FY 2015 Wildland Fire Management Annual Report November 29, 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior USDA Forest Service “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 FY 2015 Fire Season at a Glance ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Fires Reported and Acres Burned .............................................................................................................................. 1 Structures Destroyed .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Requests for Firefighting Resources......................................................................................................................... 2 Aircraft and Equipment .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Incident Management Teams and Support Personnel ..................................................................................... 2 FY 2015 International Assistance and Interaction ............................................................................................ 2 International Support Received ............................................................................................................................ 2 Wildland Fire Support to the National Response Framework .............................................................................. 3 FY 2015 Federal Disaster Response ...................................................................................................................... 4 Financial Highlights ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 FY 2015 Wildland Fire Management Appropriation ............................................................................................ 5 FY 2015 Wildland Fire Statistics ................................................................................................................................... 7 Estimated Numbers of Fires and Acres Burned ..................................................................................................... 7 Fuels Management Program ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Fatal and Non-fatal Serious Accidents ....................................................................................................................... 12 Fatal Accidents ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 International Fire Program .............................................................................................................................................16 North American Forest Commission – Fire Management Working Group meeting .............................. 17 International Liaison Committee ........................................................................................................................ 17 International Fire Aviation Working Group and Wildland Fire Advisory Group .................................. 17 North American Study Tour ................................................................................................................................. 17 Other International Efforts ...................................................................................................................................18 Major Program Initiatives .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Joint Initiatives – U.S. Department of the Interior / U.S. Forest Service........................................................ 19 Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management, and Restoration ......................................................................... 19 Wildland fire Management and Clean Air Act Implementation ................................................................. 21 Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program ................................................................................................ 21 Wildland Fire Information and Technology .................................................................................................... 22 Wildland Fire Science ........................................................................................................................................... 22 USDA Forest Service Specific Initiatives............................................................................................................... 24 Forest Service National Aviation Program ....................................................................................................... 24 Human Performance .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Risk Based Wildland Fire Management ........................................................................................................... 26 The Department of the Interior Specific Initiatives ............................................................................................ 26 Wildland Fire Resilient Landscapes .................................................................................................................. 26 Risk Based Wildland Fire Management ........................................................................................................... 27 Secretarial Order 3336 – Integrated Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management, and Restoration ....... 27 Community Assistance ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Reviews and Open Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 32 Department of the Interior ................................................................................................................................... 32 USDA Forest Service ............................................................................................................................................. 34 Other Forest Service Audits ................................................................................................................................. 36 Performance Measures ................................................................................................................................................... 38 Department of the Interior ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Goal #1: Protect America’s Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 38 USDA Forest Service ..................................................................................................................................................40 USDA Strategic Plan ..............................................................................................................................................40 10-year Comprehensive Strategy Implementation Plan (updated December 2006) ...............................40 Forest Service Measures Set ................................................................................................................................. 42 Success Stories ................................................................................................................................................................ 44 USDA Forest Service ................................................................................................................................................. 44 Bureau of Indian Affairs ............................................................................................................................................. 46 National Park Service ................................................................................................................................................. 48 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ................................................................................................................................. 50 Bureau of Land