72 hour Expanded Report, Dutch Creek Incident; Iron Complex; Shasta-Trinity NF, Region 5, July 25, 2008

www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=27369

I know in my district alone, a lot of positions (like probably 95%, i have not done the exact math) were filled by our own 5's and 6's (PROMOTION/already a 5 and got the developmental position) and the only 7 spot was filled by someone who seems (at least on paper, we have not met him yet due to the drug testing hold back) to be a competent, yet engine boss unqualified! (smell an underqualification here, i know you don't have to have it to get the job, but i think it's quite funny that you must to take a "detail") firefighter.

I really am enjoying the stats that everyone are posting as far as nitty gritty #'s etc.. I would encourage everyone with the knowledge to collaborate and let's get a break down of #'s of spots filled/available etc....... and really break it down to each forest/district and we can do our own math and with some good solid #'s to present this to Casey and the wonderful folks of the FWFSA for them to use in upcoming "BATTLES"

just a thought,

Lovin the Lake

FWFSA and Casey have been collecting. Ab.

The pavilion can seat more than 1,000 people, which may be necessary because Andy has deep connections in both Port Townsend and Port Angeles.

As a fallen firefighter, a large number of emergency services personnel from around the region are expected to attend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a really nice article about Andy with pictures.

Sammie

Condolences, Cathie. Please let your friends know we are grieving as well. Ab.

7 Forest Service Type 3 Engines
3...7 day engines
3...5 day engines
1 unstaffed

Vacancies
1 GS 11 FMO
1 GS 8 SFEO
3 GS 7 FEO
2 GS 6 AFEO

18 GS 5 senior firefighter positions. ( we have a some new GS 5 apprentices,
GS 4 apprentices and a quite few SCEPs all great employees.)

Casey,

I have seen the data published by Jim Pena and have run the numbers on my forest. When you do the math without all the vacant GS 5 Senior Firefighter positions the numbers are pretty close. When you include all the vacant GS 5 Senior Firefighter positions the percentage of positions filled is about 68%. Senator Feinstein and Congress would be shocked to discover the true number of vacant jobs. The jobs they did fill are with under qualified employees. Jim may argue the GS 5's are filled with apprentices but until they convert the spot is vacant. Jim Pena is doing the firefighters of the USFS a great dis-service by changing the imput data and excluding all the vacant GS 5 Senior Firefighter positions. Thank you for getting the message out that the numbers are incorrect the data is tainted.

CA FF

Here is the link to part two

www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-wildfires29-2008jul29,0,4296840,full.story

Oceanfire

Green Sheet As I recall, it was quite dramatic. Ab.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250

Message from the Secretary:
Each year, USDA's brave men and women in the
Forest Service battle wildfires to protect both public and private property
and ensure the continuation of our Nation's forests as ecological and
recreational centers. Over this past weekend, two gentlemen tragically lost
their lives assisting the Forest Service in its mission. While neither was
a direct member of the USDA family, each was working side-by-side with our
employees to battle wildfires in California.

On July 25, while securing a fire line on the
Eagle Fire in California, Olympic National Park Firefighter Andrew Palmer
died from injuries suffered during mop-up activities. Mr. Palmer, who was
based out of Port Angeles, Washington, was only 18 at the time of his
death. On July 26, a fire suppression team was scouting the Panther Fire,
also in California, in preparation for the team to take over fire fighting
activities the next day. One of the team members lost his life when he was
overrun by the fire front. The probable victim has been identified as
Daniel Packer, Chief of East Pierce County Fire and Rescue in Bonney Lake,
Washington. He was 49.

In honor and memory of these brave gentlemen,
flags at USDA are being flown at half mast from dusk on July 28 until
sundown on August 2. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, and
join with me in extending my deepest gratitude and most heartfelt sympathy
to their families.

Thanks, Groundpig. Ab.

To: Geographic Area Coordinating Group Chairs
From: National Multi Agency Coordinating Group
Subject: Safety Stand Down: August 1st

Two fatalities occurred over the weekend in two separate Northern California fires. A recent spike in accident/injury trends has also created concerns for firefighter safety. To date we have exceeded the number of deaths in wildland fire operations for 2008 that we experienced during all of 2007. In an effort to draw attention to wildland firefighter safety, NMAC is requesting that all geographic areas take one hour during the operational period of August 1st to emphasize safety practices.
Firefighter safety is and continues to be our first priority. The commitment to and accountability for safety is a joint responsibility of all firefighters, managers, and administrators. Individuals must be responsible for their own performance and accountability.

Suggested areas of emphasis are:

• Primary means of safe wildland fire operations is through aggressive risk management.
• Consistently evaluate fireline tactics and adjust tactics as environmental and human factor conditions change—Review Risk Management Process in the IRPG, Page 1.
• Exercise extreme caution when working in timber canopy areas—assume every tree has some level of hazard associated with it. Review “PRINCIPLES OF HAZARD TREE RISK MANAGEMENT” at: www.nwcg.gov/teams/shwt/httf/training_education/s212/ht-risk-mgmt.pdf
• Driving standards and limitations need to be applied and enforced. Drivers should not be exceeding 10 hours behind the wheel driving time (state CDL limitations may be more stringent). This applies to all drivers including agency employees, ADs, and contractors. Every effort should be made to avoid driving between 2200 and 0500 hours.
• Dehydration and Fatigue – constantly monitor firefighter’s water and electrolyte intake to avoid dehydration episodes. Dehydration and long work hours coupled with poor air quality all impact fatigue—monitor and provide rest opportunities for firefighters and support personnel.
• Avoid complacency in aviation operations and reinforce the aviation risk assessment process to increase awareness of flight hazards and risks, attention to risk mitigation, and to assert added attention to the following topics:
• Controlled Flight Into Terrain/Obstacles (especially Helo External Load)
• Hot, High, Heavy
• Maintenance Support
• Acceptance of High Risk as a Normal Operation
• Interagency Aviation Risk Assessments can be found at: www.fs.fed.us/fire/av_safety/Systems_Safety/av_risk_mgt/index.html.

For additional wildland fire safety information, please refer to: www.nifc.gov/safety.html

We ask that every fire manager take this time to emphasize firefighter safety and appropriate management of risk. We appreciate all the efforts of every firefighter and support personnel. Let’s do everything in our power to return everyone home safely this fire season.

/s/ Lyle Carlile
Chair, NMAC

(orig pdf file for printing if desired: NMAC-SafetyStandDown080108.pdf)

www.bostondynamics.com/content/sec.php?section=BigDog

Man just to think no more hose pack hikes..... watch the whole vid for some
crazy stuff.

JS

The slow motion is very interesting. Ab.

The public is welcome to attend. I'll post information about apparatus/honors as it becomes available.

There is a memorial fund set up at Washington Mutual Bank - Fire Chief Dan Packer Memorial, Acct # 3170484930. Checks may be mailed to:

East Pierce Professional Firefighters, L3520
PO Box 7500
Bonney Lake, WA 98391

More info as it becomes available.

-FireBill

You betcha the FBANs have one of the toughest jobs out there, and one of the
most important to get right. And many years have gone into producing their
analysis tools. I wouldn't want to see them or the IMETs dissed, which is what
started me writing in the first place ...

Still Out There ...

The Eagle Fire - Iron Complex 24 hour Report is out from NWCG. Ab.

Thanks for the clarification, islander, and so sorry for your and your community's loss. Ab.

<snip 10 sentences... Ab.>

Why does Cal Fire keep their maps secret and the feds post them openly?

Scrape

The state is reporting the Telegraph fire here: www.fire.ca.gov/index_incidents_others.php Oh look, new map up now... (Inciweb is a fed reporting site. Sometimes it's down too.) There have been a number of requests for a briefing map for the Telegraph, showing division/branch breaks. etc. If someone has a digitized version, we'll post it. Ab.

"I get almost embarrassed when people make issues about bravery - I guess I don't see firefighting in the same light that outsiders do. There are risks, but the risks are just something I live with. when things are going a bit sideways, when they get a little dicey, I get excited instead of scared. After 23 years of doing this I still love feeling the edge. I still don't think I'll ever go off it. People like me don't die. We're too experienced, our judgment is sound, and as supervisors we are less often in the way of danger. Or if we are in the way of danger, we always know how far we can we can move from safety and still make it back."

WTF????

Blue

Blue, I think he meant this as an assumption he has had about himself and those he sees as similar in KSAs to himself. You have to admit, it's a rude awakening when you find out that when fire behaves badly or you've missed some cue, sh** happens to the best, even to excellent, highly trained and experienced firefighters. Reality Check of our human limitations! Risks must be consciously evaluated and re-evaluated... situation by situation... Ab.

Loved ones mourn fallen East Pierce fire chief
by Mike Archbold
www.thenewstribune.com/331/story/426920.html

A tight-knit family of East Pierce firefighters remembers Dan Packer as a man of compassion and strength.
As the shock of losing one of Pierce County’s most respected and well-liked fire chiefs in a California wildland fire took hold, Dan Packer’s fellow firefighters came together in grief Monday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Air tanker drops in wildfires are often just for show
By Julie Cart and Bettina Boxall, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers, Second of five parts, July 29, 2008
www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-wildfires29-2008jul29,0,3486219.story

The bulky aircraft are reassuring sights to those in harm's way, but their use can be a needless and expensive exercise to appease politicians. Fire officials call them 'CNN drops.'

I was on assignment and didn't see the discussion regarding meteorologists until just now. The role of the Storm Prediction Center should not be confused with the role of the local forecast office or incident meteorologist.

The Storm center provides the big-picture analysis, somewhat like intelligence at NIFC provides us the big picture
of the wildland fire world. You would not make an on-the-ground decision for your division based on NIFC data. Keep in mind too, that the local forecast office is also looking fairly big-picture because they are preparing products that meet the needs of Joe who wants to go sailing today as well as you who are out on the fireline. Their spot-weather-forecasts come closer, but the IMET on the ground is much closer.

The final safety comes in using the fire-line weather observations tied with the thresholds established in the pocket cards PLUS gaining local knowledge from those who regularly work with fire in your area. Most of the IMETs I've worked with have been great, and understand the vital safety information that they are providing. Realize too, that there is still plenty to be learned and understood about weather, just as we still have plenty to learn and understand about fire behavior -- it is a developing science with no crystal balls.

Still out there as an AD ...

To the best of my knowledge: There were only 2 people involved. Both were male. Dan Packer died. The other firefighter was not physically injured. Thus, there is no firefighter in a burn unit somewhere.

That's it. Ab.

Everyone has their 1st amendment right.

However, I agree that we need to put aside who pays for structure
protection, p to p and all that stuff and take a short pause.

Letterman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From R-5 RO.

Subject: Firefighter Fatality Memorial
To: All Region 5 Employees

In the past three days, the Region has suffered two tragic accidents that resulted in the loss of two firefighters, Andrew Palmer and Daniel Packer. Firefighter Palmer was from the Olympic National Park and was assigned to the Iron Mt. Alps Fire Complex on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. He was struck by a falling tree and died as a result of his injuries on July 25, 2008. Chief Packer was a division supervisor from the Eastern Pierce County Fire Department. He died July 26, 2008 in a fire entrapment on the Panther Fire on the Klamath National Forest.

Flags are to be flown at half staff, and employees are authorized to wear a black mourning strip on the Forest Service badge in memory of Firefighter Palmer and Chief Packer thru August 2.

I want to express my sympathy to the families, friends, and coworkers of the firefighters we have lost. These tragic losses serve as reminders of the hazardous work we engage in as we fight wildland fires. Please take time to assess your individual preparedness, but also look out for one another so we can all complete our work safely.

/s/ James M. Pena (for) Randy Moore, Regional Forester

Interim NWCG Minimum Standards for Incident Emergency Medical Services: hotlist thread
www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=27034

NWCG Standards for Burn Injuries: hotlist thread
www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?t=897

North Bay FC-

You state there are no local taxes brought in by federal lands. I don't know your background
but I am not sure how familiar you are with the PILT- Payment in Lieu (sp?) of Taxes....

"Payments in Lieu of Taxes" (or PILT) are Federal payments to local governments that help
offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable Federal lands within their boundaries. The
key law that implements the payments is Public Law 94-565, dated October 20, 1976. This
law was rewritten and amended by Public Law 97-258 on September 13, 1982 and codified
at Chapter 69, Title 31 of the United States Code. The Law recognizes that the inability of
local governments to collect property taxes on Federally-owned land can create a financial
impact. (www.doi.gov/pilt/summary.html)

I don't know about Department of Ag but I know with DOI, the feds do recognize the local
tax situation and try and do the right thing.

take care out there and stay safe,

GISgirl

Six years gone now are an outstanding leader, a great friend and a fine young man. With the events of the last few days making room in our hearts for any more sorrow hard to find, loosing touch with the past dooms us to repeat it. Perhaps the pain of loss will give us the strength to do what is necessary to save our own lives or the life of another. Awareness is our finest tool to prevent mishaps. I took the included photograph as a tribute to the Engine 11 fellas but in reality it must be a tribute to all those who have left us on the lines.

Rob

Thanks, Rob, their loss touched me greatly as well. I added your photo to their tribute page. Ab.

This Sunday evening is a time of reflection for me. The emotion is
sadness, the thoughts are contemplative. It is surely a time to think.
Our minds are our greatest assets.

Given the wildland fire situation we are and will be facing the next couple
months, and the stresses which will surely continue, my mind turns to those
concepts we espouse in operational risk management. Leadership will come
from the exercise of correct principles. We'll continue to look to the
principles of accountability, integrity, team work, and open/continuous
communication. We'll identify hazards, risks, and mitigations. We'll
remember the key concepts of the operational risk management approach the
Chief endorsed.
-accept risk only when benefits outweigh risks
-accept no unnecessary risk
-anticipate and manage risk
-make risk decisions at the right level

As we practice these principles at beginner to advanced levels, at first
line to upper line supervisors, at type 5 to type 1 complexity, we'll be
good.

Lets take time to honor those who have perished, to continually improve,
and to recommit ourselves to supporting one another.

Tom

I have been unable to find a definition. I see reference to it from
time to time. Might this be an appropriate entry for the Glossary?
Assuming it rains again someday, and somebody has time for something
as mundane as a glossary...

My deepest condolences on the loss of the two Washington
firefighters. First time this site made me cry. What a pitiless
thing, fire.

--Shellie Taylor
Cobb Mountain, Lake County, CA

Check this thread: www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=26993 (Thanks Jumper553, I couldn't find it.) Ab.

ms

Washington state fire chief believed dead in California blaze

www.komonews.com/news/25963444.html

Daniel Packer, chief of East Pierce Fire & Rescue and past president of the Washington Fire Chiefs, was reported missing Saturday afternoon while working on the Panther Fire south of Happy Camp in Siskiyou County, and is presumed dead.

"He (Packer) is missing, but we have not confirmed that he is dead," said Russ McCallion, battalion chief with East Pierce Fire & Rescue.

However, the U.S. Forest Service confirmed that a second firefighter has died, without releasing the identity. (more at link)

Our condolences to family, friends and co-workers. I know from what several of our community have said that he was a well known and much respected chief in the state. Please let us know about services. Ab.

• Always maintain a high level of Situational Awareness around snags, Post
  experienced lookouts double the distance the perimeter of any where the
  snag can possibly fall.
• Exercise extra care when working near trees that have been burning a long
  time and / or show signs of rot or deterioration.
• Be aware that even without "widowmakers" , snags can and do drop materials,
  or break off segments without warning.
• If material has fallen from a snag previously, it is an indicator that the
  snag is weak and may drop more material at any time !
• Limit personnel from working the snag hazard area.

I'm sure there is much more information to cover regarding snags, I just
wanted to share a few items I had, and hopefully help keep the folks out
there safe!

My sincere condolences to the Palmer family.

Pappy '81 (not the original)

Thanks to those who have continued to press for this behind the scenes. Thanks also to the others who stepped up to set it into "official" motion. Ab.

We need some good thoughts / prayers for a firefighter who has died on the CA-KNF-Panther Fire and one who may have gotten taken to the hospital. More info is here: www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?t=5978

No doubt more to come. Ab.

You don't know me, but you are in my prayers and thoughts. I too, used to be on the line... and above it most of the time. Nobody but those who have experienced the conditions we work in know what is real, and even then, we question the reality of it all at times. When nature throws its worst at us, only then does the very best come out in us. We are brothers and sisters. We are family. Our uniforms and badges mean nothing... we all look the same at the end of the day. We are one in the "good fight" for a greater cause.

As you are the families of those "on the line", you are a big part of the circle of our lives. We think of you, we miss you, we honor you in doing what we do. There is no greater love than for a human being than to give their life for another. You should be honored. You raised us to be the individuals we are. You taught us honor and respect. You taught us charity and to care for those who could not do for themselves. You taught us unconditional love beyond ourselves. You raised a hero.

We take our licks, but keep on ticking. We go without, so you can have. We give everything we have, so that you can have everything. We spend a lot of lonely nights, babysitting a fire line, on the side of a mountain hundreds of miles away from home. The silence is deafening, broken only by the sound of our own heartbeat and an occasional rabbit. It's these times we think of you. We think about why we do what we do. God only knows the thoughts that occupy our minds. A hundred different things occupy our thoughts in a brief few moments. Things change, sometimes in a heartbeat.

My Grandpa used to say that God only takes the good ones. I've spent many times wondering if this was so. I've been in many situations where I thought I'd find out real quick. One thing I've learned over the years, is that you don't question the ultimate authority. The reasoning is beyond human comprehension. I do know for a fact, that angels do indeed wear Nomex! When it's my time, I'm ready to go. I have no regrets. I've given everything I could give and I only wish I could have given more. I dream of a day when words like these never have to be written. Rejoice in the fact that your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, are taking a stand for something that eclipses all time. They are firefighters, heroes, and angels.

Sometimes real life gets in the way of what we perceive as "real life". I've missed parties, graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries. My 40th B-day was spent filling tankers from a hydrant in rural Nebraska. I didn't care... this was what I did. Not just a job (actually, a volunteer)... but the greatest adventure I could ever have with the greatest people to share it with. It's funny, my hand was still wrapped in gauze from an accident at work... but I was there pumping water for the team. You can't imagine the feeling of contributing to the cause... even when you're not supposed to be. Yup, shame on me, but hey.... I'm a firefighter, these things don't slow us down. We always give until someone says we can't give anymore, then we go and keep giving... THAT WILL NEVER END. Again, that's who we are and what we do.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, wherever you may be. Whether enjoying a family BBQ on a summer night or sitting on a fire line, a hundred miles away from home. You are never far away from me. You see, it doesn't matter whether I'm retired or active... I'm on your crew... right now. Whether you are on the ground or in the air... I'm there too. Some call it a "brotherhood", I prefer "Family". We're all in this together, let's keep trying to make a difference. To be a bit sappy, I'd like to use a line from a really sappy movie, "NEVER GIVE UP... NEVER SURRENDER"!

Embracing each and everyone of you!

Feeding the Squirrels in Boise!

Well said my friend. Ab.

By
U.S. Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell
Loss of firefighter Andrew Palmer
Forest Service Press Conference
July 26, 2008

“Thanks for joining us here today. Today I’ve been here in Redding, Calif. meeting with local Forest Service officials. We’ve been focusing on the unprecedented scope of fire here in northern California, which have become more devastating with the tragic loss of Andrew Palmer, of Port Townsend, Wash., an 18 year old firefighter. Palmer was with the Olympic National Park in Washington state and his life was tragically cut short just yesterday afternoon.

“The wildland fire community is a very large organization, but in many ways it resembles a family. The loss of any member of the firefighting family has a dramatic affect on all of those who fight fire, who are involved in fire management and who work for the agency. The commitment to society demonstrated by Andrew Palmer – through his dedication and courage – will live on in the hearts and minds of his colleagues all throughout the fire community. To the Palmer family my heart goes out to you. I am so sorry for your loss.

“People are our most valuable resource and we remain committed to the safety of our firefighters. We cannot forget that there are still 12,000 firefighters continuing to work to suppress fires here in California. We’ve made great progress but much remains to be done.

“Our interagency fire teams develop strategies for fighting a fire. Fire managers continue to consider fire behavior, weather forecasts, terrain, accessibility and proximity to communities when considering fire suppression strategies.

“In spite of the extremely difficult terrain, in this part of the world, crews on these fires have done an extraordinary job. The terrain is difficult and unforgiving.

“We will really miss Andrew Palmer.

“Crews are using burnouts and other indirect firefighting techniques because of the inaccessible, rugged terrain and other hazards keeping them from the fire edge. We must consider firefighter safety in all of our tactical decisions. Firefighter and public safety will remain our number one concern.

“As I close, I ask that you keep Andrew, his family, his friends and co-workers in your thoughts and prayers. As tradition, firefighters will wear black bands around their service badge and I am asking all Forest Service officers to lower their flags to half-mast beginning today in remembrance of Andrew.”

#

This is regarding Jarred Johnson:
The accident is being investigated, and as such, preliminary information is
subject to change.

What we know for certain....is that this accident occurred in a wilderness
area; his crew stabilized, medivac'd and transported him within an hour and
were informed by late evening that he would be alright.

Jarred's "broken" vertebrae...is a compression, hairline fracture to his
thoracic region (between the shoulder blades).
He will be fitted with a brace for his torso within the next few days, to
stabilize the injury site, and facilitate healing.

To avoid confusion and misinformation, I think we need to clarify a strange
and sad coincidence:

Jarred's brother is a member of the Olympic National Park crew who lost
their Firefighter, Andrew Palmer, yesterday.
These incidents appear to have occurred within hours of one another.

It must have been a tremendous, and overwhelming day for the Johnson and
Palmer families, as it was for our entire fire community.
I praise your site for allowing privacy for the families and friends prior
to confirmed notification.
Please know that these families are sustained by the strength of your
support...and WFF, of course.

It does seem that at times like these, we are not merely a fire service,
but a service FOR one another.....when an accident occurs.
Training gives the skills and circumstance gives you the opportunity, but
knowledge gives you the confidence to take action.
No one does this job alone, together we take care of one another.

Thanks Ab.

R5Vet FF

Thanks for the clarification. Good job and carry on. We do support each other. Ab.

Jarred Johnson was hit by a widowmaker and was Life Flighted to Wenatchee. He has a broken vertebrae, but this morning has feeling in his extremities which is a very good sign. He'll likely be in the hospital for 2-3 weeks and in a body cast for longer. (The WFF -- with our donations -- is willing to pick up the cost of lodging and car rental for Jarred's folks and his brother.) Mellie

The WFF and the wildland firefighting community is supporting Jarred and his family in ways that most could not imagine.

Our prayers for a speedy recovery.

Please be safe All. Hug your loved ones. Support the WFF. It's our safety net.

Ab.

Firefighter Andrew Palmer, of the Olympic National Park, received multiple injuries yesterday while working on the Eagle fire. He passed away while being transported to Redding, California. A fund will be established by the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Andrew’s name. The foundation is online at http://wffoundation.org/ and can be contacted by calling 877-336-2950.

Ab,

We realize that an investigation is underway on the Iron Complex, and that will likely take some time to complete. However, after talking with fallers on that incident, and taking into consideration what many other fallers have experienced this season on wildland fire incidents I believe that a strong message should go out concerning the desire to observe snag felling.

On several occasions, when our fallers were given the "all clear" sign, they discovered their cutting areas were, in fact, not completely clear of observers within harms way. One faller team even had to flush firefighters out of the nearby brush, and only detected them because their radio made some noise. This was AFTER the fallers were told the area was clear.

It's not only the snag being cut that can cause problems, but every tree within range of the target tree, because of the domino effect, secondary limb breakage, or ground rolling. These big snags in Northern California are not only huge, but extremely unstable for various reasons. Even seasoned commercial fallers with decades of saw time at the stump are having trouble with them. So, the message is, STAY CLEAR.... STAY AWAY...LISTEN AND ABIDE BY CLEAR OUT INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE FALLERS, FALLER BOSSES & TASK FORCE UNIT LEADERS. These fallers have enough on their minds without worrying that someone's hiding in the bushes just to see a tree go down.

NOTE: This message is not intended to comment on the Iron Complex fatality specifically, but to hopefully send a message to agency supervisors in the field. When you think your people are far enough away from a snag to assure their safety - double that distance again... and don't forget to look in the bushes for stow aways.

Shari Downhill

I'm posting this important safety message. I observed a near miss (not on a fire) this summer and falling safety can't be stressed too much. Ab.

Shari Downhill

It was good to hear back from Burk last night that the WFF was "on it".
Beyond condolences, my first inclination is "what can I do to help?"
The Wildland Firefighter Foundation certainly is a safety net for all of us when things go bad. Firefighting is an inherently dangerous profession. Ab.

Joy Juice was a poor choice of words on my part, sorry about that.

I don't think you answered my question regarding if Cal Fire was not getting portal to portal would it be an issue? I realize this goes back a long way in time, but is it not what made portal to portal an issue? Again, not wanting to debate the merits of portal to portal, I think it would be great if we were all getting portal to portal.

the cynic

Al Henkle

Thanks, some CalFire firefighters. I put them on the Engines 20 photo page. Ab.

Thanks, very nice flames. I put them on the Fires 38 photo page. One of those could be a contender for the 2009 Wildlandfire Calendar. Ab.

Haw Haw, "earn his pay" is an amusing phrase in this instance. Casey gets paid almost nothing. He's powered by the "joy juice". Ab.

www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/forumdisplay.php?f=2

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and fellow firefighters. Ab.

Good news. Ab.

Photos on Fires 38 photo page. Ab.

Thank you!

Margi Peterson

Thanks, I put them on the Fires 38 and Helicopters 24 photo pages. Also posted a logo of the Fuego Tech Rangers off the Angeles sent in by Anthony. It's on Logos 14. Ab.

Here are some photos of the Corral Fire on the California LMU. These were taken when my engine was called to aid CALFIRE due to major spotting on 6/28/08. That afternoon the fire had a thunder cell blow over. The fire gained 5,000 acres in less than four hours. A lot of crews had to pull off the lines to safety zones due to erratic fire conditions.

Russell H

Thanks Russell. I put the photos of the plume on the Fires 38 photo page. Photo of the firefighters on on the Handcrews 23 photo page. Ab.

These pictures were taken of the Cold Springs Fire on July 12-13. This fire is on the Mt Adams district side of the Gifford Pinchot NF. Pictures by Steph S. 'Clean Air Steph'. 4 of the photos show the bug killed timber that's fueling the fire.

-FireBill

Thanks FireBill. Readers, the photos were sent in on 7/16. Rather amazing perspective, from that of a hiker. I put them on the Fires 37 photo page. Ab.

Old green and gray guy.
You are correct about the engine /pump unit model numbering and the main
difference between the Mod 50 and 51 was that the crew was out side on the
50 and was in side the truck cab on the mod 51 (a LOT warmer in cold
weather!) Pumps where pretty much the same on both and better compartments
on the 51.

Old LPF (not so old if DOI has people with a average age of 105?)

He's referring to the last spreadsheet looking at attrition of aging firefighters in firefighting jobs by age (by Sharon A-B, the WO Risk Management/Human Performance Training Specialist, posted on 7/22.) Ab.

Ab,

You said firefighters outside of R-5 getting portal to portal may
be in the minority. I think that is probably the understatement of the
year. Who besides Cal Fire gets portal to portal? Does any one
outside of R-5 get portal to portal? Maybe the posters to this forum
could let us all know, outside of Cal Fire, who is getting portal to
portal and where are they based. Portal to Portal became an issue
with some of the feds right after the 1988 season after the experience
with them in Yellowstone. 1988, we have made a lot of progress
haven't we?

the cynic

Currently Team 9 is transitioning to Team 5 on the BTU cplx
Team 10 is on the SHU cplx
Team 7 is on call for the Northern Region
Team 8 is on normal call for the South

Teams and ICs

Northern Region

Team 1 ?
Team 2 Bob Wallen
Team 3 George Morris
Team 4 Joe Waterman
Team 5 Tim Streblow

Southern Region

Team 6 Bill Hodson
Team 7 Dale Hutchinson
Team 8 Phill Veneris
Team 9 Rick Hutchison
Team 10 Pat Kerschen

Tim Chavez

Several questions about models. R-5 FS model numbers were originally 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 with intermingled models based on improvements to the rigs over the years. For example the Model 50 was built on 1 1/2 ton flat beds and was an outgrowth of the old green hornets, hence the new designation for the 51 when it made its appearance in the late 60s early 70s.

The Model 56/58 versions made their first appearance in about 1956 and were part of the first Green and Gray rigs. The FS converted from the deep forest green to the light green and gray paint scheme in 1956 finally going all light green in 1976. The Union County rig pictured is a beauty and is a 56/58 model. The difference was that the 56 did not have the auxiliary and midship pumps as the 58 did.

Last I heard about old 6006 was that after it was taken out of service, it was slated to be cannibalized for the body to go into the recycle of bodies for the M-61. I am not sure this ever happened as that recycle program died about the same time.

Someone ask about CDF numbering system though I am not 100% positive on it but they have for the most part have done a sequencing of numbers for their models beginning with the model one. They actually had a model 4 which was similar yet smaller version of the model 1 however it was a shorter wheel base smaller tanked and 4X4. Fire geek I did see the book you referenced and its a interesting read that is for sure.

"old green and gray guy"

www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget24-2008jul24,0,7487129.story

Schwarzenegger plans to slash state workers' pay till budget passes

About 200,000 employees would get the federal minimum wage, saving California roughly $1 billion a month. They would receive their back pay after a spending plan is enacted.

By Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
5:04 PM PDT, July 23, 2008

Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is planning to cut the pay of about 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour until a budget is signed, according to a draft of the governor's order obtained by The Times.

Administration officials said Schwarzenegger is expected to sign the order early next week as part of an effort to avert a cash crisis. The controversial move, likely to be challenged in court by public-employee unions, would save the state about $1 billion a month, the officials said.

Workers would be repaid their lost earnings once a budget was in place.

The order also calls for the state to immediately lay off 19,000 part-time workers, stop overtime payments for almost all employees and cease all hiring until a budget is enacted. The deadline for passing a budget was July 1, and without one California may be unable to borrow billions of dollars needed to keep the state solvent.

"Because the Legislature has failed to pass a budget and our state does not have a rainy-day fund, this is one of a number of options we are considering to make sure we have sufficient cash to cover our costs," said administration spokesman Matt David.

Text of the order is at the link...

fair use disclaimer

Ab,

There are bad things happening to some firefighters who were working in Northern California on the big fires.
I thought a little exposure might be warranted to warn others what can happen not only there, but anywhere we go. I have been guilty of too much trust in areas like this, but fortunately without these results.
It might even be worth a thread to see if it is wide spread, or hopefully remote incident.

One of many

one email of a young firefighter whose truck was broken into and nomex, sweatshirt, leatherman etc stolen
one email about a firefighter that had nomex stolen from the washer at a laundromat

>From a Federal firefighter to another.. my suggestion to those who are GS 5-6 and are thinking about starting a family... it is Simple. Don't start until you can afford it, the Govt is not obligated to support your family, you are, they are only responsible for paying you a wage...

"Frankly a GS-08 isn't even a wage that is a starting level for most federal law enforcement outfits and somehow I wonder why my job is considered "less valuable" by HR. I realize much to my chagrin that a GS-08 is probably above average in this man's army and I wonder how many 5's and 6's have families to support."

AC

Maybe it should be a "Name Dick's New Engine" contest. Heh, I'm sure he and the family
would love that. Better his than mine! I'd probably pump it dry and wreck it by accident!

Now I AM attached to my John Deere, even have a wheelie knob and a little pink cap
with PPE. Feel free to name that! Heh.

Mellie

Just as firefighters become emotionally attached to their rigs, a lot of pilots are attached to their aircraft in the same manner. We give them names befitting of their unique personalities and handling. Most are decent, however I remember a few birds back in the 70's with names not fit to print here...and for good reason. Why is it they never scrap the bad ones?

Keep pluggin everyone, we're all in this together!

STAY SAFE!

TS

I have to share a photo of our newest non-fed "grand damme" (said with the correct hoity toity inflection).

Foam Geek, are you THE ORIGINAL Foam Geek?

Was it you I heard devised a way to fill three 100'lengths of coupled 4"
diameter structural fire hose with compressed air foam inflating it much
like a balloon. Then capping off one end when it was filled and reducing
the other end of it down to 1.5 " or 1" with a handled ball shutoff
valve? You found it actually contained enough stored energy to protect a
structure for at least 20 minutes with just the compressed air foam
squeezed into the hose. Hmmm, lessons for today? Is it not true that if
you placed one of these hoselays at each house in a subdivision and just
left one CAFS-equipped water tender to just drive around to periodically
keep the lines charged, it wouldn't require a Type I engine to be parked
in every driveway. All you'd really need is a task force of one handcrew
and a water tender to protect subdivisions? Ah, the fantastic but
do-able ideas forward thinkers come up with that could make a real
difference... And what was the year???

Mellie

1949 International: While not fed service, here's "our" engine at our place on the Iron Cplx. Mellie says, "I'm not yet attached to her (the engine) although she's classic and functional... She's very new to our family. However, check out our New River Gorge FOBS; people are clearly a different story." Photos compliments of RPE. (0708)

I put it on the Engines 20 photo page and the Fire Behavior Observer on the Handcrews 23 photo page. Ab.

Nor Cal Lightning Complex and other fire costs and locations as of July 23, 2008.
and summary of personnel/resources.

Response to Just Wondering's post below

Thanks, contributor.... Comments? Ab.

I cant say that agree with one contributors assertion that portal to portal firefighters are "in the minority". Having just demobbed from SHU Lightning Complex that I have been blessed and or cursed to have been on for 18 days I can honestly say that the enormity of Cal Fire was staggering. This agency seems to get incrementally bigger by the season and now plans are in the works for them to possible envelope Governor Ahnold's OES or Office of Emergency Services which is almost as a staggering an All Risk labor force as Cal Fire. Federal and contract workers spent nights sleeping in the fairgrounds in Anderson, CA while Monster Trucks Rallies, freight train whistle blowing, generators and floodlights, passersby and street traffic kept camp occupants from getting any real rest while the Cal Fire guys showed up each morning for briefing well rested and restaurant fed, not to mention well paid.

Although far from getting "boned" and receiving 16 hour days from the division(s) each shift I realized after speaking to one friendly chap from Cal Fire, that their gig is really a beneficial one and many federal firefighters have made the transition to a better paid, better benefit source. I can only wonder how long the federal powers that be will continue to classify me as a "Range or Forestry Tech" instead of a firefighter when that's all I do and continue to refuse to pay me while I am in camp or duty station, away from my family and suffering less than perfect rest conditions while expecting me NOT to have a couple of beers on what they carefully call "MY OWN TIME" while reserving the right to infringe upon it as soon as it becomes a liability to them.

Frankly a GS-08 isn't even a wage that is a starting level for most federal law enforcement outfits and somehow I wonder why my job is considered "less valuable" by HR. I realize much to my chagrin that a GS-08 is probably above average in this man's army and I wonder how many 5's and 6's have families to support.

AC

Outside of CA, firefighters that are operating under portal to portal pay may be in a minority. Ab.

We were directed to hire down to the Level 3 candidates, if there were no
Level 1 or Level 2 candidates available. Most forests probably made offers to
some Level 3 candidates, but I don't know how many were actually hired. On my
forest we did make recommendations to hire a few Level 3's who were later
disqualified during the HR process. We were not required to look at any Level 4's.

2. Who will train/qualify these employees while we're in the initial
stages of a stunning season start? Some FMOs are reporting that many will
not be on board until the end of the season.

Good question, and one that was asked frequently during the hiring process.
This was particularly noticeable at the GS6 and GS5/6 Developmental positions.
The Developmental Plan puts a huge burden on the forests to get these
people trained, and it may affect some apprentices when they are pushed
back in their training to accommodate the developmental AFEOs.

3. For those promoted to the GS-6 through GS-9 positions, their promotions
obviously created a vacancy at a lower grade. So how do promotions lessen
the actual number of vacancies? Maybe that's why I didn't do so well in Math.

As vacancies occurred backfill lists were created and jobs were filled down to
the 5/6 developmentals. So really the vacancies still exist but they are now
at the Apprentice Level, which aren't being counted. There were some hires from
the outside, but most of the hiring was internal. I think you do math just fine, it
was all "sleight of hand".

4. Big question: What is the region going to do to KEEP these employees?

There's the Million Dollar Question! As far as we could tell, not much. The only
incentive I could see was the Apprentice upgrade from GS4 to GS5, and it was
poorly advertised or understood. It is a good thing for the apprentice who has time
in grade as a GS4 because it really becomes a payraise for them.

5. 190 vacancies as of July 17 does not equate to Mr. Rey's assurance that
all funded positions would be staffed.

Hear, hear! We are no better off then we were April 1st. If anything we are
further behind. I think the Forest Service is going to suffer some serious growing
pains while these newly promoted personnel learn their positions. There is a lack
of depth in experience that wasn't there during MEL hiring.

Sign me, " An escapee from Fire Hire"

To paraphrase Mr. Rey, 'we are able to reduce costs through increased management efficiencies, and by moving resources to areas of need'.

/s/ Just Wondering

JP Crumrine of the Idyllwild Town Crier is looking for someone that can fill him in on the Los Padres housing issue. He's a reliable and eloquent reporter. If one of you from the LP would like to volunteer, I'm sure he'd keep you anonymous if you wish. Ab.

Thanks, Foam Geek. I put it on the Engines 20 photo page. Ab.

FireGeek, "old green & grey guy";

I had the honor and pleasure of driving 6006, as AFEO, out of LP(N)F's Temescal
Station (E- 53), Ojai District, in... '81 (I think), for Steve (Wrecker) Decker (Foreman),
and Desmond (Dizzy) Warren (FEO). Had a great crew, too; all ex- 'shots (where
y'at, Ratso?).

Don't know what happened to the old girl, but the next season, we had a year- old -60,
on a GMC chassis with a diesel/ automatic (and head- to- toe green), that really made
us wish we had '06 back. Not a bad engine, but not our old sweetheart.

Gotta picture in the album that I'll send in, as soon as I can figure out how... still savvy
the old "broom handle" valve handles and mystery- box more than the computer controlled
stuff...

Be Safe!

Pyro

I had the of pleasure being the first foreman (captain) on that engine in 1958. It was the first light green truck put in service in south zone, or so I was told. The auxiliary pump was a four cylinder Crosley engine. The truck a four wheel drive International, and could really haul buns on the hi-way. The station is still in same location, but has been changed somewhat. I spent the years 59-62 with the Del Rosa hot shots then moved on to the L.A. County camps programs. I retired in 1992. I still do some training with the County Camps. I can't imagine doing any other fire fighting job but wildland. Everybody be safe out there.

No slack

Personally, I dislike when people use the phrase, "if you don't like it,
go somewhere else." That phrase is childish,,, and incidentally, is the
definition of "Whiner" in Webster's Dictionary. I know you didn't say
those words verbatim,, Sick of Whiners,, but I think that is what you were
implying. Why would you say that to someone? One Last Try just wants to
work for an organization that sees his efforts and acknowledges them. What
he, and quite frankly, the rest of us see, is an organization that pays
everyone else, for sleeping and eating, but decides doing that for their
own, is completely out of the question.

Funny story, I got a call yesterday from a fellow employee that switched
from the SHU Complex, (CalFire managed), to the Lime Complex, (Fed
Managed). He told me that they were getting 16's with CalFire and now are
getting 12's-14's. Even Cal-Fire sees that the Feds are,,, for lack of a
better term, getting screwed.

Is it to much to ask that we get compensated for leaving our wives and
kids to fend for themselves while Daddy tries to make an honest living?
Even if you are not married or have kids, we should still be compensated for
what we do and I don't think that mandatory 16's while we are away on a
fire assignment is asking too awful much!!! H*ll, I wouldn't care about
Portal to Portal if I knew that I was getting 16 hours a day for 14 days.
Furthermore, when people go out as TFLD, ENGB, STLD, etc.,, Single Resource
Stuff,,, Shouldn't they be compensated over and above their normal pay?
For example, if a fire engine engineer (non-supervisory), goes out as
STLD (Supervisory), shouldn't that person see some sort of elevated pay
while they are performing as STLD? The answer is Yes! To tell One Last
Try, to stop, as you say, quibbling over it, is very egotistical of you.
This job is our livelihood, man! This is how we feed our families!! So,
again, why can't we strive to improve???

I didn't see One Last Try's post as "Whining". I saw it as a form of
"Unity".

P.S. I also am an FWFSA member as well as a Steward for the NFFE.

Brad-R3 Engineer

MNF (today's figures)

Number of:

Engs not staffed = 3
Engs not 7 day staffed = 4
W/T not staffed = 1
W/T not 7 day staffed = 3
Dozers not staffed = 0
Fire Prevention not staffed - 2

Thread on the hotlist is here, or sent the info in and I'll post it. Ab.
www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=26377

This might interest you all - JS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Folks,

This is the spreadsheet that we put together to provide to the OIG on their
"Firefighter Succession Planning" audit. No surprise, we have an aging
workforce. There was so much data in some of the positions, that cleansing
it was taking too much time, so I just went with the average age for
trainees in the position (all of the lower level Operations and Air
Operations positions for the Forest Service).

(See attached file: 2008_May_Average Age Years to Cert Spreadsheet.xls)
(211 K excel .xls file)

A couple of keys to the "TB/EXP" on "average time to certify in position"
column: I took the entry level course/competency for that position and ran
a report on the average amount of time it takes to become certified in that
position. So, for all of the operations, planning, air operations,
positions I utilized S-130 as the starting point and ran the average time
it takes between completion of that course and certification as a Division
Sup, Ops Chief, etc. For Finance, I utilized S-260; for Logistics I-100
(or the old I-220); Dispatch D-110, etc.

TB means there was data on the IQCS responder record of a position task
book certification, so the time was computed as the time from completion of
the initial course until certification of the position task book.

EXP means that there was no data on the responder's record of a position
task book certification, so the first experience record for the position,
shown as "qualified", appearing on the IQCS record was utilized to compute
the average time to certify in the position.

I think it would be interesting to run the reports and develop this
spreadsheet on a Geographic Area basis - if any of you are interested in
doing that, let me know and I'd be glad to help out.

Holler if you have any questions -

Sharon A-B
Risk Management/Human Performance
Training Specialist
US Forest Service
Washington Office, Fire and Aviation

One post from each Forest on how many of the following are not staffed or not staffed 7 day staffed would be helpful.

Example:

ANF

Number of:
Engs not staffed = ?
Engs not 7 day staffed = ?
W/T not staffed = ?
W/T not 7 day staffed = ?
Dozers not staffed = ?
Fire Prevention not staffed - ?

Crews and helicopters are probably doing OK, however any issues should be reported.

letterman

Message that accompanied the report:

Attached is a "Hybrid-FLA".

The techniques of an FLA were used for Lessons Learned but the report also
meets the specific policy requirements of an Rx escape review.

We included a Human Factors section as well.

Thanks to all those involved in the burn for being open, honest & willing
to share how they were making sense of, and then trying to manage, a very
unexpected event.

They represent the best of the Forest Service!

SH

But I have a theory that old fire engines never die, they’re just swapped around and get a new coat of paint . For example, the Joshua Tree Model 61 in this picture www.wildlandfire.com/pics/eng20/nps60-61-62.jpg was one of the first of four Model 61’s the Park Service purchased on Forest Service contract in 1990. Two of them went to Yosemite and the last one was assigned to Sequoia National Park. The Sequoia engine was used last year at the Mojave National Preserve until their replacement Model 14 arrived. The Joshua Tree engine was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service and is still in use. See attached photo. That would put it as going on its 18th year of fire response; a long ways to go to catch up to the famous Model 60 that was still listed in the 2003 FICC area dispatch plan as reserve Engine 3633. 33 years after the San Bernardino NF placed it in service!

Fire Geek

Old E-1, 18 years in service -- on the Engines 20 photo page. Ab.

The WFDSS Map you got is just a planning tool. What is shows is the
probability of fires getting to a certain point. One of the assumptions
built into this model is no suppression action, so it's not real, just
something to plan by. The legend shows the probability bands............
What I use is something like to 40-60% probability to determine worse case,
for developing a WFSA. Also this is an old map, from 6/29. Many of the
fires represented have been contained at this point, so the map really
isn't valid anymore. It was probably a good planning tool the day it was
made, but no longer.

TC

Number of:
Engs not staffed = ?
Engs not 7 day staffed = ?
W/T not staffed = ?
W/T not 7 day staffed = ?
Dozers not staffed = ?
Fire Prevention not staffed - ?

Crews and helicopters are probably doing OK, however any issues should be reported.

letterman

I agree, I think it was a slip. Early February was the time when the "secret meetings with CalFire" were supposed to occur to explore the possibility of the state taking over socal firefighting. Someone simply didn't clear the document footer before beginning the new current talking points. Ab.

"Feasibility Analysis -- Fire Protection Contracting in Southern California (DRAFT) February 8, 2008
Page 1 of 1"

Was this a RO slip to make folks think they may fall the way of A-76 if they keep telling the truth, well in some of the WO and RO folks eyes, complaining?

retired com guy

www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2008/maps/oncc-june2008-lightning.jpg (smaller version 300 K jpg file)

It links to here: wfdss.nwcg.gov/wfdss/WFDSS_Home.html

Todd

You'd think they would not misrepresent (I hate the word lie) the numbers on something so "checkable". Ab.

The first model 60 was delivered the spring of '68 to the Los Padres and assigned to San Marcos Station on the Santa Barbara. This rig had an original door number of 2062 with a pump number of 6006 as was the policy at the time in R-5 it was later renumbered to door number 6006 when the Region eliminated the dual number fiasco.

This prototype was a part of 4 prototype/evaluation engines purchased and placed in service in '68. The other three were scattered out through out the region, however they were not model 60s. One was an old traditional model 58 with a 345V8 5 speed tranny 2 speed axel and air brakes. This rig went to Oak Grove on the Angeles. The other two were CDF heavys that were purchased as a trial for R-5. They were the standard Model 1. One went to the Angeles at Oak Flat Station where it replaced one of the two "Coke wagons" and then later to Green Valley where it replaced the rig lost during the Elizabeth fire. The second went to The McCloud District/Station on the Shasta Trinity.

I am just a history buff of old FS fire rigs, and was involved in the equipment committees for many years.

"old green and gray guy"

www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/07/californias_continuing_fires.html

Regards,

Sherry H
(Plumas HS Sister)
Haven't heard from my brother Steve since June 12.

It is a nice collection of pics. Ab.

GeoMAC is served out of USGS in Denver. It is a public information site sponsored by NIFC. It gets its data from many sources including the NIFC ftp site for perimeters, the Remote Sensing Applications Center in Salt Lake for MODIS, the BLM for RAWS, etc. Combined with their cartographic data, it is a powerful tool and should be the place to point the public for information.

The NIFC ftp site is served out of USDA in Kansas City. Its role is for the sharing of data between incidents and their data providers, each other, and all the levels of command. It should NOT be used by the general public and lurkers. It is managed by an interagency committee that keeps and eye on the usage and addresses issues such as security. There are some really good arguments for and against making this site unavailable to anonymous users. Band width is one of them. There are some peak times when data is being posted and/or retrieved that are causing the system to hang up or keep 'us' from getting our work done on both ends.

So here is my request: Please, only use the ftp site if you have an incident-related need to do so. If you want to view the perimeters in context with other features, use geomac.gov. Thank you so much.

IRGirl

Will do. Ab.

www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2008/retention/fire-hire-brieing-paper071708.doc

text:

USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Fire and Aviation Management
Briefing Paper
July 17, 2008
Topic: July Fire Hiring Results

The Region’s hiring and recruitment efforts continue to be successful and have significantly decreased the number of firefighter vacancies.

The most recent round of hiring resulted in 297 positions at the GS-06 through GS-09 level filled. This reduced total firefighter vacancies from 380 on May 30, to 190 on July 17.

Significant gains were made at the GS-6, GS-8 and GS-9 levels, increasing the Region’s staffing percentage nearly 10% at these levels. These are critical leadership positions that will position the Region to improve module availability.

Every forest has increased their staffing percentages. Most notable increases are on the San Bernardino NF (93% to 97%), the Los Padres NF (87% to 96%), and the Shasta-Trinity NF (89% to 96%) Additionally, the Cleveland NF and Lake Tahoe Basin now have 100% of their fire positions filled.

Currently, 95.6 percent of the region’s firefighting organization is staffed.

In any large organization it is impossible to attain “zero vacancies” due to the constant shifting of employees as they promote, retire, or resign.

The Region 5 fire organization has more than 4,400 current employees. During the past several years this level of readiness has resulted in a greater than 95 percent initial attack success rate for stopping wildfires while they remain small.

Current vacancies represent less than 5% of the total firefighting organization for Region 5 and only 2.4% of the firefighting organization for the four Southern California forests.

The Region has already begun the process for the next round of hiring, which will focus upon entry level positions in the firefighter apprenticeship program.

By focusing the next round of hiring on entry level firefighters the Region is ensuring that there will be firefighters ready to promote and fill future vacancies as they occur.

Feasibility Analysis -- Fire Protection Contracting in Southern California (DRAFT) February 8, 2008
Page 1 of 1

Fire Geek, I put that explanation on the IMWTK page. Did you ding the bumper? Ab.

The Chief, the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and now the National Leadership Team (NLT) have initiated a series of activities:

First, senior leadership is undertaking a track of work that has aims to produce a shift in the
core leadership alignment of the Agency. Leadership alignment is an absolutely essential element in any change process, and is a critical first step. Three streams of activities are being pursued:

1. ELT Leadership Development—to improve the quality and level of alignment, communication, and strategic thinking in the ELT itself

2. NLT Restructuring—to create a refocused and smaller deliberative body that is charged with decision-making and that focuses on key strategic issues

3. Extending Leadership Alignment—to improve the quality of communication, reflection, and strategic alignment among Stations and Regional Leadership Teams.

Second is a focus on shifting the
quality of execution and coordinated action , particularly as it relates to safety. One of the most important ways in which safety is impacted by effective execution (or the lack of it) is in the relationship between the Fire organization and Line leadership when managing a wildland fire. Within this are four streams of activity:

1. Forming a Core Group Leaders – of senior line and fire leaders to provide guidance and coordination around issues of operations, budget, and safety.

2. Mapping Behavioral Dynamics— to understand successes and failures in the interaction between Fire and Aviation Management (F&AM) and Line Officers

3. Building Simulation Practice Fields—to jointly train Fire and Line personnel in a new form of interactive "simulation laboratory"

4. Creating a Common Strategic Approach—to redesign the interaction between F&AM and Line Officers before, during and after wildland fires

there's more: Look for the latest Dialogos memo in next week's FS Today or read it now by following this link: http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/dialogos/dialogos-followup-report.pdf (internal fs web)

Here's more

3. Building Simulation Practice Fields

To prototype a new form of training that will be offered across the Agency in the Fall and Winter of 2008-2009, Line and Fire personnel, working with Dialogos, are designing and conducting five "simulation laboratories." These events bring together 18 – 20 personnel in fire-prone Forests and include simulations, tools for better reflection, and dialogue about how the Fire/Line dynamic influences safety and other factors. These groups interact in simulations and dialogues that allow them to practice new behaviors and to experiment with new approaches to shared leadership.

The simulations focus on the quality of interaction between Fire and Line during an emerging incident, e.g., a Type III fire which transitions to Type II. Line and Fire rarely have the opportunity to train together, even though the safe and successful management of incidents depends increasingly upon their effective performance together. Safety, land management issues, and cost can all be influenced by how Line and Fire interact and make decisions before, during, and after an incident. Training Fire and Line together allows them to see each other in action, and to understand each other's roles, responsibilities, pressures, and stresses. The timing and quality of communication during an incident is highlighted. What factors encourage or hinder straight talk between Fire and Line? What are the elements that limit "upward voice" and how can leaders ensure that people speak up when they don't feel safe?

Accompanying the simulations is the introduction of tools for cleaner communication and for deeper reflection to increase situational awareness. Dialogues build shared perspective and deepen the working relationship.

To prototype a new form of training that could eventually be offered across the Agency, Line and Fire personnel are designing and preparing to pilot four to six "simulation laboratories" that bring together personnel in areas predicted to be vulnerable to complex fires. There is a new level of shared strategic thinking possible and a shift to be made in the "muscle memory" among and across these groups to upgrade effectiveness and the quality of decision-making during simulated incidents. These groups will interact in environments designed to allow them to practice new behaviors and to experiment with new approaches to shared leadership in settings where mistakes and pressures can accelerate mutual learning and deepen the working partnership.

I posted a pic from 6/21 of the Cold Fire during IA, the Dripping Springs Fire and several of the 6/20 Watsonville Fire on Fires 37 photo page, several more of the Sleeping Elephant and T-910 on Air Tankers 25 and Engines 20 photo pages, and the new CAL FIRE logo on Logos 14 photo page. Last but not least a Midnight Sun Hotshot with a bad case of poison oak on the Handcrews 23 photo page. Click on the words below the photo for the description and contributor. Thanks contributors. Ab.

After checking out the NICC site again, I noticed they don't list the
Regional Hotshot Crews....so I checked a few WILDCAD sites in SoCal and
here are some links from a few forests that list all their crews, not just
IHCs.

I think if No Name 3 checks out the forests they're interested in...each
forest will likely have additional crews other than IHCs. Since I started
in NorCal myself and went South for more experience... I definitely
believe it's worth it to move around... for skills, knowledge, perspective.
I just remember.... the cost of living is steep in SoCal, but often more
affordable the further East you go from the coast, of course!
Anyhow.... here ya go:

www.wildcad.net/

www.wildcad.net/?WildWeb=CA-SNF
Forest Website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/

www.wildcad.net/?WildWeb=CALPF
Forest Website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/

www.wildcad.net/?WildWeb=CCICC
Forest Website www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/

www.wildcad.net/?WildWeb=FICC
Forest Website www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/

R5VetFF

No Name 3was seeking info on IHC crews....the link below is off the the NIFC
site. Has links to most everything crew related.

www.nifc.gov/nicc/logistics/crews/crews.htm#Crews

A long season like this one will open up slots across the nation.
There are already outreaches being flown for IHCs on the FS WEB.

Many IHC are tech savvy these days with their own websites. A quick search
will get you plenty, just be careful how you use the term, "hot shot" on
the internet at work!!

R5VetFF

Signed,

You're doing a heck of a job Moore"ie".

If the USGS is having trouble meeting peak bandwidth needs, perhaps exporting that data to Google isn't such a bad idea. They've got a MUCH larger infrastructure available for data transmission, and the appropriate tools (Google Earth) to utilize the data provided.

I'm sure Google would be happy to partner with USGS to provide the bandwidth.

Adam

I am sorry that anyone considers what gets on here whining and not productive critical commentary, discussions or at least indicative of the climate and intentions of the boots on the ground. I am sure you have heard "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." These discussions are some of the most powerful weapons we have right now. Please join in if you have something constructive to talk about. Otherwise don't knock people, it makes you a part of the problem... Not the solution.

R5 Capt.

Adam Deem & Smokey: Photo here, last pic on the table: hand23.htm (Click the thumbnail for the larger version.)

A couple of days ago, Adam Deem, a forester with Calfire, was scouting the Moon Fire's NW flank near Buckhorn Summit (West of Redding) when he came across a little 6-month old cub that was dehydrated, had 3rd degree burns to its paws, an injured eye and no mom. He took it to medical in fire camp, after which it was evaluated and treated by veterinarians at the Dept of Fish and Game's Rancho Cordova facility near Sacramento. The cub's seriously burned paw pads will require more treatments and 5-7 days to heal. The cub is now at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, a wildlife care center and is a good candidate for release next January or February. Photo compliments of Adam Deem (0708). [Right now the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care website is overwhelmed with viewers. Later you can follow Lil Smokey's progress: www.ltwc.org.]

First, I'd like to thank David Blankenship for his interview he gave for the ESRI news release. David was a member of the unified command here at NorthOps created to use and evaluate all the remote sensing sources available to us. I am now half-way through my second 14-day tour in the role of Regional Infrared Coordinator and we have seen it all. Tim from CalFire was part of the team. We also had other CalFire, FS, retired and contracted personnel on the team. We evaluated data from both the Air Force and Navy Global Hawks, the U2, NASA's Ikhana, and the National Guard's RC26. My remarks are this, these systems provided some intelligence. The RC26 was the most successful because we had a fire guy in the plane directing what was being looked at while in communication with ops and sit folks at the incidents.

Finally, the information. The National Infrared Operations Program is THE primary intelligence provider of thermal infrared data to the incidents. The two planes, crews, coordinators, and infrared interpreters work every night, 7 days a week. NIROPS has been flying 15-20 complexes each night since 6/23 to give the situation unit updated heat perimeters and areas of intense heat. This data is usually used to update the incident fire perimeter that is then uploaded to geomac* (thank you GISGirl) and viewed by the world. I am sending pictures of N149Z (King Air) and N144Z (Citation Bravo) that are the work horses of the program. We also employed two contractors, Kolob Air from Cedar City and Range and Bearing from Alberta for a couple of weeks--we had a lot of fire to map!

*I was on the geomac team at its birth in 2000. I heard they were down a few hours the other day because the AC went out in at USGS in Denver and the temp in the building got up to 117 degrees. Not only did it kill the servers but also the warning system to GSA. They got the site up and running pretty quickly under the circumstances. Go team!

Gotta go before I go over my 16. :-)

IRGirl

Thanks, I put them on the Air Tankers 24 and Air Tanker 25 photo pages. Ab.

Here is a picture taken as Air Force One was taking off from Redding Airport Thursday July 18,2008.

Thought it would fit somewhere in the photos section. Cool picture.

Allen C

Thanks, I put it on the Air Tankers 24 photo page. Ab.

Here's a pic of a SEAT dropping on the Sleeping Elephant Fire north of Topaz Lake, NV.

Kid

Thanks, I put it on the Air Tanker 25 photo page. Was that fire last season or this spring??? Too much smoke, too many fires. Ab.

It brought back good memories of a similar experience on the Salmon Complex during the Siege of '87. Obviously this entertainment cannot be purchased using Gov't funds and when you check into it, it's usually provided by caring individuals or donated by the band members. Of course I'm sure that Southern CA Team 2, under Ron Woychak's leadership, deserved the special treatment! Hey, wasn't he the same IC who posed with the President during the SoCAL fires in October?

It's little acts of appreciation like this that makes all the other BS on the job less meaningful. The Sequoia NF management staff have always treated my crews EXTREMELY well when I've worked there in the past. During the 1990 Stormy Complex when someone decided to put the Tyler Meadow camp in between two fires that were burning toward each other and it got fried, we were treated to hot pizza delivered to us in a staging area by the Greenhorn District FMO while we were deciding a safe place to go. I later found out her name was Deanne Shulman! I'll always remember how the whole crew demeanor perked up when they got the first whiff of those tasty delights after losing everything we owned when our sleeping area in camp was destroyed. (For those of you who remember the famous video footage recorded in camp by a water tender relief driver that depicts Ben Charlie walking around comfortably with a cup of coffee while folks around him are about to deploy shelters, I'll let you in on a little secret. The explosive fireball that ignited in the background was my new Park Service patrol car that I kept stocked with additional ammunition boxes for teaching firearms classes, smoke grenades and Coleman lantern fuel used on search and rescue operations along with two D-size oxygen cylinders for EMS response. It was informed that it put on quite a show and I've been told that pictures of my vehicle are still used in tactics training courses.

I would like to hear from others examples how Forest Service management staff did something unexpectedly special that made a difference. For instance, I once took a Type II crew from the San Bernardino NF to respond to the Yellowstone Fires in '88. A lot of firefighters on SoCAL Type II crews aren't aware how cold it can get during the morning briefings in WY and ID in late August. One of the FICC dispatchers was outside taking her break and overheard me discussing this issue with my crew and saw the number of guys who weren't prepared. She went inside and made a phone call to the fire cache. Within a short time brush coats were issued to the folks who needed them. When you hear about the little things like this you wonder how much of it still goes on today amidst all the Mark Rey statements to Congress and allegations that the agency doesn't care.

Fire Geek

A Big right on brother/sister!!!
Both of you.

I was on a CalFire fire earlier this year and was one of 10 green trucks amongs't maybe 70 to 80 Red and Muni Engines and the CalFire IC for that team came up to our truck while we were fueling up for the day shift and personally thanked us, and wanted to extend his thanks to all the other "Green" engines on their incident, for being there and all the hard professional work/expertise we offered to the incident and told us how glad his team was that we were there. Just something to offer to the positive side.

Ha HA Lovin the Lake

I get frustrated too. On the other hand if you cant handle "getting screwed" maybe it is time for you to go ahead and join the <snip>. Then you can have a union that represents <snip> etc. etc.

I pay my dues to FWFSA, work hard, demand sixteens while putting in sixteens (sometimes more). If participating in the endless whining on They Said makes you feel better have at it. I think folks involved in the Federal Agencies deserve to be proud. In addition I think we have cause to be frustrated. Maybe things have gotten worse, maybe not. I DO know that people seem to be more aware of the disparity in pay benefits etc.

Feds hear me now.... This situation did not develop over night! If a livable wage, great work conditions, killer schedule, esteem of the community etc are more important to you than pride in doing a largely thankless job you are in the WRONG BUSINESS. I am not saying that we should not hope for things to get better. I am saying that the whining has become rather pathetic. Do you pass this morale on to your young folks? People who work on green trucks get hosed. (excuse the pun) We KNOW this.

I think that Federal firefighters... I mean Forestry Technicians are the best wildland firefighters on the planet. I am proud to say that I am part of this organization ( I aint saying which one but we have a cool mascot). If folks want to be a part of the spit and shine... Calfire its waiting for you. I heard they are hiring. Good luck!

Sick of Whiners

I don't know how your whining (about the whining?) is different from any other. Endless... Ab.

Once again we are nickel and dimming our folks by not signing sixteen hour days. As a Captain with this Agency, that is the very least we can be doing for our folks on the line. We are the only agency that doesn’t pay Portal to Portal for our guys and gals and to make it worse we can’t even get what we deserve. Trust me we deserve it, we sleep in the dirt off the clock, get screwed out of our showers by Cal-Fire Hand crews because even their union even stuck up for their inmates, we are the ones with the experience when it comes to the suppression of vegetation fires, and not to take away from anyone else, but we do the hardest work hands down, for the lowest cost... period.

So why do we keep letting ourselves get screwed? I was demobing the other day, and ground support was arranging rentals to switch out the firefighters from San Diego, because "they do 7 day rotations," and once again we pay that cost, plus their Portal to Portal, plus we pay the backfill at their home department. Wow, and we get knocked down to 12 and 14 hour days. I must admit, I have seen this Agency stagnate since the day I first started, thank god we have Casey and the FWFSA to at least voice our issues to congress who, lets face it don’t care a bit, with a few exceptions for some California heavy hitters.

I guess what I am trying to say is let's stand up. If you're running a team you need to pay us our sixteens, if you have a strike team, a handcrew, a taskforce, a helicopter module, stand up for those folks, sign sixteens, and if your division doesn’t want to sign it, take it to the IC and voice your opinions for yourself and the ones you are leading. What’s the worst that can happen??? they send you home… That’s fine they can fill your spot with state, city and county resources and watch the cost of the fire really escalate? It’s time they realize we are not the ones making the cost of the fire go through the roof.

So let’s show them we're a very critical part of this firefighting show, we are the leaders of this ship and we will turn any dam* way we want. I love this job and the guys and gals we work with, our leaders, and our FWFSA, but if we don’t change and stand up for ourselves, we are done.

Sign me, One last try, then filling out my app. But always paying my dues.

Todd (another one)

im currently working in nor cal and have been thinking about making the jump to
So. Cal. next year. I was wondering about the station locations of some hotshot
crews on the L.P, San Berdu, Angeles and Cleveland. Is there a listing of All the
california hotshot crews anywhere? Not just the select ones on the california
hotshot crew page.

no name 3

Thought I was helitack.........

http://us.share.geocities.com/fireteam2/teamband2008.mov

BD

Giant file! Consider if you really want to download it and do it in the middle of the night! Ab.

When a regular government employee or casual is provided medical treatment by the incident, pay entitlement will not exceed actual hours worked or guarantee (eight hours per day for casuals) whichever is greater for that calendar day. (5CFR 551.425.) Time spent traveling to or from a medical facility and/or time spent receiving medical attention is considered compensable time only if it falls within the employee's regular guaranteed work hours. Overtime cannot be earned. Refer to Section 15.3-4 for continuation of pay (COP) guidelines.

This was interpreted by the finance officer on the Indians Fire which told the injured employee and his supervisor that the employee was not compensated during transport to the medical facility or for the time returning from the facility.

During my recent visit at the Regional Office I spoke with Mr. Hollenshead about this and he too was unaware. Our mutual concern of course is that firefighters who might sustain injuries may not report them if they know they will not be compensated for the time spent to and from a medical facility. For someone being removed from a remote area this could be a significant period of time.

If anyone has a better handle on this issue I'd encourage you to post something. Thanks,

Casey

Good afternoon,

To ensure that our employees were cared for and knew what to do if they were injured, we created the attached pocket cards and handed them out to all of our personnel. After being discussed at the FLT meeting, it was asked that we send out the template so that other districts could modify the card for their own use.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CHANGE THE CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS TO THOSE OF YOUR OWN EMPLOYEES. We chose the BMO and the FMO to be the primary contacts in case of an emergency - each district will want to choose their own personnel based on availability, responsibilities, etc.

These were printed on regular Avery Business Cards (#28877) that can be picked up at Wal-Mart or ordered through our office supply providers.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

(See attached file: Workers Comp Card Back.doc)
(See attached file: Worker's Comp Card Front.doc)
=========================
Sherrie R
Business Management Officer
Douglas Ranger District
Coronado National Forest
______________________________________________________________________

Thank you Sherrie.

I presented to the FLT today, that the Forest and FLT support the proposal I sent out a month ago; to have each district identify a person(s) to be the first line of admin and moral support for any work related injury, while a few of us identified in the SO will be your back up. It was met with great support and shared concern that we keep our employees (or any employee) taken care of for burn injuries as well as any other work related injury. The District Rangers have agreed to identify the contact names for each district and share with me so that we can post it on the J drive and get it to the Dispatch contact list. Also a great idea is the card shared by the Douglas District.

As a reminder, if each district will identify a person or two to be available to accompany the employee, be able to find answers to questions, make phone calls, fill out papers, and just provide moral support, Alan B has agreed to be our forest's point of contact for OWCP support. However, he can not make the authorizations, but can assist in the HCM process. You should all have received the emergency contact number of OWCP at HCM. In addition, Linda and I will be available as first back up to the district if the district contact is unavailable and Pete Schwab and Cheryl will be a second back up to the districts.

Thank you for the support.
Pete

**************************
Acting Fire Staff
Pete G -- Deputy Forest FMO
Coronado National Forest
______________________________________________________________________

FYI .... these 'OWCP pocket cards' were developed on one of our Districts
and a great idea...... feel free to share if interested.

Bequi
-----------------------------------
Bequi L
Regional Fire Operations Health and Safety Specialist
ASC

FLT= Fire Leadership Team

Todd

I heard the HS doing well given injuries they sustained. Strong support from family. Help from the WFF. Out of the hospital. Could be some important lessons learned on the medical side regarding what to look for with complications from leg injuries like those sustained. We need to take care of and support each other. Ab.

LOVE! Ab.

Keith Kerr died shortly after he took his Whites off and hung up his hard
hat at 53 to retire. I consolidated some messages and attached them as you
may want to post parts of it as he was very well known in the wildland
fire and law enforcement community.

Thanks, Bob aka Badbob

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I send this with deepest sorrow that Keith passed away late Saturday evening. His family was with him all throughout the day, he was resting peacefully and was not in any pain. The funeral arrangements are being finalized today, it is tentative there will be a visitation on Wednesday evening and the service on Thursday. As I receive the information I will send it out to you.

For those of you who would like to send cards to the family the address is: <snip>, Mesa, AZ 85203 (will post this street address later after services, Ab.)

Thank you for keeping Cindy and the family in your thoughts and prayers

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

Keith Raymond Kerr, age 53 of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on July 12, 2008. Keith was born on April 3, 1955 to John and Betty Kerr in Mesa, AZ. Keith is survived by his wife of 30 years, Cindy; two sons: Sam and Dustin of Mesa, AZ; mother Betty Kerr of Mesa, AZ; brother John Kerr (Sheri) of Maui, Hawaii; sisters: Susan Mellott (Brian) of Mesa, AZ; and Carla Kerr of St George, Utah; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Dr. John Kerr. Keith was much beloved by his family and friends. He loved people and had many friends from all walks of life. He loved the outdoors and taught his sons to hunt and fish and gave them their love and respect for nature. Keith had retired in 2005 after 31 years of service with the U.S. Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, Mesa District. Keith had served as the Mesa District Fire Management Officer along with 19 years of service as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer for Tonto National Forest. Keith loved his work and family. He will truly be missed by all that knew him, especially by his family.

Services will be held on
Thursday, July 17, 2008,
First Presbyterian Church of Mesa,
161 N. Mesa Dr. at 10:00 AM

Graveside services to follow at the City of Mesa Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 PM; Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at Meldrum Mortuary, 52 N. Macdonald, Mesa, AZ.

Our family wishes to thank all the caregivers, physicians and Hospice of the Valley for their loving care of Keith in his time of need. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in honor of Keith to: Boys & Girls Club of The East Valley/Grant Woods Branch & Teen Center-Mesa; 221 W 6th Ave, Mesa, AZ 85202 or Kerr Elementary School; 125 E McLellan, Mesa, AZ 85201.

~~Published in The Arizona Republic from 7/15/2008 - 7/16/2008

"Also, day two of my roll on the complex I heard over command that all water tenders can only work 14 hours. Great if nothing is going on. Last time I checked I was working 16 straight and busting my but every minute of it. Most contracted tenders I talked to are on best value contracts so they didn't mind being in camp 2 hours early, but they also wanted to make sure we had adequate supply for our MILES long hoselays. Is this "Cost Management"? ME"

People with commercial drivers license, are allowed to work 14 hours, of which only 11 hours of driving. This would include briefing, travel, refueling and any thing else related to the work, then 10 hours off duty. FEDERAL LAWS.

State of California follows Fed law, with the exception of when working in a local radius (125 miles), you are allowed to work/drive 12 hours per day with 10 hours off. Also, when released from an incident, you are required to have sufficient hours to be able to drive back to quarters .

When Fire wanted water tenders to be D.O.T. legal, they should have looked at what they were asking for. The standards were written for safety reasons, and for less stressful areas such as the Nations highways. The FMCSA allows for one exception, that being when the President or Governor of the State declares an emergency for that incident, the hours of service are waived, until operator is released from the incident, then he/she must have legal number of hours available to return to quarters. Based upon working 60 hours in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days. But after 34 hours continuously off duty, your "clock" resets and then you may continue on.

Any violations of hours of service are enforceable not only the driver, but also the owner(s) of the company including fines and/or incarceration.

The hours of service regulations were established for SAFETY standards for the public with the help of researchers and professionals.

drive'n for awhile

HATE! Ab.

Seriously why post it? It is a dumb and possibly entirely made up story. I've seen plenty of hotshots who could also be confused for homeless people wandering around base camp. I'm sure plenty of people have seen the HBO series 'Band of Brothers' Episode 6, "Bastonge" Dick Winters BREAKS the layer of ice in his helmet to get to the water to SHAVE! In the middle of battle, a noble idea, that even in the worst of times one can keep a professional appearance...

Red Army FAE proud to wear the 'tight blue suits' and be clean shaved...

Red Army, He does have a daughter who likely would do exactly as he reports... Dads are a little protective...
Be proud of your organization. We each have our part to play and we look the way circumstances dictate with or without showers if spiked out. I took the story as just one of those funny fire stories. And your reply as the typical reply. It's cool.

Come to think of it, I looked much like the (somewhat hunched over, hobbling) homeless person last time I was spiked out on the fireline after a number of days of hard work. Didn't shave. Think I smelled some too and the vehicle smells foul. Nothing wrong with that. Doing the job. Ab.

GISgirl

Moral of the story is: You guys in the blue suits better be sure that the
daughter of a Hotshot, that you were trying to put the move on, has a good
sense of humor! Oh and guys, try wearing civvies next time or a Big
Labowski T-shirt and tell her you work for Mc Donald's you might have a
better chance!

Reality Check

Article from the Chico Enterprise Record (ChicoER.com)

Firefighter burned Monday in stump hole fall

By Greg Welter - Staff Writer
Article Launched: 07/16/2008 12:14:32 AM PDT

Concow — A man was hospitalized with first- and second-degree burns to his legs Monday in what may be the worst injury among 30 suffered by firefighters in the Butte Lightning Complex blazes.

Official information on the incident was sketchy Tuesday. The Enterprise-Record was able to learn, mostly through emergency radio dispatches, that a firefighter from Arizona was working on Andy Mountain Road, east of Concow, and fell into a stump hole about 5:40 p.m.

hotlist thread

fair use disclaimer

Tim just requested we find out if it was going to have an impact on the boise ftp site wherever it's located, so it was a caution. I have not been near a phone so I haven't called Boise to ask... Inciweb is down again. Ab.

I was looking thru the Ten year old tri-data report to do the new survey, and came across this key recommendation of the original report.

Require stronger fire qualifications for FMOs and other managers -

Agencies must not assign employees to key fire management positions if they do not meet Interagency and Agency-Specific Qualifications and Certifications.

Training to competency while holding the job is not safe, and should not be permitted. We recommend development of minimum fire qualifications and competencies for people assigned to be Fire Management Officers (and equivalent positions). There are several tiers of FMO positions and it is a critical position at every level.

The FMOs have duties that affect employee and public safety. They help plan the fire program and often have line or advisory roles at fires. Fire management courses also should be required for all fire management officials.

Note it states "Training to competency while holding the job is NOT SAFE".... Isn't this what all the USFS "Developmental" positions are doing exactly? Such as the new 5/6 jobs? Or even the GS 7/8 Captain Positions, or ADFMO GS 8/9 positions?

So, The USFS is doing something previously acknowledged by the Agency, and other comparable Agencies, as an UNSAFE act. I wonder how this would hold up in Court as a precedent if something bad happened?

Sign me,
Just Wondering......

GIS Helps Local, State, and Federal Agencies Respond to Northern California Firestorms

Redlands, California—Thousands of firefighters from local, state, and federal agencies are using geographic information system (GIS) software to coordinate and effectively respond to the recent outbreak of Northern California firestorms.

Agencies are using digitally mapped data, spatial analysis, and modeling to better plan and carry out fire suppression operations. ESRI is providing software, professional services, and other technical resources to help with the response effort. In addition, ESRI staff are assisting GIS professionals in the Multi-Agency Coordination Center in Northern California.

"GIS and remote-sensing specialists work to capture, manipulate, integrate, and maintain data collected from sensors and aerial assets such as the United States Air Force Global Hawk, Air National Guard RC26 planes, multiple infrared sensors, and commercial satellite coverage," says David Blankinship, senior GIS analyst, Colorado Springs Fire Department and GIS specialist supporting the California wildfire response. "GIS is used to quickly disseminate intelligence to incident commanders, planning units, and analysts deployed at different fire incident command posts. This helps teams gain a continuous, comprehensive picture of what's happening on the ground."

"The numerous wildfires in California represent an enormous challenge to agencies," says Russ Johnson, public safety solutions manager, ESRI. "We're working with local, state, and federal government organizations, as well as private business and local residents, to help. GIS is being used to gain accurate situational awareness, coordinate multiple agencies fighting the fires, facilitate communication, and provide overall decision support."

GIS experts deployed during the recent 2007 Southern California fires are working with CALFIRE and other agencies to provide strategic planning as part of the overall response. Incident management teams are using GIS to map active fire perimeters, hot spots, burned areas, and affected communities. Protection priorities are established with the assistance of GIS when flammable vegetation on steep slopes is mapped and modeled. GIS-generated maps are also used to answer questions from the public about fire locations, road closures, damaged properties, evacuations, shelter locations, and Red Cross assistance.

GIS is helping manage the numerous California state assets involved in battling the blazes including more than 18,000 personnel, 1,000 fire engines, 300 dozers, and 100 helicopters.

"You have literally hundreds of fires that are taking place over a wide geographic range, you have large numbers of response assets and personnel, and you compound that with the sheer number of data collection assets," says Blankinship. "What we do is use GIS to bring in large volumes of complex data from multiple formats and integrate it into a single, comprehensive, usable source. Fire commanders and others who aren't technology experts but experts at fighting fires can get answers to their time-critical questions like: where's my fire, what is it doing, and where should I deploy my limited resources? We distill that enormous volume of data into actionable information."

After receiving a note from a person regarding the Northeast Washington ICC providing WildWeb data, I did a quick check to see if other centers had gone online. I was pleased to find and add the following units:

Phoenix, AZ
Fort Collins, CO
Ely, NV
Huron-Manistee, MI
Great Falls, MT
Taos, NM
Pendleton, OR
Klamath Falls, OR
Northern Great Plains, SD
Vale, CO
Northeast Washington, WA
Casper, WY

A few links were updated and sad to see there were a few centers no longer pushing information. The missing are Owens Valley, Yosemite, and Dillon.

Even though we're well into this years western fire season, there are still folks wanting jobs and being posted on the Jobs Page. And there are still other folks looking for new employees. Firestop emailed yesterday that they are getting 10-15 applicants per week from their ad.

Please advise via the link on the wildweb page if there are any corrections needed. It is entirely possible. Thanks, OA

I believe those are all on the Fire Maps page. Thanks. Ab.

TriData Survey (Posted 06/19/08) This year marks the 10th anniversary of
the release of the TriData Phase 3 study. The SHWT and LLC would like to
recognize this landmark study by highlighting significant accomplishments
related to TriData, focusing on key recommendations that still need to be
worked on to improve the safety culture of the interagency community, and
identifying gaps in the TriData study recommendations. (Individual
answers will be treated confidentially and only cumulative results will
be used to describe responses. If you are unfamiliar with the study, or
want to refresh your memory, please search the Lessons Learned Center
Library using the keyword "TriData.") Please take this survey by August
1, 2008 Click Here to take survey.

Thanks and keep up the great work!

Best regards,
Dave

Ab,

Can you post this in the helicopter gallery with a post in the Hotlist, Initial Attack, CA-CZU Castle thread? It is Cal Fire’s 406 with 106 in the background filling from Horseshoe Pond at Skyline Ridge Open Space (Hwy 35 @ Alpine Rd). Credits: Andrea Christensen, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Rangercurt

Thanks, nice photo. I posted it on Helicopters 23 photo page. I'll put a link to it on the hotlist page for the Castle fire as well. Ab.

That canyon is full of fuel and hasn't burned in forever.

Denny resident

First am looking for a way to get my firefighters Red carded. Being a wildland firefighter for the Forest Service in the past I have trained all of them to the S-190 and S-130 level, but I would like to red card them for there return to the states if at all possible.

Second I have heard rumor of a crossover for structural firefighters for wildland qualification.
If you could help it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Todd McKinzie

Hi Shep, firefighters have a LOVE - HATE relationship with the Mark 3: it's really a working powerhouse or it's not working. As you probably know, the Mark 3 is a 2-cycle pump, high speed, high compression, light weight, requires mixed gas. Its lighter weight engine isn't big enough to burn off the carbon buildup on the spark plug, so it fouls the plugs regularly. Often in working on restarting, you flood the engine. One first solution is to keep a box of replacement plugs handy and make sure you've dealt with the flooding problem. If those 2 things don't solve the problem, a ordering a replacement pump(s) as you did is one solution. (On older pumps, sometimes the magneto burns out. It also has a weird carburetor design. ETC)

As I understand it, the 2-cycle Mark3 pump is no longer made. Rather, there's a 4-cycle now, a heavier pump, lasts longer, burns cleaner but doesn't put out the volume of water needed for long hoselays or a 6-head sprinkler system with 2 inch line. I have heard that there's a fine propane pump for that runs sprinklers for 24 hours on a 20 gal tank of propane that was used by homeowners in the MN headwaters fires last year. (Don't know name or company, but excellent solution for residents with water nearby.) Not the kind of pump/fuel setup wildland firefighters could haul around and employ on a remote ridgetop, though... Ab.

Very nice ones. (vfd, your emails almost always land in our spam filter, not to be discovered until a day later, if at all. Maybe sending them in plain text and only to Ab would guarantee they get thru, or maybe the status quo is OK?) Ab.

After we posted the info on the nifc map site several days ago, we got a message from Tim with CalFire, suggesting that public download of large map files might tie up the site and keep teams from getting the info they need in the midst of a firestorm of complexes. At that time, we pulled the info on how to download. If any community or firefighter family member needs that info, go to the News page and click on FireMaps for many options. GIS girl, fire geek and others, if you know of other good options, please let us know. We try to keep the news page up to date.

Ab.

www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=206194-7

Hotlist thread here: www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?t=5743 Ab.

Rey is far too optimistic with his stats in that interview. A report yesterday (being reported in the news and by Chief Grijalva) said that in CA, of the 1781 fires started by the lightning busts, 1493 are contained or otherwise out; 288 are active fires. That's 83.8%, not 95% containment. I would bet containment success is even less than 83.8%. (To round out the stats, it's estimated that 5,000 to 6,000 lightning strikes hit CA during those two lightning busts on June 20 afternoon and June 21 after midnight.)

For example, one side of one lookout mountain on the Shasta Trinity NF had 15 fires with an equal number on the other side on 6/21/08. Three weeks later, those fires have all burned together and continue to burn as one fire within a complex. There are 4 additional fires on a nearby mountain that have burned together and are expected to join with the fire on the lookout mountain. Have those been folded into the 288 that are still active, where they now count as 2 fires rather than as 34 fires? Who knows. Ab.

Dexter and Valerie Ahlgern

I'll post your message on the hotlist as well. Most firefighters feel they're simply doing the job they love. Your thanks are certainly appreciated, though. Ab.

Forest Service grunt.

http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_9875083

This is the First Call To Action. Strike While It's Still Hot.
When the Smoke Leaves, It's All Over.
Call, Write or Email every Representative.
Tell Them the Truth!
Remember This Is an Election Year!
Speak Up!

JQ Public

As far as work/rest ratio that is another BIG JOKE we could banter on for days
and days. No offense taken. As far as i am concerned, you are on my top ten list
of favorite "They said" posters, ha ha.

On the lighter note, i do not type nearly as fast as you as i am a lowly GS-5.
Maybe if i got the demo 6 on my district and not the guy it took 3 tries to pass
the pack test, I could type a little faster, HA HA HA. (Wow did i just open up a
can of worm's regarding the july fire hire, ha ha?)

Lovin The Lake

Ok that's it , enough of this pathetic attempt a trying to build up my
low self esteem at the expense of others, I'm going back to fight fire from
my much undeserved R+R whaa! everyone be safe and be sure to show a meal
break when you think about food or use the honey huts or wish to impress a
self important finance Chief, a way ward IC or unappreciated, fast tracking
lackey bean counter!

Reality check

PS: Casey should be the only one not at a fire fight right now! what's up
with all this dialog?
Casey for president!

Happy Green Parks and Recreation Department!!!! HHAAAAAAAHHAAAA!!!!!
One Who Knows for president!

We should have a re-name the Forest Service contest!

• How about "The department of lie about it and it will become reality service!"
• Or the "Three years and I'm out, so let's not help the groundpounder service"
• What about "The Skew the numbers so things seem better than they are when
  I BS the Congress department"?
• or the "Let's waste taxpayers dollars while I live off of per diem and do
  nothing in Washington department of bagriculture"
• I know, "The 'Show a half hour lunch break on an uncontrolled fire,' even
  though you worked it, so you can help solve the national deficit and make
  me look good department of bean counters' service"

Reality check

Most times all our people want is to be treated like the hardworking
firefighters that they are and get a full days pay for a full days work.
When this simple trust is violated, or even takes the appearance of being
violated as is so often the case (lunch breaks and not being compensated
for camp duties). Its much like a parent who lies to abuses or cheats their
own child, after the child tries everything it can to please them.
Eventually they become, angry, unmotivated, cynical and eventually.....
move out.

It is a rare occasion that I have been allowed to tack on a half hour
before or after the sixteen hours with a lunch break, rationale being 2230
violates the work rest guidelines, and our time starts when the morning
briefings are at 0600, My point is that you shouldn't have to.

On a lighter note Mr/Ms Lovin, since I type at a rate of 60 words per
minute it actually only took me one minute and forty seconds... not thirty
minutes.. to quote the fire business management handbook!

Reality Check

Anyway, kudo's to Casey on the C-span interview. However, I personally, felt it really did not get "OUR" point across. (but it did show how uneducated on the issues alot of the american public can be.) To no fault of casey's or the fwfsa's.
Casey great job, just felt that the forum was a little off, but every little bit helps (and no they did not get to edit the male anatomy comment out (to be honest it made me laugh hysterically).

P.S the TM post was me just forgot to sign the bottom

Lovin The Lake

I'll add your moniker to that one. Ab.

For those of you who read the Durango Telegraph article a week or so ago
and do not believe it.

The San Juan has downsized the ground firefighters and the
forest is and has done everything it can to downsize the fire program.
This is what happens when line officers who do know what they are doing,
think they do. Morale is in the crapper and many people have bailed out for
greener pastures. This is one snap-shot of what the agency has done on a
national scale to it's firefighters.

How about fire striking out on its own under congressional and senatorial
approval and use the name U.S. Forest Service Fire Department. Today's
"Forest Service" doesn't deserve to use the forest service name. I would
rather they be called the "Happy Green Parks and Recreation Department."

Signed,
One Who Knows

www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=206194-7

Thanks, C. Ab.

www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/07/californias_continuing_fires.html

Ab.

To readers who have sent in photos like from the Sleeping Elephant, etc, we simply haven't gotten to photos yet. Like many right now, we're stretched very thin. Ab.

To: Reality Check

Right on. Hit the nail on the head.

I'd encourage any and everyone who has been subjected to this maltreatment
to fight it and get recompensed. The bean counters harass ICs about peanuts
(sometimes literally, right, Kirk?) while we AOBDs clock off
$200,000-800,000 a day just down the road apiece from camp.

Why don't we see the bean counters in the aviation world on incidents, where
the $100K bills are literally clocking off (or, more aptly, falling out of
the bucket) by the hour. A few years back I invited a FBM regional type out
to my helibases and portable retardant show to have an honest and frank
discussion about aircraft costs, both generally and as they related to this
particular fire.

.... And waited .... And waited. A no-show.

To have the bean counters exerting subtle and not-so-subtle pressure to
reduce ridiculous and absurdly named so-called cost centers such as
supplemental peanuts and 1/2-hour authorized meal breaks is the height of
lunacy. They know little to nothing of operations much less air operations,
and consequently avoid those real cost centers like the plague. I would
venture aircraft and crews (in 20-person increments, not 1/2 hour lunch
breaks you endeavor to screw them out of) are way up there in percentage of
total cots.

The invitation still stands: each and every one of the bean counters are
encouraged to visit my aviation operations.

And just to add some carrots to this incentive, I have a reputation for
running big air shows that cost money - but operations that hopefully are
cost-effective in the end. You'd have to ask the 20 or so OSCs and 12 or so
ICs I've worked with on that.

And not always successful in terms of cost-benefit by any means. It's the
classic rock and a hard place: light the fusees with wind in your face or
don't light 'em. But that's the "fog of war" environment we work in: high
ops tempo, high-risk, fast moving, forever changing for better or for worse.

I promise you admin types - and in all sincerity - if you bother to come
out, we will have a productive and educational conversation on both sides.
A non-vitriolic conversation based on facts and experience. Yours and mine.
I'll learn something, you'll do the same.

Regards,

Hugh Carson

Reality check

How is one going about recording their times, the actual time they worked, "going
about it the wrong way"? Those two different scenarios are "REALITY" for probably
75% of the personnel on the fireline.

While your S-190 and Basic fire camp duties course was short and sweet, thanks
for the refresher.

Simply stated, we are asked to show a break. (I was there when the team asked the
feds to do it.) Bottom line, if you are not entitled to it, don't expect to get paid for it
(and then bitch about it when you don't). And if you are, then take it!!! (and show
your break so that everything looks good on paper: that's all we are to the WO and
the Queen and her Court -- #'s and $'s)

TM aka Lovin The Lake

Years ago when I was a Division Sup on an area team, the situation came up with people not getting a "Real Meal Break" and having to show it, we dealt with it at the Division level rather than going thru the "Bean counters". I told the Crew Bosses to start their time a 1/2 hour earlier or run it 1/2 hour later. They informed me that was illegal. I told them it was only illegal if they notified the Time Unit Leader. Since I was the one approving their crew timesheets, I sure was not going to tell anyone about it. (Did bring the Ops Chief up to speed on what we were doing and he said it was the right decision.)

Worded for us back then. Guess it boils down to how much are you willing to stick out your neck for our troops?

Firehorse

trailer trash, in managements eyes

www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2008/calfire/071308fire-intel-report.pdf

Abs, help on the way & more ready if you need it!

OB
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
US Deployment

There has been a formal request received from the American National Multi-Agency
Coordination (MAC) Group through the National Interagency Coordination Centre at Boise,
Idaho, for assistance from Australia and New Zealand to support the wildland fire
suppression efforts being carried out, most likely being deployed to northern California.

There is a contingent of 44 from Australia and New Zealand leaving on Sunday morning,
travelling to San Francisco and on to Boise for their pre-deployment briefing.

NSW is providing 10 personnel as multi-agency support as follows:

Rural Fire Service - I Helicopter Manager, 1 Divisional Supervisor and 1 Task Force Leader
National Parks - 3 Helicopter Managers
State Forests - 1 Divisional Supervisor and 1 Task Force Leader
NSWFB - 1 Divisional Supervisor and 1 Task Force Leader

Rural Fire Service personnel being deployed are Russell Perry, Group Officer, Mid Murray
Zone is going as Helicopter Manager, Craig Burley, Group Officer, Hawkesbury is going as
Divisional Supervisor and Geoff Parish Group Officer, Gosford is going a Task Force Leader.

There is a greater than 85% chance that there will be another deployment in 2 weeks (approx
27 July) and a further deployment two weeks later (approx 10 August) so all those who have
submitted their EOI for the Overseas Deployment Register must ensure that passport, medical,
arduous pack test and qualifications are up to date.

On behalf of the Commissioner and the entire Service, appreciation is extended to all those
members who have volunteered to represent our Service overseas. We wish our first
contingent departing on Sunday a safe trip.

Regards

Rob Rogers, AFSM
Assistant Commissioner
NSW Rural Fire Service

We as module leaders (fire supervisors) must pay our people
appropriately for work performed, we are legally obligated to pay our
firefighters for a meal break if they are in fact enitialed to it, if in
fact the IMT wishes to illegally change the CTR after the fact for whatever
personal reason, (making themselves look good by saving a couple of
pennies at the firefighters expense etc.) that is their issue and they should be
held accountable for the illegal and unethical activity.

NWCG Hand book 2 Chapter 10,
Section 11-13 effective 02/08

Personnel on the fireline may be compensated for their meal period if all
of the following conditions are met:
Paragraph #4. States:

In those situations where incident support personnel cannot be relieved
from performing work and must remain at a post of duty, a meal period may
be recorded as time worked for which compensation shall be allowed and
documented on the Crew time Report, SF-261.

So what is my interpretation of work and post of duty?

Its simple, well its simple to those of us who actually fight the fire. to
the so called "bean counters", or by their real name "corrupt government
officials" this will mean less than nothing.

Our #1 work priority as firefighters on an uncontrolled incident is safety,
this is everyone's duty, we must keep our PPE in place, rest when the
opportunity arises, not have unburned fuel between us and the fire, keep
our heads up for spot fires, flare ups, post lookouts, observe fire
behavior, burn out, protect structures, communicate with adjoining forces,
crewmembers and bosses, keeping informed on fire weather, have LCES in place
and move to a safety zone if the fire dictates.. even as we wolf down our
food.

With this in mind there isn't much wiggle room not to pay your subordinate
during their lunch break on an uncontrolled fire. Oh... by the way that
would include paying your employee for fire camp activities after eating or
arriving in camp, IE: waiting in line for several hours for food, fuel for
saws and vehicles and showers, setting up tents, trying to get supplies
from supply, driving, vehicle repair, radio repair, lunches, ice, water,
parking, getting run out of the first several sleeping spots reserved for
inmates by "wanna be" security cops, sharpening tools and chains, paperwork,
debriefing, AARs, module briefings, dealing with personal issues, the
public, medical units, laundry, resting (sitting down) aside from sleep,
injuries, bumps bruises and rashes, etc. etc, etc.

I feel that there are certain small and insignificant things we as an
agency can do to retain quality and experienced employees, one is to pay
them what they are legally entitled to. Personally watching a DC-10 drop
$70,000 dollars worth of retardant on the wrong side of the fireline on the
Gap fire or having other agency trucks spew exhaust fumes in my face as
they scurry off to motel rooms, getting paid 3 times as much, while they
are still on the clock, as we lay face down in the dirt trying to catch a
couple of hours of shuteye while off the clock, sure might be alot easier
to stomach.

#2- The Operations Section Chief makes a decision that it is
critical to the effort of controlling the fire that personnel remain at
their post of duty and continue to work as they eat,
So...in other words, if you are not relieved during lunch by operations
and are required to stay on the fireline, then you can pay your
firefighters for working while eating.

Reality check

Check out www.GetFireGel.com or www.FireGel.com these are the sites for
NW Barricade and Barricade International. The difference between Thermo
Gel and Barricade II is that Barricade is inherently biodegradable because of
the Canola Oil Suspension vs Thermo Gels kerosene suspension.

Gel can be reactivated with a mist of water several times for multiple days during
fire seige. It's longivity during direct fire outlasts foam which is merely air bubbles
vs gels water bubbles.

Technology at it's best...now available to add to the fire fighting quiver of tools.

Raven

I don’t know what the problem is with boots at the USFS. When I worked for the
USFS I got my head bit off just for asking why they are not provided. Seems to be
a touchy subject for some.

The Department of Defense are Feds and they get their boots provided by the
department, station boots, turnout boots and wildland boots (if appropriate). Some
of the wildland heavy bases even issue Whites and Nicks.

At the Park Service we get $150 a year towards boot costs, whether it is snow
boots for winter burning, new wildland boots or a rebuild. We provide a receipt
and get reimbursed; I understand the other DOI agencies do the same. We include
seasonal employees in this reimbursement.

Why the USFS gets a pass on providing required PPE, I don’t know.

NPS Captain

www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2008/fed/nancy-hood-narrative.doc (28 K doc file)
www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2008/fed/nancy-hood-50yrs.pdf (375 K pdf file)

text of narrative doc above:

The Klamath National Forest Service Honors One of Its Finest: Nancy Rebecca Hood

Nancy has been working for the Forest Service for fifty years on the Klamath National Forest, as a Fire Detection Lookout. She is a woman who has seen and experienced nearly every facet of change the Forest Service has gone through in 50 years and excelled through it all.

Nancy began her career in the Forest Service 1959. Her family lived locally in Siskiyou County for many years and spent earlier years in Sacramento, Ca. She was a Mechanical Engineering student at Sacramento City College when she first acquired a job as a Lookout with the Klamath National Forest. She was searching for the kind of career she could see herself doing all her life. After spending a summer out in the steep and rugged paradise, we call the Klamath...it was a kind of love that she couldn't separate herself from. She faced skepticism from family and friends alike... and in the past has been called a "spinster." In all her years, not one person could sway her away from the rogue life she chose. In becoming a Fire Detection Lookout, Nancy knew that she had found her life passion and wasn't willing to let it go.

Through the years, Nancy has been recognized and given awards for her dedication and willingness to go beyond the regular call of duty. In one document, in her files, she was honored as Employee of the Month, Dec. 13, 1971, Quote:

"On the night of the Red Fir Fire, she recognized the threat from high winds in the burning slash piles and called the crews out. She continued to observe and when it appeared that the fire was indeed escaped she again called the crews out. All that night and the following days and nights she was faithful in observing and relaying information. Her alertness and accuracy were a big help in catching the fire and controlling it quickly."

To me this was a monumental moment in the Klamath National Forest fire history. There it was, the early nineteen seventies... a time before mandatory fire training, Incident Response Pocket Guides, advanced fire behavior & weather analysis. Nancy Rebecca Hood studied the curves of the landscape, listened and watched as wind, clouds and weather altered fire behavior and, ultimately, helped protect her family of firefighters. She did this all ahead of "the times," her knowledge and ideas were progressive. We can learn from all her years and begin to preserve her fire knowledge, history and experiences for the future.

In the early years of her career, being a Lookout went beyond staffing the tower. Nancy held responsibilities including patrol, issuing campfire permits, educating public on fire prevention and assisting crews in the field as needed. Through the years she has been a pivotal part of our Lookout Training program, contributing to Regional Lookout Workshops and local interagency training. She has also volunteered thousands of hours of her personal time to the greater good of the Forest Service.

Nancy is currently serving on Region 5's oldest Lookout, Lake Mountain. It was originally constructed 1911-1912, recently was named Historic. Nancy has been working up a history of lookouts in and around the Klamath National Forest. This is a project that serves as a great historical contribution to our Forest and Agency. It also has taken many hours of her personal time to research and preserve a historic, cultural and photographic history. She has also donated much of her Annual leave that she has accrued in the past half century of service, to fellow Forest Service employees with ill health and those in need. To me this speaks great measures of the character of this woman. She is destined to become one of the greatly honored Women in Forest Service History, much to the likes of Miss Hallie Dagget (who also served in the Forest Service on the Klamath National Forest).

Nancy will celebrate her 50th season of working with the Forest Service and turn 70 years of age this summer. This is quite an accomplishment and a great contribution to our Agency. If ever there were an ideal Forest Service employee, I would have to say it is Nancy Rebecca Hood. Considering the progressive contributions she made during nearly 50 years of Service, she should be honored for all the time she has dedicated to our Agency and Fire Prevention and Suppression Programs.

Contact:
Jaime Tarne, KNF Prevention Officer

What a fine story for a fine life dedicated to a "fire and forest service" calling. I certainly can recognize her passion for her work. Please let us know when her writings become available and send any photos celebrating her event. Thanks Nancy. Readers, if you can get to the party in Yreka on July 23, please do! Ab.

I find it quite interesting that a staff of "line officers" can be so keenly focused on
implementing and enforcing a counter-productive/counter-retentive housing policy
upon their own loyal, hard-working fire suppression employees while their Forest
goes up in smoke around them.

At first I thought it was just another chapter in the "Grand Scheme" to reduce the
R5 Fire Program to a smoldering heap. I have since seen the light.

In my opinion, the actions of these "line officers" are vindictive and smell of vermin.
We have trailer pads at several locations on my South Zone Forest, so I wonder
why it hasn't been an issue here? Hmmmmmm.

R5 Pilgrim

ab

It was brought to my forest's leadership's attention that the uniform MAXIMUM
allowance is $900.00 yet we only are allotted about $200.00 (at least at my
lvl). The captains question was; "why cant we use the extra money to
purchase a pair of boots every three to four years". Seems like a
reasonable idea to me. He has received no answer on the matter as of yet.
If we could have some line officers start looking into and pushing this
issue maybe we could get a small victory in the recouping the cost we incur
in the jobs we do. Just a thought.

Norcal AFEO

I am trying to find out what everyone is doing with their old shelters. I read somewhere that
Boise was taking them, but I am unable to find the site that I read it on. It was in reference
to making cabin wraps out of the old shelters. We have quite a few of them and would hate
to see them go to waste if there is still a use for them! Any and all info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

DOD mistake

There's no conspiracy here. That letter goes out over the Chief's signature every year. It has nothing to do with Arnold.

Bush being the "ultimate boss" is a real reach. Wildfire doesn't "set a timetable" at all. Rey influences that, and the Ag Sec influences that, and Congress influences that, and OMB influences that ......... and thanks-be-to-god CASEY influences that !!!

ma

The "Moses Letter" is more likely in reality an Arnold political stunt. I will be shocked if anything of substance comes of it. Certainly it will not change soon "business as usual" in Washington in an election year. They would have to eat too much crow about the mess we are in right now which will only get worse IMHO.

I think the poster about the "Moses letter" has 2 different letters confused. Arnolds' letter isn't the "Moses letter".

The "Moses letter" is from the chief of the USFS and lets people working for the Agency out of project targets to go to fires. A kind of "Let my people go" letter. It comes out any year a big fire siege happens.

Arnolds letter asking the pres to give us 100% of MEL funding for the rest of the FY wouldnt do much, who would we hire with the $$$? Where would we house them? ...Maybe some jobs would get filled, but those are funded already..

-MJ

The Moses letter coming out about the same time as the Arnie letter might suggest its timing may be a FS political, a$$-covering ploy in response to Arnie's request to President Bush, who is the FS's ultimate boss. My guess is that wildfire is setting the timetable for both. Ab.

24 hour notification of firefighter drowning (55K doc file)

Tahoe Terrie

Here are some links you may find useful in your endeavors. Also, depending on what part
of the state you click on, you have different things available to you. These are just a small look
to what is available to you. For instance i will put a link to the weather in Idyllwild, Ca. Take
a look at what is offered, and just for the h*ll of it, input your city and watch how often things
can change when you have extreme weather. Be especially mindful of the radar images.

Idylwild, CA
www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?...1=33.74&textField2=-116.71806
www.wrh.noaa.gov/firewx/fwpfm/fwpfm.php?...firewx&click.x=476&click.y=350

Watches and Warnings
www.weather.gov/

Fire Weather 1
www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/firewx/firewx.php?wfo=sgx

Fire Weather 2
www.wrh.noaa.gov/sto/fire.php

Current Satellite Images
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=sto

So Cal Raws Stations
www.wrh.noaa.gov/firewx/fwpfm/fwpfm.php?wfo=sgx

JG

I am a USFS retiree who took a buyout in 2007 from a recreation management position. I have been told that I would have to repay the full buyout amount if I took any job with a federal agency, even an emergency AD position. The only exception to this rule is if the USFS requests a waiver on the rule due to extreme emergency such as National PL 5 as we are in currently. So why doesn’t the agency request such a waiver?? As Governor Arnold’s letter to the President states, resource orders are going unfilled daily. I have 30 years of training and experience in fire waiting to be used if they would just write the waiver. Thanks.

one retiree rejected from fire

GO  CASEY!

MAKE   US  PROUD! 

YOU  DO  THAT  ANYWAY, JUST  WANTED  YOU  TO KNOW  WE  APPRECIATE  YOU!

TLS

                                $1975      $2008      %increase
1 gal milk                      1.57       4.3        273.9
1 doz eggs                      0.77       2.25       292.2
1 loaf of bread                 0.65       2.28       350.8
1 lb of hamburger               0.72       2.56       355.5
						
1 gal of gas                    0.57       4.2        736.8
1st class stamp                 0.10       0.42       420
Brand new Ford mustang      3,529.    26,500.         750.9
						
63 Buick Riviera - cherry     500.		
94 monte carlo z-34 - cherry           4,000.         800

average increase                                      497.5			

GS-06                           2.75/hr   14.03/hr    510

My question is to the younger crowd. What percent of your paycheck a year is going to a cell phone?

wrench

Disclaimer- non-scientific comparison, car prices are from Dad on the buick, monte carlo from my car nut neighbor & ebay.

Casey, I am unsure of all of the issues you have been bringing up, but i may have one more.
Boots, one of the Mandatory personal items, when your forking out $400+ per pair, sure
seems like the USFS would offer some help, being they are mandatory. Just a thought.

Another Norcal AFEO

It seems many small CA fire departments are hiring retirees & contactors and sponsoring
them as employees; with an administrative charge billed up to 40% back to the Feds. The
department makes $$ and the retired or "contractual servant" makes big $$$. The person
who opts this option makes about 20K!!! for a 2 week assignment.

I am done with AD: Sign Me Up! I have connections with a small rural department. I may
suggest this option to them for "revenue enhancement" at the next Board meeting. This is
nutts!!! And the FS can't pay their people ???B*S

No signature this time.

"I have no idea what OPM Writing Skills or OPM 1st 40 Supervision 40 hr even are"
-recent post

Ab, I have seen a trend in posts lately. People writing in about things they do not know about, but should, in their current position, or before they bring up the subject for discussion. One example is this, This AFEO says he/she has no idea what 1st 40 Supervision is? This has been FS policy that all new supervisors go to this within their 1st year of supervising for at least 15 years. Then get 2nd 40 hour supervision class within their 2nd year supervising.

He should know these things in that position. Isn't his /her supervisor doing a Individual development plan? These classes are the basic supervision classes for an USFS employee.

The other post was on the Hotlist, someone talking about being "Held back" from off-forest fires, who never even heard the term Drawdown. If he asked his fire management about this, they could have explained the concept, and this person would have understood the system better.

I don't know if this is a failure of the Management to train and inform these folks, or failure of the newer employees to try to find out policies and procedures, but it worries me.

Remember:

"Instructions or assignments not clear"
and "Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards"
are Watch Out Situations.

So the thing I would tell these folks is "If you have questions about how or why something works, ASK THEM".

Get clear understanding of YOUR role and responsibilities are in the big picture. Find out what requirements or constraints YOU are working under, and why they are there.

The classes are there for a reason. The writing skills especially. You would not believe the poor writing skills of some current USFS employees. I went down an a SME for hiring last round, and the misspellings, poor grammar, and just generally poor writing skills of some of the applicants, even at higher levels, amazed me.

These are folks expected to be able to write a correct Individual Fire Report, IDPs, Performance Elements, Station training plans, PT programs, etc., and some could not even spell "Firefighter" correctly. Or just had one word, "fire" in the experience box. You could not tell if they were on an Engine, Crew, or whatever.

If some of the newer folks think spelling is not important to a Firefighter, that Operational things are more important, I say, yes, that operational skills are very important, but always remember, if something goes wrong, and somebody gets hurt, whether its on a Fire assignment, at the Station, during PT or whatever, they might have to turn in all their documentation for a lawsuit.

Even station daily Log Books can be admitted as evidence in a case. So, you need to be correct, clear, and professional in the writing skills .

It also helps you to look better on an application if you know how to use the spell check feature your computer already has.

So, even though these classes might not be required from a redcard standpoint, they WILL help make the person a better trained employee in the future, hence the DEVELOPMENTAL part of the job announcement.

-MJ

Seems that the folks from OK, as well as experienced firefighters in SoCal predicted the crappy weather in SoCal over the last several hours...... experience and education pays countless dividends.... especially EXPERIENCE and lessons learned from the past when it comes to weather.

I gotta know.. how could the NWS *^c& things up so badly..... when amateurs can call the weather pattern and outflow boundaries with almost certainty?

Focus, and REFOCUS!!!! Real time and without stupid mathematical models don't equal fire weather or fire behavior forecasting. Easterly waves and thunderstorm complex outflow boundaries are not new..... NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.

Trust me.... Recent forecasts are Meteorology 101 stuff at best.... The crap we are getting from the NWS.... marginal at best in terms of fire weather forecasting.

Firefighters would prefer to "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst".

Gizmo

FWFSA TO APPEAR ON C-SPAN'S WASHINGTON JOURNAL
MONDAY, JULY 14TH

We are honored to report that Business Manager Casey Judd of the FWFSA has been invited to appear on C-Span's Washington Journal TV program Monday, July 14th from 9 am to 9:30am EST to discuss issues facing our Nation's federal wildland firefighters as well as the current fire season.

Mark Rey will be on from 8:30-9:00.

This honor is tempered by learning of yet another loss of a highly tenured and exceptional federal wildland firefighter from R5 going to Cal-Fire.

We will try to determine if the broadcast is nationwide and if so where accessibility might be in any given market.

Due to the short time frame of this request, the cost to the FWFSA is significant. We hope that those who remain "on the fence" regarding joining the FWFSA will recognize that your issues are now in the forefront and being spotlighted in our Nation's Capitol and share your voice with so many others and join the FWFSA.

Sincerely,
The FWFSA Board of Directors

Thanks. Ab.

BDF ff

Thanks. Ab.

As of 1845 Lightning strikes in San Bernardino Kern, Inyo and Tulare Co's.

Ab.

Letter from the Governator - sign me r1statie...

<Kim_Zagaris@oes.ca.gov> 07/10/2008 11:21 >>>

State of California
Office of Emergency Services
Fire and Rescue Branch

TRANSMITTAL

TO: REGIONAL FIRE AND RESCUE MUTUAL AID COORDINATORS

P. Michael Freeman Region I Coordinator
Keith Richter Region II Coordinator
Del Walters Region III Coordinator
Mark D'Ambrogi Region IV Coordinator
Candace Gregory Region V Coordinator
Bob Green Region VI Coordinator
Ken McLean CDF Fire Protection

FROM: Kim Zagaris
Chief

DATE: July 10, 2008

SUBJECT: Gov. Schwarzenegger Requests Additional Federal Help and
Resources Urgently Needed to Support State's Firefighting Efforts

NOTE: *****THIS IS A INFORMATION BULLETIN*****
PLEASE DELIVER TO REGIONAL FIRE AND RESCUE COORDINATOR

Please forward and distribute to the OES Fire and Rescue Regional Coordinator and OES Fire and Rescue Operational Area Coordinators within your Region.

Please ensure that the OES Fire and Rescue Operational Area Coordinators forward and distribute to Local Fire Agencies within their Operational Areas.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<MESSAGE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

GAAS:515:08
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Aaron McLear
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Lisa Page
916-445-4571
Gov. Schwarzenegger Requests Additional Federal Help and Resources Urgently
Needed to Support State's Firefighting Efforts

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent the following letter to President Bush requesting additional federal resources that California urgently needs to fight the ongoing wildfires and prepare for more lightning strikes later this week.

The request includes:
· Federal active duty forces to provide additional Type II firefighting handcrews to meet shortages;
· Additional out-of-state federal firefighters available to provide training for National Guard personnel as Type II handcrews; and
· Increasing the "Maximum Efficiency Level" (MEL) for the U.S. Forest Service to 100 percent.

Text of the letter to the president:

(Click the link. Read it! Ab.)

www.thermo-gel.com/?id=9

TS

Perhaps someone will write in. Ab.

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

New Employee Orientation
S-130, Basic Firefighter
S-190, Introduction to Fire Behavior
I- 100, Orientation to Incident Command System

Basic Academy (159 hours)
Academy Orientation
Program Orientation & Documentation
Nutrition, Wellness & Physical Fitness
I- 200 ICS for Single Resource and Initial Action Incidents
S-190, Introduction to Fire Behavior (Final Only)
S-260 Interagency Incident Business Management
L-280, Followership to Leadership
S-131, Firefighter Type 1
Basic Fire Prevention
Wildland Fire Skills which include:

Map Reading and Compass Use
Communications & Radio Use
Hand tool Use, Safety & Maintenance
Weather Observations
Fire Shelters and Entrapment Avoidance
Introduction to Tactical Decision Making, Sand Table Exercises
After Action Review Brief

Advanced Academy (158 hours)

Academy Orientation
Career and Personal Development
Physical Fitness
S-234, Ignition Operations
S-270, Basic Air Operations
S-290, Intermediate Fire Behavior
L-380, Fire line Leadership
Fuels Management and Fire Use

Developmental GS-6 Academy (158 hours)

S-215 Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface 28-32 hr
First Responder Medical 40 hr
S-230 Crew boss 24 hr
S-231 Engine boss 12-16 hr
S-232 Dozer boss 16-20 hr
I-300 Intermediate ICS 18-24 hr

Additional Required Training

S-211, Portable Pumps and Water Use
S-212, Wildfire Power Saws
S-271, Helicopter Crewmember
D-110, Dispatch Recorder
S-216, Driving for Fire Service
OPM Basic Writing Skills
OPM 1st 40 Supervision 40 hr
S-248 Status Check-in Recorder 16 hr
Commercial Vehicle Operation 80 hr (Resulting in a Class B License with tank and air brake endorsements)
Hazardous Materials Operational 16 hr
S-200 Initial Attack Incident Commander 16 hr

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

I bolded the ones that just dont make any sense to me. S-232 is not a requirement for any GS-6 that I know of; I-300 I am under the impression is for an ICT 3???? I have no idea what OPM Writing Skills or OPM 1st 40 Supervision 40 hr even are. And S-200 can only be taken after you are a fully qualified single resource boss. It seems to me that we are
shooting are selves in the foot again. We do not want people to act outside of their PDs but here we are asking people to be qualified and have classes well above their level which will delay them reaching the target position of GS-6s. I am hoping I am wrong on these issues and hope some one can clarify them for me.

Thanks,

Norcal AFEO

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

House Approves Bills to Protect Fire Prevention Efforts, Honor California Firefighters
By Emily Kryder | Posted on 07/09/2008

The FLAME Act would establish a separate fund to cover the costs of fighting catastrophic wildland fires.

Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, on Wednesday spoke on the House floor in support of two bills pertaining to the wildfires in California. Both resolutions were approved with broad bipartisan support.

Capps first spoke in favor of the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, or FLAME Act (House Resolution 5541), which would protect funding for preventive firefighting by establishing a separate fund to cover the costs of catastrophic wildland fires when those costs exceed predicted levels.


The U.S. Forest Service currently has to pull funds from other key programs to cover emergency fire suppression costs, leaving fewer funds available for fire prevention efforts, campground maintenance and forest restoration.

“I’m proud to support the FLAME Act,” Capps said. “For too long, the high cost of fighting fires has relied on unpredictable emergency funding measures and put a squeeze on other critical Forrest Service operations, including fire prevention and mitigation efforts. This common-sense bill creates an emergency federal fund dedicated to fighting fires that is separate from the Forrest Service’s regular firefighting funding. The emergency fund established under the FLAME Act ensures our efforts to fight today’s fires don’t hurt our efforts to prevent tomorrow’s fires.”

etc, click the link above...

Fair use disclaimer

Missed...

Mellie

JCT:

There is actually a lot of subjectivity in the Complexity Analysis used to determine whether a Type I or II Team is ordered. "The Feds," or our other cooperators or agencies using teams are not compelled to order a Type I Team because an incident has multiple Branches. A Multi-Branched incident may be indicative of a highly complex incident, but the fact it is "branched" is not the sole criteria utilized. In many cases the incident is branched just because it makes good organizational sense.

I hope this is in someway useful.

Mike Bradley, ICT2
NAZ IMT

We aim to stay up and running. So far, so good. I'm sure the others do as well. Ab.

Having said that, I also believe that the agency has a very long way to go to make things right for their employees and to become comparable to other agencies, at least in Calif. When I worked in other states, the feds were equal to locals, that does not exist today. Fed employees need to unite to push their cause to improve your situation and quit chipping at each other past and present! The congressional delegation is in my e-mail address and their phone numbers are in my speed dial as I am a frequent writer/caller to support the cause. Are you?

JM

Another criteria with the Feds, is any time a fire has one or more Branch, a Type 1
team has to be ordered. I believe this is still policy.

JTC

Ambrose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FROM : National Wildfire Coordinating Group
REPLY TO : NWCG@nifc.gov
DATE : 07/09/2008
SUBJECT : SAFETY ADVISORY : Wildland Fire Fatalities
_____

On July 7 this year, we reached the number of deaths in wildland fire
operations for 2008 that we experienced during all of 2007. A total of
nine wildland firefighters died in the line of duty in 2007 and nine
have died so far this year. That's nine people who won't be going
home to their families and friends after work any more. We need to keep
these fallen heroes - and the ones lost in previous years -- in our
hearts and minds as we continue our work in what promises to be a long,
difficult fire season across the nation.

Causes of death for wildland firefighters in 2008 have included the
following:

* vehicle accident (2 deaths when a burned bridge collapsed)
* aviation accidents (1 SEAT pilot; 1 firefighter in a midair collision)
* roadside accident (2 struck by a vehicle in heavy smoke)
* unknown, possible heart attack or aneurysm (2 deaths)
* drowning. (1 death while swimming on R&R)

Many more accidents have been experienced by wildland firefighters in
2008 that did not result in fatalities, but easily could have.
Twenty-four firefighters were injured in four separate vehicle
accidents; 19 firefighters became entrapped on seven different
occasions, with many of those individuals suffering burn injuries; 10
firefighters were injured when lightning struck nearby in two separate
incidents; three firefighters suffered burn injuries in separate events
that were not entrapments; two dozer operators were injured in separate
rollovers; a firefighter was hit by a snag. These are just some of the
accidents reported in the NWCG Safety Gram; many other accidents and
near misses have occurred both on the ground and in the air in 2008.

Entrapments are worthy of special mention. The 19 firefighters who
became entrapped this year were on fires in five different states. Only
three of the 19 entrapped firefighters got their fire shelters out; many
others were in vehicles when entrapped - specifically engines, dozers
and tractor/plows. Many of these firefighters suffered burn injuries.
During all of 2007, a total of 53 firefighters were entrapped, and we
are on pace to reach or exceed that number in 2008. Many of the
firefighters entrapped in 2007 and 2008 are still recovering from their
burn injuries and some have left the fire service.

Mitigations exist for all of the hazards that have led to fatal
accidents and near misses this year. Some of these are:

* Scout roads when in unfamiliar territory in low visibility; be
aware of load limits and bridge condition when operating fire apparatus.

* Exercise extreme caution when working near a roadside,
especially in low visibility conditions. Make yourself as visible as
possible.

* Do not enjoy a false sense of security when working near or in a
vehicle on the fireline. Survival during a burnover is not guaranteed
while in any type of vehicle; vehicles and aircraft are not always
reliable as an escape route. Always identify a secondary escape route.

* Rapid, unexpected changes in fire behavior kill wildland
firefighters. Always identify the worst case scenario and be prepared
for it by maintaining focused situation awareness and using LCES.

* Do not hesitate to use your fire shelter if you feel you need
to. If you become entrapped, there will be some type of review or
investigation regardless of whether you deploy a shelter or not.

* Maintain physical fitness and monitor your health regularly
through medical exams.

* Only swim in designated safe areas while on fire assignments.

All wildland firefighters want to survive this fire season without
injury. So did all the people who have been injured or killed to date.
You are responsible for your safety and the safety of your fellow
firefighters. Maintain your health, manage fatigue, stay hydrated, be
actively involved in briefings and fireline communication, and keep your
head in the game so that you can go home to your family and friends when
the fires are over.

Ab,

FYI- The streaming video of the Memorial service for the two medical helicoters that crashed in Flagstaff last week is located at www.azfamily.com (look for the archived video). The crash killed 7 and Mike McDonald of the Chief Mountain Hot Shots was on board one of the ships. They had an Native American Flute player that was very beautiful.... wildland boots and helmet on stage and the former Superintendent for the Chief Mountain Hot Shots spoke and was very eloquent. The IMT that put it on did a wonderful job.

J

Sad situation, J. Thanks for letting us know. Ab.

Can anyone out there explain to me what the criteria/justification is for ordering
an Area Command Team? Do 3 large fires on one forest justify an Area
Command Team? Urban interface? Resource drawdown? Competition for
resources? Ah, prudent MANAGEMENT??? Not real sure anymore.

Picker

More later. Ab.

Our thoughts and prayers for the family. The WFF is helping. Ab.

DEATH OF ANDERSON VALLEY FIREFIGHTER

Ukiah – Anderson Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Mendocino County Sheriff, and CAL FIRE
released the following statement regarding the death of Volunteer Firefighter (VFF) recruit Bob
Roland, 63, of Anderson Valley, CA.

Mr. Roland suffered fatigue and respiratory difficulties on the afternoon of July 2, 2008, while
working on the Oso Fire, located approximately nine miles northwest of the community of
Boonville. Mr. Roland was transported to Ukiah Valley Medical Center where he passed away
during the early morning hours of July 3, 2008.

All Mendocino County Fire Services and supporting agencies extend their deepest sympathy to the
family of Mr. Roland.

VFF Roland grew up in Southern California and was a Volunteer Firefighter for CDF Riverside as a
teenager. VFF Roland was a Marine Corps pilot from 1967 to 1977 and flew F-4 fighters. He
retired from an aeronautical engineering firm in San Diego County and relocated to Anderson
Valley six months ago.

VFF Roland is survived by his wife of 33 years, Carol; his sister, Lynda; her husband, Dar;
nephews Eric and David; and Eric’s daughter, Kayla.

Services will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 and will be private. In Bob’s memory, the family has
requested that to honor VFF Roland’s sacrifice, all energy be put into successfully fighting the
Mendocino Lightning Complex fires. Recognizing the importance of family, the family has urged all
Firefighters to spend as much time with their families as possible.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to the Anderson Valley
Volunteer Firefighters Association, PO Box 398, 14281 Hwy 128, Boonville, CA 95415 (707) 895-
2020 or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202

I spent a couple of days on Division Tango on the Motion Fire in Shasta County.
Here is the link to one of the stories we produced. Great work by CalFire.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/25500223#25500223

Also did a spot for NBC Nightly News and several more for the web.

Stay safe for what's shaping up to be a long season.

Al Henkel
NBC News-SW Bureau

Understand the motive, but with houses burning and miles of uncontrolled line and no other regions close to fire season for another month or so? Fight the going fire and don't worry about the one that MIGHT come tomorrow! Hold onto what you got and be as safe as you can with the lack of resources, maybe we will be there to help you!

Signed, doing project work for base 8's

slideshow: www.flickr.com/photos/26196544@N03/sets/72157605962819980/show/

video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A3m9YdtB7E

Misery Whip

Former Riverside County firefighter dies in Northern California fire - PE.com

Former Riverside County firefighter dies in Northern California fire
6:30 PM Mon, Jul 07, 2008
Posted by: PE News

A volunteer firefighter with ties to Riverside and San Diego counties died last week while working on the Oso Fire in Northern California.

Bob Roland, 63, suffered fatigue and respiratory difficulties on Wednesday and died Thursday after being hospitalized, a Cal Fire news release said.

The Oso Fire is about nine miles northwest of the community of Boonville in Mendocino County. Roland was a resident of Anderson Valley near Boonville.

Roland grew up in Southern California and was a volunteer firefighter for the California Department of Forestry in Riverside County as a teenager, the news release said.

He was a Marine Corps pilot from 1967 to 1977 and flew F-4 fighters. He retired from an aeronautical engineering firm in San Diego County and relocated to Anderson Valley six months ago.

Roland is survived by his wife of 33 years, Carol, and his sister, Lynda.

Our condolences to family and friends. Ab.

www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=25215

That's just wrong but that is a good generalization of how all of the federal firefighters feel right now.

Everyone I work with is considering taking all of the money, time and training we received from the feds and giving it to an agency who appreciates us. We need a morale booster soon or it will be too late.

Patients

Well put. Ab.

Lack of resources, it appears, isn't just a FS problem, but one related to all agencies
when you get this heavy fire burden in such a long period of time. Add on to it the fact
that we still do a poor job of moving resources around. (I know there are Hotshot
crews, not on fires, sitting in the Great Basin right now.)

JerseyBoy

Question; Lets contemplate how a city, county or other local jurisdiction would react if confronted with Firefighter shortages, minimal applications, hiring below minimal standards and minimal interest from applicants wanting to make the Forest Service R-5 a career.

• Would they go before Congress and lie?
• Would they begin developing a report on July 3 to send to Feinstein filled with more inaccuracies, highlighting all the so called accomplishments since Dec, 2007 on retention?
• Would they ignore the rank and file and the people (the voters), property and land they protect?
• Would they put together a video conference on April 1, 2008 (BLACK TUESDAY) and make fools of themselves?

I think what they would do is not take it so personally. We all make mistakes, the jurisdiction would not dig in and prepare for a long battle. I think they would roll up the sleeves and develop solutions.

Randy, Ed, Tom and Pena -

What do you think the jurisdiction should do?

ms

Scott Whitmire

2009_Instructor_Recruitment (152K doc file)
2009_Staff_Recruitment (104 K doc fire)

Thank you for remembering and reminding everyone to be safe. On the anniversary
I usually go to our son's in Gooding, Idaho and Ken heads for the mountain. he gets
up very early walks up Storm King and comes back afterwards. This year we are
staying home so it will be a strange for us. We plan on going next year for the 15th
anniversary.

With love to all of you out there. Stay safe.

Ken and Kathy

In the meantime we are enjoying the rain and cooler temperatures.

Aardvark

For those that dont know: The CAL FIRE motel policy was negotiated through our Union Local 2881 in lieu of a pay and benefit raise years ago. The Union felt the troops were not getting adequate rest when reasonable accommodations were available at a comparatively economic rate to contracting.

There is too much fire out there to be getting petty on crap like this.

CAL FIRE Jake

State firefighters have it 'cushier' than brethren
While U.S. Forest Service crews sleep on cots, Cal Fire is in hotels.

www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?p=25055 Some good comments here on the hotlist... Ab.

Tomorrow, Sunday July 6, 2008 is the 14th year of the South Canyon Fire. Take time to remember
the South Canyon Fire on
Storm King Mountain, July 6th, 1994.

(Please stop and remember our fellow brothers and sisters that lost their
lives in the Line of Duty.)

FF's Kathi Beck, Tami Bickett, Scott
Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Robert Browning, Doug Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie
Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso, Don Mackey, Roger Roth, James Thrash and
Richard Tyler were killed in the Line of Duty.

For me, I will always remember shaking my friend -- Jon Kelso's -- hand in Colorado
at the helispot July 6th, 1994, and then later that day, not getting to say
good bye.

Be Safe and remember the most important thing is that you come home injury
free.

Michelle

...and best wishes for their families... Ab.

Would you be referring to the "Legacy Montana" project land transaction that
has recently taken place which will keep some very large parcels of private
timber land (Plum Creek ownership) out of the hands of private developers
and open for public use and timber management? Actual acreage I have read
is 300,000 + acres, a small portion of Plum Creek's true land holdings in
Montana and Idaho.

Things in FS fire may not be going well under the current management but I
can't see a downside with this transaction as it has the potential to
eliminate more limited access WUI in Montana and should keep the lands open
for public use. As for chasing fire on those lands I'd rather deal with
them as former cutting units then to have them covered with McMansions.

Joeboy

Thanks,

Casey Judd
Business Manager

Please keep the dozer operator involved in the rollover in your thoughts and prayers.
He's doing well as could be expected, but still could use good wishes his way.

Mellie

Thanks for keeping us apprised. Ab.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pot plants worth $37 million eradicated
By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer
Article Launched: 07/04/2008 12:05:59 AM PDT

CONCOW — Marijuana plants with an estimated street value of more than $37 million were pulled from five pot plantations Monday and Tuesday, when they got in the way of bulldozer operators battling the Empire Fire.

The Butte County Sheriff's Special Enforcement Unit discovered the gardens June 13 and were planning to raid them at a later time.

The gardens were mapped for fire officials when the Empire blaze broke out, but on Monday a bulldozer operator pushed into one of the grows, increasing concerns for firefighter safety…(article continues)

www.chicoer.com/news/ci_9785123

Nearly 5,000 Evacuated
Fire Spreads from Ellwood to Old San Marcos

www.independent.com/news/2008/jul/04/nearly-5000-evacuated/

Thx,
Burkhard in Goleta

Meanwhile many of us cool our heels, waiting for meaningful change.

OFBA

~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~~¤\***/¤~

*-Happy Independence Day-**-Happy Independence Day-**-Happy Independence Day-**-Happy 4th!-*

~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***\¤~~¤/***/¤~

from the Abs
! BE SAFE !

It must be true the agency wants fire out of it's organization. No one
agency could do a worse job of trashing it's fire management program and
employees. Fire management MUST be removed from the USFS. A federal
wildland fire department must be developed to support fire management and
the firefighters. As for the director of fire, if there is one, I don't
care if you have to keep your mouth shut to keep your job. Open your mouth,
speak the truth, lead your firefighters, get some guts and be a leader or
get out. That is the integrity required now. Shame on the forest service.
Firefighters: I'm proud of your honor, courage, commitment, and hard work.

Firefighters work hard, die, and bleed for the protection of lives, homes,
communities, and natural resources. And the forest service treats us like crap.
34 years in and I've never been more ashamed of my agency.

This is going to be a long hard fire season, it already is. Be careful out
there.

Magruder Fingers

Several clips -- Footage of the Martin Mars working the Motion Fire near Shasta Lake CA.

www.shastalake.ws/

www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2008/mem/mcdonald.pdf (332K pdf file)

James W. Burton
Engine Captain
Coconino National Forest
Peaks Ranger District

Earthpig

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crew remembers MacDonald as ‘inspiring’ firefighter
By ERIC NEWHOUSE • Tribune Projects Editor • July 3, 2008

CUT BANK — Michael MacDonald, a 26-year-old Chief Mountain Hot Shots firefighter, returned to Montana in a wooden coffin aboard a Forest Service smokejumpers’ plane Wednesday.

The first member of his group to die in the line of duty, MacDonald was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash as he was being transported to a hospital in Flagstaff, Ariz., for treatment of a bug bite and an allergic reaction to his treatment.

“Mike was in tremendous condition, but what happened to him was totally out of our control,” said Steve Bullshoe, property manager for the Hot Shots crew based in Browning. “We teach them to be professional, to be safe, but there are some things you can’t do anything about.”

MacDonald’s death stunned the close-knit crew because he had been strong, vital and inspirational, crew members said.

“This guy was outstanding,” said crew supervisor Lyle St. Goddard. “He was so happy to be doing what he was doing. So this is a hard time for us.

“We’ve had a good string of luck for 17 years, and finally our tragedy has struck,” said St. Goddard, who said firefighting is the seventh-most dangerous job in America, according to statistics he’s seen.

Maurice St. Goddard, a friend of MacDonald’s since sixth grade, remembers working beside him the day before his death, while fighting a huge fire on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

“We were working hard to get a (clear fire) line to the top of the ridge and tie it into another line,” Maurice St. Goddard said. “He really pulled me up — he told me never to quit.”

Maurice St. Goddard said MacDonald drew pictures of horses on his leather gloves and made up a story about how the Blackfeet Tribe had stolen the horses from the Spanish and driven them across the Grand Canyon. The tall tale made his weary crew laugh.

“We were tired, but after we had achieved our objective, (MacDonald) was just skiing down the mountain (on broken rock), having fun, and the firefighters in front of him were trying to get out of his way,” Maurice St. Goddard said.

On the day of MacDonald’s death, the Hot Shots dug more line through the morning, and then managed to take a break for a hot lunch that was flown in.

“I was sitting all alone, and Mike came and joined me,” said Kayla LaPier, the only female on the squad, a basketball cheerleader whom MacDonald recruited to join the Hot Shots crew. “There were flames all over and he said, ‘Sit back and enjoy the show.’”

MacDonald was like a big brother to her, LaPier said. (Click the link for more good memories and the photo.)

fair use disclaimer

Sad loss. Ab.

FirePig

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Volunteer firefighter dies in Mendocino County
www.pressdemocrat.com/

By Glenda Anderson
The Press Democrat
Last Modified: Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 12:34 p.m.

An Anderson Valley volunteer firefighter who had been working on the Mendocino County firelines died early Thursday morning after falling ill, officials said.

Robert Roland, 63, was taken to Ukiah Valley Medical Center after he began to have health difficulties, said Anderson Valley Volunteer Fire Department volunteer Dawn Emery Ballantine.

He died in the intensive care unit at about 4 a.m., she said.

She said Roland was fairly new to the department. Additional information will be available later in the day.

fair use disclaimer

Hotlist thread for updates: www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?t=5528

THUNDERSTORM SAFETY ALERT

Within a 30-day period from the end of May to the end of June 2008, 10 wildland firefighters were injured after being struck by lightning while conducting fire operations. Two of these firefighters were hit on a prescribed fire in Montana, eight others were struck in North Carolina. Thunderstorms continue to be predicted in most of the west and parts of the southeast.

Clearly, lightning is a hazard in the wildland fire environment--one that will always have potential to injure or kill firefighters. Two wildland firefighters were killed by lightning on the North Stansbury Fire in Utah on August, 23, 2000. Nationwide, 60 people are killed by lightning each year and another 340 are injured; many of these injuries are of a life-changing nature.

Firefighters can take specific actions to mitigate the hazard they face from lightning. Observe the 30/30 rule: If you see lightning and hear thunderclaps within 30 seconds of each other, take storm countermeasures. Do not resume work in exposed areas until 30 minutes after storm activity has passed. Other thunder storm countermeasures include:
• Take shelter in a vehicle or building if possible.
• If outdoors, find a low spot away from tall trees, wire fences, utility lines and other elevated conductive objects.
• If in the woods, move to an area with shorter trees.
• If in open country, crouch low, minimizing your contact with the ground. Never lie flat on the ground.
• Don’t group together.

In addition to lightning, thunderstorm activity poses other threats to wildland firefighters. Outflow winds and downbursts can dramatically affect fire behavior miles away from a thunder cell; this has been noted as a causal factor in a number of fatalities.

Localized heavy precipitation can also occur so flash flooding is a potential concern in low lying areas.

Wildland firefighters are urged to review the Thunderstorm Safety section of the Incident Response Pocket Guide, page 75, and the Six Minutes for Safety lesson on Thunderstorm Safety:
www.nifc.gov/sixminutes/dsp_discussion.php?id=56

Here are a couple links I am using. I have a special interest in this fire since it is burning part of my old ranger district, the Greehorn as I knew it in the the 70's.

http://www.kerncountyfire.org/incidents.php?id=124 Kern County FD

http://sierrafire.cr.usgs.gov/swfrs/Pages/WebCam.html Web cameras on the Sequoia. Breckenridge is the camera location to go to, and use this site for the Piute Fire.

Firemark

Here's a link an article for the "Strange fire names" on the hot list.

www.flatheadmemo.com/archives/july_aug_2007.html#prude

Tom Jones

Fish01

Want to know where the fire dollars are going? Simple. Ask any Forest Supervisor for the summary report for WFPR and WFHF funds planned expenditures. Also ask for the latest iteration of project work plans listed in that summary. It will take 5 minutes for them to run the report and send via email. Any resistance, make it a FOIA. If you have political contacts, a call from a Congressional aide can get immediate response.

Note: There are very legitimate reasons for expending fire funding on other than "equipment" or "firefighters". Training, computers, contracting, procurement, office rent, utilities, are all support services and legitimate expenses for the various programs (timber, wildlife, recreation etc) and each must pay their share.....no free ride for fire.

BUT......that doesn't mean one should not be watching for abuses of the system.

OFG (ret)

"AC" said on 7/2: "It's gone to PL5 (on a 1 to 5 scale) the earliest in
15 years from what officials are stating."

This appears to be incorrect based on a spreadsheet sent by NIFC on 6/25,
thru the Coordination Center and FMO channels. This was soon after we
went to PL3, and the same day we went to PL4. Then of course, we went to
PL5 on 7/1/2008. June 21, 2002 was and is the earliest PL5 since 1990.
Until 2008, second place was July 19, 2007.

"Below is the updated preparedness levels spreadsheet . (Thanks to Sheri
Ascherfeld, NIFC-BLM External Affairs.) As we inch our way up in
preparedness levels, I always find this chart interesting and thought I
would distribute.

(See attached file: NatPreparednessLevels-thru20080623.xls (440K xls file; must have excel.)

Roberta D'Amico
NPS Fire Communication and Education Program Lead
National Interagency Fire Center"

Also, the link given for UTF was only EastGreatBasin GACC.

- Anonymous

Issue: Based on the sheer number of incidents in the Northern CA Operations area we find that current staffing levels cannot be maintained. Out of state resources are reaching assignment limits and must be released to home or rested. Due to the onset of fire season in other Geographic Areas resources released to home will probably not return in the same capacity that was originally ordered for this unprecedented event. Other options must be explored. Extensions, R&R and releasing of crews, are presently in progress at all incidents.

Prior to extending incident personnel, health, readiness, and capability must be considered. The health and safety of incident personnel and resources will not be compromised under any circumstance.

Options: Many... (click the link)

Hi Ab,

It was reported on another fire website that two more folks were injured in separate incidents on the Cold Fire, within the Canyon complex, near Quincy, Calif. A private contractor / dozer operator rolled his dozer and was hurt. Also, a FF was mopping up hot spots and fell injuring himself. Might be a good time to post something in regards to the long haul, crew cohesion, fatigue (signs / symptoms), R&R policies being followed, everyone to watch each other's back more closely. With the shear numbers of fires and FFs in the state, the odds for injury start to stack against them. In 1987, after the August lightning bust, with months of firefighting, I believe there were a total of 10 separate FF fatalities in the state and hundreds of injuries (many smoke inhalation and fatigue related).

I have observed alot of fire coverage in the news lately. I am seeing alot of folks (state, federal and private) that are not wearing their appropriate wildland PPE, with fire raging up close and personal to them. I understand all agencies are little different, but if you were issued the gear and it is your Dept.'s policy, then wear it. Supervisors MUST hold their folks and themselves accountable. I believe when the final reports come out on the recent multiple burn overs, it will show or sadly prove my point. As you know, the fires burning today are responding like they would in September with extreme / erratic fire behavior. With the experience level in all agencies going by the wayside "Baby Boomers" retiring, this adds another situation that shouts WATCH OUT !! This is certainly not the time to let their guard down.

HEADS UP TO EVERYONE !!

Take Care,

Retired CDF'er

I believe you are correct in the year. 1976 went down as a very wet summer. I was rappelling
that year and it was SLOW!.. especially R-6. This after what was a very dry winter( 75-76.)
I ruined many pairs of skis that year on rocks. The 76 summer of course was followed what
I still think is the all time driest winter 1976-77..at least in N. California. That lead to many
great fires Marble Cone LP & Hog KNF are some that come to mine. I was in Ak that summer
and it was huge as well.

Fish01

Thanks, Ab.

I took some picture at the dedication and thought you could add this one to the memorial page.

www.wildlandfire.com/pics/memor/esp-ff-mem.jpg

Zuzzette B- ESC
Riverside County Fire Department-OES

Thanks. Ab.

Thank you,

Heather M.

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

We just received word that the sentencing hearing for Ellreese has been
moved to August 18. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 and Tom
Hopkins is expecting it to last several hours.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, WA 98801

Thanks Heather. Ab.

WV-MOF
Still struggling with Forest (NOT LETTING FOLKS OUT THAT WANT TO HELP) Valuable resources are working on other priorities. Low fire danger. Need more support and stronger voice from region to shake folks loose!

JQ Public

The Santa Barbara Independent has been doing updates on the CA-LPF-Gap Fire.
This one was posted at 5:00 a.m. 'Gap Fire Morning Outlook'>
www.independent.com/news/2008/jul/02/gap-fire-morning-outlook/

EA

AZ-PNF-Lane 2

www.wildlandfire.com/hotlist/showthread.php?t=5391

Ab.

"Per our June 10 message, Council President Ron Thatcher and I met with
agency leadership and key Congressional staff to explore the 301 option
last week. The bottom line, without going into details, is the Forest
Service and Interior agencies decided to stick with the 401."

To further clarify this issue, there were never any plans by the agencies to
go to a 0301 (Administrative series). It was never even considered prior
to IFPM Implementation. One of the numerous reasons it was not considered
was that one of the Federal agencies had been cautioned by OPM to stop
using that series for some of their fire management positions.

JS

In memory of Rusty Muir, a scholarship fund is being organized through the
Wildland Firefighter Foundation. Donations to the Rusty Muir Scholarship
fund can be made in lieu of flowers or other tokens of remembrance for
Rusty Muir and in respect to his family.

Rusty was a huge proponent of education, so much so that he was the
President of the Education Board in his home county. He even built a
school during his tenure.

He was also the kind of guy who had a very strong work ethic. If you
showed up for work early, stayed late, and worked your tail off in between,
you would meet with his standard of a hard worker (and a good kid).

Rusty was the kind of guy that would protect and defend the down and out.
He always looked after others, especially those who needed help. Many
of you might remember him from his many years with the Forest Service
from 1979 to 1999.

So, when a handful of us put together criteria for this Rusty Muir Scholarship,
we are going to keep those traits of Rusty Muir in mind. And for now, we'd
appreciate any donations to that fund so sometime in the future, we'll
be able to help a hard working kid with a college education in Rusty's
name.

this old timer remembers, or is trying to remember the exact year - but
there was a 10" rainfall in SW Oregon during the first week of August in
the mid-seventies. It may have been 1976. We were blazing a trail thru
the North Kalmiopsis wilderness on the Siskiyou NF, and of course it being
August and SW Oregon never planned for rain. Ten days in remote, heavily
infested poison oak, manzanita, rhododendron, and steep old growth country.
We had to call in the BD to rescue our rig parked on the river bar as the
chetco river rose very fast. The BD crew found it slightly downriver.

Strange things do happen with weather when least expected. Believe it was
'76.

Put an end to fire danger real quick for rest of summer. Sure wish I could
remember what year. Do remember the wrist thick poison-oak vines as half
the crew got it bad, what with the rain, wet clothing, and being far, far,
away. This in the days of IR crews.

-- Forkinthetrail

“A rank-and-file Forest Service firefighter earns $56,096 a year while
an equivalent state firefighter gets $64,760 because Cal Fire employees
can work more hours, according to a Forest Service report released
this year.”

Where did they get this from? A GS11 Division Chief (FMO) starts at $54,000
a year? A GS8 Fire captain makes $40,000-53,000 a year.

A “rank and file” Federal wildland firefighter (better known as a GS4 Forestry
Tech) makes $26,000-35,000 a year assuming they actually worked the whole
year.

Even accounting for the special So Cal salary rates, the $56,000 figure is not even
remotely accurate for a “rank and file” USFS firefighter.

What did this report do, include all the OT from a particularly busy hotshot crew
and compare it to CDF’s base pay?

~~~~~~~~~~~
On a related note I heard the USFS has contracted to use the Canadian Martin Mars.
Can somebody tell me what the usable air frame hours are for the Mars? How is it a
63 year old flying boat can be used but 50 year old DC6 / 7s are too old to be used?

Feeling like a member of the band on the Titanic.

Forest Service short on fire engines, Inland staffing

TL

NVJims

NATIONAL INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER
3833 South Development Avenue Boise, Idaho 83705
PL-5 Key Messages
June 30, 2008

• The national Preparedness Level is set by the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group, or NMAC. Preparedness Levels range from 1 to 5, with one indicating minimal fire activity and five representing major fires in several geographic areas that have the potential to exhaust agency fire resources.
• NMAC elevated the current level to five due to several factors: . The current fire activity, particularly in California. The expected increase in fire activity elsewhere in the nation, particularly in the Great Basin, Northwest and Rocky Mountains. The expectation that many of the current fires in Northern California will continue to burn well into the summer. The heavy commitment of crews and resources to California, which is stretching firefighting agencies’ capabilities. The unprecedented early start to the fire season in California. Concern about firefighter fatigue, with the most difficult part of the fire season likely yet to come. President Bush declared a state of emergency for seven counties in central and northern California.
• This is the second earliest date since 1990 that PL-5 has been reached. Only on June 21, 2002, was PL-5 reached earlier.
• The preparedness level has increased rapidly over the last two weeks, indicating how quickly the seriousness of the fire season in the United States has grown. The preparedness level was 2 on June 21, went to three 3 on June 22, and was elevated to 4 on June 25.
• As the season intensifies, it’s a reminder to the public to be careful with and around fire, and for those who own homes in fire-prone areas, to take the few simple steps needed to help their property to become more defensible.
• Resources are stretched, but the top priorities of firefighters remain to protect life, property and critical natural resources. Each fire manager has available a full range of options, from monitoring fires that are ecologically beneficial to aggressive suppression tactics.

Greetings Ab-

I have been an observer of the site for a few years but only recently became a registered member. Unfortunately an aggressive incident in Lake Havasu AZ is what causes me to contact you for some help. My wife and I both work for professional city departments in Southern California, and on 6-26-08 our (my wife's) cousin was assaulted by two off-duty firefighters outside of a bar called B.J.'s. Apparently there was a scuffle in the bar (we were not there ourselves) between our family member's girlfriend and the two FFs, causing our family to leave the bar. The two FFs followed them out and assaulted our cousin by jumping him from behind and functionally driving his skull into concrete causing severe injuries (he is still unconscious). The two then continued to kick and stomp on him as he lay unconscious until local security stopped the assault. Our cousin was airlifted from Havasu to Phoenix where he remains in a comma and his survival is still in question.

Sorry for the long story, but now the point. The two FFs then ran to their truck and escaped local security as they began rendering medical aid to our cousin. The only description we have is two FFs who have been seen at the bar on other weekends, and they were wearing brown t-shirts with their department name (unknown if they were duty or off-duty t's). My assumption is they were off duty t's. San Diego city has a brown off-duty t, but is there anyone else you know of who has brown duty or off-duty t's in the so cal/ Havasu AZ area?

Security tapes from the bar are being subpoenaed for enhancement but any info to help us find those who committed the assault would be appreciated. Also, aside from the t-shirt clue, most firefights I know have a bad habit of flapping their gums, so i figure someone may have heard the story around the camp fire. Could you post this (or an edited version of it) to help us get some info on potential identities of the t's or others who have heard of the incident?

Any help is appreciated,
Kevin and Kelley D<snip>
City of Hemet FD / Rancho Cucamonga FD

Kevin & Kelly, Many firefighters are on the line and will not be reading this. Probably we'll need to ask the question again when people get back. Ab.