Prescribed Fire Manager

RXMG Incident Position Description

The prescribed fire manager (RXMG) is responsible for implementing and coordinating the assigned prescribed fire activities. A prescribed fire manager may be assigned during periods when multiple simultaneous prescribed fires are being conducted; when multiple prescribed fires will be conducted within a short time; or when there are numerous coordination activities with other organizations. The RXMG is responsible to the Agency Administrator (AA), Fire Management Officer (FMO), or local fire management organization. The RXMG works in the Prescribed Fire functional area.

All prescribed fire operations shall be conducted in accordance with the NWCG Standards for Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation, PMS 484, and applicable federal, state, and Tribal policies.

Prepare and Mobilize

• Ensure individual readiness.
• Obtain initial briefing from local fire management organization.
• Review agency and interagency procedures, policies, and regulations for prescribed fire as related to the position.
• Review agency and personal liability issues.

Build the Team

• Assemble and validate readiness of required prescribed fire plan personnel and equipment.
• Verify qualifications of all assigned personnel.
• Assess situation to determine resource needs. Order additional resources through established channel.
• Identify reporting procedures, risk management and communication processes, and radio frequency management.
• Establish and maintain communication with the AA, dispatch, FMO, or local fire management organization.

Supervise and Direct Work Assignments

• Establish and communicate objectives, priorities, work assignments, and performance expectations.
• Identify, analyze, and use relevant situational information to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions.
• Ensure objectives and performance standards are met.
• Ensure all operations are conducted in a safe manner and in accordance with the approved plan and established standards and guidelines, maintaining the safety, and welfare of all assigned personnel and public.
• Provide for safety and welfare of assigned resources.
•  Ensure operational assignments are completed according to agency-specific policies and standards to meet the prescribed fire plan(s) objectives.
• Supervise and coordinate the Prescribed Fire Burn Bosses (RXBs) on multiple prescribed fires.
• Ensure personnel understand assignments for operational period.
• Continually evaluate performance.
• Establish cohesiveness among resources.
• Brief RXBs on operational procedures, objectives, and hazards.

Prescribed Fire Operations

• Monitor all prescribed fire operations.
• Ensure all operations are conducted in a safe manner and in accordance with the approved plan(s) and standards and guidelines.
• Declare a prescribed fire a wildfire, if necessary, and if responsibility is assigned in the plan.
• Assist in defining the appropriate monitoring level relevant to the resource management objectives.
• Coordinate the termination of burn(s) if smoke, resource, and/or fire management objectives are not being met.
• Identify the impacts of multiple prescribed fires.
• Anticipate and evaluate impacts of prescribed fire/smoke on the public.
• Ensure implementation operations do not compromise wilderness, natural, cultural resources values, and capital improvements.

Perform Fire Planning and Coordination Duties

• Review prescribed fire plans prior to implementation.
• Ensure pre-burn coordination and communication with the public and other agencies according to the prescribed fire plan(s).
• Act as coordinator or liaison among the burn organization(s), unit FMOs, and other offices, agencies, air quality authorities, news media, transportation agencies, safety officials, and interested public.
• Obtain and interpret long-term weather forecasts and smoke dispersion forecasts.
• Brief the RXBs on direct operational assignments according to policies, priorities, and standards.
• Set priorities for allocation of resources for multiple operations.
• Monitor, make appropriate notifications, and ensure completion of all required documentation of accomplishments, fire behavior, and fire effects, operation procedures, and cost summaries.
• Communicate and coordinate intent to burn with resource specialist(s), agency duty officer, dispatch, fire staff, landowners, and cooperators.
• Establish and maintain positive interpersonal and interagency working relationships.
• Establish the organizational role of the prescribed fire manager in relation to assigned personnel, local fire management organization, and AA.
• Consider rehabilitation needs/efforts with RXB(s), resource specialist (s), and AA(s).
• Ensure applicable agreements/contracts are administered.
• Identify air quality constraints relative to use of fire.
• Collect, analyze, and summarize immediate post-burn fire effects and fire behavior evaluation data as specified in prescribed fire plan.
• Prioritize operations and resource allocations.
• Follow established communication protocols.
• Conduct and/or participate in After Action Reviews (AAR) or Plan, Leadership, Obstacles, Weaknesses and Strengths (PLOWS).
• Obtain status debriefings from command personnel.

Manage Risk

• Apply the Risk Management Process as stated in the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461:
  • Identify Hazards
  • Assess Hazards
  • Develop Controls and Make Risk Decisions
  • Implement Controls
  • Supervise and Evaluate
• Ensure Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones (LCES) are established and known to all firefighters before they are needed. Refer to guidelines stated in IRPG.
• Use Look Up, Down, and Around in IRPG to help maintain situational awareness. Adjust actions accordingly. Develop and communicate contingency plans and trigger points.
• Monitor smoke impacts and adjust accordingly.
• Inspect the prescribed fire project area and or ignition unit(s) to validate prescribed fire plan elements, including location of identified values and areas of special concern, as well as ensuring that holding/contingency plans adequately address expected fire behavior outside the unit(s).
• Utilize Safety Officers (SOFs), as appropriate, to assist with risk management process and provide input into safety of operations.
• Plan for medical emergencies. Ensure that assigned resources are prepared to execute the Medical Plan (ICS 206 WF). Ensure familiarity with medical responders, communication procedures, and transportation plan. Manage the medical emergency based on procedures stated in the prescribed fire plan.
• Monitor for signs and symptoms of fatigue, illness, or injury. Mitigate appropriately.
• Monitor location, health, safety, and welfare of assigned personnel.
• Submit accident/incident reports with pertinent forms (SAFECOM, SAFENET, agency-specific forms) through established chain of command.

Document

• Complete, authorize, ensure timeliness of, and route as required:
  • Checklists (e.g., Go/No-Go, briefing).
  • Notifications.
  • Agency Administrator Ignition Authorization.
  • Test fire results.
  • Smoke monitoring.
  • Post-burn report.
  • Cost Analysis.
  • Crew Time Report (CTR), SF-261 (Watch: How to correctly fill out a CTR).
  • Incident Time Report, OF-288 (Watch: How to Correctly fill out an Incident Time Report).
  • Emergency Equipment Use Invoice, OF-286 (Watch: How to Correctly Fill Out The Emergency Equipment Use Invoice).
  • Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF-297 (Watch: How to Correctly Fill Out The Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket).
  • Incident Personnel Performance Rating (ICS 225 WF).
  • General Message (ICS 213).
  • Activity Log (ICS 214).
  • SAFECOM.
  • SAFENET.
  • Agency-specific forms.
  • Injury forms.
  • Risk assessments.
• Following a wildfire declaration, document the incident, including all actions prior to and after the declaration.

Demobilize

• Plan for demobilization. Identify excess resources and coordinate with local unit.
• Brief assigned resources on demobilization procedures and responsibilities. Ensure agency demobilization procedures and work/rest driving standards are followed.
• During transfer of command:
  • Ensure continuity of operations.
  • Exchange critical safety information.
  • Communicate transfer of authority through established chain of command.
• Return equipment and supplies as appropriate.
• Complete demobilization checkout process as appropriate.
• Upon demobilization, report status to home unit including estimated time of arrival (ETA) to home unit.