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Post Wildfire Recovery Programs

PWRP decorative banner: photos depicting PWRP position.

 

Wildfire Rehabilitation Efforts and Treatment Selection

There are three phases of rehabilitation following wildfires on federal lands:

  1. Fire Suppression Damage Repair
  2. Emergency Stabilization – Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER)
  3. Long-Term Recovery and Restoration

Fire Suppression Damage Repair

A series of immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities and usually begins before the fire is contained, and before the demobilization of an Incident Management Team. This work repairs the hand and dozer lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones, and drop points used during fire suppression efforts.

Emergency Stabilization – Burned Area Emergency Response

A rapid assessment of burned watersheds by BAER team is conducted to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on federal lands and take immediate actions to implement emergency stabilization measures before the first major storms. Fires result in loss of vegetation, exposure of soil to erosion, and increased water runoff that may lead to flooding, increased sediment, debris flow, and damage to critical natural and cultural resources. BAER actions such as: seeding, mulching, installation of erosion and water run-off control structures, temporary barriers to protect recovering areas, and installation of warning signs may be implemented. BAER work may also replace safety related facilities; remove safety hazards; prevent permanent loss of habitat for threatened and endangered species; and prevent the spread of noxious weeds, and protect critical cultural resources.

Long-Term Recovery and Burned Area Rehabilitation

In some cases, DOI may provide additional funding to improve burned areas and achieve desired conditions for up to five years after containment. Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) supports the healing process and provides a “bridge” to long-term recovery. Allocation of BAR funds involves a rigorous and competitive process to evaluate projects to ensure the most critical areas receive treatment first.

These are non-emergency actions to improve fire-damaged lands that are unlikely to recover naturally and to repair or replace facilities damaged by fire that are not critical to life and safety. This phase may include restoring burned habitat, reforestation, other planting or seeding, monitoring fire effects, replacing burned fences, interpreting cultural sites, treating noxious weed infestations, and installing interpretive signs.

Rehabilitation Activities

What BAER May Do What BAER May Not Do
Install water or erosion control devices ---
Plant for erosion control or stability reasons. Replant commercial forests or grass for forage.
Install erosion control measures at critical cultural sites. Excavate and interpret cultural sites.
Install temporary barriers to protect treated or recovering areas. Replace burned pasture fences.
Install warning signs. Install interpretive signs.
Replace minor safety related facilities. Replace burned buildings, bridges, corrals, etc.
Install appropriate-sized drainage features on roads, trails. Repair roads damaged by floods after fire.
Remove critical safety hazards. ---
Prevent permanent loss of threatened and endangered habitat. Replace burned wildlife habitat.
Monitor BAER treatments. Monitor fire effects.
Implement early detection and rapid response treatments to minimize the spread of noxious weeds into native plant communities Treat pre-existing noxious weeds

Post-Fire Rehabilitation Activities on Federal Lands

NEED HEADER Suppression Activity Damage Repair Emergency Stabilization (BAER) Rehabilitation (BAR) Restoration
Objective Repair damages Prevent/minimize damages Repair damages Repair/restore damages
Damages related to Fire suppression Post-fire events Fire Fire
Urgency Before incident closeout 1-12 months 1-3 years 3+ years
Funding type Fire operations (suppression) Fire operations (emergency stabilization) DOI-Rehab, USFS- Regular program Regular program
USWDS Paragraphs
Post Wildfire Recovery Project Resources

Policy and Authorities

Source: DOI
Title Category
DOI Manual, 620 DM 7 (Wildland Fire Management, Post-Wildfire Recovery) Policy and Authorities
US Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Handbook Policy and Authorities
Department of the Interior Manual: 620 DM 7 Policy and Authorities
Post Wildfire Recovery Project Resources for the BLM ESR Handbook Policy and Authorities
Standard Operations Guide, National BAER Team 2017 Policy and Authorities
Source: Federal Government, General
Title Category
Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book) Policy and Authorities
Federal Wildland Fire Qualifications Supplement Policy and Authorities
Source: USDA, Forest Service
Title Category
Forest Service Manual 2520 BAER Policy and Authorities
Source: NWCG
Title Category
NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 Policy and Authorities
NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902 Policy and Authorities
NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1 Policy and Authorities
Wildland Fire Qualifications Supplement Policy and Authorities

For More Information

See also NIFC BAER website.

NWCG Latest Announcements

2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: January 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) and Incident Performance Training Modernization (IPTM) are also included.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

IPSC Memo 26-01: January 2026 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Incident Business Committee Memo 26-01: Updated Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297

Date: January 22, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Business Committee

The Incident Business Committee (IBC) has released Memorandum 26-01: OF 297 and 2026 Fire Use. This memo informs the wildland fire community that the updated Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297 is available for download and can be ordered through the Great Basin Cache.

Beginning January 15, 2026 the previous version of the OF 297 form has been discontinued.

For further details, please contact your IBC representative.

References:

Incident Business Committee Memorandum 26-01

Great Basin Cache

NEW! S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) Available Now

Date: December 22, 2025
Questions about RT-130? 
Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the new S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal.

This third course in the series combines online and instructor-led training components aimed at individuals who are involved in planning, managing, and executing wildland fire and prescribed burn operations; who require a thorough understanding of fire behavior calculations to enhance effectiveness and safety. This includes students who require the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of a Type 3 Incident Commander (ICT3), Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS), or Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2).

Students are required to be qualified as any Single Resource Boss position and complete the prerequisite S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire behavior (Blended) course, before enrolling in S-390.

References:

S-390, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NEW! S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended) Available Now

Date: December 18, 2025
Questions about RT-130? 
Please contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended) is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal!

This blended course combines online learning with instructor-led training, designed for individuals seeking to build leadership skills and gain experience in incident management.

Students are required to complete the prerequisite trainings ICS-100, Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS), ICS-200, Basic ICS for Initial Response, and ICS-700, An Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) prior to attending S-320.

References:

S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams (Blended)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal