May 2008

Fire Program Analysis (FPA) implementation memo released by participating Federal agencies : the US Forest Service, the Bureaus of Indian Affairs and Land Management, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The memos describe the phased FPA system rollout, the expected tasks to be completed, and promote line officer involvement to successfully implement FPA after its June 30, 2008 release.


Current Topics:

Implementation Memos
Staged Release   
Learning to Use FPA
Looking for Briefing Materials?
What's Next?

For more information visit http://fpa.nifc.gov
or call Venetia Gempler
208-947-3786

 

Fire Program Analysis

Fire Program Analysis (FPA) system is a common interagency decision support tool for wildland fire planning and budgeting.
This tool will enable wildland fire managers in the five federal land management agencies to plan jointly.

 

 

The Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) is a cooperative interagency organization dedicated to achieving consistent implementation of the goals, actions, and policies in the National Fire Plan and the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy. The Council provides leadership and oversight to ensure policy coordination, accountability, and effective implementation of the National Fire Plan and the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy.


The FPA System:
 will be designed to encourage state, local, and tribal agency participation.
incorporates geospatial data which provide the means to map levels of wildland fire risk on lands across the country.
 generates outcomes from fire planning units that
provide information to the national budget planning process.
 will provide a way for land managers to compare
trade-offs between wildland fire program components.
 is a tool to ensure wildland fire management actions help meet performance measures outlined in the 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy.

Staged Release
The nationwide release of the full FPA system will be done in stages.

June 30 - FPA version 2.0 release will include:
Data entry capability for FPU resources
Ability to build options and alternatives
Initial Response Simulator
Large Fire Module (for early-adopters only)
Ability to edit data imported from FPA-PM
Basic FPU-level reports
Calculating performance metrics

Mid August - FPA version 2.01 release will include:
Prevention analysis
Enhanced Initial Response Simulator
Additional reports for Fire Planning Units
System fine tuning and correction.

Mid September – Release FPA version 2.02 will include:
National trade-off analysis decision support tool
National trade-off analysis reports
System fine tuning and correction.

For more information on the staged release, read the “FPA Deployment Strategy for System Rollout” on the FPA web site.

Learning to Use FPA. Based on recommendations from leadership and users, the FPA Project is providing Internet-based training to familiarize users with the new FPA system. Internet-based, self-paced methods will provide access to learning materials during the FPA system rollout schedule.

FPA training will enable users to:

•  Develop inputs and form alternatives for FPA analyses
•  Run the FPA system
•  Interpret the results of FPA analyses
•  Understand how the FPA budget analysis process fits in     with the larger budget and planning process

A combination of training methods provides both broad and specific information on using the FPA system:

Internet-based self-paced training: The primary training delivery method. Self-paced training includes step-by-step instruction supported by an FPA system user guide. Modules will be developed to accompany version releases.

System User Guide: Supports the internet-based training. Sections of the user guide will be available after June 30; additional sections added with version releases.

System Embedded Help: Included in each application release.

Webinars: Hosted by the FPA team and subject matter experts. These web seminars are used to explain complex topics requiring in-depth demonstrations or to resolve system use issues. They will be provided as needed.

Workshops: Hosted by FPA's Geographic Area coordinating groups: The spring 2008 workshops provided an FPA system orientation.

Looking for Briefing Materials? Even if you are still learning about FPA, you may need to brief others. We can help! Available briefing materials on the FPA web site include:

•  FPA system rollout strategy and key messages
•  Two sets of Talking Points
•  Briefing papers:

FPA status and purpose
FPA system introduction
FPA timeline
Line Officer Support for FPA Implementation

•  An FPA Overview slide presentation with presenter's notes.

•  Online video presentation with high-level information on the    FPA system flow

 

What's Next?

  • June 3 - 5: Prototype FPU Workshop
  • June 12: Executive Oversight Group meeting
  • June 17 - 19: Eastern Geographic Area FPA Orientation Workshop (Minneapolis)
  • June 17 - 19: FPA Interagency Science Team Meeting