National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Saguaro National Park Arizona Saguaro National Park Fire Management Plan Contact information: Fire Management Officer 3693 S Old Spanish Trail Tucson, AZ 85730-5699 (520) 733-5130 July 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I: Introduction..........................................................................................7 Rationale for this Fire Management Plan............................................................................. 7 Collaborative processes and opportunities.......................................................................... 9 Policies....................................................................................................................................... 9 Compliance..............................................................................................................................10 Authorities ...............................................................................................................................10 Chapter II: Relationship to Land Management Planning and Fire Policy... 12 NPS Management Policies..................................................................................................... 12 Enabling Legislation and Purpose of the Unit.................................................................... 12 Significant Resources and Values ..................................................................................... 13 Desired Conditions and GMP Fire Goals and Objectives ................................................ 13 Natural/Cultural Resource Management Plan Fire Objectives ....................................... 13 Chapter III: Wildland Fire Management Strategies......................................... 17 General Management Considerations................................................................................. 17 Wildland Fire Management Goals ....................................................................................... 17 Wildland Fire Management Options ...................................................................................19 Park- wide Abiotic and Biotic Environment.......................................................................19 Geology ................................................................................................................................19 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................... 20 Soils ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Air Quality........................................................................................................................... 20 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................ 21 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................. 21 Cultural Resources..............................................................................................................21 Park- wide Historical Weather Analysis and Fire Season................................................ 24 Description of Wildland Fire Management Strategies by FMU ......................................25 Description of FMU 1.........................................................................................................25 Description of FMU 2 ........................................................................................................35 Chapter IV: Wildland Fire Management Program Components ................. 42 General Implementation Procedures.................................................................................. 42 Wildland Fire Suppression ................................................................................................... 42 Range of Potential Fire Behavior..................................................................................... 42 Preparedness Actions ........................................................................................................ 43 Pre- attack Plan................................................................................................................... 47 Initial Attack .......................................................................................................................49 Extended Attack.................................................................................................................. 51 Exceeding existing WFIP – selecting a new strategy......................................................57 Minimum Impact Suppression .........................................................................................57 Rehabilitation Guidelines ................................................................................................. 58 Records and Reports ......................................................................................................... 58 Wildland Fire Use .................................................................................................................. 59 Objectives............................................................................................................................60 Decision Parameters..........................................................................................................60 Pre- planned Implementation Procedures.....................................................................60 Unplanned Fire Implementation Procedures................................................................ 62 Impact of Plan Implementation and Mitigation............................................................ 62 Staffing and Criteria for Implementing and Managing Wildland Fire Use for Resource Benefit (WFURB) ............................................................................................. 62 Public Information and Interpretation of the Wildland Fire Use Program .............. 65 Standard Outline of Contents for a Permanent Project Record for Wildland Fire Use........................................................................................................................................66 Prescribed Fire .......................................................................................................................66 Planning and Documentation .......................................................................................... 67 Exceeding Existing Prescribed Fire Burn Plan .............................................................. 72 Air Quality and Smoke Management.............................................................................. 72 Non- Fire Fuel Treatment Applications............................................................................. 76 Mechanical Treatment and Other Applications............................................................ 77 Emergency Rehabilitation and Restoration....................................................................... 78 Chapter V: Organizational and Budgetary Parameters .................................. 79 Organization ........................................................................................................................... 79 FIREPRO Funding.................................................................................................................79 Interagency Coordination .................................................................................................... 79 Key Interagency Contacts..................................................................................................... 82 Interagency Agreements ....................................................................................................... 82 Chapter VI: Monitoring and Evaluation .......................................................... 84 Chapter VII: Fire Research..................................................................................87 Previous and Ongoing Fire Research.................................................................................. 87 Fire Research Needs.............................................................................................................. 88 Chapter VIII: Public Safety................................................................................. 89 Public Safety Issues and Concerns ...................................................................................... 89 Mitigating Procedures...........................................................................................................89 Chapter IX: Public Information and Education..............................................90 Public Information Capabilities...........................................................................................90 Step- up Public Information Activities................................................................................90 Initial Action .......................................................................................................................90 Operational Period Activities ............................................................................................91 Chapter X: Protection of Sensitive Resources................................................. 92 Archeological/Cultural/Historic Resources ...................................................................... 92 Natural