Interagency Wildland Fire Management Studies

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

July 18, 2008

In Reply Refer To:
1111 (400) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 07/30/2008
Information Bulletin No. 2008-092

To: State Directors and Assistant Directors

From: Director

Subject: Interagency Wildland Fire Management Studies

Three significant management efficiency assessments of wildland fire business systems and processes have taken place since 2005: Aviation, Dispatch, and Training. These reviews examined and analyzed these activities and associated costs within our five federal wildland fire organizations.

Leadership from the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs recently reviewed the draft findings of these management efficiency assessments and directed that all three assessments be finalized for public release. We expect release in the near future.

Prior to these most recent efforts, a number of studies were conducted resulting in proposed recommendations. Portions of those previous studies are represented in these three assessments. What makes these assessments unique is the amount of additional data collected to support the recommendations. Every recommendation proposed is supported by solid data collected from the field.

We have asked the collective leadership of our wildland fire organizations to begin development of a plan to implement the recommendations contained within the reports, in conjunction with our non-federal partners. Overall, we believe that we can collectively achieve significant efficiencies and cost savings in our wildland fire activities by streamlining and standardizing business processes, improving management of procurement and other activities, sharing facilities, and taking advantage of new and improved technologies.

A number of factors are critical to our successful implementation of key recommendations contained in these assessments: consistent and unified direction and commitment, involvement of non-federal partners, efficient location and operation of facilities, resolution of existing barriers to sharing technology across agency boundaries, investments in improved technologies and business systems, and common budget and investment practices. The forthcoming implementation plan for the aviation, dispatch, and training studies will reflect those principles.

Signed by: Authenticated by:
Henri R. Bisson Robert M. Williams
Acting, Director Division of IRM Governance,WO-560