Origin of Resolution:
NASF Forest Fire Protection Committee

Issue of Concern:
National Fire Reporting

Background:
Currently there is no consistent, uniform format or process for collecting wildland fire occurrence data among federal, state, and local jurisdictions. The Federal Wildland Fire Policy requires the federal fire agencies to develop a common format for their fire reports. To date, they have made little progress and continue to rely on separate, independent systems.

Local government jurisdictions are generally required to report all wildland fires using the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) developed by the US Fire Administration. However, full compliance is inconsistent across the country. Although some states have adopted NFIRS, most have developed independent fire reporting systems and databases. However, each state does annually report certain summarized data to the USDA Forest Service.

As a result, it is difficult to assemble and display the full scope of the wildland fire problem across the country. This makes it extremely difficult for federal and state agencies to effectively communicate with elected officials. Further, the recently approved Implementation Plan for the 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy contains performance measures that can only be effectively addressed through the collection of uniform fire occurrence data.

RESOLUTION:
The National Association of State Foresters supports the concept of a uniform, national fire reporting system. To that end, it directs the NASF Forest Fire Protection Committee to investigate alternative strategies, including a web-based approach, to cost effectively collect a minimum set of data from all members that will meet state obligations identified in the Implementation Plan for the 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy. Further, the NASF encourages the Wildland Fire Leadership Council to re-activate efforts to develop a single, state/federal fire reporting system, and that the system be designed in such a way as to be compatible with state fire data compiled by the members of NASF.

NASF ACTION:

( X ) Approved

DATE OF ACTION:
October 2, 2002