2012 Interim Fire Management Plan: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Kenai National Wildlife Refuge 2012 Interim FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Interim FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN Revised May 2012 (05/25/2012) 2012 Interim Fire Management Plan: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Table of Contents 1.1 Purpose of the Fire Management Plan ......................................................................................... 8 1.2 General description of the Area in the FMP ................................................................................ 9 1.3 Significant Values to Protect ...................................................................................................... 13 1.3.1 Special Values of the Kenai NWR ...................................................................................... 14 1.4 Effects of Climate on Biotic Composition ................................................................................. 17 2.0 POLICY, LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIPS ................................ 17 2.1 Federal Interagency Wildland Fire Policy ................................................................................. 17 2.1.1 Federal Wildland Fire Cost Effectiveness Policy ............................................................... 19 2.1.2 National Fire Plan ............................................................................................................... 19 2.1.3 Department of Interior (DOI) Fire Policy ........................................................................... 20 2.1.4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Policy ......................................................................... 21 2.1.5 Regional or Refuge-specific Fire Management Policy ....................................................... 22 2.2 Land / Resource Management Planning ..................................................................................... 25 2.2.1 Land Management Plans ..................................................................................................... 26 2.2.2 Environmental Compliance ................................................................................................ 26 2.3 Fire Management Partnerships ................................................................................................... 30 2.3.1 Internal Partnerships ........................................................................................................... 30 2.3.2 External Partnerships .......................................................................................................... 30 2.3.2.2 Interagency Agreements and Planning Documents .................................................................... 34 3.0 FIRE MANAGEMENT UNIT CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................. 35 3.1 Area Wide Management Considerations .................................................................................... 39 3.1.1 Fire Management Goals, Strategies, and Guidance from CCPs/Similar Plans ................... 39 3.1.2 Fire Management Plan Objectives ...................................................................................... 44 3.1.4 Other Characteristics Common to the Fire Management Units (FMU’s) ........................... 45 3.2 Fire Management Units .............................................................................................................. 53 3.2.1 Wilderness FMU ................................................................................................................. 58 3.2.1.1 Wilderness FMU – Description ........................................................................................................ 58 3.2.1.2 Wilderness FMU - Values to Protect ................................................................................................ 60 3.2.1.3 Wilderness FMU - Fire Management Guidance ............................................................................... 62 3.2.1.4 Wilderness FMU - Safety Considerations ......................................................................................... 63 3.2.2 Minimal FMU ..................................................................................................................... 63 3.2.2.1 Minimal FMU - Description .............................................................................................................. 64 2012 Interim Fire Management Plan: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge 3.2.2.2 Minimal FMU - Values to Protect ..................................................................................................... 65 3.2.2.3 Minimal FMU - Fire Management Guidance ................................................................................... 65 3.2.2.4 Minimal FMU - Safety Considerations ............................................................................................. 66 3.2.3 Moderate FMU.................................................................................................................... 66 3.2.3.1 Moderate FMU - Description ........................................................................................................... 67 3.2.3.2 Moderate FMU - Values to Protect .................................................................................................. 67 3.2.3.3 Moderate FMU - Fire Management Guidance ................................................................................. 68 3.2.3.4 Moderate FMU - Safety Considerations .......................................................................................... 68 3.2.4 Intensive FMU .................................................................................................................... 68 3.2.4.1 Intensive FMU - Description............................................................................................................. 69 3.2.4.2 Intensive FMU - Values to Protect ................................................................................................... 70 3.2.4.3 Intensive FMU - Fire Management Guidance .................................................................................. 70 3.2.4.4 Intensive FMU - Safety Considerations ............................................................................................ 71 4.0 WILDLAND FIRE OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE ..................................................................... 71 4.1 Management of Wildfires ........................................................................................................... 71 4.1.1 Preparedness ............................................................................................................................ 75 4.1.1.1 Training and Qualifications .............................................................................................................. 76 4.1.1.2 Delegation of Authority to Fire Management Officer ..................................................................... 77 4.1.1.3 Readiness ......................................................................................................................................... 77 4.1.1.4 Aviation Management ..................................................................................................................... 79 4.1.1.5 Fire Detection ................................................................................................................................... 80 4.1.1.6 Initial Report of Fire and Initial Attack (Response) Dispatching ...................................................... 80 4.1.1.7 Incident Commander Responsibilities (for all incident types) ......................................................... 82 4.1.2 Incident Management ............................................................................................................... 83 4.1.2.1 Dispatching beyond IA ..................................................................................................................... 83 4.1.2.2 Delegation of Authority to Incident Commander (IC) ...................................................................... 84 4.1.2.3 Resource Allocation and Prioritization ............................................................................................. 84 4.1.2.5 Use of Decision Support Tools ......................................................................................................... 86 4.1.2.6 Wildfire Reporting Requirements .................................................................................................... 87 4.1.2.7 Suppression Damage Repair ............................................................................................................ 88 4.1.3 Emergency Stabilization (ES) .................................................................................................. 88 4.1.3.1 ES Planning and Post-Fire Assessments ........................................................................................... 89 2012 Interim Fire Management Plan: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge 4.1.3.2 ES Post-Wildfire Issues and Values to Protect ................................................................................. 89 4.2 Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) ................................................................................................ 90 4.2.1 BAR Planning .......................................................................................................................... 90 4.2.3 BAR Regulatory Compliance .................................................................................................