Wildland Fire Management Plan, Nez Perce National Historical Park/Big Hole National Battlefield

Lyon, Jason

This plan revises and updates the 1999 Fire Management Plan (FMP) for Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield (NEPE/BIHO) to meet all current National Park Service (NPS) regulations and guidelines. It implements an approved course of action that is consistent with the park enabling legislation and described in other park planning documents. This FMP was written as an operational guide for managing NEPE/BIHO wildland and prescribed fire programs. This revision outlines in a detailed manner those actions that will be taken by NEPE/BIHO in meeting the fire management goals for the area. It defines levels of protection needed to ensure public safety, protect facilities and resources, and restore and perpetuate natural processes. It was written to comply with a NPS requirement that all parks with burnable vegetation develop a fire management plan and a fire management program reflecting local ecology (Director’s Order #18, Wildland Fire Management, 08/10/01). When approved, this document will be the 2004 revision and update of the FMP for NEPE/BIHO. Major components include: 􀂾 Current policy and intent for prescribed and wildland fires for Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield including a 5-Year Action Plan. 􀂾 Sustained implementation of current Director’s Order #18 Wildland Fire Management, USDI, NPS 08/10/01. 􀂾 Format changes to meet current guidelines of RM-18 “Wildland Fire Management”, Chapter 4 (11-05-2002). 􀂾 Re-organization of Fire Management Units to better address park and regional fire management planning concerns. 􀂾 Reinforcement of the 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Review.