The Big Meadow Prescribed Fire Review & Lessons learned

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RELEASE
Yosemite National Park
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, California 95389
Dear Yosemite Community and Constituents:

The Big Meadow Prescribed Fire and subsequent escaped fire has been a
notable event for Yosemite National Park and our neighboring communities.
Many of you demonstrated your interest, concerns, and support for Yosemite
National Park in attending one of the many community meetings and asking
meaningful questions. The park staff has been diligent in answering your
questions in a forthright manner and I requested an immediate review of the
escaped fire to better understand the events of that day and to improve our
Fire Management Program. I appreciate your interest in the Wildland Fire
Program and with this letter I am releasing the Big Meadow Prescribed Fire
Review via the internet.

The report identifies underlying reasons for the fire escape as well as
lessons learned. Yosemite National Park has received guidance from the
Pacific West Regional Office on implementation of it’s findings. The
report does not call for any disciplinary or personnel actions of fire
personnel or park managers. Although the Prescribed Fire Plan met policy,
the review team noted that the Park needs to strengthen its planning and
implementation process. There is no single action that can eliminate all
of the risk of managing a wildland fire, however, the report and
implementation of its findings are vital to sustaining a wildland fire
program in a fire dependent ecosystem. The review makes possible the
ability of Yosemite National Park to resume its prescribed burning program.

The review identifies lessons learned and methods for sustaining those
lessons. I am eager to move forward to strengthen our program, continue
demonstrating our professionalism, and to engage in the public stewardship
that defines the National Park Service. The review is being shared widely
among fire managers as the lessons learned have broad application in
assisting other Superintendents and fire managers in minimizing the
potential for future escaped prescribed fires. While it was not our intent
to have an escaped fire we are committed to sharing our experience to
better serve the public and our profession. The review team felt that the
lessoned learned from the experience will improve the fire management
program in Yosemite National Park.

The Big Meadow Prescribed Fire Review, in its entirety, is located on the
link listed below. Once the Large Cost Fire Report is completed, it will
be posted on the link listed below as well:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/bigmeadowfirefaq.htm

Thank you very much for your continued interest and support to Yosemite
National Park.