Process for Submitting List of BLM Fire Investigator and or Fire Prevention Candidates to CAL FIRE requesting Voluntary Fire Warden Designation

March 2, 2018

In Reply Refer To:
9200(933) P        

EMS Transmission:  03/07/2018
Instruction Memorandum No. CA-2018-006     
Expires: 09/30/2019  

To:                   BLM California District Managers and District Fire Management Officers

From:               State Director

Subject:           Process for Submitting List of BLM Fire Investigator and or Fire Prevention
                         Candidates to CAL FIRE requesting Voluntary Fire Warden Designation 
                                                                                                                          DD: 3/31/2018

Program Area: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) pertains to BLM California Fire and Aviation Management Program and Law Enforcement programs.

Purpose:  This IM establishes a procedure and assigns responsibilities for collecting and submitting BLM personnel qualified to carryout fire investigations and or fire prevention activities on non-federal lands, within the BLM California Direct Protection Areas (DPA), through CAL FIRE’s Voluntary Fire Warden Designation (VFW) and the Cooperative Fire Management Agreement (CFMA).

Policy/Action:  The District fire programs and State Office law enforcement leads will collect candidate information (within their respective programs), and submit to the appropriate District Fire Management Officer (DFMO) for distribution to the appropriate CAL FIRE Unit Chief through their local annual operating plan procedures.  These candidates will be identified as a (1) Voluntary Firewardens with Law Enforcement Authority (VFW-LE) or (2) Voluntary Firewardens non-Law Enforcement (VFW-non LE).  Then, each CAL FIRE Unit Fire Chief will respond in writing with a list of the approved designees, according to the CFMA.

To be appointed as a VFW, the candidate must have completed all required wildland fire investigator (INVF) training and maintain INVF certification.

Timeframe:  Submissions to DFMOs by 31-March. Submissions to CAL FIRE from DFMOs due 15-April.

Budget Impact:  There will be minimal time involvement in the coordination and submission of BLM VFW candidates through the CFMA. There are expected cost benefits from improving fire prevention and fire investigations coordination.

Background:  The CFMA provides interagency direction for wildland fire management coordination across the state. CFMA outlines a procedure for enhancing cross-jurisdictional fire investigations and fire prevention activities (i.e. campfire permits) within one agency’s DPA and the other agency’s land management jurisdiction.  Refer to CFMA and Exhibit I for more information.

Coordination:  The California State Office Fire and Aviation Management Program and Law Enforcement and Safety programs coordinated the direction outlined in this IM through the California Fire Leadership Team.

Contact:  If you have questions about this IM and or CFMA Exhibit I, please contact Miriam Morrill, State Fire Mitigation & Education Specialist, at (916) 978-4680 or mmmorrill@blm.gov. 

For questions at the District please contact the District Fire Management Officer:  Walter Herzog, NorCal DFMO, (530) 224-2151 or wherzog@blm.gov; Elizabeth (Betsy) Schenk, (916) 941-3123; CenCal DFMO, Paul Gibbs, CDD DFMO, (951) 697-5355, pgibbs@blm.gov.

Law Enforcement and Safety Contact: Salvador Nieblas, Law Enforcement Ranger, (916) 978-4454, snieblas@blm.gov.
 

Signed by:                                                                  
Joseph Stout                                                              
Acting State Director                                                 

Authenticated by:
Larry Weitzel
GIS/Applications Mgmt Branch, CA-946