United States Fire Administration Critical Infrastructure Protection - April 15, 2004

The EMR-ISAC continuously researches and studies how the Emergency Management and Response (EMR) Sector leadership can implement critical infrastructure protection (CIP) in a time-efficient and resource-restrained manner. As a result of this ongoing effort, the EMR-ISAC advocates perpetual vigilance as probably the best low-cost, but high-value measure to protect the critical infrastructures of the EMR Sector of the United States.

Reports from EMR leaders around the nation indicate that vigilance is probably the most important threat reduction protective measure available to all departments and agencies. Considering the recommendations of several emergency managers and first responder chief officers, the EMR-ISAC recommends a simplistic two-step approach: (1) maintain awareness of suspicious persons or unusual activities and, (2) promptly communicate that information to the local police, regional FBI field office, and the National Infrastructure Coordination Center (NICC) at 202-282-9201/9202/9203.

Additionally, the EMR-ISAC suggests the following actions to develop consequential vigilance habits among department or agency personnel:

• Aggressively promote situational awareness and personal accountability.
• Conduct training regarding what constitutes a suspicious person or unusual activity.
• Establish precise procedures to report the observation of suspicious persons or events.
• Create internal procedures to expeditiously handle and forward observation reports.
• Integrate these procedures into day-to-day operations.
• Ensure the consistent practice of these procedures and awareness habits.

The relentless drought in most of the Western United States has further decreased already dwindling water supplies and raised the risk of wildfires. Because of this persistent drought, below-average snow pack, and insect-infested timber, officials at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, recently expressed concern about a long, brutal wildfire season. But, regardless of the cause, wildfires threaten community and emergency responder critical infrastructures.

In addition to the relationship between drought and wildfires, it is now necessary to consider wildfires as a tool of terrorism. Captured documents reveal that multiple forest fires could be used in an attempt to deprive the American market of raw materials for the wood, paper, and byproducts industries. Therefore, the EMR-ISAC advises the EMR Sector leadership of Western States to understand how terrorists might cause and use wildfires. Intelligence sources believe it is probable that extremists could employ catastrophic fires as a diversion or a means to capitalize on the concentration of federal resources in one area of the country while an attack is staged in another part of the nation. Security specialists suggest that terrorists are also interested in degrading America