TC

The UTF list shows those Resource Orders that a GACC can't fill internally, and has forwarded to NICC; when an Incident is ready to demob resources, sometimes they just do it, and other times they notify the GACC, but only the most critical national resources are cleared thru NICC before being demobbed. The notification process is dictated by the Preparedness Level and the resource shortage situation.

And then, sometimes resources are demobbed because they are less than satisfactory performers and/or too high cost.

Mollysboy

Here is another free Southwest Lightning map which updates every 15 minutes
and is reasonably detailed as to strike locations. ww.mesawx.com/southwes1.htm

Old Sawyer

Nice. Ab.

Live on http://archive.hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/

You will see the fire on 3 cameras. Click on "refresh" as the pictures
will not update if you have one selected.

RJM

Nice. Ab.

I am pleased to report that HR 5697, The Federal Wildland Firefighter Classification Act, has been introduced in Congress and was "marked up" by the House Government Reform Committee yesterday by Unanimous Consent.

The text of the legislation is as follows:

2d Session

H. R. 5697

To provide for the appropriate designation of certain Federal positions involved in wildland fire suppression activities.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 28, 2006

Mr. POMBO (for himself and Mr. PORTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

A BILL

To provide for the appropriate designation of certain Federal positions involved in wildland fire suppression activities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Federal Wildland Firefighter Classification Act'.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT.

(a) In General- In the administration of chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code, the Office of Personnel Management shall ensure that the official title assigned under such chapter to any class or other category of positions described in subsection (b) shall include the designation of `Wildland Firefighter' or words to that effect.

(b) Applicability- This section shall apply in the case of any class or other category of positions that consists primarily or exclusively of forest technician positions, range technician positions, or any other category of positions the duties and responsibilities of which may include significant wildland fire suppression activities (as determined by the Office).

SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this Act shall be considered to require any change in the pay, benefits, or other terms or conditions of employment that apply with respect to any category of employees or positions.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act--

(1) the terms `class', `employee', and `position' shall have the meanings set forth in section 5102 of title 5, United States Code; and

(2) the terms `forest technician position' and `range technician position' shall have the meanings specified by the Office of Personnel Management.

END

This is the first ever legislative attempt to get OPM to do what is should have done years ago...properly classify our federal wildland firefighters to more accurately reflect their current duties.

With the 4th of July Holiday upon us, this is the most current information I have. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at cjudd@fwfsa.org or 208-775-4577.

Casey Judd
Business Manager
FWFSA

Have a good Independence Day. Ab.

5 Million kilograms is 11,000,000 Pounds of water, and with water a 8.4 pounds per gallon, this is roughly 1.31 Million gallons into the plume above the 1500 acres. Ab.

Welcome SmokeDawg from the north. Ab.

haw haw. There's a link to a useful conversion site on the links page under worldwide, last row. OK, now how many water tenders is that? Ab.

Adios?

Check out the GACC web sites "UTF reports"......... hundreds of UTFs
nationally............ yet when resources with 11 days left are released for
reassignment there is nothing available...... what is going on??????????

Firefox

Local fires.....our primary ff's are supported by the militia. Response
to a fire is our number one priority. Adjacent forests are treated like
our own when they pop a fire. If they call, we roll.

Sounds like the west could learn some from the east. Maybe the support
for fire here is maintained by our "militia" still being a critical part of
our fire response capability. Works for us anyhow.

Old Fire Guy

My view on these two topics,

First on Bump Pulaski's, I couldn't agree more, we are not well
served by Forest Supervisors and or Rangers who are more
concerned with their own career advancement than the effect of their
decisions on FM. Hiring, is about on top of the list, along with their
apparent desire to not be exposed to risks, whether if be from RX burning or
personnel decisions make by Supervisors on and off the fire ground, and
budget priorities and allocations. The "I want it both ways" direction
presented by our Regional and Washington Representatives at the Division
Chief w'shop was disgusting. I can hardly believe we're going to the
general biologist series, nice move SAF. You'd think academic potential
would be a stronger apprentice selection factor? Q'man is pretty much
excluded from the above comments.

My last comment on the health of FM is reserved for the ECCs and
Prevention. The the practice of non firemen in the ECCs, the FS should
make dispatch part of the career ladder as does CDF. ECC decisions or lack
thereof has serious safety implications especially with a progressively
less experienced work force advancing. Prevention shouldn't be holding tank
for the sick, lame and lazy. I am not implying that all in prevention are,
but there are too many including the ECC staffs.

On the showers my first recollection of showers in fire Camp was on the
Skinner Mill and Hogg fires, there may have been some prior, but because
there were women sharing the showers I remember those two. It was common
enough that it wasn't that big a deal and I don't remember any men running
out, but I wasn't looking at the door. The River behind the fire camp at
the Forks also had plenty bathers of both sexes which was cool, the National
Guardsman being killed in a diving accident kinda overshadowed that though
and put the skids on swimming.

cbork

Year on showers?

https://thunderstorm.vaisala.com/ and click on the free lightning map button...

Syd

You're welcome. Ab

Firefighters, if you're in a situation where resources are not adequate and you have questions about fighting fire safely, please pull back and re-evaluate your tactics. Be safe. Everyone comes home. Ab.

Dr. Potter sent me his articles during our discussions of the subject. Articles attached.

Impact of Released Fuel Moisture on Atmospheric Dynamics (small - 75K pdf)

The Role of Released Moisture in the Atmospheric Dynamics Associated with Wild Land Fire (small - 146 K pdf)

He agreed with my estimation that the 1500 acre fire (200 new acres that morning) would have added on the order of more than 5 Million kilograms of water into the column in an otherwise relatively dry air mass. The remaining issues include how it mixes and a lot of factors affecting downbursts. Fires as small as 100 acres can produce rain drops. Rain drops fell on Paul Gleason. Paul Linse, some of the Perryville crew, also at the Control road and at the subdivision before the downburst. In addition, Tony Sciacca and Nando Lucero noted the smoke laying down near the burnout further up Walkmoore Canyon, and decided to pull the Prescott Hotshots out, told the adjoining Alpine Hotshots, Jim Mattingly, and they both tried to call and contact Perryville but Perryville was already on the run escaping from the downslope run from the downburst further down the canyon. Paul Linse also noticed the area smoke in further up the canyon. The smoke laying down further up the canyon was not noticed until a few minutes after the burnover in the canyon below them. High winds did not involve the upper canyon until after the burnover below, from which Hatch walked out back up the canyon and was found by Gleason, Linse and Mattingly.

Old Sawyer

Thanks for bringing up the idea of released moisture. Do you know if the article is available online, vs. having to buy a back issue of the journal? I imagine there must be a break-even point where the fuels are still dry enough to contribute to extreme fire behavior, but contain enough moisture to contribute to plume dominance?

This reminds me of something I've been wondering about, although I don't want to impede discussion of your original topic. It seems like people have often observed a calm before a fire blows up. I think it is mentioned in the Dude investigation and I've observed it at least once. Anyone have a theory on why this happens? My first thought was that you might be in a lull as the wind changes direction, but it seems like in that situation the winds are often kind of squirrelly for a while rather than dead calm.

Still Out There as an AD

Ab,

The Dude Fire is Still Smokin’

The latest chapter in the Dude Fire story has been written by Dr. Brian E. Potter, Research Meteorologist & Team Leader, USDA Forest Service AirFIRE Team.  Dr. Potter published an article in 2005 explaining how the water produced in a wildland fire enters the plume and affects the likelihood of causing a downburst.  The Dude Fire was among the most dramatic examples of this phenomenon in his article. “The role of released moisture in the atmospheric dynamics associated with wildland fires”.  Potter, Brian E., International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2005, 14, 77-84.

The Dude Fire downburst article by Goens and Andrews is referenced in Dr. Potter’s work.  Dr. Potter calculated the DCAPE - Downdraft Convective Available Potential Energy - and the Dude Fire DCAPE values were among the highest of the eleven severe fires examined.  Dr. Potter states: “Released moisture is not only a contributing factor, but at times a controlling or critical factor in fire-atmosphere interactions on time and space scales important to fire behavior and fire-fighter safety.”

One can infer that but for the fire-released water from the Dude Fire into the plume that day, on the order of 5 million kilograms by my estimate, the air would probably not have had sufficient water content to initiate and sustain the downburst.

Dr. Potter explains the need to add this to our predictive models:

“The traditional definition of fire behavior describes the controlling factors as fuels, atmosphere and topography.  If released moisture is indeed an important factor controlling fire behavior, then it presents an area of fire behavior research that requires strong knowledge and understanding of both fuel conditions and the atmospheric conditions.  The link between these two becomes a strong two-way interaction that cannot be studied or understood in separate fuel and atmospheric pieces.”

“There are also implications of this work for management, though practical application is far down the road.  If a manager knew that a certain rate of moisture release was a threshold for extreme fire behavior on a given fire and day, the manager may attempt to control rate of spread during a specific time period in the hope that the moisture release rate would stay below the threshold, thus preventing possible erratic behavior.  Fuel managers could also begin considering fuel loads that would hold the possible released moisture down below a climatologically determined level that divided blow-up from well behaved fire probabilities.”

Old Sawyer

There's a fire near Hayfork.

There's a fire north of Ironside Mt <snip>. It's 3-5 miles away from your place <snip>.

There are a couple of fires N of Salyer.

The Shasta Trinity NF has about 30 fires.

There are no air resources to deal with the fires on the Six Rivers NF and ShastaT and not enough person resources to man some of the others that could be put out while small. As you probably know there are fires on the Plumas, the Modoc and lots of resources are out of Region, in R3 and Alaska.

It's early in the season if any of these escape initial attack and turn into a Big Bar Complex. In 1999, that fire didn't start until August 23 and the rains put it out mid-November.

Todd

Ya mean Nerd's good at trawlin'? (Tongue firmly in cheek.) If this keeps up, Nerd should get the "chum 'em in" award this year. Ab.

I'm not going to blow smoke up anyone's kazoo when I say that being a former
Hotshot (R5) was the most difficult and rewarding experiences of my fire
service career. After 8 seasons I became a engine dude and there were times
I thought that being on a engine was much more physically wrecking than my
Hotshot days. I remember when the pack test was introduced to our crew in
the early 90's. It's the same test then as it was when I left the USFS in
2002 for a municipal job. Not one time did my former crew EVER deviate from
the test, nor did we beat the crap out of the rookies like some people view
the Hotshot program. I went from 220lbs to 190lbs in 6 months from hard work
and eating right. I hope that your jaded view of Hotshots or how you see
them in general will change. I know personally every time they hike by my
type 1 engine on a assignment I sit in awe knowing that they are going to
the worst piece of line to work their a**** off. The Hotshot program has
always been known for hard work, integrity and professionalism. How
professional is it when folks like yourself question their community like
you have? Be careful when you generalize for a entire group. We former or
now employed Hotshots can't speak for the programs out there that feel the
need to treat their rookies like crap.

Nerd, realize that all of us have our place in the fire service, some jobs
more arduous than others. Think about what you say before you hit the send
button, what you say and how you say it can be taken 100 different ways.
Keep on keepn' on with the pack test. Be a leader, treat YOUR folks with
respect and don't worry about others that can't play by the rules.

I hope that you don't find offense to my post, no harm meant.....

Have a safe season!

Jumpseat

From WO-T2

PREPAREDNESS LEVEL 4:

Description: Two (2) or more Geographic Areas are experiencing wildland fire and/or

support to the NRP requiring Type 1 Teams; competition exists for resources between

Geographic Areas. When 425 crews or five (5) Type 1 Teams are committed nationally.

Currently, there are:

6 Type-1 Teams committed on wildfires and 11 Type-2 teams committed.

Morning reports shows:

Live from Nevada waiting on Dozers from Florida

Anyway we did have the orange fire shelters on board the engine in 1977 and
were instructed to have them along with the banjo canteens whenever we
"dismounted" from the "rumble seat on back of the Model 5. We also had the
"pull over your head" fire shelter/blankets on rear of the Model 5. I have
2 mint condition orange fire shelters in their original cases that I plan
to auction off on E Bay once I retire!

Merced Mullett

That is interesting. I put your table into a html table: 1974 Airtanker Line Up. We'll add 'em to historical records. Ab.

El Cariso in 1973. Base camps were often located adjacent to creeks or
other natural water sources, and skinny-dipping was our bath after shift.
Towards the end of season we saw our first crew of all women. We worked
night shift, they had the days. One afternoon on our way out we had orders
to send 3 people back to get new lunches (the ones we had been issued had
"expired"). Another crew member and I went with our squad boss. As we
walked the ridge above camp, we could see the female crew enjoying their
swim. SB told me, "Go ahead and tell the rest of the crew when you get
back.....who's gonna believe you?"
Dennis B. should remember this.

One fire I was on that year did have a "shower unit", but it was all creek
water pumped through a pipe with holes drilled in it. Still felt good!

Old Fire Guy

Last year we didn't hire seasonal fire fighters, but we still had fires.

Now, there is a major workforce reduction in fire management coming to a
forest in region 2 next year. Cutting the Engineer positions on the
engines and the District AFMO's. I don't have to tell any of you how
absurd and wrong this is. Why would the agency even consider such an
ignorant and self destructing plan? But who's next? Will this crown fire
continue to grow into the other regions and consume fire management as we
know it. Stay tuned.............................

Signed,
2 more chains

noname

Someone asked me who the first female IC was. I think it was Linda Szczepanik IC of NorCal Team I. Jeanne Pincha-Tulley is also an IC of CIIMT 3. Can anyone tell us when they became ICs?

Does anyone have any other historical type questions that should be included on this page?

Did the first use of a shower unit occur on the Marble Cone Fire in 1977? Ab.

Did you use fire shelters in 1978? Ab. I need to update IMWTK.

Fire Crew Bosses Who Can't Speak Spanish Can Lose Jobs
Oregon Begins To Strictly Enforce Language Rule
www.thedenverchannel.com/nationalnews/9413390/detail.html

RJM

HB

It's really unsettling to be heading home from a trip and see a column...

Mellie

She needs to contact her training officer, or fire records keeper, for
her duty station where she took the classes. They should have a copy
and be able to fax it to her.

KD

Still Out There as an AD,

During the Marble Cone Fire, Los Padres NF in 1977, the national guard was providing shower units in the field, when they worked. There were supposed to be different times for male and female. While my crew was on the line, we were told one female firefighter, who had been on the line several days (no strict hour limits or conveniences like you see on major fires now), did not want to wait hours and yelled in to ask if anyone cared if she came in. Everyone was too tired to care and she showered with the guys. The shower hours were adjusted after that. Women on crews then had to really prove themselves and could more than hold their own.

Fyr Etr

My friend has been calling down to the Angeles NF trying to get her S 190
and S 130 Certs so she can get her red card. Is there any way some one
can point us in the right Direction.

Thanks.
Man on a mission in Washington State

My name is Doug Houston and a retired firefighter/smokejumper/still doing ATGS as an AD and am President of the National Smokejumper Association. I am (we) are interested in the possibility of putting this information about Finn Ward (son of the Missoula Smokejumper Base Manager) on the Wildland Fire website, both as an article and as a link to the donation site. I follow Theysaid quite often and see that it might be a great source to let people know about donations needed. It's an unfortunate accident and will be costly for Ed and his family. Whatever assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Here is all of the information on the smokejumpers.com website and anything that we can do will be greatly appreciated by the family.

Thanks alot.

Doug

I put a link under announcements on the classifieds page as well. Ab.

I am hoping you can answer a question for me or point me in the right
direction. I am currently an apprentice doing my different details across
the country. I am a paramedic and would like to work as such in the
field. This season I am on a rappel ship out of Idaho so I'm not available
for details as an EMT, but would like to know of anyone I might be able to
contact for questions regarding the medical unit leader taskbook. I have a
lot of questions regarding being a medic and what I can do or even how I
can work.

Any help you could give me, I would appreciate.

Thank You

Jeff

Readers? Ab.

Boone

Condolences to family, friends, and team mates. He will be missed. Please let us know of services so we can post the info. Ab.

I would add that in appropriate fire camp situations I believe a person in
a wheel chair could fill some fire camp jobs. No one expects them to be on
the fireline, but if the ICP is in town at an air strip, why not? Blanket
statements saying "pass the test" overlooks exceptions. Even my suggestion
has limits. I do agree that some people who are still breathing just don't
belong in fire camp.

Ex-runner

Last week, a few folks were discussing the first time that women worked on fire crews. I'm wondering if anyone knows the truth about a story that has been circulating for years. I've heard two versions. Supposedly, one of the first women firefighters got frustrated about her lack of opportunity to get into the single shower unit at fire camp. After fuming for several days, she said, "The h*** with this," and marched into the shower filled with males, stripped off her clothes and started to clean up. One variation has all the males running out in various stages of dress and undress. The other variation has all the guys in camp suddenly lining up to take their shower. Anyone know the real story?

Still Out There as an AD

HC

Fire chief pulls boy out of water

NEOSHO, Mo. — When Neosho fire Chief Greg Hickman heard
police radio traffic Monday night that a car had overturned in Shoal
Creek just a quarter of a mile from his home, he rushed to the scene.
(click the link to read the whole story)

I love it when members of our community are in the right place at the right
time! Way to go!!!

When I asked him, he said:  "There are a few good days in this business..."

Mellie

Yes, it was primarily developed by a male: if it wasn't, it would have been developed by a female! Last time I looked, a firefighter was a firefighter was a firefighter: same job, same pay! Gender has not been a factor for many years. Same with ethnicity. Lots of females and males (and others?) participated in the evaluations. Again, take a few minutes to read all about the development process, including the criteria that were used regarding costs and ease of application, as well as the surveys of field practitioners about the jobs on fire that need to be performed, and the activities that should be tested.

As for the need for an IC to pass the WCT, think about what skills are really critical for that position: experience, training, sound judgment, team building, good leadership skills! If WCT scores become a key criteria, we could end up with Jessie Ventura or "Arnold" as an IC.

Mollysboy

http://img.slate.com/media/50/Rosenbaum_FINAL_FOIA.pdf

Hey...everybody who is any way associated with EMS NEEDS to read this report. To summarize, a civilian finds a well-dressed, 60-70 yo male lying on a sidewalk. Civilian activates 911, triggering a tiered response. FF/EMT personnel respond, and begin an assessment. Patient begins to vomit; FF/EMTs assume ETOH and report that, and only that, to arriving ambulance personnel, despite 1 FF reportedly finding blood on his glove. Ambulance personnel were delayed finding their way to the scene because they couldn't understand the dispatcher's accent. Ambulance personnel proceed to treat the patient under the assumption that the patient is intoxicated; it seems that a more thorough assessment was not conducted. Patient was turned over to hospital triage personnel, again, with "ETOH" as the only information transferred. Neither the fire fighters nor the EMS personnel completed any paperwork! the patient sat, low priority, in a hall way, "sleeping it off" until a nurse on the NEXT SHIFT noticed his snoring respirations and posturing! Patient expired shortly after. Well, it turns out that the patient was a recently retired editor of the Washington Post who had been hit on the head by a mugger. The paper began asking questions about "inconsistencies" in the hospital's account of the patient's death, and the story came out.

The thing is, I think everything that happened on that call has happened to everyone of us, it just hasn't all happened on one call. Or maybe it has, and it just hasn't come out like this story has, because the patient wasn't a prominent newspaper editor, or wasn't badly compromised. I would be very surprised if any of the care providers in this chain kept their jobs; I would be surprised if their bosses kept their jobs. This man died from a lack of thoroughness, compassion, and information transfer, all the way up the tiered response.

Definitely a striking call to discuss in training.

Meghan

It seems to be working from where I am Pattie.  Using the Recent Incidents link:  http://63.196.254.151/wildweb/WCSTFrecent.htm, off of our WildWeb page link to the STF, it shows quite a bit of activity today and during the past week.  Make sure your browser is set to request the most recently updated file.  If you need help with that, just ask.  OA.

You address the overweight issue. Let me add that I know many who are shorter or who have bad knees or backs and are not overweight. Many of them got those bad knees and backs fighting fire. Many are older. Most are fairly cardiovascularly fit in spite of bad knees and backs and being shorter. This Ab is not sure the WCT is the best test of firefighter fitness to begin with, especially firefighter fitness for shorter men and women. It is, however, the one that is used. As I understand it, it was designed by a runner and a man. A test of cardiovascular fitness would be better in my opinion, but it would be much more costly. Ab.

Well, I'm pretty glad you're still out there oversee'n your crew. Ab.

Here, Here....well said!

CDFer

The bottom line is that you adhere to the standards set for your job and he is adheres to the standards set for his job. Standards for his job are just not the standards you want them to be. The IC's job is more about strategy, tactics and command than humping hose up a fireline -- pack test of the brain is more like it. Muscles between your ears. In all fairness, I guess the turnabout question would be, "Can you meet the mental standards he needs to meet to do his job?" But that's really a moot point since you do different jobs and the standards you're held to for qualifying for those jobs differ. Ab.

Thanks also to Melissa who did most of the work behind the scenes for this event and pedaled along with Tony and the runners; to you Vicki for coming to the run and doing your thing with the media, the participants and the little kids; and to Burk who held down the fort on the home front. Thanks also to Hutch's wife Becky for her support behind the scenes. I like my shirt!

Pledgers, if you haven't "settled up", please do so. You can click on the pledge list link at the top of theysaid to find out how. Ab.

Please give wide distribution, thanks!

Hi Everyone! Last Minute changes have been made to Ray's party - isn't
change great?!?

Due to the heat, we are moving the party inside. (it's supposed to be 109
degrees this afternoon and getting up to 113 degrees on Saturday!)
The party will be at the Wildland Fire Training and Conference Center ...
this is 3 blocks south of the original site at Freedom Park.

Being a government facility (with no alcohol allowed), we will be setting
up a Beer Garden, just off site.

The party is still starting at 1200hrs/High Noon

Check-in is being setup just inside the main training center entrance, in
Room N123. Please stop in there and sign the guest book, if needed - make
payment, and get your hand stamped (so you'll be fed).

See you then!
Pam

I wanted to contribute to the discussion on the above referenced page about who was the first female hotshot:

I spoke with Roddy Baumman, former superintendent of Zig Zag IHC, who confirmed he hired both Kimberly Brandel and Deb Schnell in 1977. He also remembers that Joe King, superintendent at that time of Baker River IHC, had hired a woman named "Da-ne" (not sure of the spelling) "a couple years before that."

Interesting note: Roddy remembers seeing the first woman ever on the fireline in 1970 (Nancy Graybill, now Region 6 Regional Forester) who belonged to a Type 2 crew. "It was quite the shocker for us," he said.

Karen

Thanks Karen. I added it to the page. Ab.

I was was talking about enviros or as you called them environmentalists. <snip> Remember Teddy Roosevelt was a conservationist or better definition a person who believes in using the renewable natural resources.

With everybody concerned about the new plan and budget the only way to get something done is to get the public involved and get a letter campaign going.

Casey wrote awhile back about everybody contacting their representative for help and writing to the board members. One thing I found out is to make sure you write to your own representative. Unless you are from that certain persons state they will ignore you. Sad, but true.

Cris

Hmmm, I consider myself an environmentalist. Ab.

I took this Perkins fire (CA-LPF) photo collage yesterday ( 6/20 ) at
around 1500 hrs from New Cuyama near Fire Camp. Size at the time
was around 10000 acres. View is to the south.

sting

Nice one. The patchiness has a nice quality. Be safe out there. Ab.

No Name

Hot list forum is interesting. I had to go look at the large fire map...
Things are cooking: http://firemapper.sc.egov.usda.gov/

Mellie

Those of us in the industry for many years, had the pleasure of working with Doug while he was in the fire service with ODF. Doug was passionate about fire, and he was a strong advocate that all of us were members of that club including the private sector. Doug was active in NWSA after his retirement and went on to make the "Wildland Firefighter Foundation" a reality. Without his drive for that venture there would have been many families that did not receive the kind and compassionate help from the Foundation!

Those contractors from Region 6 are saddened and we have lost a true friend to the industry.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Harriet and her family!

Debbie Miley
Executive Secretary
National Wildfire Suppression Association

The idea is to provide a graph of the number of teams and crews active. I harvest info from the national situation report. I tried previously to track the data daily, but that's too much work. So this year, I'm trying to track it on Tuesday and Friday, perhaps updating on weekends or however frequently I can manage.

The current page is quick and dirty. I'll work on it this weekend to clean it up and make it more readable. This, at least, puts the data up on the web.

The graph is drawn in "units" of 3 or 4 days. While the current numbers may look like a straight line, rising constantly, its really a real change of gradually increasing numbers. The REAL straight line is "dummy data" for any date beyond the last entry. Rather than use zeros, I've taken the latest value and filled the source spread sheet with that number (like 11 crews active). For the next four months, as data becomes available, the line will move to reflect current data.

Enjoy. Sedgehead.

1. You have people back east who can not see the forest because of the trees.
2. The enviors (Don't confuse them with conversationalists) do not want any type of logging and they also do not want a fire destroying their trees.
3. People who have never been to a fire are calling the shots and are a serious risk to those who are on the fire line.

One more thing to remember is the Forest Service is being sued every time they try to come up with any plan.
The one thing to start considering is the groups of people who are not seeing eye to eye on certain issues all need to start standing together and only then will things start to change.
The landowner and the hunter. The firefighter and the logger.

If we don't start, nothing will be done and all the complaining in the world will not change a thing.
All this comes from a brief conversation with an ATV rider. He asked why they were having a controlled burn in a certain area. I told him that I didn't know. He then asked why they did not just do selective logging instead. I told him because the Forest Service would end up being sued by the enviros. He was disgusted.

Just some food for thought.
Cris

P.S. I guess no one else has seen the program I asked about earlier.

Hmmmm, Cris, did you mean environmentalists instead of enviors and conservationists instead of conversationalists? Let me know and I'll correct your post... Ab.

The first ones are about targets for burning being met in R3 (or any region) and what happens next:
Were the WFU (Wildland Fire Use) fires in Region 3 converted to some kind of suppression strategy after targets were met for the individual units/Forests they burned on, say, rather than being converted for exceeding prescription?

So, then fuels targets for the unit are met, right, and now a whole lot of people are on WFSU (suppression)  (http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/dispatch_logistics/crews/sit300/sit300.htm) funds rather than WFPR (preparedness) or WFHF (hazardous fuels) funds, resulting in "savings" within those reduced budget areas?

Secondly, on another all-risk kind of emergency response budget topic...
In CA and elsewhere these days, a large percentage of work that wildland firefighters do is structure/interface protection. Costs for this are charged to a P Code, right? Why aren't those costs charged to some other more logical code, like a FEMA code or an F Code? I think I heard that when firefighters worked on hurricanes last year, the costs accrued were charged to some kind of FEMA Code... ? If we're working toward streamlining budgets for accountability, why not go all the way?

Just trying to understand the parameters of the budget playing field.

Mellie

Thanks!
Cy

Cy, I'd be happy to give one of the CDFers your email addy and let him or her answer your questions. CDFers, if you're willing, let me know. Ab.

SAFETY ALERT
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST
June 20, 2006

Marijuana growing operations have intensified and become more sophisticated for this field season. Law Enforcement personnel have already eradicated nearly 70,000 marijuana plants from the Forest in the last four weeks. Saturday, June 17, two men were shot and killed execution style near Covelo after they were involved in what law enforcement officials believe was a raid or pirating of marijuana at a large growing operation. The men suspected of the killings may have traveled onto the Mendocino National Forest, Covelo Ranger District.

Covelo Ranger District Restriction of Field Administrative Duties

Because Law Enforcement is unclear of the location of the suspects in the execution killings near Covelo, all official administrative work activities and travel through the Covelo Ranger District are suspended until further notice. This suspension of work and travel applies to all Mendocino National Forest employees and other National Forest employees from other units. If Mendocino employees know of Forest Service employees from other units who are working or traveling through Covelo Ranger District, they are to inform them of the work and travel suspension. The suspension will be lifted as soon as Law Enforcement officials feel the suspect(s) have been caught or have left the area.

Covelo Ranger District Restriction of Incident Management Activities

Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers will respond to all wildland fire or all risk dispatches to accompany resources responding to incidents. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers will be stationed at Covelo until Law Enforcement officials feel the suspect(s) have been caught or have left the area.

Forest Service Field Employee Check-in Communication Plan

All Mendocino NF and other Forest Service employees will follow the Forest’s check-in procedure with their supervisor for field work on the Forest. With the increase in criminal activity, marijuana growing and link to organized crime, employees need to be aware that the growers are actively camping, working and transporting materials, food and marijuana on the National Forest. If an employee locates a marijuana plantation or observes suspicious activity, leave the area immediately and report the activity immediately to the Mendocino Dispatch Center. Follow the guidelines in the Forest-wide Job Hazard Analysis for Field Employee Check-in Communication Plan.
 

There will be a service for those who wish to attend for Doug Coyle,
on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 11 a.m. at the Huston-Jost Funeral
Home in Lebanon, OR.

Huston Jost Funeral Home
(541) 258-2123
86 W Grant St
Lebanon, OR 97355
www.hustonjostfuneralhome.com

To All Federal Wildland Firefighters:

Recently, (June 5, 2006 to be exact) Hank Kashdan, Deputy Chief for Business Operations with the Forest Service issued a memo to all Forest Service Employees reminding them of their responsibility for complying with the Standards of Ethical Conduct and other regulations relating to activities with non-federal groups.

Some have questioned the timing of the memo given the recent flurry of press articles about FS budget shenanigans and the impact on staffing etc. Some have suggested the FS has targeted the FWFSA and the memo is an attempt to stifle membership in the organization and quiet the rising voice of discontent with the status quo.

Regardless of the coincidences or the FS's intent, employees should simply follow some very basic, common sense actions when involved with non-federal organizations. Since the FWFSA is at the forefront of actively pursuing changes to better our firefighters & their families, I'll use the organization as an example.

Common sense dictates that if you want to express your views here on They Said and/or through membership in the FWFSA, avoid doing so on the Government's time and equipment i.e. using your Gov't email address, phone etc. There are times when using such equipment on Gov't time is necessary and I'm sure the FWFSA or any other organization would go to bat to protect the rights of an employee to do so if the Agency took exception to such actions.

Don't write letters to Congress criticizing the Agency or it's actions and policies on a Government computer or while on Government time. Don't make calls to the press on work time or using Gov't phones. Don't talk to the press on Gov't time and don't show up on the evening news in uniform blasting the Forest Service.

That being said, your personal, private time is your own. It is the history of this Nation that not only allows its citizens and employees, but demands that they take action to correct archaic, out-of -date policies; identify waste, fraud & abuse etc.

The FWFSA and this forum allow you to have a voice in your future. Don't be intimidated by memos, just use basic, common sense. There is no "violation" or "compromise" of any ethical standard of conduct by being a member of a non-profit employee association whose goals and objectives are to improve your pay, benefits & working conditions.

Sadly, the Agency won't do it on their own and sadly some of their actions raise ethical questions which require the FWFSA, as an organization, to address such issues with those that can effect positive change. That happens to be congress. If you believe actions by your employer stand to increase the risk to your health and safety as well as that of your co-workers and the citizens you protect, you have every right to participate in an effort to correct such actions.

Channel that however, through the FWFSA or other organizations that can use your voices as a collective tool to effect positive change. When it comes time to be invited to testify before congress on issues such as classification or budget related impact, FWFSA members who have the expertise in these areas will, by Congress, be afforded the opportunity to testify freely without fear of repercussions by the Agency.

I can tell you that this recent memo has raised a few eyebrows on Capitol Hill. However the FWFSA will give the Agency the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to a simple annual reminder. If anyone has questions or concerns about what they can and cannot do, the FS suggests you contact your Primary Ethics Advisor. You can do that...or you can call me...on your own phone and your own time of course!

Respectfully Submitted:

Casey Judd
Business Manager
FWFSA

 Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday sent 53 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) firefighters and 10 engines into Baja California to help fight a wildland fire. The group was dispatched from CDF’s Monte Vista headquarters in San Diego County, 20 miles north of the border.

The firefighters crossed the border at 7 p.m. last night to help fight the Baja wildfire that has burned more than 4,000 acres 40 miles west of San Felipe. “We want to be able to help where we can best be used,” said CDF Chief Ruben Grijalva. “These CDF firefighters are well trained and their engines are well equipped to provide Mexico with the best help possible.”

The request came to California late Saturday night. Two “strike team” crews, each with five engines and a team leader, became available to assist Mexico when CDF determined that the state could deploy resources while remaining fully staffed here.

An additional four firefighters were assigned as support staff to assist with logistical needs for the crews during their assignment in Mexico. “We have the resources to be able to help our neighbor Mexico fight this fire,” said Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman. “We have a mutual interest to keep people and property safe from wildfires and I believe it is our duty to help our friends.”

An advance team of two CDF fire chiefs and one captain traveled to the scene early Sunday to be briefed and determine where CDF’s resources could best be utilized. The engine crews were staged in Ensenada last night and are being deployed to the fire site today. It is unknown how long the firefighters will be assigned in Mexico.

A couple of you answered some questions I had a couple of CDF weeks ago, thanks! I have a few more now. With the CDF changing the work week what will be the schedule? I know it is 72 hours, I am wondering when a shift would start and then end. Another question is how are engines selected for strike team/out of county responses? My last one is a continuation from my last post as it is still not clear to me. Do seasonal firefighter 1s get a uniform allowance? Thanks
\
James

There are a number of reasons and causes for that. One, a clear lack of
leadership at most levels, especially in Washington and the regions. I see very
poor decisions being made by forest "Leadership teams" "Steering teams" and
forest "Management teams" especially when it comes to workforce planning
and fire management programs. There is a real disconnect with the field at
most levels. Many modern day forest service employees wear shorts and
sandals to work and sit in front of a computer all day, all week, all year.
That's not the forest service! The agency seems to have taken the
importance of the field out of the forest service. The agency, and my unit
in particular, reduces critical fire management positions while using
budget as an excuse but then continues to hire landscape architects,
biologists, archaeologists, etc. all the while wanting fires suppressed,
some fires managed for resource benefits and prescribed fire targets met.

We are an agency floundering without a clear goal or mission and no leader
to take up the reins and get us back on course. We have people working here
who do not support multiple use. They don't want grazing, or timber
harvest, or hazardous fuel reduction. Some don't like prescribed fire, some
don't like hunting. We've had the CD tear region 5 apart and a host of
other social engineering projects and programs to further divide our
employees. It's ironic, but with all these social improvement programs the
agency treats its employees worse than it ever has. The forest service
treats its employees like sh*t. It wasn't like that 20 or 30 years ago,
but it is now.

The agency, as a whole, has lost the traditions, work ethic, and
discipline that made it great. I don't want to see the agency outsourced.
Maybe it's happening because congress sees we can't manage or supervise
ourselves anymore. The one thing that makes Americans truly free is public
land like the national forests. Land that is owned by the American people.
A place we can go to hike, camp, hunt, fish, ride bikes, run, take
photographs, have a family picnic, get a permit to gather firewood, graze a
few cows, cut timber, do a little mining, gather mushrooms, ride horses,
etc. You name it, there are thousands of uses where free Americans can go
to enjoy their own land, and in most cases, without having to pay somebody
for it. That's what makes us truly free. Management of the national forests
in my opinion is inherently government, it should not be contracted out.

The forest service needs a real leader to kick the agency in the butt and
get this place up and running. And quit doing stupid stuff like cutting
fire management programs to the bone and beyond. Come on, get with it man!

I don't need to go into it in detail here, there has been much written and
said, but to the agency leaders in washington and in the regions and in some
S.O.'s GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE SAND! Fire management should
separate from the agency because the forest service as an agency has shown
they can no longer support fire management and they don't have the fire
savvy or sense to properly manage or oversee fire management programs.

On prescribed fire and WFU programs: I've noticed many WFUs going
suppression lately. The proper decisions must be made up front before going
WFU on natural ignitions. We do not want to lose WFU or Rx fire programs.
It is a good and important tool in forest management. I don't think good
decisions are being made when there is record drought, ERCs are at the
97th percentile and we are not even at our ERC season peak yet, we are at
record or near record ERCs, we have had large fires all winter, it is very
early in the fire season and we're going WFU. We've got to being thinking
out front. With the current fire weather and fuels conditions it is very
easy to get over extended with too many WFU incidents, and ongoing and
increasing wildland fires. What if we get a big dry lightning bust
throughout the southwest to add to the already heavy fire load? How far
are these fires going to move in a 40 MPH wind with 5% RH? Are we going to
threaten structures or towns? Let's be smart with fire use and rx fire, we
need no more bad examples and there are plenty out there we can learn from.
We need the public's support, we don't want to scare hell out of them.

I don't know if the forest service can come back from its downward spiral.
I know there are still some good forest service employees out there who
work hard. I hope we can make it. But the agency will never be what it once
was.

Bump Pulaski

On June 21, 2006, thousands of fire departments across the nation and Canada will “stand down” for firefighter safety. The NWCG is joining with the International Association Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and other groups in supporting this call for safety. I urge you to make a special effort to focus on safety that day as well. Because the responsibilities of NWCG Members are complex and far reaching, your agency may not be able to “stand down” as are some firefighting agencies. However, through a variety of methods, I encourage you to heighten your agency’s safety awareness that day through a tailgate safety session or similar brief program. This year, the focus is on emergency vehicle operations – specifically, seatbelt usage and safe driving through intersections.

The message is simple and direct: Wear your seatbelt and stop at intersections.

Attached are a few additional discussion topics you may wish to consider for tailgate safety sessions or similar programs on June 21st. You may also wish to visit the following web sites for additional information and ideas. NWCG Safety and Health Working Team (SHWT) at www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt/index2.htm or the Six Minutes for Safety Program at www.nifc.gov/sixminutes/dsp_sixminutes.php or the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) at www.iafc.org/standdown.

Thank you very much for your cooperation in this important national safety effort.

Attachment A
cc: WT Chairs
     GACG Chairs

Attachment A
June 21, 2006

Suggested Wildland Safety Topics

Moment of silence for Line of Duty Deaths

• Review and explain purpose at a Tailgate Safety Session
• Review the Watch Out Situations, Fire Orders, Risk Management Process, or LCES, etc
• Pass out copies on the Incident Response Pocket Guide (PMS#461/NFES#1077)
• Review the 2005 NWCG SAFETYGRAM (www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt)

All other agency activities (forest health, unit management, public education, etc.) should also focus on safety and health

Fire Line Safety
Review agency Standard Operating Procedures and Fire Manuals

• Review individual knowledge of communication equipment and procedures
• Review adequacy of current communication system as well as individual units

Personal Protective Equipment
Review fire suppression personal protective equipment

• Check all PPE, for obvious defects, cleaning and maintenance needs.
• Red-tag all equipment with defects and remove from service.
• Emphasize use of eye and hearing protection

Apparatus and Equipment Check
Check all fire suppression equipment and other equipment stowed on transports and other vehicles including all aircraft.

• Address MANDATORY seat belt use, driving with headlights “on” and use of emergency lights
• Review roadside response protocols for engines and response vehicles
• Conduct mandatory buddy inspections of all vehicles

Injury and infectious Disease Safety
Review agency SOPs and protocols

• Address proper PPE
• Address proper hand washing and other universal protocols

Training

• Review minimum training requirements (fire operations, driving, etc.)
• Check and ensure employees have received proper vehicle training and that it is documented, e.g. defensive driving, CDL, EOVC, ATV training
• Address wellness fitness training including how to stay fit year round

Behavioral Health

• Review and address agency’s EAPs, CISM, and other related programs.
• Go to 6 Minutes for Safety at www.nifc.gov/sixminutes or the Safety Stand Down Web site at www.iafc.org/standdown to select a different safety topic.

I can still remember meeting him at the first R5 Division Chiefs Meeting I went to in Feb, 2000. Doug was there at a booth for Wildland Firefighter Magazine. We stood and talked for almost an hour. Very nice man. Funny. Compassionate.

We talked in part about people and issues in fire. At some point the conversation turned to Dick Blood's murder. Dick had been the driver of a school bus on the Big Bar Complex. He'd been stabbed to death the last night en route home, as the crew he was driving had been demobing in Anderson CA, just south of Redding. It was a very sad affair and his murder, so far as the law was concerned, was only resolved several years later. I am certain it's still unresolved for his family... As I recall Doug was involved with the WF Foundation which I think was in its inception. The Foundation provided some money to the widow and maybe there was a little ceremony in Boise. Of course the Forest Service as an agency couldn't or didn't do anything. Made my heart hurt. ... Gee, I didn't even know Vicki in those days. Thank God for the Foundation now!

Anyway, Doug and I had much to share in that initial conversation and in subsequent ones. I took home with me a bunch of back issues of the Wildland Firefighter Magazine.

Later when we met here and there it was easy to slip back into the same conversational place.

I'll miss you Doug. God speed.

Mellie

John Henshaw
WFF Board Member

Doug and his wife Harriet lost their beautiful daughter to cancer 4 weeks ago.
Harriet has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made in his name to the
Wildland Firefighter Foundation.

I am stunned that he is gone.

Vicki Minor
Wildland Firefighter Foundation

This is indeed sad news. Condolences to Harriet and all. Please let us know about services. Ab.

So why cut IA resources? Because the WO was told not to study fire for outsourcing. If we have a bad season, the agency will be able to say we had a well suited budget and operated within our means and we still lost firefighters and homes as well as forest service land, it must be our poorly trained fire managers we better contract this out from now on so once again congress, we need to outsource! A slow season? Well they can jump up and down say, "See I told you so!!" Anyone else got any ideas?????

NORCAL Capt

I don't think it has so much to do with outsourcing as it has to do with budget crunch. Read the second article in the links below for where the $$ went. Ab.

Two good articles by Judy O'Rourke - LA Daily News

Story on Ken's Run for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation:
Run raises $31,000 for firefighters
Heat takes toll on Perry's 104-mile trek

Thoughtful synopsis of the cutbacks in SoCal:
Forest cutbacks spark backlash
Angeles fire force trimmed by 56

Thanks Firescribe. Both are a "must read"... Ab.

I heard folks from the WO are starting to play hardball. They sent out a
USDA Ethics mailer regarding "Membership in organizations outside of
the government."

Muzzling the professional fire managers?

Is this why no one is writing in to theysaid? Last I looked there were three
branches of government. Working as a public citizen through the legislative
branch is entirely LEGAL even if the administrative branch doesn't like it.
If there are repercussions, maybe the judicial branch will have to be called in,
much as I dislike lawyers (except for Old Sawyer - if he/she is one - and
Sunil, of course).

Mellie

Many firefighters are already out on assignment as well. Ab.

One of our own, a contract engine boss, was killed
near Maxwell, New Mexico. I didn't know him except by
reputation, but my heart goes out to his family.

Please, drive careful everybody.

Nerd on the Fireline

Condolences. Ab.

Thinning the Ranks
by Jessie McQuillan

How—and why—the Bush administration is dismantling the Forest Service

Unsafe fire engines and chronically backlogged repairs were not likely what the federal government had in mind when it outsourced all the maintenance of California’s Forest Service vehicles in 2005.

Nonetheless, that’s just what it got when it handed the jobs of 80 government employees over to Britain’s Serco Management Services, which the agency called at the time “a leading international outsourcing company.”

The contract, undertaken in accordance with President George W. Bush’s competitive sourcing initiative, handed over to Serco the repair, maintenance and inspection duties for all vehicles used in California’s 18 national forests; it was billed as an estimated savings of $1.7 million in fiscal year 2005. But numerous brake failures, inadequate annual inspections and a ballooning backlog of work began plaguing the agency within weeks of the company’s February 2005 start date. In one case, an accident investigation discovered failed brakes on a fire engine though it had been twice repaired by Serco mechanics, according to the Forest Service. In another example, government inspectors “red tagged” 14 out of 25 fire engines for critical safety issues just after Serco’s annual service checkups. etc...

Thanks. Ab.

Fire Ecologist Chick

OK, how about that's enough on that topic. Question has been asked and opinions offered. Ab.

Tim Ingalsbee is a professor at Oregon State University who involves the
Forest Service in expensive litigation so that projects like salvage
logging and fuels reductions don't occur. He spoke in opposition to such
projects as the Quincy Library Group fuels reduction. It is in my opinion
that folks such as himself that devote time and energy and money to making
sure that active management of our national forests does not occur need to
get a life. I can't believe that a guy like that who says fuel reductions
are bad is going to put his name in with people who have something to do
with fire fighter safety. People like him are why the Megram fire and
other big fires got so big and intense due to that tie up in court
litigation. Thankfully as a HSU alumnus, I am glad that Humboldt can't
claim him.

klamathman prosthetize s preaches

The FWFSA is honored and pleased to report that the House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce & Agency Organization has decided to stop waiting for voluntary compliance by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding proper federal wildland firefighter classification and will introduce legislation mandating the classification change and call for a deadline for OPM to implement the changes.

The FWFSA has been assured that it will be involved in the crafting of the classification content. The call for proper classification of our federal wildland firefighters has been an on-going goal & objective of the FWFSA. This legislation is a result of perseverance, hard work and the FWFSA's ability to educate Congress on the issues facing our firefighters.

For more information, please contact FWFSA Business Manager Casey Judd at (208) 775-4577 or cjudd@fwfsa.org.

Does anyone know exactly how the reductions in engine coverage play out on a daily basis? ie -reduction to 5 day coverage from 7 day coverage? I know for my forest but not for the larger picture. The larger pic will have an effect if multiple regions get burning at once.

By the way, MS, officials are often required to toe the govt line when talking to the press. Over the years I have known some to be threatened with loss of their job for failure to do so. Let's not be shafting the messenger. The problem really lies with the Washington Office Forest Service flimflam. We just need to get the true numbers out there.

When there's a vacuum in the leadership department because the cost for honestly speaking out is too great, we all need to step up. No one should be a martyr here for telling the truth from their professional expertise. The public and our cooperators need to know.

Thanks for the forum Abs.

Tahoe Terrie

You're welcome. Ab.

Julie Vogan
Office: (530) 252-6620
Email: jvogan@ fs.fed.us

RAY QUINTANAR’S RETIREMENT PARTY
Date: Saturday June 24, 2006
Time: High Noon - Dusk
Location: Freedom Park, North Highlands CA
(next to McClellan Aviation Museum)
BBQ: Burgers/Hotdogs, Salads, Beans, Beer/Sodas & all the fixin’s
Traditional Roast & Presentations
Cost: $20/per person, includes gift
RSVP BY JUNE 16
COME OUTFITTED HAWAIIAN STYLE

The flyer said today is the deadline. They want a headcount. At least give Julie a call or email and then mail her your check. Snail mail addy is on the RSVP doc. Ab.
Directions to Freedom Park.
Ray's Retirement.doc
RSVP.doc

A National Fire Plan

They built a brand new policy in Washington last year
To save our trees from demon fire more money did appear
Will thin and burn and then will add more safety regulations
That will affect the deficit to record tribulation

She’s roped and tied and packaged
As “A National Fire Plan”
A good idea at the start, but tortured none the less
By bureaucratic leadership and centralized intent

If truth be known it’s all about increased responsibility
With less authority by plan for those out on the land
Which all equates to “take more risk” for rangers in the field
Make one mistake you’re history; that’s zero tolerance

They took a pinch of Storm King and a scoop of Thirty-mile
Then covered it with Cramer; as OSHA stood its guard
Clanged the evening dinner bell; force fed it to the troops
With fire shelter recalls – and acronyms to spare
Like NFMAS, WUI, MEL; WFSA and the like
A “Healthy Happy Forest” soon to sprout before your eyes

No jumpers – No air tankers – But bureaucrats to spare
300 new in Washington (1) for fires that happen there
But most of all there’s paper work controlled all from the top
What happened to initiative and individual thought?

Do not aggressively attack that little smoke you see
Until your checklist clears the path to Washington, DC

You’re still not cleared until the crew is briefed and “quals” are checked
That little smoke has grown and grown; but you’re not ready yet

Inspect the crew for safety’s sake; they’re all so young and green
That little smoke is blowing up; now running through the trees

Now IC’s turn their red cards back and FMO’s resign
They’re jumping ship like sea born rats; this outfit’s in a bind

I guess this fire thing don’t work; there’s always prescribed burning
Six years of drought and rampant weeds; “I fail to see the problem”

And so the “Brass” they figure out to double all the targets
The “Supervisors” all agree and pledge to one another;
“We will obtain deliverables; the troops must meet the outputs!
We all need feathers for our hats and rewards for; …our exemplary service”

If one of these planned prescribed burns escapes its burning boundaries
A detailed inquisition must find guilt so heads can roll
For to the lowest level, the guillotine applies
The field it now is wondering; why should we even try?

What was that flash across the deck? The Burn Boss just jumped ship
They are quite rare in these here parts; can’t blame em, not a bit

That “Early Out” ten years ago foundered this horse to “hurtin”
We lost the men who always called the “bullsh#t” that’s for certain
On all these new “Initiatives” and paperwork inflation
Will toast their passing from our midst and hail their dedication

The “Old War Horse” (2) is broken down, to ride he’s almost worthless
It’s time to turn him out to graze; reward for years of service

And yet, this outfit was at once, one right fine piece of work
Those were the days, militia reigned; but don’t you get me started

Karl Brauneis
Forester
Copyright @ Karl Brauneis 2004 as published in “The Smokejumper” / Fall 2005
Missoula Smokejumper Class of ‘77

Terms and references:
(1) Douglas R. Leisz / “A Curmudgeon’s Frustration” / Wildland Firefighter – 9/2000
(2) Old War Horse: Refers to the Old Guard of the U.S. Forest Service

Red Card: A firefighter’s qualification card
FMO : Fire Management Officer
IC : Incident Commander (Fire Boss)
“quals” : Qualifications
Militia : Every Forest Officer is a Firefighter as compared to a segregated fire corps.
WUI : Pronounced “WooE”. Wildland Urban Interface
WFSA : Pronounced “WooFSA”. Wildland Fire Situation Analysis
NFMAS : Pronounced “NifMas”. National Fire Management Analysis System
HFRA : Healthy Forest Restoration Act a “Healthy Happy Forest”
OSHA : Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Authors note: For a detailed assessment of this topic read the GAO Report of August 2003; Wildland Fire Management.

Quadruple Supervision
-or-
“A Wyoming Rangers Lament”

Sometimes a good thing just don’t work
When you’re riding for this outfit
Like Pinchot’s way to “decentralize”
Now he got it right – for certain!

Where every man had just one boss
And all who worked the forest
Knew of this fact; Those District Rangers they all sat;
Just a little left of GOD

Then out of Harvard did appear
A brand new way to manage
Centralize, consolidate; reduce your field time
Then schedule twice the work to do and cut your bottom line

For soon the zone it did appear
As districts faded under
So now you drive… and drive… and drive
A days three quarter ride

First Black Rock; then the Greybull;
Clarks Fork, Paintrock, Teensleep;
Elk Mountain and Encampment; no longer
On the ledger of forest ranger districts

Consolidate the Medicine Bow
With the Routt across state lines
Then throw in Thunder Basin
“Now there’s a big out circle ride”

With all the driving that we do
This going to and fro;
We now, can start and stop our pay
For a new boss every day

There’s one for every district that you’re trying to appease
And now it seems the forest staff thinks he’s the bigger cheese
But the darndest thing I must admit; is “computerized confusion”
The Regional staff in Denver writes; for your personal communion

It’s just the start what we all fear – more supervisory obtrusion

And through it all the worst you see
Has happened to the service
With all the driving to and fro
There’s nothing left to offer

I guess that’s why the public;
Prints shirts and cups and hats
That labels this here outfit
A Forest Circus Act

Karl Brauneis

Forest Ranger - Retired
Copyright @ Karl Brauneis 2004
Missoula Smokejumpers Class of 1977
As published in “The Smokejumper” fall of 2004

Terms and references:
Out circle: Cowboy term for riding the outside circle first and proceeding in during roundup.

“Forest Circus” U.S. Department of Aggravation.

Pinchot: Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service under President Theodore Roosevelt. He was later fired by President Taft for standing up to corrupt politicians and the “politically correct” of the Taft Administration. Roosevelt countered with the new Progressive Party.

Karl is a member of the “Cowboy Poets of Wind River” and can be reached at brauneisfam@wyoming.com in Lander, Wyoming

Thanks Karl. Ab.

TC

ANF Deputy Chief Don Garwood said recent reports that budget cuts made in the U.S. Forestry Service may put the area at risk if there was a fire are untrue.

All Angeles resources are still here," he said. "Our budget really didn't change. We chose to reduce staffing to live within our means."

Garwood added that citizen groups and organizations, such as the Boy Scouts and Fire Explorers, help the forestry service with many fire prevention programs.

MS

"This regressive move by the Bush administration sets back federal fire management policies over 10 years of progress, putting the Six Rivers and Sequoia back into the dark ages," said Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of the Oregon- ased Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology."

Is he from Humboldt State University? What am I missing?

Oliver Moore

Not from HSU. Ab

Please pass on that Horseshoe Bob will be retiring on October 31st, 2006.

His retirement party will be in Visalia, Ca. at the Holiday Inn on January 13th, 2007
located on Hwy 99 and Hwy 198.

Thankyou,

Charlie B

Ken's Run in Desert Wings.pdf <~1200 K pdf file>

Thanks .....

Lori

Nice story, neat pic. Nice Job, Eric. Ab.

ANF Deputy Chief Don Garwood said recent reports that budget cuts made in the U.S. Forestry Service may put the area at risk if there was a fire are untrue.

"All Angeles resources are still here," he said. "Our budget really didn't change. We chose to reduce staffing to live within our means."

Garwood added that citizen groups and organizations, such as the Boy Scouts and Fire Explorers, help the forestry service with many fire prevention programs.

(Please remember that government officials speaking in their official capacity have to respond with the agency response, even if it is factually incorrect. 5 day engines vs. 7 days engines and cuts to two handcrews is not "all Angeles resources are still here". Many of the people who are having to tote the "agency line" are good folks who are stuck between a rock and a hard place.... it is not fair to them or the public to allow this agency misinformation to continue, and increase the risks to our firefighters and/or our communities.)

Noname

www.contracostatimes.com

No Fire Management plan? HUH? interesting article

JE

"Opinion is varied on when and how virulent the next global flu outbreak would be, but even a modest epidemic -- similar to the pandemic that hit in 1968 -- could kill between 89,000 and 207,000 Americans. If the next virus mimics the far more potent 1918 strain, the U.S. death toll could reach 1.9 million."

The current H5N1 strain has between 50-100% mortality. If the virus (H5N1) continues its evolutionary process and continues in its current death and infection rates, it could mean tens or hundreds of millions dead in the United States..... Well beyond the 1918 model.

Wildland firefighters..... it is time to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Lobotomy

DS

Could someone please explain the difference between Fire Suppression Funding and Fire Preparation Funding. I have heard both terms. Has one gone down and the other gone up or stayed the same in the current budget cycle? Preparation Funding must relate to engines and crews that are hired. Does it also relate to training? Does Suppression Funding relate to cutting brush? How do the two kinds get funded by Congress? Does Congress say "so much" for one and "so much" for the other? If they don't get that specific in designating where the money must be spent, how does the FS budget break them out? Is one more important than the other?

How are big fires paid for? It seems that the engines and crews you have ready at the beginning (Preparation) would also be critical resources for a big fire like the 2003 California fires. You can't just go out and find groups of people to fight fires at the last moment.

I apologize for all the questions. I'm trying to get my feet on the ground about these budget issues and firefighter cuts. I may write an article if I can sort it out.

Shirley

His picture alone is worth a thousand words...

Ray's Retirement.doc
RSVP.doc

Ab.

The big fires of 98 in R-8 and in R1 and R4 are what gave you the National Fire plan in 2001. In the world of DC, 5 years was a long time ago  If the fires in So Cal in 2003 never happened, I believe the funding would have stopped sooner in R-5 and elsewhere. Stop and think about how many P numbers you have used on your unit and how long in the past 3 years it took to make it work. To end this I will say that the only way to keep FFPC in all regions is to end the Cost Pool's rake-off and the Forest Supervisor's rake-off on the Fire Budget. Oh by the watch, the Fuels budget too has been used in some regions and in some Forests, it can and will be use as a cash Cow to fund other areas than fire/fuels.

Tmo Spike

Some Ab notes for the journalists who are trying to understand this...

FFPC = Fire Fighter Production Capability; the unit by which different modules and resources are weighted into the budget to try to adequately meet firefighting needs.
WFSU = Wildland Fire Suppression Funds, a fund code.
WFPR = Wildland Fire Preparedness Resources or Wildland Fire Pre-suppression Fund, a fund code.
AD Crew = "Administratively Determined" = a Temporary Crew.

NORCAL Capt, let me try to elaborate or clarify your statement: "HSA dictates retention issues." I think you might have stated that in reverse and really mean that "retention problems lead to failure to meet HSA targets."

From where I sit, HSA (the Hispanic Settlement Agreement) is a given. The need to comply with HSA may influence retention, but only in a small way -- in that there's pressure to hire those who may not really want a career in firefighting. Some young city Hispanics may get into fire not really knowing what they're getting into. Living in remote communities without a local established Hispanic community may be hard. However, finding their way in the workplace is the challenge facing of all young people getting their first jobs... To some extent all new hires have to evaluate the fit between the job and their lives, their dreams, their priorities, and quit if it doesn't fit...

A more important issue, as I see it, is that failure with retention influences the Forest Service's ability to comply with HSA. Maybe this is where you were trying to go. Once hired and trained in fire, it's nearly impossible for the FS to retain these trained and qualified Hispanic firefighters because the FS is in competition with other non-federal agencies that face the same Hispanic hiring pressures but pay substantially more. I'm sure all of you have noticed that there are few Hispanic applicants at the GS-6 and 7 levels. We train 'em and they take higher paying jobs with another Agency. They want to buy a house too - American dream? Many Hispanic firefighters are not about to move to Montana or Indiana away from their Hispanic communities because housing may be cheaper, either. You'd think the WO would see the pattern...

The WO argument "We don't mind training them because it raises the level of firefighters in general even if they go to other agencies..." Well and good, but again taxpayers pay FEDERAL taxes for FEDERAL wildland firefighter training, not to train firefighters that are hired away, the same firefighters who then must be contracted and paid when the fire goes gunnysack at a rate 3 times the federal level. This doesn't make financial sense! Ab.

NWCG - Policy on Alcohol Use

Sorry it's so late.

<Noname> Fed

Please visit our web site at www.fwfsa.org or contact Casey at 208-775-4577.

FFPC = Fire Fighter Production Capability

And Thistleglow Fire just reduced the asking price for their Type 6 engine, along with adding offers to lease or lease to own.  OA

Well if some of you recall I sent a message in 2002 or so that the ride we and you have in R-5 would fall again,  like it did in the late 70's and again in the 80's.  The Forest Service fire side of the house always thinks the money will last. The fact is the Forest Service will always do the build up and then take it apart within five years of a fat budget. . . I am sorry to see it happen again to all the outstanding firefighters in the Forest Service, but I knew it would come to pass. The only reason it went five years is because of the Q-man. . .

Tmo Spike

I sure hope the fire gods got the memo that the Angeles has planned to have less fires this year! I think the last time I looked their reductions are alot more than just a couple firefighters per engine and some other resources but greater than 30% effectiveness per day. yep 28? engines with maybe 20 or less available every day presuming that there are no fires anywhere else and everyone is home and not in some stupid mandatory training which makes them unavailable.

Those numbers make them less staffed than in the early to mid 1980s.

Just a reader

Wow It was great to be involved in this great effort
and I would like to extend my heart felt thanks to all
those who stepped up to make this a success. Ken, your
the greatest and have truly demonstrated the "Power of
One". Look what has grown from your individual efforts.

To all the folks that hit the road and ran, what a
great way to help those who find themselves in need
due to no choice of their own. I would like to thank
the Agencies that stepped up and Supported in any way
possible from start to finish, Kern County Fire Dept,
California City Fire Department, Edwards AFB Fire,
Security, Information, Base Operations, and Los
Angeles County Fire Dept. The Fed and college crews
and their supporters who ran with Ken and picked up
the run when his body said "enough", and the individuals
from some agencies who did what was right.

I find it interesting that the run benefits the Wildland
Firefighter Foundation, who help WLFFs everywhere in
this great country regardless of agency, state,
jurisdiction, color of rig or shape of badge, yet the
greatest agency support came from our brothers and
sisters of the Military and Municipalities.

Hutch

BY JUDY O'ROURKE, Staff Writer
http://www.dailynews.com/santaclarita/ci_3906453

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Fifty-six fewer firefighters will man the 28 engines in the Angeles
National Forest, and 40 regional "hotshot" crew members will be
phased out." (2 less firefighters per engine module and two "hotshot"
crews have been cut)."

Noname

Hmmmmm and what exactly has the WO told Congress? Ab.

Here are some pictures of a FT that I'm restoring.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com

J.B.

It rains a lot in DC. Ab.

I am a new hire with a start date of next month and I am looking at being prepared when I show up on day one. My most pressing question regards uniforms. Is there in fact a uniform allowance? If so when is it available. Do I need to purchase a couple of sets now and get more later? Any other tips you may have for me to be better prepared will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
\
James

I think they're gon'na have to do something to keep their videographers awake if they do. Photo Page is done except for any corrections. Several ? remain. Anyone who wants to do a list of about where you were at what time, at about what mile, and when runners picked up the torch for Ken, well, that would be very interesting and would document the event. We could add it to the photo description page. Ab.

For those still wanting to pledge, the link to the pledge page is right above this post in the table. I put it in RED. Ab.

You can send your check to

Wildland Firefighter Foundation
2049 Airport Way
Boise, Idaho 83705

Thanks for the photographs and descriptions. Ab.

Many thanks to all who participated.

Photos should be completed by noon or so. Thanks to those besides Tom and GISgirl who are sharing, especially thanks to Lee Anne Frazier.

Ab.

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to send a quick email to thank you all for your hard work and
efforts for Ken's Run. You all jumped right in to help and did whatever
needed to be done. I think I can freely speak for Vicki and Ken - we could
not have done this 2nd year Run without you. Your compassion, heart, and
individual strengths were at the core of getting this event pulled together.
I thank you all from the very bottom of my heart.

I will be working on loose ends of the Run; from pledges, to mailing out
t-shirts to our sponsors, etc. Please feel free to give me your input if
you know that there are other's to thank and recognize. I don't want to
leave anyone out. Just a couple reminders for folks:

Debbie - Could you get me the names of all the contacts at Edwards so we can
get a nice thank you out.
X Kellogg and Stephanie English - I'd like to send a letter off to all the
local companies and organizations that helped pitch in on the finish line
picnic.

Have a safe and beautiful summer with your families and friends!

Melissa Schwagerl
Wildland Firefighter Foundation

The run has come and gone. I must say that I had a good time again this year. I remember more of it than the last one. I only wish my body had had as good a time. I am still having thoughts that I shoulda just kept going, and I'm sure I will for some time. But, at the same time, I'm happy with 100 K. If this had been a "race", I would have bailed much earlier in the evening. Getting as much as possible... at least to Fox... became the goal. I knew fairly early on that there was no way I was going to make the 25 hour cut-off. Although I was never sure that would happen, when it became later and later. I felt that asking all the runners and supporters to just hang out and wait till 8 PM on Sat. was a little too much. The fact that Jaime and Brian were there when I stumbled in at 0330, made it easier (not easy) to bow out but keep the spirit of the event. Finishing up the last 5 miles with everyone also made the sting a little less.

I any event, I want to thank everyone that ran with me: the Texas Canyon and Kern Valley Hot Shots, the Rio Hondo Roadrunners (one of whom ran 47 miles), the firefighters from Edwards Air Force Base and LA County Camp 2 crewmen. Darin and Debbie Thompson, who hung with me for 19 miles through the night. My wife, Wendy who started off with me like she did last year, and supports my obsession. And, of course, all of the team and supporters that endured the 104 degree desert, and those like the Abs behind the scenes. the sponsors we had. Vicki and Melissa from WFF. And finally, the people that pledged to this good foundation. I was aware of each person and the part they played in making this happen. My job was easy by comparison.

I don't know whether or not I will have to take next year off. But I hope someone will come up with an idea to carry on this event, wherever and whatever it may be.

KCP

I asked Ken about the 100 K. Here's what he replied: 

100 kilometers=62 miles.

It's just a milestone in ultra running...50K 50 mile 100K 100 miles, etc.

kcp

Mellie

Video clip links on the Info and status page. Ab.

We are so caught up in doing what everyone else wants us to do, we are to scared to do what is right. The HSA is valid but it is paralyzing our agency and not allowing us to hire the right person for the job. How are we going to hire a 3-5-7 to replace the JAC that was prepped for that same job? That is not the only problem in this political circus, I'm sorry for all of the people that bleed green, I used to be one, but we are getting screwed by the RO, OPM, and WO. 

Sorry to all of those good old boys in the mid-west but we are not getting paid what we deserve. It's time to break away from the rest of the nation and get with the times. What we do in So Cal. is a hell of a lot different than what ya'll do. Why does everything have to be an act of congress and have to apply to the whole nation. Hell maybe if we paint our engines red we just might get a raise and the rest of the world would realize we fight fire not deliver sparkletts water. 

I'm so tired of everyone calling us FIREFIGHTERS, we are FORESTRY TECHNICIANS; how can the government get away with putting FIRE on our vehicles when we are not firefighters. That is the root of all our problems: give us the pay and benefits and we would not have the retention problem that the OPM seems to think is not a problem. Why do we keep putting ourselves out on a limb to go to T/C's , medical aides and structure fires, that we are not even responsible for?( All hazard all risk my ASS) 

OHHHHH I know why, because we need overtime to support our families. Without overtime we can't even make a decent living. How can unemployment pay more for a GS-4 than I make on a base check as a GS-7, to burn piles everyday, and then they wonder why my attitude sucks. 

More to come from this disgruntled <snipped location> forestry tech.

I think I have the Incident Management Team info and GACC info pages updated. Type I Teams and Type II Teams. Please take a look for your team and see if everything is correct. Let us know if not. Some teams have only team roster, while many have websites. Some websites are out of date. If any of the teams need a small website tune up, give a holler. Ab.

Final photos and video clip are being served up! Finish line photos will get posted when they can be sent.

The video clip of the Finish is up! (Click the Info and Status Page Link above.)

Thanks everyone! Those on the site at LACO Station 126, party hardy!

The Abs.

The big mass of Texas Canyon and Kern Valley HotShots running en mass reached the finish line and they slowed down and stopped at the line, looking for Ken to break the tape. He was in the middle of the pack, hanging back, not wanting to be the first to break the tape. They grabbed him and pushed him to the front. He grabbed them and pulled them along to break the tape in the COLLECTIVE  KEN manner. What a great effort by ALL!

Watch the video clip. You can see the collective win!

While still in the Canyon at San Fransquito Station (home of Engine 35) on a hydration break and pit stop, Vicki Minor pulled up with her little grandson and talked to them, tearfully congratulating them for what they were doing in the relay. Hope someone got a photo of smeared makeup!

The hotshots are running their hearts out for Ken. 

For those who don't know, when a firefighter goes down, others step in to support their brother or sister. Warriors were supporting Warriors as the runners crossed Andrews Air Force Base and other Wilderness Warriors now Road Warriors have stepped in and stepped up to carry Ken's torch on the homestretch. (Ken's resting in the back of the ICP, he's not supposed to run we've been told... but knowing him, he likely will.)

Sounded pretty exciting in the background as Debbie spoke. The runners are on time to finish within the original timeframe of 24 hours (1330 today). Debbie said there are engines from LACO FD, Moorepark FD, FS, BLM and other rigs that are traveling with the runners. It's red lights and runners and gawking people amazed at the spectacle.

WHO IS KEN AND WHY IS HE RUNNING??? Ken is a collective as well as being his own unique self, of fire people supporting the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in our own mode of PLAY. 

I'm sizing and posting photos. OA has just updated maps and there are new video clips. Links at top of page. Stay tuned.

Ab.

OA posted several night-time video clips of runners leaving EAB and of night runners. Can't see much in the dark, but sounds like they're still carrying on.

Hopefully we'll get some updates soon.

Ab.

1 mile or 104 miles, it doesn't matter; what you are, and what you stand for, are the most important thing. Your sacrifice to help others is what this is all about. Everyone is proud of what you accomplished and I hope more people start donating today so we can get closer to the goal that was set. I STILL DON'T SEE ALOT OF THE HOTSHOT CREWS, TYPE TWO CREWS AND ENGINE CREWS ON THE PLEDGE LIST.

Thanks again Ken and thanks also to all the people who helped plan and participate in this event.

DS

I know it's not over, that firefighters are still running. I hope folks will keep pledging. It's this kind of activity that firefighters and the extended community do as a form of "play" that just blows me away!!!

Yay rah for the NorCal II team members who have pledged. 

I love you all!!!

Mellie

For all you folks who pledged for each mile Ken runs, paying for 57 miles is satisfactory.  However, in an effort to maintain the spirit of the event and continue to promote of the cause of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, the run has evolved into more of a relay.  Jaime Puente, many of you will remember him from his surprising ability to accompany Ken for 30 miles during last years run, and Brian Skerston, both of the Texas Canyon Hotshots, have taken the torch from Ken and have been on the road for a couple of hours now.  Their location is about midway between Fox Field and Green Valley (see the updated Current Location Map link above).  The team will meet again soon to update today's action plan, including determining if Ken may be able to rejoin the relay for various periods.  We'll let you know asap as we hear about it.  Congratulations from all of us to Ken for breaking his own distance record he set last year.  OA

Just talked with Debbie. She says all is going well, although she says it's grueling just to watch -- her heart's pounding and she's sweating...

Weather is it's hot and dry, chapped lips country fer sure. They've had some overcast. HUTCH chimed in with a spot weather report: 95 degrees F, 15% RH, wind's started to kick in, still high, light cloud cover. 

Roadrunner Hotshots are running with Ken, Melissa and Tony (Killer) are pedaling, 12-13 cars with Run Ken Run signs on the back are situated before and behind the runners filled with kids, supporters, team members, etc, being led in cheers by the RahRah DIVS Lori Greeno.

They're on a 17 mile stretch of dirt road moving toward Edwards... 

Stay tuned...

Ab.

I realize what Kens Run does for us, last year and this year…. is create a coming together of the whole wildland fire community… 

not over a fatality…. but a fun and exciting event. My Heart is with Ken as he runs for all of us.

A teary and grateful Vicki Minor

The morning briefing has been held. Ken, along with the team and supporters are en route to the first staging area to collect a few more folks, then on to the starting line. Temp was an already 88 degrees at the briefing. Ken's feeling good and anxious to get going!

Photos here: www.wildlandfire.com/pics/wff-ken06/run.htm 

Compliments of Victoria Smith, one of our embedded photographers. 

Run Ken Run! Ab.

Here's a photo of me and my neighbor Elisabeth. She's going to sell sno-cones
tomorrow after she get home from 1st grade, and donate to the WFF.

See ya,
KCP

The start of Ken's run is a short 24 hours off and I believe everything is set to go. The other night Ken, X Kellogg and I were talking after finalizing things. One of the subjects that we talked about was the tightness of the "Brother and Sisterhood" of firefighters. How we all hang together when the chips are down and when it's for a great cause. There is not a more generous group of people in the world than firefighters when it comes to helping our fellow firefighters and others. We all dig into our pockets for the reserve of time -- which most of us have precious little of -- or to give a helping hand or dollar to those in need.

Some of us like Ken really step it up and go to superhuman strides to be of service to our fellows. As of 5 minutes ago the pledge count was at 156 pledges and almost $27K way short of the final numbers from Kens 52 run last year. Please folks, how about putting your name on the list. Yep its early in the fire season and I do remember the days of considering a second job or food stamps to make ends meet, especially early in the season. Anything is something and those of us that are somewhat better off can afford it.

Remember this isnt a California or just Federal thing; its a wildland firefighter thing and every firefighter is a wildland firefighter in one way, shape, or form.

Good luck Ken and may the Gods of good luck smile on your safe return home on Saturday evening.

HUTCH

Firefighters, companies, others who are considering it, you can pledge now and pay out of that first or second overtime check, heck as late as the end of July. Hop on and support this thing. Ab.

RUN KEN RUN!!!!!!

Let’s get those pledges rolling!

Those in driving vicinity – please come and cheer one crazy man and a bunch of
other fire runners on to finish! Don’t be shy, come and say HI.

Thanks for keeping the energy levels WAY UP!!

Paula Perry

Stay tuned, Fire Community, and prepare to be to turned on to the magic of mobile GIS!

I know I can speak for Original Ab when I say Whooooooooo Hoooooooooo! This Ab is looking forward to learning a lot and seeing a lot.

Anyone at the Run, keep a heads up for John and the film crew. John did the WFF video. Nice stuff! What a great resource. Thanks, John. Ab.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the t-shirts for Ken's Run will be available at the run for $15.00, or, if you can only make it there in spirit, on line at www.wffoundation.org, or you can call our office at (208) 336-2996 and we will mail one right out to you. To see a picture of the shirt, which is really awesome (thanks Ian), go to www.wffoundation.org/kperry06/promogear.htm. Thanks for all of your support!

Evie
Wildland Firefighter Foundation

The people who provided this wonderful event for the families, came at no expense to the Foundation. Brookstone and Rickaby even came all the way from California!

I couldn't believe it. These great volunteers wouldn’t even let us buy them gas. Please, Community, when you firefighters see these companies & folks out on the road, on the fireground or in firecamp this summer, shake their hands or give them one of those big Smokey bear hugs. They gave us all a LOT!.

I have noticed that there are only a few companies who are supporting Wildland Firefighters on the Kens Run pledge page. All the time I have firefighters ask me to let them know which companies are backing them up by supporting the Foundation. I will tell you… whether individual and company, you can't buy the PR you will get… when you support the Wildland Firefighter, especially when something is close to their heart.. So please do.. support them.. through this run.

I received a letter from Jim Felix of the Supply Cash, and I quote “ I am so pleased that Diane and I have some place to give back to the wildland fire community where we make our living from”.

Help us call companies and let them know of this opportunity -- that they can help -- by pledging to Ken’s Run. Believe me, this Foundation and its Board of Directors have no sense of entitlement to any company’s money, we just want to make a difference in the lives of firefighters when it counts and we want to let companies know they can help. Ab just told me that Ken's Pledge page will remain up and open for two weeks following the run.
Anyone who can't pay right now can pay through the end of July.

WILL YOU HELP?

Vicki Minor
WFF

My father was killed 48 years ago in the Stewart Fire on the Cleveland NF.
About a year and a half ago Dennis Baldridge, Bill Kuche and the Laguna
Hotshots (Descanso Ranger District, Cleveland, NF) began doing research on
fire-related fatalities on their forest. Eventually they tracked me down
and for the past 18 months they have done everything to research my
father's death and to provide me with information. In preparation for this
year's Family Day at the Wildland Firefighter Memorial, the Laguna Hotshots
extended the offer to pay for my Dad's marker that was placed in the
monument. They told me they would be honored to pay for it in his memory.
Dennis Baldridge attended the Family Day weekend and presented my Mom with
a Fallen Firefighter statue.

I have never met more kind, compassionate, caring people and want to
personally thank all of them. I hope I have the good fortune to meet the
rest of these men and women who have touched me and my family so deeply
with their generosity and kindness. They have truly helped to keep my
Father's memory alive and to celebrate his all too short life. Have a safe
fire season; I will keep you all in my heart and prayers.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Adam on behalf of Joe E. Adam and his Family

Amazing...  Dennis, Bill and Laguna Shots way to come through for a family and do the right thing. Kathleen, we have a remarkable community. I'm glad you got such a wonderful welcome to the fold. Ab.

Less than 2 days. All the preparations are falling into place. The volunteers have spent many hours of personal time, making sure that all the little cogs are lined up to make the “Run” successful. The team is buzzing, making sure that committed actions are followed up on. There are many “heroes” this year that have gone the extra mile to make sure, routes, security and safety issues are addressed. We thank you all. There are the people who have donated materials, signs, food, vehicles, etc. I guess what I’m saying here is the “event” is going to happen. What we have to make sure of here, is that the needs… the ones that this benefit is designed to cover are addressed. Last year at this point of preparation, I believe we were a little farther along in pledges for the WFF. I would like to challenge people to dig into your hearts just a little bit. Be a part a part of the compassion in a proactive rather than a reactive sense. The love that comes together in a drive like this does more to heal and create the sense of “family”. Our Family here understands that the people who do the most dangerous jobs, are putting their lives on the line for us. These Heroes, are making a sacrifice, some know it, some don’t realize how much. We must appreciate, and show our appreciation to them. Give what you can, when you can, but do make a commitment right now. If you have not, Go to the Pledge page right now. Give a flat amount, an amount per mile, whatever you feel that you can give. They’re not going to ask for your credit card on Saturday night when the Run is over, But it would make us feel good to see your commitment right now. Get the spirit of the metaphor:…. One man makes a wild-ass commitment, goes beyond what he’s sure he can do, and ultimately he reaches the objective. Challenge yourself, Challenge your co-workers. This is for all of us.

Thanks to all

Ian

Please share with employees who have positions on engines. Note that this letter is in the final stages of being signed by the Chief.

File Code: 6150-1 Date:
Route To:
Subject: Results of Review of Engine Captain Positions
To: Regional Foresters

I recently directed the Human Capital Management (HCM) staff to convene a small team of classification specialists and fire management subject matter experts from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service to review the classification of Supervisory Forestry Technician (Engine Captain) positions at the GS-08 level. In early April, the team reviewed both the supervisory and non-supervisory work of GS-08 Engine Captain positions, and expanded their findings to encompass all engine types. I have accepted their determination that the GS-08 grade level is supportable for an Engine Captain of a Type III or IV engine in areas with the added complexities of wildland-urban interface, including proximity of high-value improvements, and regular and recurring all-hazard incidents and frequent interagency jurisdictional issues and coordination requirements, and that the GS-07 grade level is supportable for all engine types when these complexities are not present.

It is important to note that the difference in grade does not represent a difference in the Agency’s performance expectations for knowledge, skills and abilities of an Engine Captain; they are the same for all Engine Captains, regardless of engine type. This is particularly salient as it supports our mobile forces concept for fire suppression, use, and support.

The interagency classification team will be developing an interagency position description for a GS-08 Engine Captain within the next few months. In the meantime, new Agency Position Files (APFs) in Avue have been established by the HCM Staff for your use. See enclosure for classification guidance and the list of APF’s.

Where it is determined that upgrades to encumbered positions are warranted, you are authorized to proceed with non-competitive promotions based on a reclassification study of this work. Where it is determined that existing grade levels are correct, it will be necessary to reassign employees to new position descriptions; however, we are asking that you hold off on reassignments until the interagency position descriptions have been developed. As a reminder, in accordance with CFR 511.704(a) (4), an employee whose position is upgraded is not entitled to back pay.

Questions may be directed to Joan Shelly, HR Specialist (Classification) at
(215) 257-3190 or via e-mail to jmshelly@fs.fed.us.

DALE N. BOSWORTH
Chief

Enclosure

cc: Michael Bunten, pdl wo OPS HRM class officers, pdl wo OPS HRM employment officers, pdl wo OPS HRM personnel officers, Kathy Burgers, Tom Harbour

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enclosure
Classification Guidance
GS-08 Engine Captain positions

The classification factors differentiating the grades between the positions are “complexity” and “scope and effect.” Typically, our larger engines (Types III and IV) are located within or near highly urbanized areas. Their work affects, and is greatly affected by, the frequency and severity of all-hazard incidents. The proximity to these highly urbanized areas multiplies interagency jurisdictional issues and complicates coordination requirements and efforts. In these areas, the density and proximity of high-value improvements increases the scope and effect of the work. Further, the work of Engine Captains in or near highly urbanized areas is often more immediately visible to the public and frequently subject to the concurrent extra-Agency accountability. These same elements affecting complexity and scope and effect do not normally accrue to our Type VI engines, as they are generally located in more remote, rural settings due in part to their configuration, pump and tank capacities, and ability to negotiate primitive roads. There may be situations, however, where a Type VI Engine Captain is performing work on a regular and recurring basis in or near highly urbanized areas with the complexity and scope and effect that are typically found with a Type III or IV engine. See the discussion about “regular and recurring” on the next page, but in those cases, the GS-08 level is appropriate.

Until the interagency classification team develops an interagency position description for a GS-08 Engine Captain, the Human Capital Management Staff has established the following new Agency Position Files (APFs) in Avue:

• A9526: GS-08 Engine Captain
• A9527: GS-07 Assistant Engine Captain
• A9528: GS-07 Engine Captain

The team distilled the many variables that exist in these positions down to the absence or presence of the factors discussed above. It is the responsibility of management to determine whether the GS-07 or GS-08 level is appropriate for each of our Engine Captain positions based upon the provided criteria. Management should first look at the Type III and Type IV engines as an indicator that the GS-08 level may be appropriate and then also look at Factors 4 and 5 of the GS-08 APF to ensure that the complexity and scope and effect are a match for the work being performed on a regular and recurring basis. The appropriate APFs must be matched to the work described. It is inappropriate to elect to use the GS-07 Engine Captain APF for any other reasons (e.g., budgetary) if the GS-08 level is warranted. Likewise, if the complexity elements are not present, do not use the GS-08 Engine Captain APF. Since management must certify the accuracy of an APF, the use of an APF that does not accurately reflect the demands of the job would amount to falsification of an official record.

These new APFs have been matched to existing positions for fire fighter retirement coverage. You are authorized to use the appropriate APF now to advertise for any vacant positions. Please instruct your Forest Supervisors to review each of their Engine Captain positions and determine which APF best describes the work being performed on a regular and recurring basis. “Regular and recurring” means that the situation happens repeatedly, not just a few times a year, and that it is expected to continue.

Questions should be addressed to Joan Shelly, Human Resources Specialist (Classification) at (215) 257-3190 or through e-mail to jshelly@ fs.fed.us.

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