I.      BACKGROUND

Due to the importance of people and natural resource interactions, there is a need to focus on communication and education which is related to wildland fire ecology, prevention, protection and management issues before, during and after wildland fire incidents.

This working team is formed as a working team of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). The NWCG was formed in January 1974 to expand cooperation and coordination between the U. S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF). The working team chartered here is one of a number of support teams established by the NWCG to analyze problem areas in wildfire management and to recommend solutions.

II.    NAME

The name of this working team is the Wildland Fire Education Working Team of the NWCG, hereinafter referred to as the “Team.”

III.    AUTHORITY

The Team is established pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding establishing the NWCG on March 16, 1976 and signed by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior.

To provide leadership in the development, implementation and continuity of national level wildland fire education programs.

Develop education programs and tools which provide information about wildland fire ecology, manage-ment, protection and prevention. Team products:

Will address fire’s natural role in the ecosystem, prescribed fire, wildland fire use, suppression strategies and tactics.

May be designed for use by federal, state and local wildland fire agencies, interest groups or by the general public.

May be designed for delivery before, during and after the occurrence of wildland fire incidents.

Assist other working teams of the NWCG, in the development of projects and training courses related to public affairs and communications, so that wildland fire related messages are clear, consistent, credible and coordinated at all times, not just during wildland fire incidents.

VI.  ORGANIZATION

The Team will operate under the direction of the NWCG.

A NWCG member shall be assigned as a liaison, to assist the Team when necessary. It is through this liaison that the Team will relate with and report to the NWCG.

The number of members of the Team shall not exceed ten, including the Team Chair.

Team membership will reflect a mix of people who are knowledgeable about wildland fire education, prevention and public affairs and who are from NWCG member agencies and organizations. With NWCG approval, agencies or organizations that are not NWCG members may be selected for Team membership.

Team members from federal NWCG members shall be appointed by their agency.

Team members from state agencies shall be appointed by the NASF representative to the NWCG and shall represent a balance of different geographic areas.

Team members from agencies or organizations that are not NWCG members may be appointed by the NWCG liaison.

Team members from federal NWCG members shall facilitate purchasing and contracting efforts needed to accomplish approved Team projects.

All Team members shall:

Actively participate in Team meetings and projects;

Represent the expertise, policies and positions of their agency or organization; and

Abide by the principles of interagency cooperation.

VIII.  TEAM CHAIR

The NWCG will appoint a Team Chair.

The Team Chair shall have the following authority and responsibilities:

Participate as a Team member;

Ensure the Team stays focused and accomplishes assigned tasks;

Serve as the Team’s initial point-of-contact for the NWCG, for other NWCG working teams and for other agencies and organizations;

Approve meeting agendas and meeting locations;

Secure and allocate needed resources;

Delegate tasks as may be appropriate;

Appoint subgroups from within or outside the Team’s membership; and

Orient new Team members.

The Team shall meet in person at least two times each year. Individuals from outside the Team may be invited to participate in Team meetings.

Minutes of Team meetings shall be distributed to Team members and to the NWCG liaison within thirty days of each Team meeting. Minutes shall also be distributed in accordance with NWCG requirements.

Work plans, meeting schedules and budgets shall be submitted to the NWCG liaison and to the NWCG Executive Secretary annually or as the NWCG may require.

This charter may be revised upon recommendation of a majority of Team members, the NWCG liaison and with the concurrence of the NWCG or when directed by the NWCG.

This charter and any revisions shall be effective as of the date of approval by the NWCG.