2019 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared by CHLOETA 2501 Liberty Pkwy, Ste 176 Midwest City, OK 73110 +1 877 245 6382 chloeta.com [email protected] Cover Photos: Prescribed fire Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, 2015. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson WFMP 2019 Page 2 of 149 TIER 1 Wildland Fire Management Plan Installation: ______________________________________________________Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Effective Date: ____________________________________________________ Approved By: Signature: _____________________________Date: ______________________ PATRICIA A. CSÀNK, Col., USAF Installation Commander, 673 ABW Signature: _____________________________Date: ______________________ MICHELLE STEINMAN, GS-13 Chief, Air Force Wildland Fire Branch AFCEC/CZOF This Wildland Fire Management Plan has been prepared in accordance with regulations, standards and procedures of Section E3.8 of the Department of Defense Instruction 6055.06, DoD Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Certification Program, 21 December 2006 and Section 13 of the Air Force Instruction 32-7064, Integrated Natural Resources Management, 22 Nov 2016. The signature above indicates approval of the Plan for Implementation. The completion of this plan alone does not satisfy the requirements of a Prescribed Fire Plan. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson WFMP 2019 Page 3 of 149 Table of Contents Executive Summary 9 Chapter 1. Introduction 11 1.1 Purpose of the WFMP 11 1.2 General Description of the WFMP Area 12 Figure 1.1: JBER and GSUs Vicinity Map 14 Table 1.1: GSUs Associated with JBER 15 1.3 General Description of the DoD Mission 15 1.3.1 General Discussion of Wildland Fire Impacts to the DoD Mission 16 1.3.2 General Discussion of DoD Mission Impacts to Wildland Fire Activities 17 1.4 Significant Values to Protect 17 1.4.1 Personnel Safety 17 1.4.2 Structures and Infrastructure 17 1.4.3 Natural Resources 18 1.4.4 Cultural Resources 18 1.5 WFMP Roles and Responsibilities 19 1.5.1 Wildland Fire Program Coordinator (WFPC) 19 1.5.2 FES Fire Chief (FC) 20 1.5.3 Natural Resources Manager (NRM) 20 1.5.4 Incident Commander (IC) 21 1.5.5 Wildland Support Modules (WSM) 21 Figure 1.2: WSM Areas of Responsibility 22 1.5.6 Installation Commander (673 ABW/CC) 23 1.5.7 AF Wildland Fire Branch (AFCEC/CZOF) 23 1.5.8 Environmental Operations Division Pacific Region (AFCEC/CZOP) 23 Chapter 2. Policy, Land Management Planning, and Partnerships 24 2.1 AF Wildland Fire Policy 24 2.1.1 Federal Interagency Wildland Fire Policy 24 2.1.2 AF Wildland Fire Cost-Effectiveness Policy 25 2.1.3 Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy 25 2.1.4 AF and DoD Guidance 25 2.1.5 Installation Specific Fire Management Policy 26 2.2 Land & Resource Management Planning 27 2.2.1 Goals and Objectives Related to INRMP 27 2.2.2 Other Relevant Plans 29 2.2.3 Environmental Compliance 30 2.2.3.1 NEPA Compliance 32 2.2.3.2 Air Quality 32 2.2.3.3 ESA Consultation 32 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson WFMP 2019 Page 4 of 149 Chapter 3. Wildland Fire Management & Wildfire Risk Mitigation 34 3.1 Area Wide Management Considerations 34 3.1.1 Wildland Fire Management Goals, Strategies, and Guidance from INRMP or Similar Installation Plans 34 3.1.2 Wildfire and Prescribed Fire History 34 3.1.2.1 Wildfire History 34 Figure 3.1: JBER Fire History Map 36 3.1.2.2 Prescribed Fire History 37 3.2 Wildland Fire Management Partnerships 37 3.2.1 Internal Partnerships 37 3.2.2 External Partnerships 38 3.3 Wildfire Prevention 39 3.3.1 Wildfire Occurrence 39 3.3.2 Prevention Activities 40 3.4 Public Information, Education, and Outreach 41 3.5 Wildland Fire Management Units (FMUs) 42 Table 3.1: List of JBER FMUs 43 Figure 3.2: JBER FMU Map 44 3.5.1 Common Characteristics of Wildland FMUs 45 3.5.1.1 Climate 45 Table 3.2: Monthly Weather Averages for JBER 45 Table 3.3: Monthly Extreme Fire Weather Averages for the Grezelka Range Alaska RAWS at JBER 46 Table 3.4: Monthly Extreme Fire Weather Averages for the JBER Alaska RAWS at JBER 47 3.5.1.2 Topography 47 Figure 3.3: JBER Elevation Zones Map 48 3.5.1.3 Public Use 49 Figure 3.4: JBER Recreation Map 50 Figure 3.5: JBER Dispersed Recreation Map 51 3.5.1.4 Access 52 Figure 3.6: JBER Access Map 53 3.5.1.5 Vegetation 54 Figure 3.7: JBER Vegetation Map 55 3.5.1.7 Soils 56 3.5.1.8 Wildlife 56 3.5.2 FMUs – Specific Descriptions 57 3.5.2.1 Wildland FMU Description 57 3.5.2.1.1 FMU 1: JBER-E and JBER-R – Critical Fire Management 57 3.5.2.1.2 FMU 2: JBER-R – Full Fire Management 57 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson WFMP 2019 Page 5 of 149 3.5.2.1.3 FMU 3: JBER-R – Limited Fire Management 58 3.5.2.2 Wildland FMU Planned Fuels Treatments 59 Table 3.5: Fuels Treatments 60 Figure 3.8: JBER Recommended Prescribed Fire Map 62 Figure 3.12: JBER Fuels Reduction History Map 64 3.5.2.3 Wildland FMU Values to Protect 65 Table 3.6: Values to Protect by FMU 65 Figure 3.10: JBER Infrastructure Values to Protect Map 68 Figure 3.11: JBER Sensitive Resources Values to Protect Map 69 3.5.2.4 Wildland FMU Safety Considerations 70 Table 3.7: Safety Considerations by FMU 70 3.5.2.4.1 Special Safety Information 72 3.5.2.4.1.1 Use of Red Lights and Sirens 72 3.5.2.4.1.2 Communicating Safety Concerns 72 3.5.2.4.1.3 Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Areas 72 Figure 3.12: JBER Safety Considerations Map 74 3.5.2.4.1.4 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) 75 3.5.2.5 Wildland FMU Fire Risk Mitigation Strategies 75 Table 3.8: Recommended Wildfire Risk Mitigation Strategies 75 3.6 Management of Planned Fuels Treatments 77 3.6.1 Processes to Identify and Prioritize Fuels Treatments 77 3.6.2 Fuels Treatment Performance Information and Targets 77 3.6.3 Prescribed Fire Project Implementation 78 3.6.3.1 Prescribed Fire Planning 78 3.6.3.1.1 Areas which have Prescribed Fire Requirements 79 Table 3.9: JBER Recommended Prescribed Fire Targets 79 3.6.3.2 Prescribed Fire Operations 79 3.6.3.2.1 Operational Checklist 79 3.6.3.2.2 Prescribed Fire Public Notification 81 3.6.3.2.3 Multiple Concurrent Prescribed Fire Projects 81 3.6.3.2.4 Smoke Management 82 3.6.3.3 Prescribed Fire Conversion to Wildfire and Required Reviews 82 3.6.4 Non-Fire Fuels Treatments 83 3.6.4.1 Fuels Treatment Regulatory Compliance 83 3.6.4.2 Areas Scheduled for Mechanical or Chemical Fuels Treatments 84 3.7 Fuels Treatment Reporting Requirements 84 3.7.1 Prescribed Fire Reporting 84 3.7.2 Mechanical Treatment Reporting 84 3.8 Fuels Funding Processes 85 Table 3.10: JBER Fuels Funding Responsibilities 85 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson WFMP 2019 Page 6 of 149 3.9 Debris Burning 86 3.10 Firebreak and Fuelbreak System and Maintenance Plan 86 Chapter 4. Wildland Fire Operational Guidance 87 4.1 Management of Wildfires (Unplanned Ignitions) 87 4.1.1 Preparedness 88 4.1.1.1 Training and Qualifications 88 4.1.1.1.1 Training and Qualifications Responsibilities 88 Table 4.1: Scheduled Training Classes 89 4.1.1.1.2 Fitness Standards 91 4.1.1.1.2.1 Fitness Categories and Testing 91 4.1.1.1.3 Certification 91 4.1.1.1.3.1 Training Courses 92 4.1.1.1.3.2 NWCG Position Task Books 92 4.1.1.1.3.3 Incident Qualification Card (Red Card) Issuance 94 4.1.1.1.4 Currency Requirements 94 4.1.1.1.5 NWCG Qualification and Equipment Requirements Specific to Installation 95 Table 4.2: Minimum JBER NWCG Qualification Requirements 95 Table 4.3: Minimum JBER NWCG Prescribed Fire Qualification Requirements 95 4.1.1.2 Readiness 96 Table 4.4: JBER FES Equipment 96 4.1.1.2.1 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 97 4.1.1.2.2 Water Resources 97 4.1.1.3 Wildland Fire Aviation Management 97 4.1.1.4 Wildfire Detection 98 4.1.1.5 Initial Report of Wildfire and Initial Attack Dispatching 98 Figure 4.1: On Installation Wildfire Response 98 4.1.1.6 Use of Decision Support Tools 99 4.1.2 Wildfire Investigation 99 4.1.2.1 Reviews and Formal Investigations 99 4.1.2.1.1 After Action Reviews (AAR) 99 4.1.2.1.2 Formal Investigations 100 4.1.3 Wildland Fire Mutual Aid and/or Cross Boundary Operations 100 4.1.4 Wildfire Incident Management 100 4.1.4.1 Dispatching beyond Initial Attack 101 4.1.4.2 Delegation of Authority to IC 101 4.1.4.3 Wildfire Reporting Requirements 101 4.1.4.4 Wildfire Damage Repair 103 4.1.4.4.1 Emergency Stabilization (ES) 103 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson WFMP 2019 Page 7 of 149 4.1.4.4.2 Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) 104 Chapter 5. Monitoring and Evaluation 105 5.1 WFMP Review and Updates 105 5.2 Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring 105 5.2.1 Fire Effects Monitoring 105 5.2.2 Non-fire Fuels Treatment Effects Monitoring 105 Conclusion and Recommendations 107 WFMP Terminology 108 List of Acronyms 110 List of References 116 Appendix 1.1 JBER Flight Management Instructions and Standards of Cover 122 Appendix 1.2 JBER Agreements 123 Appendix 1.3 Cultural Resources Checklist 124 Appendix 1.4 Installation and Interagency Contact List 123 Appendix 1.5 Wildland Fire Program Manager Appointment Letter 1286 Appendix 2.1 Environmental Assessment for Wildland Fire Prevention Activities at JBER, Alaska, April 2015 132 Appendix 3.1 Wildland Fire Risk Assessment for JBER, April 2011 133 Appendix 3.2 JBER Wildfire History 134 Appendix 3.3 JBER Prescribed Fire History 136 Appendix 3.4 Type 3 Wildland Fire Risk Assessment for JBER, December 2016 137 Appendix 3.5 AF Standard Prescribed Fire Plan 138 Appendix 3.6 Guidelines for Open Burning 139 Appendix 4.1 AF Agency Certification Position Task Book Page 140 Appendix 4.2 JBER Wildland Fire Management Readiness Activities 141 Appendix 4.3 JBER Wildland Fire Staffing and Action Guide 142 Appendix 4.4 Addendum to USARAK Regulation 350-2, Range Safety 147 Appendix 4.5 JBER FES Standards of Cover 148 Appendix 5.1 Certification of Annual WFMP Review 149 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson WFMP 2019 Page 8 of 149 Executive Summary The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Wildland Fire Management Plan (WFMP) is written as an integral, and supporting, part of the 2017 JBER Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) as mandated by Chapter 13 of Air Force Instruction (AFI) 32-7064, Integrated Natural Resources Management, 22 November 2016 (AFI 32-7064).