1967 Task Force Report
2005 Fire Prevention and Safety grant application
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REPORT OF
THE FIRE SAFETY REVIEW TEAM
MARCH 1967
A PLAN TO FURTHER REDUCE
THE CHANCES OF MEN BEING BURNED WHILE FIGHTING FIRES
U.S. Department of Agriculture—Forest
Service—Washington, D.C.
ORGANIZATION
The 1957 Task Force recommended adherence in all regions to the Service-wide
principles of organization for fire suppression set forth in the Directives
System. Good progress has been made on this recommendation. These principles
are periodically reviewed and needed revisions made. Several of our recommendations,
if approved, will require minor revisions or additions.
The Interregional Crews in California, locally known as “Hot Shot” Crews,
have diverged from the principles of organization by carrying their headquarters’
camp titles of Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent and Foreman out
on the fireline.
Clarification is needed in portions of the directives system and regional
guidelines as to who the Fire Boss on a project fire works for and to
whom he is to report. FSM 5130 lacks clarity as to Forest Supervisors’
responsibilities. This section implies that the Fire Boss is supreme
commander and can be construed that he is not accountable to anyone.
The list of duties for the Fire Boss does not mention to whom he is responsible.
The organization chart (Exhibit 1) shows the Forest Supervisor as being
subordinate to the Fire Boss. To FSM 5130 should be added the duties
of the Fire Boss’s boss. The implication of some of the above is that
the Forest Supervisor is not in control even though the zero code of 5100
clearly delegates full responsibility to the Forest Supervisor.
Recommendations:
-
The Chief should revise the principles of organization where needed
to be compatible with those findings and recommendations of this report
that are approved by him.
-
Regional Fireline Notebooks and like material should be revised to
conform with results of 1. above.
-
Region 5 should comply with standard
nomenclature.
WASHINGTON OFFICE COMMENTS:
The recommendations are approved.
ACTION GUIDES:
Task
|
Responsibility |
Target Date |
- Revise FSM to clarify fire suppression roles of the Fire Boss
and Forest Supervisor
|
Director, Division of Fire Control |
6/30/67 |
- Revise the principles of organization to accommodate the approved
recommendations of this report
|
Director, Division of Fire Control |
5/19/67 |
- Revise regional fireline notebooks and similar material as
needed to implement new instructions
|
Regional Foresters and Area Directors |
5/19/67 |
- Change the titles of overhead on California Interregional and
other organized fire crews to comply with the principles of fire
suppression organization
|
Regional Forester, R-5 |
4/14/67 |
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