FS & NPS Line Officer / AA Desk Guides for Fire Management
The desk reference guides were created to aid Line Officers who oversee fire program management in both wildland fire and prescribed fire/fuels treatments – pre-season planning, management of the incidents, post fire activities and prescribed fire implementation. The FS guide was sponsored by the National Line Officer Team (NLOT) and was developed by the WFM RD&A with recommendations from Agency Administrators and Line Officers.
- USFS Line Officer/AA Desk Guide (updated 6/16/2023)
- NPS Superintendent Desk Reference for the Fire Program Management (updated 2019)
NPS Superintendent Checklist (updated 2022)
BLM Agency Administrator Toolbox
The following link is internal to the BLM and is a site that includes BLM direction, BLM training requirements, BLM AA resources, and past BLM-specific AA Workshop presentations, handouts and recordings. The site is maintained by the BLM Fire and Aviation Directorate, Division of Operations FA-300.
Additional Resources
Analytics for Fire Support (updated 3/7/2024)
Wildland Fire Decision Support Tools; a guide for AAs (updated 3/4/2024)
2024 FS Chief's Letter of Intent for Wildland Fire
2023 FS National Prescribed Fire Resource Mobilization Strategy
2023 Joint DOI/USDA Direction to Wildland Fire Leadership
2023 NPS Director's Leader's Intent For Wildland Fire
2016 USFS Wildland Fire Risk Management Protocols
Incident Kits for Employee Behavioral Health and Wellbeing
Line Officer Guide Forms and Templates
BAER Team Delegation Template - docx version
Cost Share Agreement Template - docx version
Example Turn Back Standards & Mopup Guidelines
Delegation of Authority Template
Leaders Intent Letter Template
Briefing Package Template
If there are additional resources you would like to see on this page please let us know.
Forest Service Agency Administrator Qualifications
The AA taskbook has been in place since 2019, and this was initially referred to as AA Certification for wildfire and prescribed fire positions. The process has continued to evolve providing more efficiency with AA resource ordering, AA qualifications, consistency with documentation standards and training requirements. The AA certification process has transitioned from ‘certification’ to ‘qualification’. This will be tracked within IQCS, similar to other fire positions to track experience, training, and qualifications. The taskbook covers 6 positions based on the competency of the individuals for either wildfire or prescribed fire. Additional information can be found within Chapter 5 of the Red Book.
Combined Wildfire; Prescribed Fire Agency Administrator Task Book
The following documents will need to be downloaded to initiate the taskbook, track task accomplishments and evaluation feedback from the evaluators. Both of these documents will need to be submitted to your RLOT for certification.
- NWCG USFS Agency Admin Taskbook WFA1/2/3 - NEW March 2024
- NWCG USFS Prescribed Fire Agency Admin Taskbook RXA1/2/3 (Only use for Rx not Wildfires) - January 2023
- USFS Agency Admin Evaluation record
Additional Guidance
- 2024 Federal Wildland Fire Qualifications Supplement - provides required training, experience, information on maintaining currency etc. for WFA1/2/3 pages 146-150; RXA1/2/3 pages 79-83
- IQCS Responder Update Sheet - for documenting Wildfire and Prescribed fire experience, submit to training officer annually.
- IQCS WFA1 / RXA2 – Example - IQCS Responder Update Sheet example
Historical References
The below documents and videos describe the FS Agency Administrator Certification Process that preceded the Wildfire Agency Administrator Qualification. These historical references, especially the NLOT AA Certification Video - Leaders Intent provide context and remain a valuable resource.
NLOT - AA Certification Video- Leaders Intent - USFS
AA Training / Continuing Education
Prescribed Fire Pathways Diagram
Wildfire Pathways Diagram
AA refresher for New Agency Administrators – Agenda
Video part 1: Initial AA response – Panel discussion
Video part 2: Lessons Learned Case Studies and Scenarios from Past Fires
--
If you have feedback regarding the FS Line Officer AA Desk Guide, AA Qualification process (including task book, ordering, levels) or other items that would be beneficial to the program please contact your Regional Line Officer contact.