WFDSS Unit 1 - Overview

• What is WFDSS and why?• WFDSS process and the “Guidance for Implementation

of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy” • Linkage between WFDSS, Letter of Delegation and an

Incident Action Plan • Identify WFDSS Cost Levels for approving a Decision • Describe the components FSPro, RAVAR, and SCI • Roles and responsibilities of the home unit’s WFDSS

team • WFDSS Regional and National Support

Unit 1: OBJECTIVES

WFDSS

A web-based risk assessment/decision support and documentation system designed to enhance a manager’s ability to analyze fire conditions and develop risk-informed strategies for operational implementation.

Replaces:– Wildland Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA) – Wildland Fire Implementation Plan (WFIP)– Long-Term Implementation Plan (LTIP)– Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP)

WFDSS Overview 3

Guidance for Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy

Issued in February 2009 by the Fire Executive Council. Some of the guidelines include:

• Wildland fire is a general term describing any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Wildland fires are categorized into two distinct types:

a. Wildfires – Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires . (Note: This includes events formally termed wildland fire use. )

b. Prescribed Fires - Planned ignitions. • A wildland fire may be concurrently managed for one or more objectives and

objectives can change as the fire spreads across the landscape… • Management response to a wildland fire on federal land is based on objectives

established in the applicable Land/ Resource Management Plan and/or the Fire Management Plan.

• Managers will use a decision support process to guide and document wildfire management decisions. The process will provide situational assessment, analyze hazards and risk, define implementation actions, and document decisions and rationale for those decisions.

(Handout 1.1.1)

Unplanned Ignition

“Wildfire”

Planned Ignition

“Prescribed Fire”

L/RMP or FMP allows protection objectives

only

L/RMP or FMP allows

resource and protection objectives

only

Preplanned Response

Develop Response through decision support process

Prescribed Fire Plan

Implement Response to

Wildfire

Implement Prescribed Fire Plan

Objectives Achieved

Objectives Not Met

Objectives Achieved

Fire Report

Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy – February 2009

Appendix B: Wildland Fire Flowchart

Wildland Fire IgnitionThis chart depicts, in general, the process to be taken given an ignition, regardless of source. Management actions depend on the provisions in the approved Land, Resource and Fire Management Plan and/or Fire Management Plan for an area. This chart is generally applicable to most agencies’ fire management programs. However, specific exceptions may exist.

WFDSS

Interagency Standards forFire and Fire Aviation

Operations

Department of the InteriorBureau of Land Management

National Park ServiceU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

2010

“Mandatory use of WFDSS is required for all agencies.”

Decisions in WFDSS once approved and published becomes a system of record.

(Handouts 1.1.2)

Intention - Objectives

Actions – Key Decisions

Outcomes - “Telling the Story”

Linkages with other Documentation

Delegation of Authority WFDSS Decision Action Report (DAR)

Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Key Decision Logs (KDL) ICS 209

WFDSS Periodic Assessments

Inci

dent

Doc

umen

tatio

n

WFDSS Approval RequirementsCost

Estimate

BIA BLM FWS NPS USFS

$0-$2M Agency Superintendent

Field/District Manager

Project Leader/ Refuge Manager

Park Superintendent

District Ranger

$2M-5M Regional Director

State Director

Regional Director

Regional Director

Forest Supervisor

$5M-10M BIA Director BLM Director FWS Director NPS Director Forest Supervisor

$10M-50M BIA Director BLM Director FWS Director NPS Director Regional Forester

>50M BIA Director BLM Director FWS Director NPS Director USFS Chief

Recreated from 2010 Redbook

FSPro & RAVAR?FSPro & RAVAR?

FSPro - FFSPro - Fire ire SSpread pread ProProbability modelbability model((those tie dye mapsthose tie dye maps))

• Initially tested on 5 fires in 2005Initially tested on 5 fires in 2005

• Grows fire simulations in 2D Grows fire simulations in 2D (like FARSITE)(like FARSITE)

• Can model thousands of fires over a set time Can model thousands of fires over a set time periodperiod

• When combined with RAVAR, provides an When combined with RAVAR, provides an understanding of riskunderstanding of risk

FSPro - FSPro - Fire Spread Probability ModelFire Spread Probability Model

• Will NotWill Not Tell you what day the fire will arrive at Tell you what day the fire will arrive at

a given pointa given point

Give you possible fire perimetersGive you possible fire perimeters

Give Fire Behavior Outputs - Flame Give Fire Behavior Outputs - Flame length, Rate of spread, etc. length, Rate of spread, etc.

25%

25%

25%

100%75%

FSPro ProbabilitiesFSPro Probabilitieswith 4 Simulations:with 4 Simulations:

50%

50%

No GrowthNo Growth

Calm windsCalm winds

South windSouth wind

West windWest wind

Situation Page – FSPro (Outputs)Situation Page – FSPro (Outputs)

FSPro - HistogramFSPro - Histogram

FSPro - Value at RiskFSPro - Value at Risk

RAVARRAVAR• What is RAVAR?What is RAVAR?

– Rapid Assessment of Values at RiskRapid Assessment of Values at Risk

Risk is composed of two main parts: probability Risk is composed of two main parts: probability and change in value (losses or benefits)and change in value (losses or benefits)

• FSPro – gives you probabilitiesFSPro – gives you probabilities• Then the RAVAR process adds valuesThen the RAVAR process adds values

– Will aid in assessing risk.Will aid in assessing risk.

• RAVARRAVAR– Is good with losses of things (like structures)Is good with losses of things (like structures)

– Not Yet Not Yet good with benefits or losses to good with benefits or losses to resourcesresources

RAVARRAVAR

The Tier I Map and ReportThe Tier I Map and Report• Identifies private structures, public infrastructure, Identifies private structures, public infrastructure,

public reserve areas, and hazardous waste sitespublic reserve areas, and hazardous waste sites• Public infrastructure includes water supply systems Public infrastructure includes water supply systems

and reservoirs, major power lines, pipelines, and reservoirs, major power lines, pipelines, communication towers, recreation facilities, and other communication towers, recreation facilities, and other significant landmarks. significant landmarks.

• Tier 1 also identifies designated wilderness and Tier 1 also identifies designated wilderness and roadless areas, wild and scenic river corridors, and roadless areas, wild and scenic river corridors, and national recreation areas.national recreation areas.

RAVARRAVAR

The Tier II Map and ReportThe Tier II Map and Report

• Identify highly valued natural resources and Identify highly valued natural resources and management priorities that may be affected management priorities that may be affected by an ongoing fire event. by an ongoing fire event.

• Examples of Tier II layers include sensitive Examples of Tier II layers include sensitive wildlife habitat, recreation zones, and wildlife habitat, recreation zones, and restoration priority areas.restoration priority areas.

RAVARRAVAR

WFDSS Overview 20

• In FY 2006, the FS adopted a performance measure In FY 2006, the FS adopted a performance measure designated the SCI. In FY 2007, the SCI was also designated the SCI. In FY 2007, the SCI was also incorporated into the WFDSS). incorporated into the WFDSS).

• The SCI is simply a set of regression equations The SCI is simply a set of regression equations developed to estimate suppression expenditures on developed to estimate suppression expenditures on individual large wildland fires (fires greater than 300 individual large wildland fires (fires greater than 300 acres). acres).

• Characteristics of the fire, such as fire size, the fire Characteristics of the fire, such as fire size, the fire environment (slope, aspect, energy release component, environment (slope, aspect, energy release component, fuel model, etc), housing values within proximity to the fuel model, etc), housing values within proximity to the fire, and geographic area are used in a statistical model fire, and geographic area are used in a statistical model to come up with an estimate of the cost of the fire.to come up with an estimate of the cost of the fire.

Stratified Cost Index (SCI)Stratified Cost Index (SCI)

Stratified Cost Index (SCI)Stratified Cost Index (SCI)

• Strategic Objectives & Management Requirements– Established by LRMP/FMP and preloaded into WFDSS

• Incident Objectives & Incident Requirements– Agency Administrator with Resource Specialist’s Input

• Courses of Action - Strategic Direction– Agency Administrator with Fire Specialist’s Input

• Rationale– Agency Administrator and/or approving official

Roles of WFDSS Team

WFDSS Implementation• At the regional office, our goal is to build capacity

at the local level.• There are regional and national resources

available to help with – Fire Behavior Analysis– RAVAR– DAR development

Support :• Excerpt from CA Mob Guide • National Decision Support Center

(Handouts 1.1.3)(Handouts 1.1.4)

WFDSS ImplementationTake home messages

• Get a WFDSS User account on both the WFDSS Production and WFDSS Training Sites

• Identify a local WFDSS team• Ensure that team members knows their roles and

responsibilities • Identify backups; have a contingency plan• Make sure everyone has an account with appropriate

user privileges and correct contact information• Develop your own scenario and practice with your

team on the WFDSS Training Site

WFDSS Unit 2 – Decision Process

• List the parts of a completed DAR and recognize how it relates to the tabs on the WFDSS screen.

• Obtain data on incident situation in WFDSS • Write narratives sufficient to document a decision

in WFDSS • Validate, Approve and Publish a Decision in the

WFDSS Training System• Conduct a Periodic Assessment • Exercises

Unit 2: OBJECTIVES

WFDSS - Users Roles

(Handout 1.1.4)

WFDSS - Incident Privileges

Decision Support ProcessOne Decision Process; Two Phases1. Situation Assessment and Analysis

• Incident Information• Fire perimeter maps and additional GIS data• Strategic LRMP/FMP Objectives & Requirements• Current and forecasted weather• Current and projected fire behavior• Values at risk

2. Decision Documentation and Rationale• Incident Specific Objectives and Requirements• Courses of Action • Rationale• Published Report• Monitoring with periodic assessment (Handout 2.1.1.)

Fire Behavior Analysis

WFDSS at the System Level

Create a Incident in WFDSS

WFDSS at the Incident Level

Planning Area

Relative Risk

Unit Level - ObjectivesUnit Level - ObjectivesStrategic Objectives (Handout 2.1.1)

These are broad statements, specified in land and resource management and fire management plans that describe an existing resource condition that should be maintained. Objectives deal with large areas over long time periods and project intended outcomes of management activities that contribute to the maintenance or achievement of desired conditions.

Management Requirements

Management requirements are derived from land and resource management plan and fire management plan standards and guidelines information. They provide the foundation, framework, and limitations for potential management activities. Management Requirements are not commitments or final implementation decisions.

Incident Level - ObjectivesIncident Level - Objectives

Incident Level - ObjectivesIncident Level - ObjectivesIncident Objectives (Handout 2.1.2)

Incident objectives are objectives specific to the particular incident. They are precise statements that reflect tactical accomplishment milestones to be accomplished on the incident. Incident Objectives can serve as a means for tracking incident accomplishments and workload demand thresholds.

Incident Requirements

Incident requirements provides the incident management organizations direction in incident management. They provide the foundation, framework, and limitations for potential suppression or management related activities.

SMART ObjectivesThe relationship between incident objectives, strategies, and tactics: • Incident objectives state what will be accomplished. • Strategies establish the general plan or direction for accomplishing the incident

objectives. • Tactics specify how the strategies will be executed. Key Points Incident objectives should have the following SMART characteristics: 1. Specific – The wording must be precise and unambiguous in describing the

objective. 2. Measurable – The design and statement of objectives should make it possible to

conduct a final accounting as to whether objectives were achieved. 3. Action Oriented – The objective must have an action verb that describes the

expected accomplishments. 4. Realistic – Objectives must be achievable with the resources that the agency (and

assisting agencies) can allocate to the incident, even though it may take several operational periods to accomplish them.

5. Time Sensitive – The timeframe should be specified (if applicable).

ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents—Student Manual September 2005

Strategic Objectives

From the Land Management Plan: “Utilize local cultural resource specialists or Native American representatives if possible prior to engagement and in the planning process to identify Native American traditional areas, and protect these areas when possible.”

Incident Objectives

Based on the Strategic Objective from the LMP: “Provide protection to Traditional Cultural Properties with the Pit River Area from suppression damage by utilizing minimum impact suppression tactics (M.I.S.T.) with available fire fighting resources during suppression activities.”

Incident Objectives

“S” Cultural Properties/Pit River Area“M” Provide Protection/From Suppression

Activities“A” Utilizing/M.I.S.T“R” Available/Fire Fighting Resources“T” During/Suppression Activities

Management Requirements

From the Land Management Plan: “For All Threatened, Endangered, and Forest

Service Sensitive Species of animals and plants: Utilize local technical specialists if possible prior to engagement, and in the planning process.”

Incident Requirement

Based on the Management Requirementfrom the LMP: “Locate incident bases, camps, and helibases

outside Goshawk Protected Activity Centers (PACs) in Mill and Mountain Home Creeks.”

Exercise 2-2

• Review Handout 2.1.4 – Sample Pending Decision and based on the situation awareness write:– Three (3) Incident Objectives as a Word

Document– Three (3) Incident Requirements as a Word

Document

• Be able to discuss the decision-making rationale for the objectives and requirements

Begin Exercises 2-2

Break into your Groups

Courses of ActionCourses of ActionStrategic Directions• Strategic Directions is a part of the Course of Action (COA).

They describe the strategic thinking that leads to the management of the incident. From these Strategic Directions, incident personnel (IMT’s) can develop the Tactical Operations that will meet these strategies.

• One or more Strategic Directions comprise the COA. After creating the strategic directions, select the ones you want to include in the current decision. These selections become your course of action

Courses of ActionCourses of Action

RationaleRationaleConsiderations for writing your rationale for

approving the decision• What is your decision space? • What authorities do you have manage an incident?• What is the current situation? • What is the current risk ?• What do you want to achieve or protect and why? • How will the courses of action meet incident

objectives? • What is the likelihood of success? (Handout 2.1.3)

RationaleRationaleDecision Space? “The Forest does not have a fire for resource objective

policy.” Authorities? “Manage the fire under unified command with the local

County Fire.”Current Situation? “Currently weather conditions are pushing the fire

towards.”Current Risk? “Values at risk by this Incident include.Protect and Why? “Two main objectives are to mitigate risk to

structures and future flooding.”COA meeting Incident Objectives? “Aggressive 24 hour suppression

actions are being conducted.” Success? “The IMT is confident that current tactics are working.”

Exercise 2-3

Decision RationaleReview Handout 2.1.5 – Sample #2 Pending Decision and based on the situation awareness write a Rationale to document the decision.

Begin Exercises 2-3

Break into your Groups

WFDSS – Home Page

WFDSS Home Pagehttp://wfdss.usgs.gov/

R5 WFDSS Information Page http://fsweb.fire.r5.fs.fed.us/

R5 FTP Site ftp://ftp2.fs.fed.us/incoming//r5/FAMSAC/bowden/2010wfdss-training/

Exercise 2-3

From the WFDSS Training Site locate yourassigned Incident and perform the following

– Validating the Courses of Action– Begin Review/Approval Process– Review/Approve Decision– Publish a Decision– Conduct a Periodic Assessment

(Unit 2 – Lesson 2)

Incident Names

Move to the Computer Room

END