Fire Use Module
Encyclopedia
A Fire use module is a 7–10 person team of US national parks service personnel dedicated to planning, monitoring and starting fires. They may be deployed anywhere in the United States for resource benefits (fire use), prescribed fire and hazard fuel reduction projects.
As inter-agency national resource personnel, Fire Use Modules have expertise in the areas of fire monitoring, ignition, holding and suppression, prescribed fire preparation and implementation support, hazard fuels reduction, and fire effects monitoring.
Fire use modules are funded by different US government agencies including the National Park Service
, USDA Forest Service
, and the Bureau of Land Management
. The Nature Conservancy
is the sole non-government entity to sponsor and support a Fire Use Module.
(USNPS) founded fire use modules and hosted them in five different park units across the United States: Bandalier NM
, Saguaro NP
, Whisky town NRA
, Zion NP
, and Yellowstone NP
. In 1999 the USMPS created four more modules; Black Hills FUM, Cumberland Gap FUM, Great Smokes FUM, and Buffalo River FUM.
The modules were developed with the primary purpose of assisting the National Park units with fire use (wildland fire use and prescribed fire), meeting the objectives of the agency in the areas of project preparation and execution with narrow burn prescription windows. Secondarily the modules were intended to be used in monitoring fire effects, and manually reducing hazard fuels on various park units. Modules were also anticipated to be used to assist other agencies in fire use and fuels treatment projects when all the park unit objectives were met.
Other modules came into came into existence as the use and flexibility of fire use modules became more apparent. Most notable of these fire use modules includes those on the Stanislaus National Forest
(Calvarase FUM, Summit FUM, etc.), The Ashley National Forest (Chepeta FUM, Kings Peak FUM), The Bureau of Land Managements Unaweep WFM and The Nature Conservancy's Southern Rockies.
Since 2005, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forest Service) has also implemented the use of fire use modules (known as wildland fire modules) as well throughout the country. As of 2010 there were 17 wildland fire modules in the United States. These modules are highly qualified and extremely effective in a variety of fire ground operations ranging from basic suppression to extremely accurate fire behavior analysis and other tactical predictive services.
Minimum qualifications
Target qualifications
Target qualifications for FUM are listed below (qualifications are not tied to a particular position within the FUM)
As inter-agency national resource personnel, Fire Use Modules have expertise in the areas of fire monitoring, ignition, holding and suppression, prescribed fire preparation and implementation support, hazard fuels reduction, and fire effects monitoring.
Fire use modules are funded by different US government agencies including the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, USDA Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
, and the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
. The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
is the sole non-government entity to sponsor and support a Fire Use Module.
History
In 1995 the US National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(USNPS) founded fire use modules and hosted them in five different park units across the United States: Bandalier NM
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument is a National Monument preserving the homes of the Ancestral Pueblo People. It is named after Swiss anthropologist Adolph Bandelier, who researched the cultures of the area. Bandelier was designated a National Monument on February 11, 1916, and most of its backcountry...
, Saguaro NP
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park, located in southern Arizona, is part of the United States National Park System.-Overview:The park is divided into two sections, called districts, lying approximately east and west of the center of the city of Tucson, Arizona. The total area in 2010 was of which is...
, Whisky town NRA
Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
The Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area in northern California. It has a total of of land, which is divided into three units, Whiskeytown, Shasta and Trinity. The recreation area was established in 1965 by the United States Congress. The...
, Zion NP
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is located in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to half a mile deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River...
, and Yellowstone NP
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
. In 1999 the USMPS created four more modules; Black Hills FUM, Cumberland Gap FUM, Great Smokes FUM, and Buffalo River FUM.
The modules were developed with the primary purpose of assisting the National Park units with fire use (wildland fire use and prescribed fire), meeting the objectives of the agency in the areas of project preparation and execution with narrow burn prescription windows. Secondarily the modules were intended to be used in monitoring fire effects, and manually reducing hazard fuels on various park units. Modules were also anticipated to be used to assist other agencies in fire use and fuels treatment projects when all the park unit objectives were met.
Other modules came into came into existence as the use and flexibility of fire use modules became more apparent. Most notable of these fire use modules includes those on the Stanislaus National Forest
Stanislaus National Forest
Stanislaus National Forest contains in four counties in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California. It was established on February 22, 1897, making it one of the oldest national forests...
(Calvarase FUM, Summit FUM, etc.), The Ashley National Forest (Chepeta FUM, Kings Peak FUM), The Bureau of Land Managements Unaweep WFM and The Nature Conservancy's Southern Rockies.
Since 2005, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forest Service) has also implemented the use of fire use modules (known as wildland fire modules) as well throughout the country. As of 2010 there were 17 wildland fire modules in the United States. These modules are highly qualified and extremely effective in a variety of fire ground operations ranging from basic suppression to extremely accurate fire behavior analysis and other tactical predictive services.
Fire use module configurations
A typical Module consists of the following positions:- (1) Module leader – GS-7/8/9 permanent full-time
- (1) Assistant module leader – GS-6/7 permanent full-time
- (2) Lead crewmember (squad leader) – GS-5/6 subject-to-furlough and permanent full-time
- (3–6) Crewmembers – GS 3/4/5 temporary, subject-to-furlough, and permanent full-time.
Minimum qualifications
- (1) CRWB or ENGB – Single Resource Boss
- (1) FIRB – Firing boss (separate from CRWB/ENGB)
- (1) ICT4 – Incident commander Type 4
- (1) ICT5 – Incident commander Type 5 (separate from single resource positions)
- (2) FEMO – Fire effects monitor
- (2) FFT1 – Advanced firefighter (separate from single resource positions)
- (2) FALB – Faller Class B
- (1) HECM – Helicopter crewmember
- (2) Medical First Responder (or higher qualification)
Target qualifications
Target qualifications for FUM are listed below (qualifications are not tied to a particular position within the FUM)
- Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3)
- Prescribed Fire Burn Boss II (RXB2)
- Prescribed Fire Burn Boss III (RXB3)
- Fire Use Manager 2 (FUM2)
- Division Supervisor (DIVS)
- Task Force Leader (TFLD)
- Strike Team Leader (STCR)
- Helicopter Manager (HELM)
- Faller B/C with crosscut certification.
- GIS Specialist (GISS)
- Field Observer (FOBS)
- Resource Advisor (READ)
Fitness goals
As a part of fire line performance required of FUMs, the physical ability to perform arduous labor is critical to module morale, personal health and safety standards. All FUM personnel strive to meet the following goals:- 1.5 mile run in a time of 11:00 or less
- 45 sit-ups in 60 seconds
- 25 pushups in 60 seconds
- 7 pull-ups
See also
- Controlled burnControlled burnControlled or prescribed burning, also known as hazard reduction burning or Swailing is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for...
- Hotshot CrewHotshot crewIn the United States, an interagency hotshot crew , or simply hotshot crew, is a Type 1 handcrew of 20 firefighters specially trained in wildfire suppression tactics...
- SmokejumperSmokejumperA smokejumper is a wildland firefighter who parachutes into a remote area to combat wildfires.Smokejumpers are most often deployed to fires that are extremely remote. The risks associated with this method of personnel deployment are mitigated by an extremely well developed training program that has...
- HelitackHelitackHelitack refers to "helicopter-delivered fire resources", and is the system of managing and using helicopters and their crews to perform aerial firefighting and other firefighting duties, primarily initial attack on wildfires...
- Wildland fire engineWildland fire engineWildland fire engines use special equipment to spray water, foam, and chemicals. The engines are able to carry up to of water. Many wildland fire engines are also equipped with four wheel drive and special equipment for off-road use.*...
- Wildland fire tenderWildland fire tenderA wildland fire tender is a specialized vehicle capable of bringing water, foam, or dry chemicals to fire trucks in the field that are engaged on the fireline...
- Glossary of wildland fire termsGlossary of wildland fire termsThe following is a glossary of wildfire terms. Except where noted, terms are taken from a 1998 Fireline Handbook transcribed for a Conflict 21 counter-terrorism studies website by the Air National Guard....
- Wildland fire suppressionWildland fire suppressionWildfire suppression refers to the firefighting tactics used to suppress wildfires. Firefighting efforts in wildland areas requires different techniques, equipment, and training from the more familiar structure fire fighting found in populated areas...