1

Fire Management Annual Report Fiscal Year 2018

Report provided by the Branch of Fire Management National Wildlife Refuge System Headquarters Office, located at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Boise, Idaho

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service hand crew for the national wildlife refuges in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands assisted during Hurricane Maria recovery efforts. Credit: FWS

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview 3

Headquarters (Branch of Fire Management) 6

Region 1 (Pacific) 11

Region 2 (Southwest) 15

Region 3 (Midwest) 20

Region 4 (Southeast) 22

Region 5 (Northeast) 27

Region 6 (Mountain-Prairie) 33

Region 7 (Alaska) 38

Region 8 (Pacific Southwest) 43

Contacts 47

3

OVERVIEW This report summarizes Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) accomplishments in the Wildland Fire Management program for the Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) across its eight Regions and Headquarters (HQ) office in the areas of personnel, wildland fire management, fuels management, training, communications/outreach, planning, and all-hazard response. The program continued to implement Conserving the Future through Fire Management – A Strategic Plan for Managing Wildland Fire on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lands, approved in 2016. Actively managing fuels on Service lands across all Regions remained a foundation of the fire management program. Through nation-wide fuels management and community assistance program support, the Service successfully treated 182,087 hazardous fuels acres with prescribed fire while tallying an additional 8,810 acres mechanically and 2,008 acres via other methods. In addition, the Service treated another 150,251 acres with non-hazardous fuels funding to benefit natural resources on Service lands. A new Director for the interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center in Tallahassee, Florida was hired, a position which is hosted by the Service. The national center provides hands-on field training for firefighters and teaches agency administrators how to manage prescribed fire programs. Service lands sustained 298 wildfires during FY2018, which burned a total of 115,002 acres on Service lands. Throughout the country’s wildfire season of 2018, Service fire management staff and qualified collateral duty personnel from all Regions were engaged in national interagency wildfire suppression efforts, while those in the south and southwest continued providing substantial support for natural disaster relief efforts associated with hurricanes. With more than 1,500 staff qualified to support emergency incidents, the Service provided leadership and support to Incident Management Teams in a variety of positions on Command Staffs and within Operations, Finance, Logistics and Planning Units. At peak activity, more than 200 fire-qualified and law enforcement Service employees were assigned on any given day to support active emergency incidents across the country. The Service continues to expand its partnership with the Air Force Wildland Fire Center supporting common needs and providing career-ladder opportunities for Service fire staff at U.S. Air Force (USAF) in multiple Regions. Under s national agreement, the FWS liaison to the USAF Wildland Fire Branch, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, manages administrative and operational support for all FWS fire staff located on Air Force bases throughout the United States. Overview, continued…

Joe-Riley Epps was hired in FY2018 as the new FWS liaison to the U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch in San Antonio, Texas. He manages Service fire staff on USAF bases. Credit: FWS

Robert Trincado is the new Director, Prescribed Fire Training Center, in an interagency position hosted by the Service. Credit: FWS

4

The Service Honor Guard, established by Refuges Law Enforcement in 2010, accepted its first members from wildland firefighting ranks. Each completed the rigorous 80-hour training required.

In November, 2017, Service leadership joined the Service Honor Guard to dedicate a new historic marker to honor two fallen firefighters at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Florida. Designed and built by the Refuge’s fire crew, the inscribed granite memorial honors Scott Maness and Beau Sauselein, who died fighting the Ransom Road fire in 1981. The Ransom Road tragedy triggered dramatic improvements in the Service fire program, leading to improved firefighter safety and today’s professional collaboration with federal, state, and local partners. To date, there has not been a Service fire staff line-of-duty death in over 37 years since the accident.

Overview, continued…

New Honor Guard Members: Jason Riggins and Rob Wood Riggins (2nd from left) is RFMC Region 3, Wood (middle) is Zone FMO, Alligator River NWR in North Carolina, Credit: FWS

Service Honor Guard with Service leadership at Merritt Island NWR (l to r): Chief, Fire Management, Chris Wilcox; Deputy Director Jim Kurth; Refuges Chief Cynthia Martinez; Deputy, Fire Management, Shane McDonald. FWS

5

After the marker dedication, Branch Chief Chris Wilcox presented the National Interagency Fire Center’s Pulaski Award to the multi-agency Prescribed Burn Working Group at Merritt Island NWR. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/prescribed-burn-working-group-wins-2017-pulaski-award

The Service fire management program’s fifth annual National Fire Safety Award was also presented to Michael Good, Acting Zone Fire Management Officer (ZFMO) and Ryan Sharpe, Fire Operations Specialist stationed at Merritt Island NWR (NWR). Michael and Ryan were recognized for their efforts in capturing the hard lessons learned from a fatality fire on the Merritt Island NWR and the development of the Ransom Road staff ride.

###

Fire Management Branch Chief, Chris Wilcox (center) presents the 2017 National Fire Safety Award to Michael Good (left), and Ryan Sharpe (right) from the Merritt Island NWR. Credit: FWS

6

HEADQUARTERS (HQ) – Branch of Fire Management HQ Overview The Branch administered the Service’s Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) Fire Management Budget from the DOI Office of Wildland Fire (OWF): $28.7M for Preparedness (includes $461,000 for Facilities Construction and Maintenance), $21M for Hazardous Fuels, $13M for Suppression, and $1M for Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR). The Branch also administered the Fire Management Information System (FMIS) for reporting fire information. Branch staff continued to work with the Service’s Refuge System leadership, along with NFLT, its working teams and Line Officer Team, which represent all Regions. The Branch represented the Service to OWF, Interior Fire Executive Council, National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), National Multiple-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC), and other interagency governance and operational groups. Personnel

The Branch sponsored nine regional representatives as part of its Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Team to attend the 2018 Women and Leadership Conference at the Andrus Center for Public Policy.

HQ – Branch of Fire Management, continued…

FY2018 Chair, Branch Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Team Gillian Fay, with regional representatives. (Left to right): Anna Graves, Region 1 ; (back row): Brooke Malcom, Region 6; Gillian Fay; Branch; Jennifer Jewett, Region 6; Kim Muirhead, Region 3; Candice Stevenson, Region 4; Alexandra Cunningham, Region 7; (Front row): Tracy Ronnander, Region 3; Molly Cox, Region 1; Lisa Saperstein, Region 7. Credit: FWS

7

As part of its ongoing suicide safety initiative, the Branch recognized National Suicide Awareness Week in September 2018 through a series of daily thoughtful and informative e-mail messages to Regional and field staff, providing knowledge and skills for supporting firefighter mental health.

The Branch Chief continued to supervise the DOI Medical Standards Coordinator position. The Branch Fire Planner continued to be a shared position with the National Park Service (NPS). The Deputy Branch Chief (Management) located at HQ retired. Branch staff members with various fire qualifications supported interagency wildfire and hurricane incidents during a very active 2018 season. Wildland Fire Management In FY18, several Service units experienced elevated fire danger conditions and requested severity funding and/or resources to increase fire preparedness. Regionally managed short-term severity expenditures totaled $276,158 out of $2.4M available for FY18. A total of $117,583 (out of $ 272,142 available) long-term severity funds were approved by the Branch and expended by field stations in Region 1 during August and September (Sheldon/Hart Mountain NWR Complex and Malheur NWR, both in Oregon).Of 298 wildfires occurring on Service lands in FY2018, 77% (228 fires) were reported as either human-caused or having an undetermined cause, with 23% (70 fires) caused by lightning. Initial attack of wildfires on Service lands was successful more than 94% of the time. The Service now maintains 57 fire engines within the Working Capital Fund program, with a current replacement value of $14.3M. The fire management program continues to phase out underutilized engines and other fleet. Two Service projects were funded for $460,000 through the DOI Facilities Construction and Maintenance program: renovation of crew quarters at McNary NWR in Washington and renovation of a helibase facility at Okefenokee NWR in Georgia. The Branch approved a total of $436,726 for three post-fire Emergency Stabilization (ES) projects: East Saddle Fire at Hanford Reach National Monument (NM) in Washington, Hart Fire at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (NAR) in Oregon, and Thirty-Seven Fire at San Pablo NWR in California. The Branch approved an additional $1,346,110 for Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) projects in Regions 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6:

• Saddle Lakes Fire at Hanford Reach NM in Washington • Lau Strike Kipapa Fire at Oahu Forest NWR in Hawaii • Hart Fire (new) at Hart Mountain NAR in Oregon • Arroyo Ramirez Fire at Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR in Texas • Topock Fire at Havasu NWR in Arizona • San Pasqual Fire at Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico • Disaster Fire at Laguna Cartegena NWR in Puerto Rico • Panther Fire at Florida Panther NWR in Florida • Grand Bature Fire at Grand Bay NWR in Alabama • West Mims Fire (new) at Okefenokee NWR in Georgia • Last Dance Fire at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee NWR in Florida • Lodgepole Complex (new) at Charles M. Russell NWR in Montana.

8

HQ – Branch of Fire Management, continued… Fuels Management The Branch maintained a high level of commitment to ongoing Departmental and national level information technology programs such as the National Fire Plan Operations Reporting System (NFPORS) and Fuels Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring (FTEM), as well implementation of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) on prescribed fires in four out of the eight Regions. The Branch was heavily involved in and provided proactive coordination of responses to evolving administrative inquiries particular to Secretarial priorities, active forest management, project and treatment accountability, development of Departmental performance measures, and the advancement of terminology in fire policy Training The Service fire management employee development program continued use of a web-based platform to connect employees with funding and individualized development and training opportunities. In its fourth year, the program was able to provide support both directly and indirectly for 163 individuals from all eight Regions. The program was able to support numerous development activities in FY18 including:

• Prescribed fire training details. • Attendance at upper-level college

courses in GIS, fuels analysis and treatment design, fire and forest ecology, and fire effects monitoring.

• NWCG operational skill courses. • Academic certificate training programs. • Prescribed Fire Training Center courses. • Professional leadership training. • National Outdoor Leadership School

wildland fire first aid/CPR training. • Wildland fire leadership training.

(At left, above, and next page) FWS firefighters and managers study tragic Thirtymile fire in eastern Washington, June 2018. From Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, they participated in two formal staff rides and one site visit in June 2018 to study three wildfires in that led to firefighter fatalities, including Twisp River and Davin Road fires. (Above) Students work through a tactical decision exercise with Thom Taylor, survivor of the Thirtymile fire. He and other survivors provided insight into their experiences and help the FWS participants draw lessons to strengthen safety awareness on future incidents. Credits: FWS

9

HQ – Branch of Fire Management, continued…

Communications/Outreach The Branch supported field staff in all Regions to inform and educate other Service staff, leadership, and the public about fire management activities. By coordinating with headquarters and regional public affairs and communications staffs, as well as visitor services staffs on refuges, the Branch supported demonstration prescribed burns through exhibits and educational materials, facilitated outreach for Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges, provided fire-related content for FWS social media pages, and coached fire staff on media interviews within their areas of expertise. The Branch communication coordinator also continued to provide guidance and support for Service Public Information Officers and trainees on wildfires and prescribed fires, as well as media training for Incident Meteorologists at their annual training with the National Weather Service in Boise, Idaho. Planning Spatial fire management planning continues to evolve with more potential for putting together fire management plans online and having the ability to take the data out in the field on a tablet or phone. The DOI Secretary issued an order to make environmental assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statement (EISs) more efficient by shortening the time period allowed for completion and document length. Following this new order is mandatory for of any new product developed to comply with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).

###

10

Regional Reports

11

REGION 1 – Pacific

Region 1, Pacific, continued…

12

Regional Overview Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) brought focus to firefighter health and welfare, and continued growth of interagency partnerships within the Pacific Region (Region 1) Fire Management Program. Regional and geographic area leadership recognized recent trends in firefighter health and mental wellness, and took the opportunity to provide clear intent that health and wellness is the number one priority to all firefighters. Firefighters from all agencies continued to build onto this core value throughout the year with emphasis placed both in and out of season.The Region benefited from its foundation of “Service First” fire management areas, and now has fully integrated organizations in four of the eight fire management zones. Deliberate steps are being made towards partial to full integration in the remaining four zones. Suppression resources gained from new interagency partnerships were effectively mobilized in support of refuge fires; partnerships also supported the use of prescribed fire as a tool in high priority hazard fuel areas, as well as new locations needing fire to support healthy habitats on refuges throughout the Region. Key additions to the Region in 2018 included the selection of a new Regional Fire Management Coordinator, an Assistant Fire Management Officer at Mid-Columbia National Wildlife Refuge Complex (NWRC), and a Fuels Specialist in the Southeast Idaho Fire Management Zone. The Pacific Region continues to benefit from its partnerships with Regions 7 and 8 for incident business support, and is expanding its inter-regional staffing concept to formally share a regional Fuels Management Specialist with Region 4 beginning in 2019. In FY18, the program of work for the regional fire management program was integrated to meet the Secretarial priorities. Conservation, increasing trust, protecting people, reorganization, and modernized infrastructure were all emphasized as the Region utilized a collaborative and risk based suppression response and hazardous fuels reduction effort to protect people, infrastructure, critical habitat, and private lands. Wildland Fire Management The Pacific Northwest geographic area experienced an active fire season with more than 1.3M acres burned in Washington and Oregon. Idaho experienced above-average burning conditions this year, although Service lands were not significantly impacted. Fire activity in the Pacific Islands was relatively quiet, but the volcano eruption and severe weather kept incident responders busy providing refuge and community support. During FY18, more than 60 permanent and temporary FWS Pacific Region firefighters supported the management of fires across the country. Within the Region, our resources managed 26 wildfire starts on Service lands, burning a total of 33,758 acres on Refuge lands. The Region was also busy supporting its interagency partners; fire staff on national wildlife refuges responded to 162 support actions during the 2018 fire season. The Region received approval for two long-term fire severity requests in southeast Oregon, as well as approved several short-term requests in southeast Washington, all helping to provide additional staffing during times of critical fire indices and increased fire activity. Region 1, Pacific, continued…

Incident Business

13

The Fire Business Program continues to develop and expand in 2018 as special emphasis was placed on knowledge sharing, cost recovery, and increasing efficiencies. There was positive response after hosting four Introduction to Fire Business courses in 2018. The outcome of the course resulted in seven new incident management team Finance Section recruits, better understanding of fire business rules, and better accuracy when posting fire time. Several partnering agencies were invited to attend the course as well, to provide networking support outside of the Service. Future plans include the collaboration with the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management to host additional fire business courses for all DOI agencies.

Cost recovery for Regions 1 and 7 was another success. Region 1 recovered $78,590 from the State of Washington and Region 7 recovered $44,275 from the State of Alaska. Cost recovery will continue to expand as the Service develops a recovery process with all states within Regions 1, 7, and 8.

The development of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and operating plan template proved to be a time-saving effort when collaborating with local fire departments for fire suppression support. The template provides seamless direction for creating a suppression agreement. A variety of agreement templates will be created within the next year to collectively add to the agreements library. Another efficiency this year was the creation of a cost reconciliation process within Regions 1 and 8. A communication plan was developed within the incident business committees of the Pacific Northwest and California geographic areas to better collect the data necessary to finalize shared suppression expenses.

Fuels Management Targeted treatments were identified and prioritized as mutually beneficial for hazardous fuel reduction and habitat restoration. Treatments were completed across eight fire management zones; this included 51 prescribed fire treatments on 6,055 acres, and 19 mechanical treatments on 2,475 acres (mastication, mowing, and thinning by hand or with machinery). In addition, Service firefighters conducted 7 prescribed fires on private lands, treating 182 acres in the states of Oregon and Idaho. As part of the Mid-Columbia River NWRC annual fuel break program, Refuge staff disked 102 miles of fire line during two separate growing periods to protect priority values-at-risk along highways and county roads adjacent to refuge lands in the Columbia Basin. Interagency partnerships were instrumental in the implementation of many prescribed fire treatments on Service lands. Extending partnerships with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, National Park Service, and local governments increased the use of prescribed fire to manage natural resources across the Pacific Region.

14

Region 1, Pacific, continued… Training Region 1 emphasized personal and career development to focus on important leadership concepts in wildland fire management. A Deputy Project Leader and Fuels Specialist instructed at the Prescribed Fire Training Center and provide critical leadership oversight to numerous interagency students learning to use prescribed fire as a tool for managing habitat and reducing fuels across the landscape. Embracing new technology, the Regional Planner/GIS Specialist completed Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) training and is now a certified DOI pilot flying UAS missions for resource and fire management objectives. Two Fire Managers were also successful in completing the rigors of S-590 Advanced Fire Behavior Interpretation, providing a critical skill set to assist with long-term management of wildland fires. Career development training opportunities this year included several details provided to Engine Captains (to the Regional Office, to a special-project, and outside of the Service) to gain additional experience. The Region continues to support the national Diversity and Inclusion initiative, with two staff attending the Women and Leadership conference held in Boise, Idaho, sponsored by the FWS Fire Program. The Region continues to actively participate in interagency training opportunities by attending and instructing courses at the 100-500 levels and participating in field training, as well as hosting the Thirtymile staff ride in 2018. Planning The Region continued to place importance on fire management planning, with an emphasis on spatial products. Nine new Wildfire Emergency Response plans were developed for refuges and fish hatcheries throughout the region, all including both a written and spatial component (poster map-sheet) highlighting important safety and operational information on map products to aid in fire suppression efforts conducted by our partnering agencies. The Region also created its first (draft) spatial fire management plan (SFMP) for the Mid-Columbia River NWRC, which included the publication of both Operations and Values-at-Risk map products for each refuge, a fire disk or fire management geodatabase that included all known pertinent fire data, and a detailed and living/editable web-map on ArcGIS-Online with a mobile editing map package using ESRI’s Collector tool. The fire management program was able to utilize these planning products and tools during the fire season, and will finalize the Mid-Columbia SFMP this winter, with both a text plan and ArcGIS-Online story map. Moving forward, the Region will continue to use the SFMP template to develop others in the Region. Communications/Education Fire management across the Region continues to tell its story via social media with shared photos, videos, blogs, and success stories placed onto multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr, and other webpages. The Region also works alongside External Affairs on a number of different social media and public affairs-type projects. Of note this year, projects included the continued story-telling about collaborative prescribed fire use in the Willamette Valley (linked below), an educational component of the urban Ridgefield NWR’s first prescribed fire, and the fire management lunch & learn presentation provided in the Regional Office. http://usfwspacific.tumblr.com/post/170579439820/burning-at-both-ends-fire-management-a-year-round

### REGION 2 - Southwest

15

Regional Overview Pursuing the goals established during FY2016 strategic workforce planning, the Southwest Region had another safe and productive year in FY2018 (FY18). Region 2 fire staff accomplished 98 hazardous fuels reduction and habitat improvement projects on more than 54,400 acres of refuge lands, enhancing habitats for a wide variety of target wildlife species (whooping cranes, clapper rails, prairie chickens, mottled ducks, peregrine falcons, and the Rio Grande jumping mouse) as well as game species (migratory waterfowl, wild turkey, mule deer, bison, and pronghorn antelope). In addition, more than 21,900 acres were treated on partnership lands with the U.S. Army at Fort Hood Texas, and in the Texas Hill Country, where habitat was restored for golden-cheeked warblers, black-capped vireos, and monarch butterflies. Throughout FY18, Region 2 firefighters responded to 58 wildfires on Service lands totaling about 26,000 acres, and an additional 136 wildfires on adjacent and partner lands. Our personnel also responded to 114 out-of-region wildfires, supporting national emergency response and incident management with our resources and leadership. By participating in these national incidents and other assignments, our staff continued to gain the valuable training necessary to stay current, remain active, and enhance the safety of our communities and refuges. Personnel In early FY18, the Southwest Region Division of Fire Management hired a Regional Fuels and Operations Specialist (RFOS) to join its staff, which also includes a Regional Fire Management Coordinator (RFMC), Deputy RFMC, Fire Budget Lead, Geospatial Fire Ecologist and Chief, Predictive Services at the Southwest Coordination Center. With the RFMC on extended leave beginning in April 2018, the Deputy RFMC has filled in as Acting-RFMC and the RFOS as Acting-Deputy RFMC. The Region also hired new Fire Management Officers (FMO) in New Mexico and South Texas Fire Zones, and lost several key staff this year in Arizona; the FMO, Assistant FMO and Prescribed Fire Specialist positions were vacated through retirement or taking new positions. Staffing remained stable in the other four fire management zones, with FMOs at Texas Mid-Coast, Oklahoma/ North Texas, Balcones and Chenier Plains zones continuing to provide leadership for wildfire preparedness and response, hazardous fuels management, and significant wildlife habitat restoration across the Region and beyond. Region 2, Southwest, continued…

Map of Southwest Region Fire Management Zones

16

Wildland Fire Management Drought conditions during much of FY18 had Region 2 preparing for an active fire season that ended as an average year, with 58 wildfires on Service lands that burned 26,470 acres. Many of the Region’s fire personnel actively supported out-of-region national emergency response and incident management teams during higher national Preparedness Levels (PL 3-5). The Balcones FMO was selected as a new interagency Type 2 Incident Commander for the Southwest. Fuels Management Region 2 continued to provide critical emergency response and strategic hazardous fuels treatments that helped protect surrounding communities, people and property by mitigating risk from large, damaging wildfires. The Region accomplished 98 hazardous fuels reduction and habitat improvement projects across 54,400 acres of refuge lands. In addition, more than 21,900 acres were treated on partner lands. The majority of partner lands treated occurred at Fort Hood, Texas (24 burns, 20,800 acres treated) where the largest known populations of endangered golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos occur. These, and other projects across the Region, showcase important habitat improvement work that restored and enhanced a variety of habitats for threatened, endangered, and other wildlife species.

The Balcones Canyonlands NWR fire staff initiated a program with FWS Partners and others to begin a landscape approach to burning private lands throughout the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. An overarching goal has been to promote healthy habitats for monarch butterfly on this core migration corridor. Prescribed burns have enhanced over 1,000 acres to benefit the monarchs by improving their milkweed habitats as well as the diversity and condition of other flowering plants. Below, prescribed fire on private lands in South Llano River, Texas to improve monarch habitat. Credit: Jeff Adams, FWS

17

Region 2, Southwest, continued… Training Region 2 continued to emphasize personal and career development for all staff to expand our qualified fire leadership personnel. About 60 personnel completed development training and taskbooks and were certified in a variety of incident response positions, including two new unit leaders and several mid-level operations positions. The Region’s Chief, Predictive Services continued collaboration with the Missoula Fire Laboratory, leading the update of the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS), as well as training fire personnel how to use, interpret, and incorporate results into planning and preparedness. As the Steering Committee Chair for M-580 (Fire in Ecosystem Management), the Deputy RFMC continued to lead development and revisions to the course, working to integrate RX-510 (Advanced Fire Effects) for more than 150 students from around the country this coming year. Communications/Outreach The Deputy RFMC developed and chaired a special session at the 7th International Fire Ecology and Management Congress focused on fire’s role in restoration of threatened and endangered wildlife habitats, ecosystem services, and landscape resilience. In March 2018, the Arizona Prescribed Fire Specialist helped lead a course (Latin American Women in Fire Management) that highlighted the valuable role women play in fire leadership internationally. Participants from Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic got to experience how women at FWS manage all facets of prescribed fires and managing wildfires on federal lands.

Even though the whooping crane, North America’s tallest bird, remains endangered, its population numbers have been improving due to a variety of successful conservation efforts. Fire management has been integral in the habitat management for these cranes and their recovery. Across the Texas Coast, our fire staff have maintained and restored habitat to allow whooping cranes to successfully nest, forage, and fledge hatchlings. Taking a landscape approach, the fire staff have been establishing partnerships with interest groups such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Texas Parks and Wildlife, along with private landowners such as Sargent Ranch and Smith Marsh, which will soon be enhancing whooping crane habitats across hundreds of additional acres.

Whooping cranes using favored habitats, many of which are in coastal Texas. Credit: FWS

18

Region 2, Southwest, continued… Planning Spatial fire management plan (SFMP) revisions are currently underway for the New Mexico zone to include new additions to the Refuge System (Rio Mora and Valle De Oro NWRs). The Southwest Fire Atlas, our smart-device geospatial tool that highlights all treatment history, continues to be improved and updated. Region 2 fire staff can now quickly identify names, dates, and locations of all previously documented wildfires and fuel treatments with just a few clicks on their phones and tablets. Efficiently accessing historic fire data allows planners and responders to make more rapid and effective decisions. As part of the Southwest Fire Atlas, Region 2 also developed a fire monitoring module and smart-phone application that allows fire staff to collect photo points, along with first-order and second-order fire effects data. Because the Fire Atlas monitoring module is also accessible via smart-devices, the inclusion of photo-monitoring and office dashboard display is integrated and updated in real-time. In FY18, Region 2 led development of a new decision support web application and process that was tested and used by the Southwest Multi-Agency Coordinating (MAC) group as its new mechanism to present current intelligence on priority and emerging incidents during higher Preparedness Levels (PL 3-5). This web-app was also adopted Northern Rockies and the Great Basin MAC groups for their own intelligence briefings.

.

Yuma Ridway’s rail Courtesy of Henry T. McLin

In Arizona, the federally Endangered Yuma Ridgway’s rail is a unique marsh bird distinguished from other clapper rails by its large feet, paler underparts and grayish edging of dorsal feathers. Along the lower Colorado River valley, significant populations of rails are found in dense cattail or cattail-bulrush marshes that are dominated by stands of emergent vegetation interspersed with areas of open water and drier, upland benches. Prescribed fire is being used to mimic past flooding events, to open up these dense freshwater marshland, for rail access, and nesting and foraging habitats. In 2018, the Arizona Fire Zone coordinated with partners for long-term strategic planning and burning of these marshlands.

The Southwest Coordinating Group Decision Support Tool

19

Region 2, Southwest, continued…

All Hazard

In support of the initiative by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to secure the U.S. southern border, the Region’s Arizona fire management zone developed several projects on Buenos Aires and San Bernardino NWRs that will help FWS achieve habitat management objectives for a variety of threatened and endangered species (San Bernardino spring snail, Chiricahua leopard frog, Yuma clapper rail, and jaguar) while also helping CBP to more safely accomplish its mission. More projects were submitted for consideration along the Texas and New Mexico borderlands. The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is anticipated in support of completion of these projects. Completion of the fire management projects is expected by FY19.

Fire management staff in Oklahoma/North Texas (OK/N.TX) provided support and guidance to the Search and Rescue (SAR) program at Wichita Mountains NWR. The SAR program took a big step forward in 2018 to obtain local medical direction as required by state law for any agency providing Emergency Medical Services in the state of Oklahoma. OK/N.TX fire staff also hosted Rope Rescue Technician Level 1 and Level 2 training this year. In FY18, the SAR Team responded to 20 calls for help ranging from a lost hiker to major dehydration issues or broken legs and arms. Fire program staff dedicated more than 200 staff-hours of time assisting with these SAR efforts, working tirelessly to ensure refuge visitors return home safely to their families.

###

The Balcones Canyonlands NWR is ideally situated as a place for successful partnerships in neotropical migrant songbird conservation, due to its focus on the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo, and its location at a critical juncture within the Central Flyway and between the city of Austin, Texas and the U.S. Army’s Fort Hood.

The Refuge is also home to the Balcones wildland fire program, which includes a mobile firefighting workforce (at left) that can travel great distances to conduct prescribed burns when and where the conditions are favorable. The prescribed burns led by this fire module are critical to restoring the juniper-oak woodland habitats required by these endangered birds, the monarch butterfly, and other species. In FY2018, the Balcones Module completed over 43,000 acres of prescribed burns, with over 20,000 acres on Fort Hood alone. Balcones Prescribed Fire Module Credit: FWS

20

REGION 3 - Midwest Regional Overview The Region 3 fire management program was re-organized from four zones down to three in FY2018 (FY18). The North zone FMO based at Necedah NWR covers Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. The South zone is based at Port Louisa NWR and provides service to Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. The West zone is based at Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District (WMD) and provides service to Minnesota via four hub stations. Current number of full-time fire positions for the Region is 32.5 after several years of planning to bring the workforce into alignment with the Fire Staffing Plan of FY15. Progress continues to be made implementing light fleet and heavy equipment plans and the collateral duty workforce plan.

21

Region 3, Midwest, continued… Personnel Two fire staff within the Region retired in FY18. A former employee returned as the new Regional Fire Planner; fire staff at Agassiz NWR transferred into the hub FMO position at Detroit Lakes WMD, and a Region 6 employee was hired as FMO at Seney NWR. Four career-seasonal firefighters were also hired in the region. Baseline minimum staffing per the FY2015 Workforce Plan should be completed in FY19. Wildland Fire Management In FY18, 11 employees were members of 15 Type 2 incident management teams; 5 employees were members of Eastern area buying teams; and one regional fire staff member was assigned to the Service Honor Guard. Conditions developed for an active wildfire season with historic indices in northwest Minnesota and upper Michigan much of the season, but fire starts remained low. Service staff supported partners on multiple wildfires near Service lands. Wildfires on Service lands were consistent with the long-term average for the Region at 45 wildfires and 2,598 acres. The Region actively supported national incidents and fuels work, dispatching 94 fire staff and collateral duty firefighters to 17 states out of Region for 2,762 operational periods in operations, aviation, plans, finance, logistics, information, dispatch, and command positions in both qualified and trainee roles. In June, a regional fire program review was conducted for Loess Bluffs NWR in Missouri.

Firefighters gather for briefing on the remote Seney Wilderness fire. Collaborative response by FWS, BIA and USFS staff was critical to support suppression efforts. Credit: USFWS

22

Region 3, Midwest, continued… Fuels Management Field stations conducted 375 fuels projects for 51,041 acres in FY18— about 10,000 acres below the long-term average. The Region continues to use and develop a variety of grants and partnerships to meet Service objectives. Federal, state, county agencies and non-governmental organizations, such as TNC, teamed up with Service staff to assist on projects across the region.

Training Thirty-seven taskbooks were certified this year in the Region, 20 of which were at or above the single resource boss level. Fire staff completed 16, collateral duty staff completed 14, and Administratively Determined (AD) hires completed 8 taskbooks. Following the FY2016 Service national Fire Management Workshop, the Region began work on a collateral duty development plan targeting specific developmental needs of select collateral duty staff. Building on momentum from last year, 51 collateral duty firefighters received assignments in 14 different positions. In addition, 14 completed taskbooks in operations and support functions to further the Region’s fire management capacity. Also, 5 Line Officers attended fire management leadership courses. Two zone FMO’s completed 30-day “acting” details as refuge Project Leaders. Region 3, Midwest, continued…

Firefighters conducting a prescribed burn at Shiawassee NWR. Collateral duty staff from multiple refuges, the Private Lands program and USFS provided the personnel and equipment needed to implement this project. Credit: USFWS

23

Communications/Outreach Regional fire staff continued to be engaged with active outreach and involvement in community projects through Minnesota Incident Command System, state fire compacts, and participation in both the Tallgrass Prairie & Oak Savanna and the Lake States fire science consortia. FWS staff once again supported the Wildfire on Ice annual benefit for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, which broke previous records for this event by raising more than $27,000 dollars in FY18.

• Cohesive Strategy Success at Necedah NWR: https://fishnet.fws.doi.net/regions/9/nwrs/fire/fuels/Shared%20Documents/Success_Stories/FY18/R3/NRSCSeptSuccessStoryNecedah.pdf

• FireWise and Leopold WMD—Shovelers Sink RX: https://www.fws.gov/midwest/news/WisconsinBurn.html

• Private Lands RX by Big Oaks NWR staff: https://thetimes24-7.com/Content/News/Local-News/Article/Controlled-prairie-burn-takes-place-at-Koteewi-Park/1/1/58536

• McNeilus Career: http://www.dl-online.com/news/4362303-career-spent-fighting-wildfires-dl-man-puts-down-hose-after-28-years

Planning Design and development of spatial fire management plans (SFMPs) continues for Neal Smith NWR in Iowa and Detroit Lakes WMD in Minnesota, with initial planning for two new refuges in Illinois; Kankakee and Hackmatack NWRs. A collaborative effort is underway via the Region’s Management Action Database to enhance data management, sharing, and access across programmatic areas to enhance information flow and inform land management decisions via the regions All Hazard Regional staff supported the Florida Key Deer Screwworm response in Florida, Hurricane Maria response in Puerto Rico, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) business clean-up at the headquarters office.

###

24

REGION 4 – Southeast Regional Overview FY2018 (FY18) was an active year with highlights being Merritt Island NWR winning the NIFC Pulaski Award for its work with the Spaceport Integration Team; the dedication of a memorial to fallen firefighters lost in the 1981 Ransom Road fire; and completion of a staff ride highlighting lessons learned at the Ransom Road fire. The fire program has been intentional in looking for new opportunities to develop cooperative relationships, as well as grow existing partnerships both inside and outside of the Service. The benefit of these efforts is reflected in the program’s accomplishments, and the fact that most wildland fire operations are conducted with involvement of personnel from multiple different stations and/or agencies. Workforce planning has finally moved from planning into opportunistic implementation. Along with emphasizing the need to work across boundaries, the workforce plan recommends reducing the number of fire zones from six to four. FWS is active in the Southern geographic area and has representation on the Southern Area MAC group and various working teams including the newly charted Southern area Incident Business Working Team. NASA Article about Pulaski Award Personnel Two zone FMOs and the Regional Fuels Coordinator accepted new positions within DOI, the Regional Fire Ecologist retired, and mid-level fire personnel also accepted other jobs across the country. Overall numbers of fire-funded personnel continued to decline from 83 to 75 during FY18. In FY2019, the Region expects to fill behind one zone FMO, as well as the Regional Fuels Coordinator by creating a shared position with Region 1. Other hiring will include filling more career seasonal and entry/mid-level positions as funding becomes available. Wildfire Management FY18 was a relatively slower year of wildfire response for the Southwest Region. Fire personnel responded to 55 wildfires for 2,229 acres on Service lands and an additional 134 fires on cooperators’ lands. Significant preparedness work took place with 4,729 acres of firelines maintained. Four Type 6 engines, one dozer, and a radio tower were purchased by the Region in FY18. In addition, 163 fire personnel participated in fire details this year including five Type 2 Initial Attack crews that travelled from Puerto Rico to the mainland. A regional program review was conducted at the Merritt Island NWR to assess preparedness and prescribed fire operations. A Significant Fire Review was conducted on the West Mims fire at Okefenokee in Georgia, which will be distributed in FY19.

25

Region 4, Southeast, continued… Fuels Management The Region had an above-average year for fuels management in FY18. A total of 161,000 acres was treated. One prescribed fire at Florida Panther NWR was converted to a wildfire when it moved from a moderate to high complexity planning area. The burn was contained to the adjoining burn unit within two operational periods and an Escaped Prescribed Fire Review conducted. In FY18 there were 16 wildfires that interacted with 28 previous fuels treatments. A significant number of wildfires occurred within the Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) areas on Vieques NWR, fire lines are constructed only along refuge boundaries.

FY18 WUI Treatments WUI Acres Non-WUI Treatments Non-WUI Acres

Chemical 2 2,051 1 24

Mechanical 53 4,801 4 318

Prescribed Fire 171 105,997 104 50,128

Training The Southeast Region promotes wildland fire leadership and development training from the local/station level to national efforts at PFTC. This includes leadership training for entry level firefighters, participants on Type 1 and Type 2 Southern area incident management teams, and agency administrators. The intent of the new Ransom Road staff ride, for example, is to provide a platform for all levels of firefighters to benefit from the lessons learned from that tragic incident. In FY18, 40 FWS employees participated in the Southern area priority trainee program. This program proactively identifies incident management training needs and targets individuals for incident trainee assignments. FWS certified 39 position taskbooks this year through a combination of local training and experience opportunities, and involvement in the priority trainee program. The Southeast Region is also growing its UAS program with five employees becoming qualified to pilot UAS for the DOI. Communications/Outreach The external affairs division in the Regional Office worked closely with fire staff and field stations in FY18 to develop a series of stories about the fire program within the Region. These stories highlighted work with partners, and prescribed fire at several refuges for fuels reduction and habitat management. https://www.fws.gov/southeast/articles/fire-as-tool-and-as-friend/ https://www.fws.gov/southeast/articles/on-the-front-lines/ https://www.fws.gov/southeast/articles/safe-and-sound-burning/ Planning Region 4 currently manages 71 fire management plans; four of these plans are being revised into a spatial format using ARC story maps. Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreements revisions were initiated for the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

26

Region 4, Southeast, continued… All Hazard FY18 was dominated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. More than 30 Service field stations were impacted with National Key Deer Refuge, Vieques NWR, and the Ecological Services facilities located at El Yunque National Forest being the hardest hit. More than 200 personnel participated in the response to these storms. Towards the end of the FY, Hurricane Florence was threatening the Carolina coast and required significant planning and preparation.

DOI Article about Hurricane Maria Response: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tQN9Wvsz-8Ka6ezUNUXNKSz8gKSvqYok

### REGION 5 - Northeast

27

Region 5 – Northeast, continued…

28

Regional Overview Normal spring weather in New England allowed for a productive prescribed fire season before spring green-up occurred. Winter and spring conditions in the southern part of the Region allowed for a typical prescribed fire season in the Mid-Atlantic zone and South zone. Weather and fuel conditions provided for a normal wildland fire season throughout the Region. Personnel At the end of FY18, there were 14 fire program employees, 2 Air Force program employees, 89 collateral duty red-carded employees, and 8 sponsored emergency hires (ADs). The South zone FMO position was vacant in FY18 and filled in September. There was one retirement in July. Wildland Fire Management Seven fires starts occurred, all human-caused, burning 3.5 acres: one at Wallkill River NWR, three at Long Island NWRC, two at Great Dismal Swamp NWR, and one at Plum Tree Island NWR. Short-term severity funding was used for four days in the spring. Red-carded employees (34) and emergency hires (8) were deployed to 47 incidents off Region 5 (wildfires and Hurricane Maria) including air space coordinator, medical unit leader, and military crew liaison advisor.

Region 5 – Northeast, continued… Fuels Management:

Mendocino Complex, CA. R5 US Army staff mopping up. Photo credit: FWS/Steven Hubner

29

Region 5 had a safe fuels management program, with no escaped prescribed fires. Strong partnerships with multiple state agencies, National Park Service, and The Nature Conservancy played an important role in meeting fuels and habitat goals both on and off refuge lands. A total of 8,360 acres were treated with prescribed fire (4,730 acres on refuges and 3,630 on partner lands) and 90 acres mechanically.

Prescribed fire demonstration with City of Petersburg, VA - Wildland firefighter and structural firefighter learning and working together. Photo credit: Steven Hubner, FWS

30

Region 5 – Northeast, continued…

Training Fire staff participated as instructors, facilitators, or course organizers for the following courses: S-212, Rx-301, Rx-341, RT-130, RT-212; three wilderness first aid courses; interagency Burn Boss Refresher at NCTC; and You Will Not Stand Alone. Regional fire staff also assisted the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) with S130/S190 training for the Passamaquoddy Tribe; facilitated the 2018 Ignite Exchange Workshop held in Portland, Maine by the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange; and presented during the Exchange workshop. Region 5 also hosted Team Rubicon at Patuxent NWR for basic wildland fire training. Story: “From The Front Line To The Fireline: Veterans Train To Fight Wildland Fire” http://www.publicnow.com/view/A6E0B3B914291D2B3D0140259B9F124A40764A99?2018-04-06-18:32:02+01:00-xxx4278 Region 5 – Northeast, continued…

Interagency prescribed fire personnel managing Red-cockaded woodpecker habitat at Piney Grove Preserve, Virginia. Left to Right: Lauren Cruz, biologist, Rappahannock River Valley NWR; Erica Ryder, visitor services, Back Bay NWR; Joareyn Hill, forestry technician, Great Dismal Swamp NWR; Rebecca Wilson, land steward, VA Department of Conservation and Recreation; Audrey Boraski, Student Conservation Association (SCA) intern, Great Dismal Swamp NWR. Credit: Steven Hubner, FWS

31

Region 5 – Northeast, continued…

Communications/Outreach

Team Rubicon training at Patuxent NWR in Maryland, April, 2018. Photo credit: FWS, Jenn Hill

32

Cohesive strategy success stories were published on various websites: Southern Pine Beetle control work on Long Island, NY – Mid-Atlantic Zone https://www.fs.fed.us/inside-fs/chiefs-honor-awards-2017-honorable-mention-new-york-southern-pine-beetle-management-team

Fire training exercise in Maine “saves” Camp Beech Cliff - North Country Zone https://www.mdislander.com/maine-news/fire-exercise-saves-camp-beech-cliff

VA Tech Learn and Burn Workshop for Landowners in Virginia – South Zone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYoGh-VV5Go&feature=youtu.be

Participated in deployment of U.S. Army troops to Mendocino Complex, CA https://kval.com/news/local/200-jblm-soldiers-head-to-california-on-friday-to-help-firefighters-on-fire-lines

Fire staff also participated in the following interagency organizations: New York Wildfire & Incident Management Academy, Mid-Atlantic Wildfire Academy, Virginia Wildfire Academy, Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact, North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange and Virginia Multi-Agency Coordination Group.

Planning

Regional planning efforts include the stand-up of the Air Force fire program at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, and planning a mentoring program for entry level firefighters. The Region 5 fire program completed its first spatial fire management plan (SFMP) and environmental assessment for the Stewart B. McKinney NWR in Connecticut. SFMPs are also being developed for the Eastern Massachusetts NWRC and Parker River NWR.

All-Hazard

Region 5 experienced two hurricanes and five nor’easters that created work for the RFMC in his collateral duty role as Regional Emergency Manager. The Region also sent one employee to assist as a saw team member with Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

REGION 6 – Mountain-Prairie Region

33

Regional Overview

Fiscal Year 2018 was successful for Region 6 fire management, which had a safe and productive year at home and helping other Regions throughout the fire season. Our strategy to better serve the FWS and fire community is a proactive approach to staffing and workload for wildland fire. Highlights:

• Creating a mobile, scalable workforce with Centers of Excellence located in areas where Service priorities overlap with partner and national efforts.

• Continuing to meet S.O. 3336 objectives to protect sage grouse (both Greater and Gunnison) habitats through partnering with agencies on the DOI Resilient Landscapes initiative, providing extensive detailer support from North Dakota zone to BLM Elko district in Nevada, and through cooperative project assessment in Utah.

Region 6, Mountain-Prairie, continued…

34

• Hosting the Great Plains zone prescribed fire Training Exchange program (TREX) with mutual benefits for the Service and its partners throughout the United States, treating a significant number of acres and helping train federal, state, local and private students of prescribed fire.

• Continuing numerous partnerships in the Mid-Plains zone to forward our conservation mission in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. One example of this continued success has been our ongoing sponsorship and leadership of the Mid-Plains interagency handcrew for 17 years.

• The Montana Zone partnered with interagency partners on Eastern Montana interagency hand crew. In addition, the Montana Zone also partnered with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) to complete fuels treatments on the National Bison Range.

• Continuing the work with U.S. Air Force to develop a fire program for their mid-west region. This excellent mission-fit, with significant overlap in some core ecological sustainability goals for both programs, provides career development opportunities for Service employees.

Personnel Hiring of fire personnel, especially seasonal personnel, within the Region was a challenge in FY18 due to turnover and lack of staffing in human resources. New hires this year included an Assistant FMO for Air Force program, one Assistant Module Leader for Air Force program, a Prescribed Fire Specialist at Huron WMD which was co-funded by fire and refuges programs, and an Office Assistant Northern Rockies Coordination Center. The Region lost one employee at Browns Park NWR this year to a transfer; this position was replaced by a local U.S.D.A Forest Service employee who was on detail/loan from Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Vacant positions include two Supervisory Range Technicians at Charles M. Russell NWR and a Lead Dispatcher at Lewistown Initial Attack Dispatch Center (IADC). Wildfire Management In FY 18, Region 6 had a below average wildfire occurrence year, with 40 wildfires on Service lands compared to a 15-year average of 58 wildfires per year. The total wildfires involving Service land in FY18 was the lowest number since FY 1993 (37 wildfires). Area burned (7,394 acres) in FY18 was also substantially lower than the 15-year average (11,222 acres). The Wawa Fire (2,519 acres of Service land) on Charles M. Russell NWR in Montana was the largest wildfire in the Region. Causes of wildfires in the Region included humans (73%), lightning (17%), and undetermined (10%). The Mid-Plains zone had the most wildfires (17), while North Dakota zone had the largest total area burned (7,450 acres). Near the end of FY18, Charles M. Russell NWR received $43,849 for Burned Area Rehabilitation following the 2017 Lodgepole Complex fire. These funds, combined with other refuges program funds, will be utilized in FY19 to replace fencing destroyed by the wildfire. The Region completed a fire program review for Great Plains zone in May 2018. Fire staff from the Regional Office, Branch, and Montana zone traveled 1,800 miles during the review week through Nebraska and South Dakota. Refuges visited during the program review included: Valentine NWR, NE; Fort Niobrara NWR, NE; Lake Andes NWR, SD; Huron WMD, SD; Madison WMD, SD; Waubay NWR, SD; Sand Lake NWR, SD; Lacreek NWR, SD; and Crescent Lake NWR, NE.

35

Region 6, Mountain-Prairie, continued…

Source: FMIS October 16, 2018, includes all wildfires that burned on Service lands.

Our fire program has changed and the traditional checklists for reviews are no longer applicable. In recent years, the role of the FWS fire program has shifted to a broader wildland fire management and support function. While fire suppression remains primary, leadership in the wildland fire community grows. Our reviews now focus on functionality, sustainability, and relationships to help meet the needs of a broader landscape and work to align with the changing values of the American people. Fuels Management During FY18, the Region completed 147 treatments (all prescribed fires) on Service lands for 45,297 acres and met NFPORS treatment targets. The 15-year average is 212 prescribed fires for 44,506 acres. The largest treatment completed in the Region was the 2,285-acre MTMLR-FY18 Rx WUI Deep Lake prescribed burn on Medicine Lake NWR. The Region would have been unable to complete these treatments without collateral duty staff. The field completed all these treatments without having any serious injuries, known damage to equipment, or escaped prescribed fires. Statistics for FY18:

• 147 prescribed fires completed for 45,297 acres; • 0 escaped prescribed fires; • 37 WUI treatments for 18,335 acres; • 3 Non WUI treatments for 1,869 acres; • 3 wildfires interacted with fuels treatments; • 107 prescribed fires for habitat management totaling 25,093 acres; and • All treatments utilized some form of non-fire funding. Most of this non-fire funding is

personnel time from collateral duty staff implementing prescribed fires. Region 6, Mountain-Prairie, continued…

36

Source: FMIS October 16, 2017, only includes treatments that occurred on Service lands.

Training Region 6 focused on continued training opportunities for both coursework and positions within the fire community, supporting a significant portion of the fire workforce playing key roles on incident management teams Region-wide. As of September 28, a total of 380 personnel in the Region have qualifications in IQCS, of which 65 are fire-related. The Great Plains zone again hosted a successful prescribed fire training exchange (TREX), treating a total of 4,473 acres on 16 units of Service lands, while a great deal of experience and a wide range of training was gained by employees. During the TREX, completed training included 16 RXB2, 12 FIRB, 12 ENGB, and 10 FFT1 assignments. Numerous position taskbooks were initiated, burn bosses re-certified, and the prescribed burns completed for fuels reduction and wildlife benefits. The North Dakota zone conducted a 3-day readiness training at Sully's Hill National Game Preserve. Sixteen personnel attended, which included both collateral duty staff and fire staff. Numerous field exercises were conducted during the readiness training, including mapping mocked fires, line construction, and structure protection. The Mid-Plains zone instructed an S-130/S-190 course for South Adams County Fire Department which is the fire protection department for Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR. The training was requested by this local fire department as an avenue to increase wildfire suppression skills and to enhance future communication and cooperation.

37

Region 6, Mountain-Prairie, continued…

Communications/Outreach Zone FMOs continued to reach out to maintain existing partnerships and develop new relationships both at the local and regional level. Publicity highlighted our TREX event and some successful critical burns. Region 6 PIOs continue to function as members on several geographic area information groups, operations groups, and advisory boards. Mid-Plains zone fire personnel gave presentations at the Kansas Woodland Burning Workshop. The goal of this workshop was to share technical expertise in applying fire to the hardwood forests in eastern Kansas. Mid-Plains zone fire personnel also assisted in giving presentation at several private landowner prescribed fire workshops in Kansas and Nebraska. One of the FWS goals in participating in this work is to increase the safety of fire managers and the public. Planning The Region is working on three fire management plans (FMPs). These include an FMP for the Charles M. Russell NWR / UL Bend NWR, one for National Elk Refuge, and one for east half of Mid-Plains Zone (including Flint Hills NWR, Kirwin NWR, Quivira NWR, and Rainwater Basin WMD). Of note, the FMPs for National Elk Refuge and the eastern portion of Mid Plains zone are spatial FMPs. An interagency FMP possibly including Service (Alamosa NWR, Baca NWR, and Monte Vista NWR), NPS, TNC, and BLM is in early stages of development for San Luis Valley in Colorado. All Hazard All-hazard response within the Region was minimal during FY18; however, some response occurred when Hurricane Florence came ashore September 14 in North Carolina. As part of Hurricane Florence response, one person from the Regional Office fire staff was assigned to the headquarters office as an Ordering Manager.

###

38

REGION 7 – Alaska Regional Overview The State of Alaska had its third year of below average fire activity in FY18 with 411,591 acres burned; the 10-year average (2008-2017) for acreage burned is 1,255,903 acres. A total of 27 wildfires burned on 32,885 acres of nine refuges; most of this (20,945 acres) was from 12 fires within the Eastern Interior Refuges zone based in Fairbanks, which includes Arctic, Yukon Flats, Kanuti, and Tetlin NWRs. The Northwest Alaska zone, based in Galena (Koyukuk, Nowitna, Selawik, and Innoko NWRs) had 15 fires with 11,489 acres burned.

Personnel There were few personnel changes in FY18. Current permanent staff among three zones consists of three FMOs, two Assistant FMOs, an Fire Operations/Fuels Technician, and two Fire Prevention Region 7 – Alaska, continued…

Regional Fire Management Staff. Inserts, left to right: Lisa Saperstein (Fire Ecologist), Nate Perrine (S. Zone Fire Operations/ Fuels Technician), Allie Cunningham (S. Zone Wildland Firefighter Apprentice), Will Jenks (S. Zone Prevention and Mitigation Specialist), John Grafft (Fire Prevention Technician), Veronika Klukas (Fire Business Specialist). Left to right: Doug Alexander (RFMC), Brad Reed (Fire Management Specialist), Peter Butteri (Fire Planning Specialist), Mike Hill (S. Zone AFMO ), Ben Pratt (Northwest Zone FMO), Dale Woitas (Eastern Zone AFMO), Kristi Bullock (S. Zone FMO), Brian Haugen (E. Zone FMO). Credit: FWS

39

Technicians. Regional Office staff include the Regional Fire Management Coordinator (RFMC), Fire Management Specialist, Regional Fire Ecologist, and ½ a Fire Planning Specialist. Region 7 FWS and Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS) continue to co-fund the Fire Planning Specialist position duty-stationed on Fort Wainwright at AFS Headquarters. The position fills a need for both agencies and provides a valuable link between the Fish and Wildlife Service and AFS, which is responsible for providing fire protection on Service lands. The Region also shares a Fire Business Specialist with Regions 1 and 8. The Southern Alaska Refuges zone, based in Soldotna, hired a Wildland Firefighter Apprentice as a term employee, supported by the Regional and national offices. The Southern zone filled its Prevention Technician position. The fire ecology program sponsored a Student Conservation Association intern for 12 weeks to assist with field projects and data entry. A number of staff served on Alaska interagency and national committees. The RFMC represented the region and Service on AWFCG, Coordinating Group Advisory Council, and the Interagency Workforce Development Group. The Fire Ecologist served on the AWFCG Fire Research Development and Application Committee, the Fire Modeling and Analysis Committee (FMAC), the Fire and Invasive Species Task Group, and led the task group for revising the Fuel Model Guide to Alaska Vegetation. The revision was finalized in March. She also served on the FWS Fire Ecologist Team, the Northwest Boreal Landscape Conservation Cooperative, and the R7 Anthropocene Working Group. The Northwest Alaska Zone FMO served on the AWFCG Operations Committee and was the chair of the FWS National Fire and Operations Safety Team. Eastern Zone staff served on the Education and Prevention and Geographical Area Training committees. The Southern Zone FMO served on the AWFCG Weather Committee and FMAC and the AFMO is on the Operations Committee. Wildland Fire Management As noted above, FY2018 was a below-average fire year in Alaska with 411,591 total acres burned, including 32,885 acres on nine refuges. Seven of the refuge fires were ignited by humans; three originated outside of a refuge but subsequently burned onto FWS lands. The Taixtsalda Hill Fire burned onto Tetlin NWR from adjacent Native Village Corporation land and was staffed for 22 days with oversight by an Alaska Type 3 Team. Seventeen of the fires were fully managed for resource benefit and received no suppression actions. Region 7 fire staff assisted with non-refuge fires in Alaska and the conterminous U.S. Three Southern Alaska Refuges fire staff served 12 20-day details in spring helping the FWS Minnesota Fire Zone conduct prescribed burns. Three Kenai NWR staff filled a severity request on the Malheur NWR for 20 days on a Type 4 Engine. Eastern Alaska Zone staff assisted with the Taixtsalda Hill Fire as well as several Type 1 and Type 2 incidents in Oregon, Montana, and Idaho. Four R7 fire management staff went out with the Alaska Type 1 Incident Management Team, one went out with the Northwest Type 2 Team, and numerous people worked on fires in the Lower 48 as single resources. Two staff conducted Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) fire behavior analyses for Alaska fires. The RFMC lead a Significant Large Fire Review Team on the West Mims Fire, Okefenokee NWR in May and the team, which also included the Regional Planning Specialist, provided a draft report to the Branch of Wildland Fire.

40

Region 7 – Alaska, continued… The RFMC also participated as the FWS representative for the Rocky Mountain Coordinating Group Multi Agency Coordinating (MAC) Group during Planning Levels 4 and 5. While on the MAC, he led a review team of the Rocky Mountain Type 2 IMTs and provided a report to the coordinating group. Toward the end of the fire season, the RFMC participated as an aviation subject matter expert on a Fire and Aviation Safety Team, reviewing five incidents for the Pacific Northwest Coordinating Group. Prior to his departure from the Northwest he reviewed the Alaska Type 1 IMT on the Taylor Fire for the Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (AWFCG) and provided a report. Fuels Management The Alaska Region completed 16 fuels treatments on approximately 242 acres statewide. Twenty-one treatments were initially approved, with a target acreage of 279. Although some treatments are seemingly small, they allow for the effective management of landscape scale fires. Through collaboration with Federal, State, Tribal, and private landowner partners, we are able to accomplish hazardous fuels treatments despite a limited FWS workforce and the risk to thousands of homes and businesses from wildfire is being mitigated. The Eastern Alaska Refuges Zone completed two hazardous fuel reduction projects with assistance from a FWS detailer from R1. One of these projects proved invaluable when the Taixtsalda Hill fire threatened the Jatahmund Lake administrative cabin on the Tetlin NWR. On the Southern Alaska Refuges Zone, 91 acres of hazardous fuels thinning/mastication treatments were completed. Seventy-four acres (two miles) of this was part of the Sterling fuel break. One treatment remains on the FWS-owned portion of the break, which is planned for FY19. Three pile burns accounted for 56 acres, and six acres of thinning were completed as part of the preparation for a planned prescribed burn in the summer 2019. The biomass utilization/hazard reduction program resulted in 65 acres of firewood being collected and 10 acres of chipping completed. The Sterling fuel break on and adjacent to Kenai NWR includes a treatment monitoring component to establish initial and long term effects in masticated and thinned fuels treatments. Sixty-one pre-treatment vegetation plots were established in 2016 and post-treatment monitoring of the plots was completed this year, with the exception of a couple of plots that required additional work to remove brush piles. Monitoring was a cooperative effort, with assistance from the fire ecology program, Southern Alaska Refuges fire staff, Kenai NWR biological interns, and biologists from the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). The fire ecology Program continued to establish long-term monitoring plots in a 2015 tundra burn on Yukon Delta NWR, with logistical help from Yukon Delta NWR staff and field assistance from a USGS biologist. Biologists at Togiak NWR revisited photo points in the 2015 Gechiak Fire. The Regional Office continues to develop reimbursable agreements with AFS for fuels projects workforce support. The Southern zone and fire ecology program partnered with ADF&G on planning for a 10,000-acre FY19 prescribed burn and monitoring. A regional interagency agreement (IAA) developed between FWS and U.S.D.A Forest Service allows fuels projects on FWS lands using USFS employees. An IAA was developed between FWS and USGS for field assistance on the Sterling fuel break monitoring project and post-fire monitoring on Yukon Delta tundra burns. A Memorandum of Understanding continued between FWS and the Chugachmiut Native Corporation for fuels mitigation on Kenai NWR, allowing the Refuge to accomplish hand treatment/thinning work with a limited workforce. The Southern zone coordinated with the Kenai borough to re-purpose spruce trees; those removed from fuel breaks will be used for river bank revetment/stabilization resulting in improved salmon habitat.

Region 7 – Alaska, continued…

41

Training Region 7 fire staff attended training and also served as instructors for local, regional, and national classes. Two R7 fire staff members served as instructor/coach for a Fairbanks M-581 Fire Program Management session and were also on the steering committee for the class. One person helped teach a CAN290 class (Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System Intermediate Fire Behavior) and another helped teach S-390 (Introduction to Fire Behavior Calculations). Southern and Northwest Zone staff helped with pack testing and fire refreshers. Fire classes attended by full time and collateral duty staff included ICS-300 (Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents), S-440 (Planning Section Chief), RX-410 (Smoke Management Techniques), S-339 (Division/Group Supervisor), S-212 (Wildland Fire Chainsaws) and S-212 refreshers. Two R7 staff attended the Women and Leadership Conference in Boise, sponsored by the national FWS Fire Program. One staff attended the Gettysburg staff ride and one served as a Conference Group Leader for the Thirtymile staff ride. Most fire management staff in the Region attended the interagency fall fire review and the spring interagency incident management team and agency administrator/FMO meetings.

Region 7 – Alaska, continued… Planning

Film crew from Animal Planet series “Into Alaska” with Southern Zone AFMO Mike Hill and Kenai NWR biological interns working on post-treatment monitoring of the Sterling masticated fuel break. Credit: FWS

42

Eleven fire management plans (FMPs) provide direction for managing wildland fire on the 61 million burnable FWS acres in Alaska. In FY18, Region 7 FWS and five other participating federal and state agencies reviewed and updated the Alaska Statewide Annual Operating Plan and revised the Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan. Zone FMOs continue to work with refuge staff and the Fire Planning Specialist to incorporate strategic direction from FMPs and Comprehensive Conservation Plans into spatial fire management units and to update known-sites data on refuges around the state. Eastern zone staff completed the Known Sites inventory for Tetlin NWR using the recently developed NIFC ArcGIS Online platform. Eight WFDSS decisions were published for six fires on FWS lands this season. The RFMC served as an interagency point of contact for WFDSS analyses in Alaska. The Regional Fire Planning Specialist provided input for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program EIS. The Southern Zone FMO led an update of the All Lands, All Hands 5-Year Action Plan, a wildfire mitigation plan intended to reduce community and individual vulnerability to wildfire hazards before they occur for federal, state, and private landowners on the Kenai Peninsula. Communications/Outreach Staff from the Southern Alaska Refuges Zone and the fire ecology program were filmed for the new Animal Planet series “Into Alaska,” which debuted on October 15. The Southern Alaska Refuges Zone conducted a number of outreach efforts including a presentation to the local Rotary Club about the cooperative All Lands, All Hands plan; a discussion on fire activity and fire benefits for the local radio station (http://www.kyuk.org/post/fires-and-fish-openers); and presentations at the refuge’s annual open house and for a college resource management field course. They also produced an article for the local paper: https://www.peninsulaclarion.com/life/refuge-notebook-the-why-factor-in-fire-management/

###

43

REGION 8 - Pacific Southwest

Region 8 – Pacific Southwest, continued…

44

Regional Overview FY2018 (FY18) started off with one of the most destructive fires in California history and the largest. All Region 8 fire staff spent countless hours away from their families in supporting the fire storms suppression efforts. Safety was and is the Region’s number one priority. The Region continues to experience large fires with fire season now dubbed “the fire year.” Challenges remain with key leadership vacancies. On the interagency front, California will be transitioning to all type 1 teams over the next 5 years. The Region is struggling to fill team positions now and this change should help. Personnel Region 8 fire management maintains a workforce of 27 permanent positions, including 3 staff in the Regional Office, and typically hires 10-15 seasonal firefighters for the core fire season. The Refuges program also provides funding for one Assistant ZMO and fire administrative support at all zones. One Regional Fire Business Specialist position is shared with Regions 1 and 7. Three of four vacancies were filled in FY18 – the Assistant FMO (Ventura, CA) and a Lead Forestry Technician (Jamul, CA) for Southern California zone, and a Fire Engine Operator for North Central Valley zone (Willows, CA). The FMO (Jamul, CA) for Southern California zone remains vacant but is expected to be filled in FY19. Two zones continue to collaborate with adjacent federal partners to share engine staffing and duty officer coverage. The Region began planning to partner with U.S. Air Force, which will include hiring three positions at Vandenberg and Beale Air Force Bases in California in FY19. This partnership will boost conservation through fire management on both FWS and USAF lands.

Region 8 – Pacific Southwest, continued…

Region 8 Fire Management Staff at the 1953 Rattlesnake Fire Memorial on the Mendocino National Forest, California. Credit: FWS/Lee Rickard)

45

Wildland Fire Management FY18 began with the Northern California firestorm in October 2017, including the Napa Valley fires that burned 225 acres of refuge lands. The firestorm is widely considered to be California’s most destructive wildfire event ever, with 44 fatalities and 8,900 structures destroyed, and a suppression cost of $1.5 billion. The fiscal year also included the two largest wildfires in California’s recorded history – the December 2017 Thomas Fire (281,893 acres) in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and the July 2018 Ranch Fire (410,203 acres) in Lake, Mendocino, Colusa, and Glenn Counties – as well as the largest wildfire in Nevada’s recorded history -- the July 2018 Martin Fire (435,569 acres) in Humboldt and Elko Counties. The July 2018 Carr Fire (229,651 acres) destroyed 1,600 structures in and around Redding, CA. While much of California and Nevada were burning, the Region’s wildlife refuges were mostly spared. There were a total of 17 fires on refuge lands that burned only 230 FWS acres. Regional Office and field staff continue to serve on Type 1 or 2 incident management teams and FWS national committees. Fire, law enforcement, and other refuges staff participated in 75 off-refuge engine and overhead assignments across the western United States. Deputy Project Leader, Klamath Basin NWRC became team lead for the DOI National Burned Area Emergency Response team. Administrative preparedness reviews of each zone were completed by Regional Office staff in early spring 2018, followed by an all-hands skills and drills exercise hosted by North Central Valley zone at Sacramento NWRC. This event provided a unique opportunity for fire staff from across the Region to interact with and get to know each other. The preparedness review was coupled with a staff ride of the 1953 Rattlesnake Fire fatality site on the Mendocino National Forest. Fuels Management After a record low number of treated acres in FY17 due to unfavorable weather and staffing vacancies, the Region was back on track for FY18. Across the five zones, the Region accomplished 71 treatments for 10,237 acres (101% of target), including 61 WUI treatments for 6,800 acres. Non-fire funding sources supported completion of 14 additional treatments for 12,680 acres. Altogether, 22,917 acres of treatments were completed. Over 98% of the Region’s treated acres are accomplished with prescribed fire; no prescribed fires escaped control in FY18. Collateral duty firefighters and cooperator resources continue to be essential for successful prescribed fire implementation. Mechanical treatments include miles of disked or mowed fuelbreaks that are important for both keeping fire out of adjacent private lands and protecting wildlife habitats and other resources on FWS land. Several refuges in southern California began planning for potential Southern Border Fuels Management Initiative projects that will mutually benefit FWS and the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection.

46

Region 8 – Pacific Southwest, continued…

Training Across the Region staff conducted or assisted with instructing more than 40 training courses and attended another 38 courses hosted by California and Great Basin geographic area training centers or other facilities. There are currently 160 red-carded fire and non-fire employees in the Region, 50 of whom are arduous-duty qualified. Communications/Outreach The Region and several zones maintained Facebook and Twitter accounts to notify followers of wildfire risk, wildfire incidents and prescribed burns across the region. The Region’s fire personnel regularly staffed fire prevention booths at major refuge events and regional festivals, participated in parades, and visited schools to educate children about wildfire prevention and the benefits of prescribed fire on refuges. Several zones hosted Youth Conservation Corps crews who assisted with fuels treatments and gained exposure to various aspects of fire management. Southern California zone continued to provide instructors for the Southwestern College (Chula Vista, CA) Basic Wildland Firefighter Academy, which has been a valuable source of seasonal firefighters throughout the Region. Planning Fire management plans (FMPs) were completed for San Diego and Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWRCs. Draft FMPs are in progress for Klamath Basin NWRC (spatial), Desert NWRC, and Kern NWRC. The Region currently has 27 approved FMPs covering 53 FWS units. Regional staff assisted with the 2018 update of the California Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management Agreement.

###

Prescribed burn at Tule Lake NWR, CA. photo credit: USFWS/Jeb Koons

47

National Wildlife Refuge System Fire Management Program Contacts –FY18

Fire Management Branch Chief, Chris Wilcox 208/387-5599 Chris_Wilcox@fws.gov Deputy Chief (Management) Robert Eaton 703/358-1834 Robert_Eaton@fws.gov Deputy Chief (Operations) Shane McDonald 208/387-5583 Shane_McDonald@fws.gov Budget Officer Gillian Fay 208/387-5536 Gillian_Fay@fws.gov Administrative Officer Reah Reedy 208/387-5736 Reah_Reedy@fws.gov

USAF/FWS Administrative Officer Kelin Staats 208/387-5814 Kelin Staats@fws.gov Budget Analyst (shared NWRS) Sara Randolph 703/358-2129 Sara_Randolph@fws.gov Preparedness Coordinator Kevin Conn 208/387-5505 Kevin_Conn@fws.gov Fuels Management Specialist Tate Fischer 208/387-5941 Tate_Fischer@fws.gov Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Coordinator Lou Ballard 208/387-5584 Lou_Ballard@fws.gov

Communication Coordinator Karen Miranda Gleason 208/387-5891 Karen_Miranda@fws.gov Fire Safety Specialist Ted Mason 208/387-5831 Theodore_Mason@fws.gov Fire Planner (shared with NPS) Becky Brooks 208/387-5345 Becky_Brooks@fws.gov Geospatial Specialist Cameron Tongier 208/387-5712 Cameron_Tongier@fws.gov Training Specialist Russ Babiak 208/387-5896 Russ_Babiak@fws.gov Office Assistant Curt Tjomsland 208/387-5595 Robert_Tjomsland@fws.gov

Fire Management Program Contacts – FY2018, continued

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

48

Regional Fire Management Coordinators Region 1– Pacific Josh O’Connor 503/872-2756 Josh_OConnor@fws.gov Region 2 – Southwest Loren DeRosear 505/248-6848 Loren_DeRosear@fws.gov Region 3 – Midwest Jason Riggins 612/713-5366 Jason_Riggins@fws.gov Region 4– Southeast Vince Carver 404/679-7225 Vince_Carver@fws.gov

Region 5 – Northeast Art Canterbury 413/253-8589 Art_Canterbury@fws.gov Region 6 – Mountain-Prairie Mike Haydon 303/236-8125 Michael_Haydon@fws.gov Region 7 – Alaska Doug Alexander 907/786-3497 Doug_Alexander@fws.gov Region 8 – Pacific Southwest Lee Rickard 916/978-6181 Lee_Rickard@fws.gov

www.fws.gov/fire