau personnel to respond and contribute to non-fire incidents like Hurricane Katrina or the recovery efforts for the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

Individuals who are interested in participating on incident management teams may apply for one or more positions as a primary, alternate, mentee, or trainee for the Type 1 IMT, the Type 2 IMT, or both. More information on the IMT application process can be found at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php.

An Orientation to Incident Management is scheduled for February 23 in Anchorage. This orientation is open to personnel from all agencies and is intended to provide an overview of Incident Management, but is not required in order to participate. This and other Alaska, National or other geographic area related interagency wildland fire training information can be found on the National Wildland Fire Training Website at: Welcome to National Wildland Fire Training.

The Fire Training Staff at the Alaska Fire Service can assist employees with a specific development plan to help fill this need. Questions should be addressed to the Fire Training Section Chief, Tony Doty, 907-356-5630, or the Training Operations Manager, Lynn Standley Coe, 907-356-5632; or email: BLM_AK_AFS_FIRE_TRAINING@blm.gov.

Signed by:
Thomas Lonnie
Alaska State Director

Authenticated by:
Anita R. Jette
Records Specialist