This document discusses pre-incident planning for wildland/urban interface fire operations. It identifies three key resources for pre-incident planning: Firewise Communities, Community Wildfire Protection Plans, and informal plans. Important items to consider in pre-incident planning include topography, fuels, structure density, access and egress. It also stresses the importance of interactions with the public and media before incidents occur to establish relationships and familiarity that will aid response efforts. The overall message is that having a pre-incident plan and established relationships will make fire operations safer and more effective.

1. S-215
S-215
Fire Operations in the
Wildland/Urban Interface
Unit 3
Pre-Incident Planning
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-1

2. S-215
Unit Objectives
• Identify three resources for pre-incident
planning.
• List items to consider in pre-incident
planning.
• Describe some of the factors to be
considered with the public before an
interface incident occurs.
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-2

3. S-215
Introduction
Pre-incident planning:
• Should be in place before the season or
incident
• May be formal or informal
• Is jointly prepared by all potentially involved
parties
• May contain special considerations or
restrictions
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-3

4. S-215
Pre-Incident Planning Sources
• Formal Plans
– Firewise Communities
– Community Wildfire
Protection Plans
• Informal Plans
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-4

5. S-215
Firewise Communities/USA
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-5

6. S-215
Community Wildfire
Protection Plans
• Included in the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act
in 2003
• Intended to help refine
priorities for protection
of life, property, and
improvements in the
interface
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-6

7. S-215
Fire Adapted Communities
• Fire adapted
communities hold that,
with proper communitywide preparation,
residents and
infrastructure can
withstand the
devastating effects of a
wildfire.
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-7

8. S-215
Pre-Incident Planning
• Informal Plans
– Can be very simple
– Develop familiarity
– Easy to refresh
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-8

9. S-215
Pre-Incident Planning: Informal
• Perform reconnaissance of local area
• Establish public relations with residents
• Develop relationship with local media outlets
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-9

10. S-215
Wildfire Hazards
Assessment Technology
• Geographic Information
Systems (GIS)
• Hazard assessment
technology
• Parcel maps
• Satellite or internet mapping
• Commercial hazard maps
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-10

11. S-215
Pre-incident Planning Items of
Importance
• Topography
• Fuels
• Structure
density
• Access and egress
What else can you think of?
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-11

12. S-215
Public Interactions Before an
Incident
• Residents and property owners
• Media
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-12

13. S-215
Conclusion
Having a plan before an incident occurs, with
relationships already established, will make
your efforts safer and more effective.
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-13

14. S-215
Review Unit Objectives
• Identify three resources for pre-incident
planning.
• List items to consider in pre-incident
planning.
• Describe some of the factors to be
considered with the public before an
interface incident occurs.
Unit 3 – Pre-Incident Planning
Slide 3-14