The Interregional Fire Suppression Crew

High Mobility The Interregional Fire Suppression Crew

Martin E. Alexander From Fire Management, Summer 1974 issue

The wildfire problem is of major pression Crews developed by conservation projects such as concern to all western forest the U.S. Forest Service serve trail and campground resource management agencies this purpose. construction, but doubled as a and organizations. During the firefighting force. average year, some 12,000 Background and History wildfires blacken 200 thousand For many years, forest The first organized U.S Forest acres of the 210 million protection agencies relied on Service fire suppression crew protected acres of the National pick-up firefighters that were was the "40-man" crew Forest System. One of the hired on an "as needed" basis. established in 1939 on an longtime objectives of the U.S Men for these crews came from experimental basis (2). The Forest Service has been to every walk of life; from skid 40-Man crew was located on the provide highly trained, well row bums to short order cooks. Siskiyou National Forest in conditioned, versatile fire In most cases these men had southwestern Oregon. The crew suppression crews to critical fire very little fire suppression was very effective in fire situations. A fire suppression training or experience. It was suppression in the Region 6 crew with high mobility that can not until the advent of the National Forests. The Oregon reach a large project fire on Civilian Conservation Corps "Red Hats," co-sponsored by the short notice and do an effective (CCC) in the 1930's and early School of Forestry at Oregon job during the first burning 40's that any semblance of State College and various State period, has always been the organized fire suppression crews agencies in 1940, was organized dream of fire control managers. was achieved (1). The CCC along the same lines as the The Interregional Fire Sup- crews were used primarily for 40-Man crew (4). During the

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The Interregional Fire Suppression Crew war years programs like these carry out the concept of quick elaborate college-type dor- were largely discontinued. mobilization and dispatching. mitories. However, some of the principles Such a plan became a reality of training, organization, and when 5 IRFS crews were An IRFS crew is normally use were to be later adopted by organized for the 1961 fire composed of 25 men, consisting other U.S. Forest Service fire season (3). The first IRFS crews of a foreman, assistant crew suppression crews. were located in the far West and foreman (who may or may not Northwest. By 1963, the number be one of the squad bosses), 3 In 1947, Region 5 of the U.S. of IRFS crews increased to 9. squad bosses, and 20- to 21- Forest Service began to organize Through the years their value in crew members. Overhead "Hot Shot" crews for use in fire suppression became quite positions on IRFS crews are California (5). They were well apparent and allowed for an usually based on past fire trained, fast and hard hitting expansion of the IRFS crew experience, training, and crew handline crews. Such crews as program. In 1970, 15 IRFS seniority. The IRFS crew the El Cariso (Cleveland crews were available for foreman is responsible for National Forest) and Del Rosa summer fire season. At present supervision of the crew, both on (San Bernardino National there are 19 IRFS crews fire assignments and at home Forest) Hot Shots proved stationed in the western U.S. base. Crew size and structure themselves more than once during the summer vary among the regions, under difficult conditions in the fire season (table 1). depending upon the objectives brush fields of southern and the needs of the home California. Recruitment and Organization region. Men for IRFS crews are During the 1950's most of the recruited predominantly from Movement and use of these western U.S. Forest Service the western U.S. Most often they crews within their own regions regions maintained large are college students majoring in is coordinated by the regional brushcrews to do slash disposal some phase of forestry. The fire dispatchers. Requests for and other timber sale work. Forest assigned an IRFS crew is IRFS crews from other regions There were also several hundred responsible for screening, are coordinated through the blister rust control crewmen recruiting, and hiring crewmen Boise Interagency Fire Center organized into 25-man fire and overhead. Crew members (BIFC) at Boise, Idaho. BIFC suppression crews in regions must be at least 18 and arranges for air transportation with blister rust infested stands. preferably not over 45, with the and maintains a national listing These crews provided trained average age being 21. They of available IRFS crews (6). manpower for use on large must pass a yearly physical BIFC provides logistic support project fires. "The Redmond examination, be willing to fly, rather than serving as a Raiders," a TSI crew stationed and be away from home base for command center. This permits a on the Deschutes National extended periods of time. central office, which has fire Forest, was a good example. Employment is from about suppression crew requests Because of transportation mid-June to early September. coming from all over the West, problems in dispatching these Some IRFS crews, specifically to analyze and estimate potential crews to other areas of the West, the Region 5 crews, terminate in situations and assign priorities their most common use was November. Most IRFS crews when the demand for IRFS local. With the termination of have experienced fire fighters- crews is greater than the supply. the blister rust program and the 65 to 95 percent are former crew transition to bulldozer slash members. Training piling, such project crews were Crew members usually receive 2 no longer available. The crew headquarters have weeks of both formal classroom been strategically placed. Ideally instruction and field training. In the late 50's, fire control they are located near large Training is given in various personnel in Washington, D.C. airports, which permits rapid facets of the fire suppression felt fire suppression crews could transport by aircraft to going job. Training is intensive be used more efficiently if men wildfires and high fire-danger because without it crewmen were stationed near an airport. It areas. Crew members are housed would be no better than pick-up was felt that a large airplane in some sort of barracks, varying firefighters. immediately available to from reconditioned garages to transport men was necessary to

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Classroom training consists of firefighting tools and equipment. 420 highly trained men can be films, lectures, and programmed These activities keep crew mobilized very quickly for any instruction texts in Forest members in shape and provide a large project fire or lightning Service organization. This ready work force for priority bust. includes fire and crew district work. The IRFS crews organization, fire behavior and are on a 24-hour alert, 7 days a In one instance, 12 of the 15 weather, the 10 Standard Fire- week. A sign-out roster system IRFS crews were used in the fighting Orders, safety, first aid, is utilized by most crews to 4,000 acre Pumpkin Creek fire retardant and aircraft manage- determine where individual crew on the Bighorn National Forest ment, radio communications, members may be reached at any in 1970. IRFS crews are used in fire suppression principles for particular time during off-duty different types of wildland fuels, both small and large fires, fire hours. burning conditions and terrain - control attack methods, from mopup in heavy West woodsmanship, and thinking Philosophy and Crew Morale Coast fuels to punching line in and reasoning during emergency The effectiveness of any fire southern California's Class 14 stress conditions. Field management organization is no brush type. demonstrations are given in greater than the morale of its various fireline construction personnel. Recognition of this IRFS crews are used for both methods (progressive, one-lick, has fostered a high degree of day and night duty. They are etc.), care and use of hand tools, esprit de corps among IRFS sometimes used as an initial and specialized equipment such crews that consider themselves attack force on their home forest as chain saws, portable and the "best." It is customary to and by nearby cooperating slip-on pumps, and drip torches. assign the IRFS crews control of agencies and organizations. In the most difficult sectors of such cases they will travel to a Physical conditioning is stressed project fires. Crew morale fire utilizing their own crew during the 2-week training appears to soar the hotter the vehicles. At certain times and period. It consists of calisthen- fireline gets. because of individual exper- ics, hikes, obstacle courses, and ience, the crew may be split up outdoor sports. Refresher IRFS crew members develop and used as smokechasers training and conditioning are nicknames as the result of during a large lightning bust. continued as needed. incidents, individual character- Individual crew members can istics, or backgrounds. Good- also be utilized as "straw" IRFS crews are often faced with natured kidding among fellow bosses for pick-up and district long working hours, little food, crew members prevails crews. Besides serving as high air temperatures, and low constantly. Several IRFS crews handline crew, they also fill in humidities, all of which take have developed shoulder patches on fire control specialty jobs their toll on crew members. exemplifying their crew name or such as helitack crewmen and Another fatigue factor is the locality. managers, retardant mixmasters, required traveling from one fire and tank truck operators. to another. It's not uncommon to Crew morale is a necessary find IRFS crews that have been component of an IRFS crew. Although IRFS crews are used away from home base for 2 or 3 Only through a sense of personal primarily by the U.S. Forest weeks during a busy fire season. satisfaction and pride can the Service in all of the western But despite the hazards and individuals obtain the desire regions, 2 unusual fire assign- hardships, the safety record required for successful action in ments for IRFS crews were the among IRFS crews is extremely difficult fire situations. Russian River fire and the good. Chaldron fire. The first occurred Mobilization in 1969 when 4 IRFS crews When not actively engaged in The primary purpose of IRFS from Region I were used on the training or suppression, the crew crews is to provide highly Russian River fire on the performs district project work trained and well-equipped re- Chugach National Forest in such as hazard reduction, inforcement crews for large fire Alaska upon personal written maintenance and construction suppression. All 19 IRFS crews communication from Philip W. jobs, fire proofing heavy use are air-mobile and can be moved Gum, R-10, Div. of Fire Mgmt. areas, slash disposal, timber to any location in the western and Air Operations. The second stand improvement, trail U.S. in 6 to 8 hours after being occurred during the 1973 fire building, and reconditioning dispatched. Thus, approximately season when three Region I

Fire Management Summer 1974 Page 3 of 7 The Interregional Fire Suppression Crew crews and one Region 2 crew Bighorn IRFS crew was used in agers, depending upon their were used on the Chadron fire this manner during the 1972 fire education. Many fire control on the Nebraska National Forest. season in California (1). The personnel have worked their Lolo and Pike IRFS crews were way up through the ranks from The eastern and southern U.S. also assigned to the Lassen and seasonal fire control jobs such as Forest Service regions have Los Padres National Forests, lookouts, fire guards, fire never used IRFS crews, nor do respectively. Such an arrange- prevention patrolmen or as IRFS they anticipate using them ment not only provides the crewmen. The experience because of readily available Forest with an extra fire gained on an IRFS crew not manpower, generally small and suppression force, but allows only allows young men to gain short duration fires, and because crew members to gain more district fire control fundamentals their fire season does not varied experience and see but also allows them to coincide with IRFS crew different parts of the country. experience all phases of large employment periods (personal Similar arrangements include fire suppression. This exper- written communications from stand-by duty at fire co- ience is necessary to all persons Wayne E. Ruziska, R-8, Div. of ordination centers during pursuing a career in wildland Fire Mgmt. and Monroe E. periods of extreme fire danger. fire management. Kimsey, R-9, Div. of Fire and Air Mgmt.). Therefore, although An extremely valuable asset of The development of the IRFS crews are available to the IRFS crews is that they arrive at Interregional Fire Suppression eastern and southern states, it a fire as a complete "package" Crews by the U.S. Forest would require extreme –fire outfit-they have their own Service marks a major milestone danger over a large area for an overhead, chain saws, crew in wildland fire suppression. extended period of time to radio communication system, Philip V. Cloward, fire staff warrant dispatch. and hand tools (if ordered with officer on the Sawtooth National crew). Crew members carry Forest, once said that "what the The IRFS crews are also used by their own fire pack which smokejumper is to small fires, other federal agencies such as includes a sleeping bag, personal the IRFS crew is to large fires." the Bureau of Land Manage- gear, and fire suppression Performance to date indicates ment, National Park Service, clothing and equipment. The that the IRFS crews are meeting and the Bureau of Indian requesting fire control agency their objectives and giving fire Affairs. They are also called has only to provide food and management agencies a new upon for fire suppression by water. dimension in wildland fire sup- western state forest resource pression not previously avail- management agencies, private IRFS Experience Important able. forest industry, and timber Experience and training on IRFS protection associations. crews is sometimes used as Martin E. Alexander is a criteria for selection of smoke- forestry technician, Moose When the regular fire season is jumpers. Because of the wide Creek Ranger, Nezperce finished in the crew's variety of fire management National Forest, Grangeville, headquarters area, a crew may experience gained on these Idaho. He served as a crew be moved to some other part of crews, crew members should be member of the Bighorn National the West if needed. This type of well qualified to pursue careers Forest IRFS Crew during the arrangement usually consists of as fire control technicians or 1972 and 1973 summer fire a 30- or 45-day detail. The professional wildland fire man- seasons.

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Literature Cited (1). Anderson, Rolfe E., Boyd L. Ras-mussen, and Verne V. Church. 1941. Adapting advanced principles of organization and fire-line construction to CCC suppression crews. Fire Contr. Notes 5(3): 123-218.

(2). Cliff, Edward P., and Rolfe E. Anderson. 1940. The 40-Man crew-A report on the activities of the experimental 4-Man fire suppression crew. FireContr. Notes 4(2): 47-62.

(3). Division of Fire Control. U.S. Forest Service 1963. The interregional suppression crew. Fire Contr. Notes 24(4): 93.

(4). Schroeder, George H. 1941. Oregon's "Red Hats." Fire Contr. Notes 5(3): 129-130.

(5). Stevenson, Stanley. 1951. "Hot Shot" crews. Fire Contr. Notes 12(2): 29-31.

(6). U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Forest Service, 1971. Interregional Crews. USDA For. Serv. Handb. FSH.5131.41a.

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Figure 1: Location of U.S. Forest Service ▲ Interregional Fire Suppression Crews

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Table 1. – National Forests assigned IRFS crews by U.S. Forest Service regions with year of crew organization and crew name

U.S.F.S. National Forest Year of Crew Crew Region Assigned IRFS Crew(s) Organization Name Region 1 Bitterroot 1963 Bitterroot I.R. Flathead 1966 Flathead I.R. Idaho Panhandle1 at Wallace 1967 Coeur D’Alene Hotshots at Priest Lake 1967 Kaniksu Hotshots at St. Maries 1967 St. Joe Hotshots Lolo 1961 Lolo I.R. Nezperce 1962 Slate Creek Hotshots

Region 2 Bighorn 1967 Gibhorn I.R. Pike2 1962 Pike I.R.

Region 3 Gila 1970 Gila I.R.

Region 4 Payette 1961 Payette I.R. Sawtooth 1967 Sawtooth I.R.

Region 5 Cleveland 1961 El Cariso Hotshots San Bernadino 1961 Del Rosa Hotshots Shasta-Trinity 1967 Redding Hotshots

Region 6 Deschutes 1962 Deschutes I.R. Rogue River 1963 Rogue River Roughriders Wallow-Whitman 1967 Wallow-Whitman I.R. Wenatchee 1966 Wenatchee Bushmen

1 In 1974, the IRFS crews stationed on the Coeur D’Alene, Kaniksu, and St. Joe National Forests were reorganized into the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (personal written communication from William R. Moore, R-1, Division of Fire Management).

2 Orginally the crew was assigned to the Roosevelt national Forest but was reassigned in 1969 to the Pike National Forest (personal communication with Glen C. Scott, former Pike IRFS Crew Foreman).

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