WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN For Wildland Fire Suppression and Prescribed Burning Willapa National Wildlife Refuge FEBRUARY 2002 WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN For Wildland Fire Suppression and Prescribed Burning Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Prepared: ____________________________________ _____________ Jessica Gonzales, Deputy Project Leader Date Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Submitted: ____________________________________ _____________ Charles Stenvall, Project Leader Date Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Concurred: ____________________________________ ____________ Pam Ensley Date Regional Fire Management Coordinator Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Approved: ____________________________________ ____________ Anne Badgley, Regional Director Date Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................................... v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... vi INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 1 COMPLIANCE WITH US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE POLICY............................................ 2 FIRE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................... 4 REFUGE DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................................... 5 Refuge Management Units .............................................................................................................. 5 Climate........................................................................................................................................... 10 Cultural Resources......................................................................................................................... 11 Fish and Wildlife ........................................................................................................................... 12 Mammals .......................................................................................................................... 12 Amphibians and Reptiles .................................................................................................. 12 Fish ................................................................................................................................... 13 Birds.................................................................................................................................. 13 Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species .............................................................. 14 Land Cover and Vegetation Types ................................................................................................ 15 Forest Resources............................................................................................................... 16 Formally Designated Natural Areas.................................................................................. 18 Physical Resources......................................................................................................................... 21 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 21 Soils and Topography ....................................................................................................... 21 Structures, Facilities, and Accessibility ......................................................................................... 23 Public Use...................................................................................................................................... 26 WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT SITUATION ............................................................................. 27 Historic Role of Fire ...................................................................................................................... 27 Pre-settlement Fires .......................................................................................................... 27 Post-settlement Fire History ............................................................................................. 27 Prescribed Fire History ..................................................................................................... 28 Responsibilities.............................................................................................................................. 30 Project Leader................................................................................................................... 31 Deputy Project Leader ...................................................................................................... 31 Refuge Manager................................................................................................................ 31 Biologist............................................................................................................................ 32 Zone Prescribed Fire Specialist ........................................................................................ 32 Incident Commander ........................................................................................................ 33 Initial Attack Teams....................................................................................................................... 33 Interagency Operations .................................................................................................................. 33 Protection of Sensitive Resources.................................................................................................. 34 Natural Resource Protection ............................................................................................. 34 Cultural Resource Protection ............................................................................................ 35 WILDLAND FIRE ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................... 36 Fire Management Strategies .......................................................................................................... 36 Preparedness .................................................................................................................................. 37 Historical Weather Analysis ............................................................................................. 37 Fire Prevention.................................................................................................................. 37 Staffing Priority Levels..................................................................................................... 39 Training............................................................................................................................. 39 Supplies and Equipment ................................................................................................... 40 Wildfire Detection ......................................................................................................................... 40 Communications ............................................................................................................................ 40 Pre-Attack Plan .............................................................................................................................. 41 Fire Management Units.................................................................................................................. 41 FMU 1: Within RNAs...................................................................................................... 42 FMU 2: Outside of RNAs................................................................................................ 42 Fuel Types......................................................................................................................... 42 Fire Behavior .................................................................................................................... 45 Effects of Fire on Vegetation and Wildlife....................................................................... 46 Suppression Tactics ....................................................................................................................... 51 Suppression Conditions .................................................................................................... 52 Wildland Fire Situation Analysis...................................................................................... 53 Aircraft Operations ........................................................................................................... 53 Rehabilitation and Restoration....................................................................................................... 53 Required Reporting........................................................................................................................ 55 Fire Investigation ........................................................................................................................... 55 PRESCRIBED FIRE ACTIVITIES.......................................................................................................