This section of the Manual focuses on the people engaged in fire management planning and implementation. Included are the details of personnel authority and responsibilities, training and qualifications to further define Fire Management Requirement #4, which states that only qualified personnel may participate in wildland fire management for the Conservancy.

Fire management personnel should include appropriate language in their job descriptions describing their fire roles and responsibilities. Speak to your Human Resources advisor about this issue.

Wildland Fire Position Qualification System

In March 2003, The Nature Conservancy adopted position qualifications which met or exceeded those outlined in the training and qualification system described in the National Interagency Incident Management System Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System Guide PMS 310-1 (January 2000). The Conservancy determined a process for transitioning to this new standard, which was overseen by the organization's Training and Qualifications Team and the Fire Management Coordinator. The transition concluded June 30, 2005.

In January, 2006, the NWCG updated the qualifications standards for fire personnel in the Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide PMS 310-1. The Conservancy has adopted these changes.

Explanations of primary fire management functions are included here. Additional positions are described in PMS 310-1 and are accepted by the Conservancy, but are not defined here because they are less commonly used within the organization.

TNC-Specific Qualification Guidelines

The Conservancy training requirements exceed those described in PMS 310-1 in that additional training and experience are required for some positions. These are summarized below. See the individual position descriptions for complete details.

Experience:

• Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) qualification requires participation on one prescribed burn as a trainee.
• Burn Boss (RxB2) qualification requires participation on a total of at least 20 prescribed burns whose primary purpose is not training. The individual must successfully serve as burn boss trainee on at least 3 of the 20 burns, under the supervision of a qualified burn boss. The RxB2 task book should be completed during these trainee assignments.

Additional training required to achieve RxB2:

• Rx300 or TNC's Workshop on Ecological Burning
• Engine Academy or equivalent

All individuals qualified at the level of Squad Boss (FFT1) or above must maintain currency in basic first aid.

Qualifications Review Committees

There may be justification for waiving some of the standard training or taskbooks for specific individuals, for example, a new employee who has significant fire experience, but whose former employer did not use the NWCG qualifications system. In these cases, the person's training and experience documentation will be examined by a Qualifications Review Commitee (QRC), authorized by the Fire Management Advisory Team. The final qualifications determination will be made by the Fire Management Coordinator after receiving a recommendation from the QRC. To request a qualifications review, contact your Fire Manager, who will review your request and if appropriate, bring it to your representative on the Fire Management Advisory Team.

For the transition period March 21, 2006 to December 31, 2008, the local Fire Manager and Burn Boss may conduct qualifications reviews of volunteers qualified as TNC-VCM to evaluate their competency as FFT2. The evaluation should be documented locally.

Fatigue and Work/Rest Ratio

Fatigue is a safety issue in both prescribed fire and fire suppression, impacting physical stamina and mental acuity. It can be complicated by cumulative effects of smoke exposure, especially carbon monoxide buildup. It can lead to accidents on the fireline and vehicle accidents while crew members are driving home.

The Conservancy does not have specific work/rest ratio limits, but encourages fire managers and burn bosses to consider the probable length of the work day when developing burn unit plans, including travel time to and from the burn. Crew members may need to camp or stay in a motel if the workday is expected to be especially long. Rest periods should be scheduled for firefighters engaged in extended suppression episodes.

Last updated April 30, 2008.