Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I was first made aware of a wildfire reported by an aircraft on the late night shift. I forwarded the report to the Operations Manager In Charge (OMIC) at that time. When I returned to work after my RDOs; there were Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR's) in place in the vicinity of ANW for firefighting aircraft working at the same wildfire. The TFR descriptions we had gave locations and altitudes for the protected airspace; but didn't specify what the actual flight restrictions were. When I asked the FLM to clarify the TFR's; I was told to 'assume' that it was IFR prohibited and VFR strongly discouraged. Normally the TFR's we receive are more specific; describing the actual flight restrictions. These TFR's did not; so I asked the FLM to investigate to determine what the actual restrictions; instead of having us assume what they were. As we are involved in a significant aviation event we have additional aircraft receiving VFR advisories. If we were mistaken and the TFR actually prohibited all aircraft from those areas; we were misinforming aircraft and possibly setting them up to be reported as TFR violators. Several days later the TFR's were still in effect; but it's still unknown what the flight restrictions actually are. Today; my FLM said it was his understanding that all aircraft were prohibited from the areas; and I told him that we had been telling VFR aircraft receiving advisories all week that flight through the area was strongly discouraged; not prohibited; and he conceded that the TFR description lacked what the actual flight restriction. If indeed the intent of the TFR was to sterilize the airspace to protect the firefighting aircraft operations; it is a serious safety hazard that we are not accomplishing that task and allowing VFR aircraft to transit those areas. TFR's need to specify what the actual airspace restrictions are. Also; when asked to clarify FLMs need to follow through and determine what the flight restrictions in a TFR actually are; so that we can properly advise aircraft of the restrictions.
ZMP Controller described multiple fire fighting TFR potential violations because restrictions to VFR aircraft were not defined for days.