Overview: How this plan is organized
This tutorial follows the California Standardized Prescribed Fire Plan template. The document is shorter than the full NWCG PMS 484-1 template and is structured around ten practical sections: project area description, pre-burn considerations, prescription, smoke management, ignition, holding and resources, post-burn activities, notifications, wildfire conversion, risk management, and attachments.
Training note: This page is a learning aid. The Burn Boss, property owner, agency having jurisdiction, air district, and local requirements still control what must be included before implementation.
Cover Page and Plan Control
Start by identifying the project and who is responsible for the plan.
- Project Title
- Prescribed Fire Burn Boss / CARX
- Author of Plan
- Agency Having Jurisdiction
- Property Owner
- Date Created and Date Re-Evaluated
Why re-evaluation matters: Burn plans should be re-evaluated when fuel conditions, site conditions, or project objectives change.
Practice Entry
1. Project Area Description
This section describes where the burn is, what the unit looks like, and what conditions exist both inside and next to the unit.
| Field | What to include |
|---|---|
| Location Description | Road access, nearby community, landmarks, legal description, and access notes. |
| Latitude / Longitude | Use Degrees Decimal Minutes as requested by the template. |
| Ownership and Unit Size | Private, state, tribal, federal, or mixed ownership; total planned acres. |
| Unit Description Table | Fuel model, slope, aspect, and special features within the unit and adjacent to it. |
Good description example: “The 23-acre unit is north of County Road 12, accessed through the main ranch gate. Fuels are annual grass with scattered oak woodland. Adjacent fuels include grassland to the west and heavier brush on the south-facing slope east of the unit.”
Goals and SMART Objectives
The template asks for both overarching goals and specific objectives. Objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
Goal
Broad purpose of the burn.
Example Reduce hazardous fine fuels and improve oak woodland health.
SMART Objective
Measurable target that can be evaluated after the burn.
Example Consume 60–80% of cured grass fuels across the unit by the end of the burn period while maintaining scorch below target levels near retained oaks.
2. Pre-Burn Considerations
This section documents what must happen before ignition.
Unit Preparation
Line type, line construction, fuel pretreatment, grazing deferment, mowing, pruning, or other prep.
Water Supply
Quantity, source, location, access, drafting needs, tanks, engines, pumps, or tenders.
Unit Access
Road conditions, gates, signage, ingress and egress, staging, turnarounds, and emergency access.
Values at Risk
Structures, fences, water lines, cultural sites, sensitive species, utilities, or other resources needing protection.
3. Prescription
The prescription defines acceptable environmental and fire behavior conditions. The template uses minimum, desired, and maximum columns for key elements.
| Prescription element | Minimum / Desired / Maximum should address |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Cool to hot limits that still meet objectives and stay controllable. |
| Relative Humidity | Moisture range that supports ignition, consumption, and holding. |
| Mid-Flame Wind Speed | Wind at flame height, not only transport or 20-foot wind. |
| Fine Dead Fuel Moisture | Expected responsiveness of grass, litter, and small dead fuels. |
| Probability of Ignition | Likelihood receptive fuels will ignite and carry fire. |
Also document acceptable and optimal wind direction, plus burn seasonality. In many cases, the burn may be appropriate any time prescription parameters are met.
4. Smoke Management Plan
The smoke section should follow local air district rules. The template includes three options: submitted through PFIRS, submitted in hard copy to the air district, or not required by the air district based on project size or emissions.
Do not assume smoke approval. Check the local air district process, burn day authorization requirements, sensitive receptors, and any notification requirements in the smoke management plan.
5. Ignition Plan
The ignition plan describes how fire will be applied to meet objectives safely. The template includes a Firing Boss checkbox and notes that the test fire should be conducted in a representative location selected by the Burn Boss on burn day based on conditions.
Firing Plan Should Describe
- Ignition sequence
- Patterns and techniques
- Devices needed
- How the pattern supports objectives
- How ignition will coordinate with holding
Holding Plan, Fire Behavior, and Resources
The holding section identifies the holding specialist, expected fire behavior, production rates, and resources needed to implement the burn safely.
| Item | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Anticipated Fire Behavior | Estimate flame length and rate of spread for head fire behavior within the unit and adjacent to the unit. |
| Production Rates | Use chains/hour to compare expected spread with crew and resource capability. |
| Resources | Describe number and type of engines, crews, water, pumps, UTVs, holding forces, weather observer, and forecast process. |
The holding plan should make it clear that resources are matched to expected fire behavior, values at risk, access, water supply, and contingency needs.
6. Post-Burn Activities
Post-burn work should be planned before ignition. The template asks for mop-up and patrol standards plus optional fire effects monitoring, rehabilitation, and other activities.
Mop-Up and Patrol
Describe standards, timeframes, who is responsible, and what conditions must be met before release.
Monitoring / Rehab
Attach fire effects monitoring or rehabilitation plans when needed for project objectives, infrastructure, improvements, or land recovery.
7. Notifications
The template separates pre-burn notifications from day-of-burn notifications.
| Pre-Burn | Day-of-Burn |
|---|---|
| Adjacent landowners, Air Quality Management District, Fire Agency Having Jurisdiction, and other required sensitive receptors. | CAL FIRE Emergency Command Center, Air Quality Management District, other fire AHJ, law enforcement, adjacent landowners, and other local contacts as applicable. |
Record who was contacted, title or agency, phone number, date/time if your local process requires it, and any instructions received.
8. Wildfire Conversion Plan
This section defines who can declare the prescribed fire a wildfire, who the Incident Commander will be, who must be contacted, and what information should be reported.
Size-Up / Reporting Considerations
Rate of spreadFuel typeStructure threatPotential acreageCurrent actions being taken
Training point: A wildfire conversion plan must be clear before ignition. Do not wait until control problems occur to decide who has declaration authority and who will assume IC.
9–10. Risk Management and Attachments
The final sections confirm which risk management activities and attachments are included with the plan.
Risk Management
- Contingency plan — required
- Medical plan
- Communications plan
- Management Action Points
- Briefing checklist
- Safety plan, safety review, onsite assessment, or 215A
Other Attachments
- Project and area maps — required
- Go/no-go checklist — recommended
- Other locally required attachments
20-Question Knowledge Quiz
Answer all questions, then select Grade Quiz. A score of 80% or higher is a good target for review.