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As a result of the South
Canyon Fire in Colorado during the 1994 fire season, an interagency team was developed to investigate the
fatalities and factors that lead to the incident. In 1995, the Secretaries
of the Departments of Interior and Agriculture signed the Federal Wildland
Fire Policy and Program Review. This directed federal wildland fire agencies
to create fire management qualification standards in order to increase and
improve firefighter safety as well as professionalism in fire management
programs. 
In July 1997, the Interagency Fire Program Qualifications Task Force was
created. Their mission was to develop qualifications and standards to
improve safety and increase professionalism. As a result the Interagency
Fire Program Management (IFPM) Qualifications Standards and Guide was
developed. Under these qualifications and standards, Fire Management
Specialist positions were placed into , the GS-0401
professional series, formerly these positions were the 462 and 455 series. The IFPM
standards affect 14 key fire management positions.
14 key positions affected:
-
Interagency Hotshot Crew Superintendent
(technical)
-
Helicopter Manager (technical)
-
Senior Firefighter (technical)
-
Engine Module Supervisor (technical)
-
Supervisory Fire Engine Operator
(technical)
-
Initial Attack Dispatcher (technical)
-
Wildland Fire Operations Specialist
(professional or technical)
-
Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist
(professional or technical)
-
Prevention and Education Specialist
(professional or technical)
-
Initial Attack Lead Dispatcher/Assistant
Center Manager (technical)
-
Center Manager (professional or
technical)
-
Unit Fire Program Manager (professional)
-
Geographic Area Fire Program Manager
(professional)
-
National Fire Program Manager
(professional)
If you have
a question as to whether your position is impacted by these new standards,
please contact your supervisor or the Human Resource representative in your
region. |
