WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT: Reducing the Threat of Wildland Fires Requires Sustained and Coordinated Effort
Abstract
In summary, our work on wildland and fire has stressed the need for three things: (1) a cohesive strategy to address growing threats to national forest resources and nearby communities from catastrophic wildfires, (2) clearly defined and effective leadership to carry out that strategy in a coordinated manner; and (3) accountability to ensure that progress is being made toward accomplishing the goals of the National Fire Plan. Two years ago, the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior began developing strategies to address these problems, and recently established a leadership entity the Wildland Fire Leadership Council that is intended to respond to the need for greater interagency coordination. Whether the strategy and the council will serve as the framework and mechanism to effectively deal with the threat of catastrophic wildland fire remains to be seen and will depend upon how well the National Fire Plan is implemented. To determine the effectiveness of this implementation effort, we continue to believe that a sound performance accountability framework is needed; one that provides for specific performance measures and data that can be used to assess implementation progress and problems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA402638
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office