Economic Efficiency of Fire Management Programs at Six National Forests

Book excerpt: Two components of fire management programs were analyzed at these Forests: Francis Marion (South Carolina), Huron-Manistee (Michigan), San Bernardino (California), Tonto (Arizona), and Deschutes and Willamette (Oregon). Initial attack and aviation operations were evaluated by the criterion of minimizing the program cost plus the net value change of resource outputs and structures resulting from fire (C + NVC). Four alternative program or budget levels were investigated at each forest for each of 3 years of varying fire severity. The program levels ranged from +20 percent below the 1979 funding level to 40 percent above that level. The most economically efficient levels were -20 percent at four forests, +20 percent at one forest, and +40 percent at another forest. Results suggested that increased fire year severity may not mean that a higher program level is more efficient. Commercial timber and structural losses contributed most to net value change, which was a small percent of the C + NVC in most of the years evaluated.