| California Fire Plan
Following a devastating fire season in August 2000, the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior
were directed to develop a plan to respond to severe wildland fires, reduce their impacts on rural communities, and
assure sufficient firefighting capacity in the future. The plan called for action that allows federal agencies, in
cooperation with states and local communities, to reduce immediate hazards to communities in the urban–wildland
interface area, and to ensure that sufficient resources are available and prepared for extreme fire conditions. The
USDA Forest Service created five programs covering the intent of the National Fire Plan.
Firefighting
Establish the most efficient firefighting organization, through workforce development and training, investment in
facilities, and adequate resources and equipment to fight fires.
Rehabilitation and Restoration
Initiate long–term effort to improve lands unlikely to recover naturally from wildland fire damage and to repair
or replace minor facilities damaged by fire.
Hazardous Fuel Reduction
Expand the treatment of overly dense forest vegetation through a variety of treatments, to reduce the level of fire
risk, and to simultaneously maintain acceptable levels of risk, with a focus on wildland–urban interface areas.
Community Assistance
Strengthen cooperation with states and other partners to build local capacities to prevent and suppress fires,
build economic opportunities linked to the National Fire Plan, and promote healthy, sustainable forests, and
rangelands on nonfederal lands.
Accountability
Establish systems that document management, coordination, oversight, and monitoring of programs and budgets under
the National Fire Plan.
For more information, visit the National Fire Plan website at:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/nfp.
California Biodiversity News: Volume 8, Number 2
Fall/Winter 2001
For more information on the California Biodiversity Council, please contact:
Erin Klaesius, Communications Coordinator
CA Biodiversity Council
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email:erin_klaesius@fire.ca.gov
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