Uncategorized
Adjustments to Wildland Fire Preparedness Activities for the 2020 Fire Year in response to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
The purpose of this memo is to provide the interagency wildland fire community with guidance on
adjustments to wildland fire preparedness activities for the 2020 Fire Year. These activities include:
Medical Clearance, Work Capacity Test (WCT), and RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual
Refresher (WFSTAR).
The Fire Management Board (FMB) has carefully analyzed the risk of responder exposure to the
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in relationship to the need to evaluate the medical, physical, and
training requirements of wildland firefighters as part of annual fire management preparedness. We
distinguished requirements into two categories: 1) Employees new to the federal firefighting workforce,
and 2) Incumbent/returning firefighters and firefighters who have transferred from one federal Bureau to
another. To this end, the following alternatives will be implemented effective immediately. Agencies
may elect more stringent direction if deemed prudent.
