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Speaking About Fire Policy

Speaking About Fire Policy. Randy Eardley Assistant Chief, External Affairs Bureau of Land Management, NIFC. “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.”

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Speaking About Fire Policy

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  1. SpeakingAbout Fire Policy Randy Eardley Assistant Chief, External Affairs Bureau of Land Management, NIFC

  2. “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master – that’s all.” from “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll

  3. resource benefit use of wildland fire response confine initial attack initial action contain protection incident objectives range of activities suppression fire type

  4. NWCG Fire Reporting Subcommittee / Fire Environment Committee Fire Policy Committee Fire Policy Committee definitions and uses will be posted at NWCG web site once finalized Expected Soon!

  5. The Trees or the Forest? The Sagebrush or the Rangeland? A Wider View Just Tell the Story Simply, Directly

  6. Three Premises 1.Safety will always be the top priority. • Public isn’t interested in bureaucratic discussion of policy. • They want to know what we’re doing, how, why, when • and where. 3. Public and media understand more than we often give them credit for.

  7. Examples What: We are aggressively putting out the fire everywhere along the line except on the far eastern side. Our efforts there will focus on confining it in the Wilson Creek drainage. Why: Because it’s threatening homes and critical power lines. In Wilson Creek, the fire is less threatening and actually doing some good in it’s natural role, such as clearing out some of the heavy growth. That will result in a healthier forest and help reduce future fire threats. How: We have firefighters, engines and dozers on the line; and we’re using both helicopters dropping water and aircraft dropping retardant for support. We have fewer people on the west side where we’re using the rock cliffs as natural barriers and focusing confining the fire in the drainage.

  8. When: Barring any unexpected weather changes, we hope to have the fire threatening homes and the power lines out by tomorrow evening. We will continue to monitor the Wilson Creek area into late next week or as long as necessary. Who: We are all working together here. There are firefighters from the local county department and state crews along with Forest Service, National Park Service and BLM.

  9. Simply put…. • A single fire can now be managed to achieve one or multiple goals. • We will continue to be as aggressive as ever in putting out fires threatening lives, homes or critical resources. • Where it’s appropriate for the resources, fire may be allowed to achieve its natural role on all or part of a fire. • This change results in: • More efficient use of firefighting resources • Greater benefits to natural resources

  10. Summary • Breathe. Keep it all in perspective. Remember, converting to new terminology is a process. • Resist the urge to use jargon or get overly wrapped up in definitions. • Focus on telling the story of what, why, when, where and who.

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