Fire Training and Incident Qualification Card System Certification Requirements
In Reply Refer To:
9215 (916) P
May 19, 2015
EMS TRANSMISSION 5/21/2015
Instruction Memorandum No. ID-2015-036
Expires: 09/30/2018
To: All Employees
From: Acting State Director
Subject: Fire Training and Incident Qualification Card System Certification Requirements
Program Area: Fire and Aviation
Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides direction for oversight of the fire training program for Idaho Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It establishes policy for the initiation and certification of National Wildfire Coordinating Group and agency specific task books. It establishes signature authority for Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) card certification.
Policy/Action: The Great Basin Training Unit (GBTU) Manager functions as the State Training Officer. The GBTU Manager will serve as the conduit between the State Fire and Aviation staff and the District Training Specialists. The GBTU Manager (or delegate) will represent Idaho on the Great Basin Training Committee and the BLM National Fire Training Committee.
All Idaho State Office (ISO) employee IQCS records, IQCS cards, and fire training nominations will be the responsibility of the GBTU. Employees of the ISO should submit an Individual Employee Update Form by April 20, of each year to BLM_ID_Firetrainingofficer@blm.gov. The IQCS cards will be issued by May 15, of each year. Task book review and certification for all ISO employees will be the responsibility of the State Fire Management Officer (FMO). Task books will be reviewed by the State Fire and Aviation staff before final signature from the State FMO.
Initiation of position task books is the responsibility of the IQCS certifying official in each unit. Task books initiated during an assignment require coordination with the home unit FMO. A copy of the original initiation page must be placed in the individual’s hard copy IQCS folder at the time of initiation. Initiator is responsible to ensure that the trainee meets all required experience for the position before initiation.
Task book certification is the responsibility of the unit FMO following completion of the final evaluator block and recommendation from the District’s Qualification and Certification Committee. The final evaluator and the certifying official must be separate signatories. The certifying official must ensure that the trainee meets all required training and required experience for the position before certification.
The following position task books will be sent for review by the State Fire and Aviation Staff and will be certified by the State FMO:
• All Command and General Staff positions at the Area Command, Type 1 and Type 2 levels.
• Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 and Type 2 (RXB1 and RXB2)
• Prescribed Fire Manager Type 1 and Type 2 (RXM1 and RXM2)
• Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN)
• Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN)
• Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD)
• Air Support Group Supervisor (ASGS)
• Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS)
• Incident Business Advisor Type 1 or 2 (IBA)
• Procurement Unit Leader (PROC)
• Interagency Resource Representative (IARR)
The IQCS cards containing any of the above qualifications require signature by the State FMO regardless of hiring authority. Unit FMO IQCS cards require signature by the State FMO. All IQCS cards should be submitted either hard-copy to State FMO or electronically to BLM_ID_Firetrainingofficer@blm.gov for review and signature. Recertification of any of the above qualifications using the BLM Recertification Evaluation Form requires State FMO signature.
Certification of the Faller C (FALC) task book requires concurrence from an approved C-Level Evaluator and the unit FMO. The list of approved C-Level Evaluators is maintained by the Assistant State FMO.
All emergency medical qualifications will continue to be approved by the Safety and Occupational Health Manager for review and concurrence of qualifications.
Timeframe: This policy becomes effective immediately.
Background: This IM addresses the need for establishment of a higher level qualification and certification process for certain high risk positions and rests final certification authority with the State FMO.
Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310 1); Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (NFES 2724);
BLM Standards for Fire Training and Workforce Development.
Coordination: This IM was coordinated through the Idaho State Office Fire and Aviation Staff and the GBTU.
Contact: For questions or concerns regarding this IM, please contact Eric Fransted, Assistant State FMO at (208) 373-3855 or efranste@blm.gov or Kelly Woods, GBTU Manager at (208) 387-5639 or kwoods@blm.gov.
Boise District with Union: Management is reminded to notify and satisfy any bargaining requirements prior to implementation.
Signed by:
Jeffery L. Foss
Authenticated by:
Susanna M. Henry
Fire Program Assistant
1 – Attachment:
1 - ISO Experience Update Form.docx (2pp)