FSH 5109.18 - WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION HANDBOOK
                    WO AMENDMENT 5109.18-99-1
                      EFFECTIVE 06/10/1999

  	CHAPTER 70 - WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE EDUCATION TEAMS

70.2 - Objective.  To reduce resource losses and suppression 
costs during extreme fire conditions or periods of high fire 
occurrence through the use of special interagency wildland fire 
prevention/education teams.

70.3 - Policy.  Mobilize interagency fire prevention/education 
teams prior to and during severe wildland fire situations to 
assist local areas and local agency units in initiating 
appropriate actions to prevent human-caused wildland fires.  Use 
severity dollars in support of fire prevention/education teams as 
appropriate to accomplish needed presuppression activities 
(FSM 5192.21).

71 - APPLICATION.  When severe wildland fire situations occur, 
frequently a unit's fire prevention personnel become engaged in 
suppression responses and do not have time to conduct the fire 
prevention activities that are needed to an even greater degree 
at such times.  When fire weather conditions are predicted to be 
severe, mobilize trained interagency personnel through normal 
dispatch channels to assist in fire prevention/education.  Order 
prevention/education resources based upon the skills needed to 
mitigate anticipated problems.

71.1 - Mobilization.  Mobilization of a prevention/education team 
may occur before or during a severe or unusual event or 
circumstance.  The following may trigger mobilization:  Severe 
burning conditions; unusually high fire occurrence; commitment of 
a majority of resources; and above-normal preparedness levels.

71.2 - Resource Utilization.

   1.  Prevention/education teams may be made available to 
support any geographic area with presuppression fire prevention 
activities (FSM 5192.21).

   2.  The teams may assist local and regional fire managers in 
fire prevention and fire education with the public, special 
groups, state and local agencies, and elected officials.

   3.  A prevention/education team provides staff support to:

        a.  Facilitate public awareness of fire danger 
        conditions.

        b.  Educate audiences on fire-safe practices and 
        protection measures.

        c.  Coordinate interagency restrictions and closures.

        d.  Explain fire activities, such as prescribed burning 
        or backfiring operations.

        e.  Develop fire assessments and plans (ch. 10).

        f.  Provide fire prevention training.

        g.  Support communications needs of incident management 
        teams.

        h.  Assist with interagency communications coordination.

72 - ORGANIZATION.  Core members of a fire prevention/education 
team include a Team Leader and an Operations Specialist, with an 
option for a trainee.  Dependent on the mission, additional team 
members may be added for public affairs, finance/administration, 
law enforcement, or logistics.

72.1 - Teams.  Team Leaders maintain a list of fire prevention 
and education experts and, after consultation with the unit in 
charge, mobilize the necessary personnel to meet assignment 
objectives.  The teams may work under the authority of a regional 
interagency group, an individual unit, or an incident command 
organization.  

72.2 - Mobilization.  Mobilization of teams must follow the 
direction in section 22.5.10 of the National Interagency 
Mobilization Guide.