Park Service: Agency Is Not Meeting Its Structural Fire Safety Responsibilities

Effective January 19, 2001, the National Park Service issued Director's Order #58: Structural Fire Management. The Order established minimum structural fire safety requirements throughout the national park system. (See Accomplishment Report Number: GAO-01-237A). Furthermore, as of June 1, 2003, about 3200 buildings were assessed for fire safety risk. The Park Service has also drafted a process for ensuring that all new and major rehabilitation projects are reviewed for compliance with generally accepted fire codes by personnel qualified to do so. The Park Service has also implemented additional training for entry-level firefighters to ensure that testing and maintenance of sprinkler and alarm systems and structural fire building inspections are performed and that identified deficiencies are corrected. Lastly, it has provided training to managers so that they understand their responsibilities and liabilities in structural fire prevention and suppression. The actions taken therefore satisfy this recommendation and is considered closed.

In April 2010, the National Park Service issued an updated Director's Order #48, which sets forth operational policies and procedures necessary to establish and implement structural fire management programs throughout the Park Service. Relevant policies include requiring the development of fire suppression activities for structures as part of the park's emergency operations and fire management plan. Further, the Director's Order states that each superintendent is to complete a structural fire assessment and develop a structural fire plan to meet park needs and ensure that structural fire protection and suppression capabilities will be maintained in accordance with those plans. To complement the Director's Order, the Park Service released in 2015 the Structural Fire Management Reference Manual 58, which provides guidance on implementing a service-wide structural fire management policy for the agency. In particular, the reference manual establishes a framework through which Park Service implements principles, codes, standards, policies, guidance, and reporting requirements related to structural fire. The reference manual also delineates responsibilities for various levels of the agency, including park superintendents. Specifically, superintendents are responsible for assigning a Park Structural Fire Coordinator and ensuring that this coordinator develops, implements, and evaluates structural fire management activities within their parks. The reference manual also states that each superintendent will complete a structural fire assessment and develop a structural fire plan to meet park needs. Structural fire management plans are to be updated annually and following a significant structural fire incident, and comprehensive reviews are required for all plans at least every 5 years.