Value Assessment

Values are those ecologic, social, and economic resources that could be lost or damaged because of a fire. Ecologic values consist of the following:

• vegetation
• wildlife species and their habitat
• air and water quality
• soil productivity
• other ecologic functions

Social effects can include the following:

• life, cultural and historical resources
• natural resources
• artifacts
• sacred sites

Economic values can include the following:

• property and infrastructure
• economically valuable natural and cultural resources
• recreation
• tourism opportunities

The values assessment allows opportunity for the local Agency Administrator to identify particular local concerns. These concerns may be identified in the fire management plan or other planning documents.

Natural/Cultural Resource Concerns

Based on the number and kinds of values to be protected, and the difficulty to protect them, rank this element Low, Moderate, or High. Considerations include, but are not limited to; key resources potentially affected by the fire such as urban interface, structures, critical municipal watershed, commercial timber, developments, recreational facilities, power/pipelines, communication sites, highways, unique natural resources, special designated areas (i.e. wilderness), T&E species habitat, and cultural sites.

The following guidelines can help you determine the appropriate Low, Moderate, or High selection for the Natural/Cultural Resource and Infrastructure Values element:i

Table 1: Determining Selection Values for Natural/Cultural Resources and Infrastructure Values Elements

Low	Moderate	High
Values generally are benefited or are not impacted by fire. Ecosystem is resilient. Mitigation measures are effective.	Concerns exist for impacts to resources or values but available mitigation measures are generally effective. May require commitment of specialized resources.	Multiple values with concerns exist, and effectiveness of needed mitigation measures is not well established. Severe damage likely without significant commitment of specialized resources.

Social/Economic Concerns

Evaluate the potential impacts (risk or effects) of the fire to social and/or economic concerns, and rank this element Low, Moderate, or High. Considerations include, but are not limited to: impacts to social or economic concerns of an individual, business, community or other stakeholder; other fire management jurisdictions; tribal subsistence or gathering of natural resources; air quality regulatory requirements; public tolerance of smoke, including health impacts; potential for evacuation and ingress/egress routes; and restrictions and/or closures in effect or being considered.

The following guidelines can help you determine the appropriate Low, Moderate, or High selection for the Social/Economic concerns element.

Table 1: Determining Selection Values for Social/Economic Concerns Element

Low	Moderate	High
Local support for the use of wildland fire and its ecological role of fire is high. The fire should have limited temporary or no impact on subsistence or Tribal activities involving treaty rights. The fire is expected to remain within a single jurisdiction or agreements are in place to allow fire to move across several jurisdictions. Media coverage is favorable. Few structures or business ventures are potentially affected by the fire. There are few impacts to recreation and tourism.	Local support of use of wildland fire and its ecological role is clearly divided between supporters and opponents. The fire will have some impacts on subsistence or Tribal activities involving treaty rights. The fire is expected to involve more than one jurisdiction, cooperator, or special interest group and agreements need to be developed. Media coverage tends to be a mix of favorable and unfavorable views. Structures may be threatened by the fire or some business ventures may be affected by the fire.	Local support for use of wildland fire and its ecological role is low. The fire will have long-term impacts on subsistence activities or Tribal activities involving treaty rights. Smoke impacts may become a concern for higher level air quality regulatory agencies and people with health risks. The fire is expected to involve several jurisdictions, cooperators, and special interest groups and agreements requiring substantial negotiation need to be developed. Media coverage tends to be unfavorable. Many structures or private properties could be threatened.

Proximity and Threat of Fire to Values

Evaluate the potential threat to values based on their proximity to the fire, and rank this element Low, Moderate, or High.

The following guidelines can help you determine an appropriate selection for the Proximity and Threat of Fire to Values:

Table 1: Determining Selection Values for the Proximity and Threat of Fire to Values

Low	Moderate	High
Fire is located where it is highly unlikely that it would reach the values given fire activity and the fuels between it and the values.	Fire could potentially reach the values, but will take multiple burning periods and sustained fire activity in the adjacent fuels to reach the values.	Fire is close to values. Without mitigation actions, fire is expected to reach the values.