Coordination and Communication for Naturally Ignited Fires

This page last reviewed August 15, 2011

In the spring of 2011, The Air Resources Board, Federal Land Management Agencies (LMA) and Local Air Districts in California completed revisions to the policy that governs naturally ignited fire.  This revision was necessitated by the change in the interpretation of the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy.  As defined in “Guidance for Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, February 2009” (Appendix D).  Wildland fire is used as a general term and can be categorized into:  Wildfires (unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared to be wildfires), and Prescribed fires (planned ignitions).  The Coordination and Communication Protocol for Naturally Ignited Fires provides an agreed upon framework through which LMAs, Districts and ARB will minimize smoke and emission impacts from all wildfires in California.  Signatories agreed to communicate and coordinate through the lifecycle of each event which in turn will protect public health in a more technically sound and effective manner.

Prototcol Documents

• The Coordination and Communication Protocol for Naturally Ignited Fires (PDF)

• Appendix A - Statement of Intent (PDF)

• Appendix B - Trigger-Points (PDF)

• Appendix C - Mitigation Measures (PDF

  Appendix D - Guidance for Implementation (PDF)

• Appendix E - Prescribed Burning and Smoke Management Fact Sheet (PDF)

• Appendix F - Contacts (PDF)

• Appendix G - Recommendations for Future Protocol Development (PDF)

• Protocol for Naturally Ignited Fires Fact Sheet - (Coming Soon)

Reporting and Record Keeping Tools

• Smoke Management Summary Forms:

  (Please contact your Air District to determine which forms are required.)

  • SMS (MS Word)

  • Short Form (MS Word)

  • Long Form (MS Word)

• Wildland Fire Emission Spreadsheet (MS Excel)

• Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System (PFIRS)

• Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS)

Who Developed this Protocol?

This Protocol was developed through a series of meetings held at the Air Resources Board. The primary participants include:

Additional Information and Websites:

• U.S. Forest Service 
• National Park Service

For more information please contact Dar Mims at (916) 322-7454.