May 2008 Smoke Signals Volume 9 Table of Contents The Capitan Gap Fire, the Taos Administration...... 4 Snowballs and Smokey Bear Fire Use/Fuels...... 9 ~ Val Christianson, WUI Prevention Specialist - NIFC Training...... 12 Blacksnakes Corner. 15 Publishers & Info..Back

The original Taos Pueblo Snowballs in the St. Santiago Feast Day parade in Taos, NM, July 25, 1950, just two months after the Capitan Gap fire. PREFACE: Adolph Samora and Paul Romero are the only two surviving members of the original Taos Pueblo Snowballs. They witnessed the events first hand which are spoken of in this brief account.

There have been numerous tales, accounts, and biographies of the original encounter with the tiny black bear cub that would become Smokey. The Mescalero Redhats are mentioned. The US Army is mentioned. But there has never been any mention in any account of the Taos Pueblo Snowballs. And so here is the rest of the story… Early Friday morning, May 5, 1950, the Carson National Forest Supervisor’s Office, in Taos, New Mexico, received a phone call from the Lincoln National Forest in southeastern New Mexico. The call was a request for assistance in fighting a wildfire that had begun the day before in the Capitan Mountains. The “Los Tablos Fire” was being driven by 70 mile per hour winds accompanied by scouring sand blown in from the southwest. The Carson SO Dispatch contacted seasonal employees Lupe Martinez and Telisfor Trujillo. Lupe and Telisfor, the Crew Foremen, are referred to today as “Crew Reps” for emergency “pickup crews” (EFF) from rural communities in northern New Mexico. They were directed to gather together the recently formed Taos Pueblo “Snowballs” and prepare them to board the old school bus and travel south to the Lincoln National Forest and assist on the 1,000 Cover Page 2 acre fire. This adventure would be but the second outing for the Snowballs, the first being a wildfire on the Gila National Forest near Silver City the month before. The Office of the Taos WarChiefs (the local Pueblo Government), under the supervision of Geronimo “Duck” Trujillo (Telisfor’s father), was contacted by Lupe and Telisfor, who themselves were both Pueblo members. Since there were no phones in the village in 1950, the only way to communicate an urgent message to Tribal members was via the “Village Crier.” The WarChief ascended to the top of the Pueblo massif, four stories in height, and began wailing aloud in the native Tiwa tongue summoning the available firefighters of the village to report immediately. An opportunity for the new Snowballs Left is Paul Romero and right, Adolph Samora. These gentlemen are regrettably the last of to go on assignment was at hand. the original Snowballs. First come, first served, only 25 men breakfast consisted of what the wives sandwich. They hooked up headlamps would be boarding the bus. They and mothers had prepared back in the to their helmets, jumped on Army were to assemble in the village plaza Pueblo, the now-famous breakfast deuce and a halfs (two and a half ton and be counted. They must have their burrito, a flour tortilla with pintos, transportation trucks for troops) and own work boots and the emergency onion and potatoes. Green chili was were driven several miles to a drop personal provisions provided by the not yet in season! The crew passed the off point. They immediately began to Carson. The only helmets that the time singing aloud “Taos Round Dance hike up an established fireline where Forest cache could find for the crew Songs” and fantasizing if they might they would relieve the day crew of US were a box of metal, wide brimmed be able to make a down payment on Army soldiers from Ft. Bliss, Texas, hardhats painted white. Crew member a new Ford pickup with their fire who were supervised by New Mexico Del Reyna looked at his crewmates paycheck! As the bus wound its way Game Wardens. Their responsibility and then looked up at the majestic along the side of the roaring river, would be that of extending the fireline snow covered Taos Mountains swollen with the spring snowmelt, the around the perimeter of the still active towering over the Pueblo and Jemez Mountains appeared just west fire, widening the line, and patrolling remarked, “We all look like a bunch of of the Rio and the Snowballs could for spot fires and hotspots. Night crew snowballs!” The crew all laughed and not imagine that exactly 50 years later duty usually involved mop-up: a dirty, the name stuck. It is still used today some of their sons, daughters and mundane and sometimes dangerous by Taos Pueblo members when they grandchildren would be involved in job. They were forever watchful of go out as an EFF crew. They boarded suppressing the largest human-caused embers that may have blown over the the old school bus that was driven by wildfire in New Mexico history, the fireline by the erratic spring winds. Sam Martinez. The crew bosses for Cerro Grande above Los Alamos. The the Snowballs were Tony and Albert bus proceeded through downtown By late Saturday morning, May 6, Martinez and they reported directly Albuquerque and stopped at the the Los Tablos was coming under to Lupe and Telisfor. Tony and Albert historic “Lindy’s Diner” on Fifth and containment and fire personnel were would keep track of the crew’s time Route 66. Lupe and Telisfor obtained a beginning to be demobilized. By and handle logistics in the base camp small soda, a bologna sandwich with a early afternoon the Snowballs were and on the fire line. little mayo, an apple and a handful of gathering their belongings to begin chips for each member. Yum! the journey back to Taos when a new As soon as the manifest was alarm went through the base camp completed, the Snowballs loaded The tired crew arrived at the Los that another wildfire had started the bus and headed south on a long, Tablos base camp early Friday upwind from their present location. uncomfortable, albeit exciting, all- evening. After their Crew Reps The “Demob” process was put on day drive. The northern New Mexico checked them in, the Snowballs hold for everyone and the base camp spring morning was still crisp as the stowed their personal gear in a small was ordered to relocate as soon as bus headed down the deep canyon cache next to a freshly bulldozed possible because it was directly in the of the Rio Grande. The older crew juniper tree, then grabbed a handtool, anticipated path of the new fire, the members wrapped themselves in a round half gallon metal canteen, “Capitan Gap Fire.” After just a few Pendleton and Chimayo woolen and an impromptu sack lunch, with hours of uncomfortable rest upon their blankets to keep warm. The morning you guessed it, a bologna and mayo return from the previous night’s shift, Cover Page 3 the Snowballs were ordered out to the burn over experience to Lupe and a game preserve and that all wildlife line again. That Saturday afternoon Telisfor, a harrowing ordeal. The should be strictly left alone for fear of they punched direct line with the Snowballs gratefully acknowledged a $300 fine from Game and Fish. The Soldiers from Ft. Bliss, along with the survival of the soldiers and then little cub attempted to tag after the new crews reporting to base camp. wondered what they were getting crew as they continued their upward These crews included the Mescalero into that evening with their mop-up trek on the fireline, but it soon gave Apache Redhats, and community duties because the temperature and up its pursuit due to its injuries. Thus crews from Zia Pueblo and Santo winds had abated little. As they parted ended the very brief, yet unheralded Domingo Pueblo. The Mescalero crew company with the soldiers, Game and historical, encounter of the Taos was sponsored by the Bureau of Indian Warden Speed Simmons hollered back Pueblo Snowballs and what would Affairs, while Zia and Santo Domingo up at the Snowballs that there was a become the living Smokey Bear. were sponsored by the Forest Service. small, wild and frightened black bear The crews were on the line well cub further up near the rock outcrop As they continued up the fireline they through the first night before being where they had taken refuge. He said encountered another Ft. Bliss crew ordered to stand down on Sunday that several soldiers tried to secure that was headed downhill after their morning. They would perform evening it, in the guise of rescuing it, but that daytime shift. In the encroaching shift “mop-up” duties through the it scratched a couple of them pretty darkness the Snowballs relayed to duration of the incident. good. As the Snowballs hiked past the them that there was a fierce, huge rock pile/talus slope they soon heard wild boar ravaging the smoldering The Capitan Gap Fire was an a shrill whining and crying that they undergrowth remains a little further extremely dangerous fire burning in ascertained to be the wailing of the down from them. The soldiers’ eyes the higher elevations of the 10,000 cub. Through the rapidly approaching all got big for a second, but then the foot Capitan Mountains. The fire was dark, in the midst of throat-filling Snowballs chuckled and told them actively burning in Douglas fir, white smoke and still existing flames in the not to fear, but that only a tiny injured fir and quaking aspen. It was rapidly remaining vegetation, the crew saw cub was wandering around looking consuming the watershed of the north the very small fur ball scampering for an adoptive mother. The soldiers side of the east-west oriented mountain away from their progress and running were relieved to hear the boar was but range, along with the habitat of elk, toward a charred snag. It struggled up a cub, and the two crews parted ways bighorn sheep and the American black the snag to chest level, and Lupe and with a warning from Telisfor that the bear. Telisfor could decipher that the hair cub, though injured, was sure feisty. had been quite singed on the ears and Less than a minute later the Snowballs On Monday, May 8, the winds became bottom of the little critter. In the dull heard an “Ouch!” from down the so strong that a crew of Ft. Bliss light of their primitive headlamps, they fireline a small distance, and then they soldiers, under the supervision of a could see the paws had been burned all laughed as they realized a soldier Game Warden, had to take shelter enough to produce obvious blisters. must have just got nipped by the in a rock slide of a narrow canyon. They realized that the animal had not young black bear cub. Since there were no fire shelters sought shelter in the tree during the readily available in 1950, the crew crowning of the burnover but it had That was the first time the Snowballs boss sternly told his frightened crew probably hid near or in the rock slide saw of the animal on the fireline. They to lie face down in the rock slide, where the soldiers had sought shelter. may have encountered “Smokey” burrowing their faces into the cooler They knew the animal would have again the next morning as they air of the rock crevices. The fire roared perished quickly had it been in the were moving back down off of the overhead, singeing their clothes and tree. The burn injuries no doubt were Mountain, and they may have seen hair, crowning as it raced from west received as it was roaming amidst the him in base camp, but those details are to east. This is what we would term freshly burned vegetation of the forest vaguely recorded and remembered. a “burn over” today. All of the crew floor. There are numerous accounts of survived, with only minor injuries. various soldiers and overhead picking Late in the afternoon, after such a Telisfor reached out to gently up the animal and eventually bringing close call, the Ft. Bliss crew began encompass the cub in his hands and it back to camp, but that initial their trek down Capitan Mountain to remove it from the snag. Even with encounter with the Snowballs on the base camp for some much needed rest his gloves on, and due to the obvious fireline is what endears Smokey to and first aid. fright and confusion of the animal, Native American firefighters. They he quickly put him down on the weren’t immediately aware that the Through the smoke and haze of the forest floor when the disoriented cub survival of one small cub, in the midst fire, dusk came early that evening. attempted to lash out at him. The crew of such destruction, would become As the Snowballs headed uphill to all laughed at Telisfor as the little cub such an All-American symbol. They begin their night “mop-up” duties, scampered several feet away. They probably were not then aware that the they passed the Ft. Bliss crew heading knew they would not be able to rescue Capitan Gap Fire was human caused down off of the line toward base the animal, or adopt it as a mascot, either. But as the years and generations camp. On that particular section because they still had their evening have gone by, the Taos Pueblo of the fireline only the military tasks to perform. At orientation in Snowballs and Wildfire Prevention crews and the Snowballs were on base camp everyone had been told have become synonymous in northern duty. They briefly explained their that this part of the Forest was also New Mexico. They weren’t aware that Cover Page 4 on the night of Monday, May, 8, 1950, Andy Lujan (Retired), Prevention Smith Publishers, Alexandria, Virginia, when they first met that little black Technician, Northern Pueblos Agency, 1994 bear cub, he would become the real Taos Pueblo Forestry Guard Station, Smokey Bear, but they did take back May 6, 2005, and with the Taos Sue Houser, Hot Foot Teddy: The True the knowledge of the importance of WarChiefs on August 8, 2007, Taos Story of Smokey Bear, M.T. Publishing his survival and that “Only YOU Can Pueblo Headquarters. Company, Inc., Evansville, Indiana, Prevent Wildfires”. 2006 References: As told by Adolph Samora, 76, and Nationwide Cooperative Forest Fire Paul Romero, 77, to Val Christianson, William Clifford Lawter, Jr., Smokey Prevention Campaign, The True Story BIA Prevention Coordinator, and Bear 20252: A Biography, Lindsay Of Smokey Bear, Western Publishing Company, 1969

holistic land management philosophy tribes have always shared.

In fact, it was not long ago that there was no significant distinction in Administration Bureau or Tribal programs between the duties of the fire management Forestry and Fire Conference officer and the forester. Historically, if there was any prescribed burning to ~ From the Director be conducted, it was accomplished by ~ Lyle Carlile, Director, Branch of Fire Management the collective “forestry” staff. There The first ever, BIA National ll levels, to support tribal goals and were no “prescribed fire and fuels Indian Forestry and Wildland Fire objectives as well as the interagency specialists” at that time. There was Management Conference was held fire suppression effort. However, only the common (and lest we forget recently in Albuquerque, New Mexico. effective coordination requires scientific) knowledge that at certain This was a great opportunity to hear continuous effort to sustain and times of the year broadcast burning presentations on current issues and to improve working relationships. network with fellow Indian Country Meetings such as this conference are was a good thing to do so, we did forestry and fire managers to exchange great opportunities to further this it. We did it without the layers of ideas. It was excellent opportunity cooperation. I want to thank all the policies, rules, and regulations we to visit with many old friends and presenters and participants for making have now. It was simply the right acquaintances as well. this meeting a huge success. thing to do for the land. And the forestry staff worked as one. Indian Country has a long history I look forward to the next meeting. of Forestry and Wildland Fire Between 1997 and 2004, the federal Management working together, at fire management budget grew significantly, and our bureau and tribal Forestry and Fire Management programs, armed with manpower and funding, created fire organizations that Meet in Albuquerque have at times appeared autonomous ~ Dave Koch, NIFC Assistant Director - Training from their parent, i.e. Forestry. Our The BIA conducted a joint national The importance of conducting these greatest strength as an organization forestry and fire meeting March 3-7 meetings jointly cannot be understated has always been our ability to in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This as forestry and fire go hand in hand. develop holistic land management was the first national-level meeting When forest managers write their plans and implement them using a conducted since 2004, when it prescriptions for the treatment of multidisciplinary organization. was held in Southern California. tribal land; timber, fire and a multitude The audience and agenda at that of other resources are generally So it makes complete sense that these time primarily targeted the fire addressed. When fire management meetings continue to be held jointly. employee while this time the agenda staff design hazardous fuels reduction There are always concerns from a featured a mix between fire topics treatments, they do so in consultation minority of attendees that because it such as Appropriate Management and coordination with foresters. To is a joint meeting not enough time Response, and forestry topics such as conduct these national meetings in a is available to really flesh out some Management Challenges in Changing vacuum, with one discipline divorced topics, to really bore into the nitty- Wood Products Markets. from the other, is in opposition to the gritty. I would argue that we have a Administration Page 5 provides us is an enhanced awareness of who we are as an organization. We take pride in managing the natural environment. We embrace change in the form of implementing the economic efficiencies of appropriate management response. We strive to refine our inventory analyses, fine tune our harvesting and milling systems, and explore alternative wood products markets in an effort to be proactive and resilient to trends in the market place. We value relationships and the people around us who help us achieve Ray Ruiz, Golden Eagles IHC Superintendent, takes a few moments to recognize the success. And we value our customers, contributions made by BIA Interagency Hotshot Crews. the tribes we serve. These national meetings help us recharge our sense of whole life to immerse ourselves in quench the thirst of both “lumper” and “organization” and our common values the science and policy minutia of our “splitter”. business. The variety and amount of steeped in duty, respect and integrity. We look forward to continuing our information served up at these large Besides information sharing, the service and the renewed tradition of a meetings is more than adequate to greatest benefit a combined meeting joint national meeting. Land Stewardship: Mescalero Apache Tribe and Lincoln National Forest Forge New Partnership ~ Jim Erickson, ITC Fire Technical Specialist on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in order to treat conditions that threaten tribal lands. The beauty of this act is that implementation provides protection of other land holdings as well, thus the positive partnership atmosphere. However, the newness of this act has presented challenges for both entities. While the stewardship authority is not new, the special authority that allows tribes to initiate sole source negotiating with federal agencies is new. The Mescalero Apache Tribe took a courageous step in late 2005 and requested of the Lincoln National Forest to enter into a contract to combine and implement the Sixteen Mile Springs timber sale and follow-up hazard fuel reduction projects. This bold move created challenges for both entities as they ventured into new territory. Early discussions In early October of 2007, declining wood products markets forced the long- were often awkward and slow as both entities term closure of MFP #2 in Alamogordo, New Mexico. became familiar with the TFPA and each other in the Extended droughts, insect epidemics and pending wildfires face development of the first large scale contract under all land ownerships in Southeast New Mexico. These threats do TFPA. Differing philosophies in resource management not respect land ownership or boundaries. This stark reality has and project implementation presented challenges for brought together the Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Lincoln both sides. Access limitations for various threatened National Forest to partner in accomplishing land treatments that and endangered species required the tribe to adjust will protect tribal and federal land ownerships as well as private their implementation strategies and negotiated rates land and local communities. This partnership became possible for hazard fuel treatments. This one variable showed due the passing of the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) in the importance for tribes to get involved early in 2004. This act allows tribes to enter into stewardship contracts the planning process to have input in factors that Administration Page 6 affect management style and impact the closing of the Alamogordo mill, credit to the professionalism of both implementation costs. Both sides are and delays in getting field information organizations. capitalizing on this lesson learned to on hazard fuel treatments provided incorporate input into upcoming Forest significant hurdles to implementation. Leadership on both sides has been Service projects that the tribe could The result has been the need critical to identifying, and selecting also contract. additional contract adjustments. key staff to make this project This was accomplished through successful. Thora Padilla, Mescalero Fortunately both sides committed frequent and open communications Division of Resource Management, early to make this contract work. and negotiations. Assigning key and Jacque Buchanan, Deputy Forest Perseverance resulted in a contract dedicated people on both sides has Supervisor on the Lincoln National early in 2006. The first year of been instrumental to open negotiations Forest, deserve tremendous credit for implementation saw the tribe harvest to address and adjust to unexpected making this project a success. approximately 4 million board feet of issues. Forest Service timber to help supply Lessons learned are being compiled Mescalero Forest Product (MFP) mills After nearly two years of trial and from a recent project review by at Mescalero and Alamogordo. They error, it became apparent to both sides Intertribal Timber Council and Forest were also initially awarded 500 acres that this attempt to combine pre- Service representatives. Tribes across of hazard fuel treatments, followed planned Forest Service projects of a the nation and their neighboring by an additional 600 acres with year- timber sale and separate hazard fuel federal partners can learn a lot from end monies. The timber harvest treatments into a stewardship contract the efforts of these two dedicated progressed smoothly since MFP had is not the most efficient process to partners. Results from this project an established relationship harvesting meet land management objectives. and other successful Forest Service Forest Service timber under standard Recognition by both sides that this projects will be shared as part of the timber sale contracts. The first year, contract would require some special ITC Timber Symposium Stewardship hazard fuel treatments faced several consideration and adjustments led to Contracting workshop coming up June challenges affected by access to sites a collaborative atmosphere to work 3-5, 2008 in Hondah, Arizona. Please and restrictions due to threatened and through this contract and to apply come and join us in learning these endangered species. Adjustments were lessons learned to future projects. valuable lessons. Also, bring your made, costs adjusted, and the projects Strong commitment by both parties federal partner to share this learning completed timely. has resulted in continued progress, experience. better understanding of agency policies The second year was faced by new and objectives, and new friendships. challenges. Depressed timber markets, This increased commitment is The AMR Ship is Sailing--Are You on Board? ~ Rowdy Muir, IC, Great Basin Type 1 IMT There have been many positive responses to Rowdy Muir’s article on Appropriate Management Response (AMR) printed in the January 08 Vol. 8 issue of Smoke Signals. Interest in the article has prompted him to continue to write about AMR. Rowdy is an employee of the U.S. Forest Service.

Appropriate Management Response What exactly is an Appropriate Management Response (AMR)? The answer is difficult for agency employees to articulate because we do not Cascade Complex 2007. ~ Photo Cordell Taylor have a clear understanding of when to implement an AMR. Lately we have had discussions in strategy, and Fire Use fires are coded differently, doesn’t exclude a my district about how AMR relates to our Fire WFU from being an AMR. Management Plan (FMP)—and whether or not Wildland Fire Use (WFU) is an appropriate A WFIP is a decision document used to implement the AMR. The management response. term “AMR” is a general philosophy or umbrella term in which the use or combined use of any of the following strategies can be applied: The answer to me is clearly, Yes! Just because a direct attack, indirect attack, fire use, confinement, containment, Wildland Fire Implementation Plan (WFIP) has control, back firing, burning out, use of dozers, use of aviation, to be completed before implementing a Fire Use monitoring, etc. Administration Page 7 Any tactic or any strategy can fall plan, and compliance with NEPA use a WFSA or WFIP, we are selecting under AMR. AMR means that policies prior to ignition. the alternative and consideration is management will use the best given to the AMR. Under new Forest strategy for each unique situation. Unplanned incidents allow fire Service policies, Line Officers are AMR should not be exclusive to to move across and into different asked to use other decision support suppression, but rather can also landscapes based on a Land Use, tools such as FSPRO, RAVAR and include what has traditionally been Resource Management, and/or Forest a Stratified Cost Index (preferably called “fire use.” plan. used at the 5 million dollar threshold and mandatory for There are three distinct fires that reach the types of wildland fire 10 million dollar defined within current level. Again, these policy guidance: are just tools to help develop strategic • Wildfire – An planning to meet unplanned, unwanted objectives as outlined wildland fire, including in a delegation of unauthorized human- authority. caused fires, escaped wildland fire use The use of infrared events, escaped technology has prescribed fire projects, become a real and all other wildland benefit, and almost fires where the essential in order to objective is to suppress track the progression the fire. of large fires. A • Wildland Fire Use fire history map is – The application probably the most of an AMR for Casper Mountain Fire 2007 near Casper Wyoming reliable source of naturally ignited wildland fires What is wrong with allowing for a information for determining safe, to accomplish specific resource human-caused fire to move into an efficient, and effective protection management objectives in area that a Land Use plan has already of values at risk. We sometimes get predefined designated areas approved to be allowed to burn in “wrapped around the axle” about outlined in FMPs. order to meet resource benefits? the need for futuristic decision tools, • Prescribed Fire – Any fire ignited when we really just need to take full by management actions to meet We know we are required to suppress advantage of tools we already have. specific objectives. A written, human caused fires; wildfires cannot There have been insightful proposals approved prescribed fire plan must be put into fire use status. However, to eliminate the typical WFSA/WFIP exist, and NEPA requirements any wildfire, whether it is human or concept, and rely on the Wildland Fire (where applicable) must be met, natural caused, can be suppressed in Decision Support System or WFDSS. prior to ignition. a variety of ways. The key word here This would be a great change. is “suppressed.” However, even with those definitions Decision Traps What tends to happen with a WFSA in mind, it would be more efficient to Having flexibility in how suppression is that the alternatives are written so develop a combination of the types to is defined and implemented would that one alternative becomes attractive accommodate the realities we as land allow land managers to efficiently to the Line Officer. That alternative is managers and agency administrators and safely adjust their response. Just usually the one that addresses the least encounter: for example, “a wildland because a fire must be suppressed amount of days estimated to establish fire initiated from a planned doesn’t mean that we cannot take containment, the least amount of ignition”; or, “a wildland fire initiated the “appropriate management money to be spent, and the belief from an unplanned ignition”. In response”—especially when relying that all needed resources would be more simple terms, the decision on decision tools such as a Wildland available at that particular time. matrix could begin with determining Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA). whether you have a planned event or an unplanned incident. Many Line Officers admit to falling Decision Tools into the WFSA decision trap because The WFSA is a decision making Planned events are traditionally of the reality of public and political document that considers alternatives. influences who want you to put the described as prescribed fires Once you select an alternative, and would require the same fire out and protect the values they you have selected the appropriate own, lease, or represent. Because documentation as they do now—a management response. Whether we written, approved prescribed fire of this pressure there are fewer Administration Page 8 incentives to allow a fire to burn 1 or Type 2 IMT is ordered, they have stay on an incident for more than naturally, or to propose suppressing to bring every person assigned to the 21 days. If one team stayed on an a fire with minimal resources, to use team. Any IMT can be configured in a incident for 30 days, one transition, point protection, or to protect only a way appropriate for the situation. It’s one closeout and one in-briefing have few prioritized values at risk. time to dispel this myth so managers been eliminated. The workload in a really understand the benefits of using 90-day event is cut in half—as well The same happens with a WFIP. It’s Incident Management Teams. as associated travel and other costs. easy to put a single tree fire in Fire Rather than six teams assigned to Use strategy. It’s easy to draw lines on Strategic Planning/Long Term an incident, only three teams have a map. But when the fire gets larger Implementation Plans (LTIP) been assigned. The same applies than the single tree, and the lines on If you are planning on attending S-520 for transitions, in-briefings and the map no longer accurately represent (Advanced Incident Command) in closeouts. I won’t say having the same what people see happening to their the near future, you should know the team assigned to an incident for 30 landscape—the public wants to know emphasis is on strategic planning. days is the right thing to do all the what you’re doing about it. In some With this emphasis in mind, I was time, but it’s certainly an option in cases, the decision to implement a recently asked, “Are we just going to many cases. There would certainly Fire Use strategy may be much more sit back, think strategically, and allow be an impact on units that support expensive than if the fire had been all fires to burn until a season ending Incident Management Teams with suppressed early on. event”? team members—unless of course the incident is on your home unit, which Land Use Plans/Forest Plans My answer to the question was means you will be impacted anyway. It is important to remember that an “No.” There will still be wildfires AMR is tied to Fire Management that are suppressed, contained, and During long term/long duration Units, to the Fire Management Plan, controlled during Initial Attack with fires it takes at least 2 fully qualified and then tied to either NEPA compliant small acreages and low costs. Type 1 Operations Section Chiefs with Land Use Plans or Forest Management and Type 2 IMTs will still be asked to several good Resource Unit Leaders Plans. Some of these plans still need confine, contain, and control wildfires. to accurately track, rotate, and order work to identify planned or unplanned Those strategies may very well be the the appropriate resources. The 14-day wildfire, or AMR/Fire Use. An AMR appropriate management response policy is very challenging on these gives managers some flexibility; an for those types and complexities of kinds of fires. AMR doesn’t tie managers to using a incidents—but not for those fires that strategy that becomes inappropriate escape Initial Attack to become very Strategic planning may also require if/when conditions change. An AMR large fires, which we know we can’t the use of Management Action Points encourages one decision document, put out even if we had all the money, or MAPs. This term is taken from the and one decision making process. resources, and time in the world. Fire Use process and can be part of These are the fires that need strategic your Long Term Implementation Plan Once again I tip my hat to the Line planning, long-term implementation used for Fire Use fires. Officers of the Boise, Payette, and plans, “mega-WFSAs”, turnkey the Salmon-Challis National Forests transitions, and Line Officer support. There again lies the confusion of (as well as many other Forests in the strategic planning. The only difference West) for stepping back and taking Last year NIMO teams managed is the way we interpret the terms “Fire a “big-picture” look at the direction incidents for up to 30 days. Nothing Use” or “wildfire.” MAPs would take mid-summer large timber fires are prohibits IMTs from doing the same the place of trigger points. MAPs going. These Forests are certainly thing—even with the 2:1 Work Rest trigger tactical assignments that will in the forefront of understanding the and Length of Assignment guidelines. take place once fire reaches a specified advantages of AMR and using it to We need to order the appropriate location. MAPs are typically tied to best advantage. resources to allow Command and Values to Protect (VTP). The VTP are General Staff members to rotate given to the IMTs by the Line Officers. Incident Management Teams in and out of incidents to meet the For example, a VTP may be a bridge There have been many discussions guidelines. We do this with all other to the wilderness, outfitter camps, recently about the use of Fire Use resources. We rotate them out for utilities, recreation areas, roads, Teams versus Incident Management 2 or 3 days of R&R and bring them fisheries, communities, fire protection Teams (IMT). Incident Management back to the incident. I have heard boundaries, agency boundaries, etc. Teams are just that, teams that manage Forest Supervisors say they do not like MAP #1 may read “when fire reaches incidents. Whether incidents are fire having to in-brief a new team every 14 this drainage, a squad will fly from use, wildfires, or prescribed fire, IMTs days and close them out every 14 days. helibase to the outfitter camp and should be the organizations to manage It takes too much of their time as well start the pumps that will protect the incidents. The Incident Command as that of their staff members. camp.” MAP #2 may address direct System allows us the flexibility to use line construction, or to burn out and the necessary Command and General Consider this: what if IMT members hold line as needed in order to protect staffs appropriate to manage any size were rotated in order for them to a specific power line. incident. It’s a myth that when a Type Administration Page 9 Obviously, the VTP and the MAP can The concept of values at risk is outermost boundary for that fire. keep Operations and Planning very also something that the concerned These are the values we have busy. Having that information on an public and political entities readily identified in the area. We want you ftp: site is the key. The information understand. to use what ever tactics you need can be shared during the hectic days to safely and efficiently protect of IMT transitions to provide for I believe in the near future, Line these values. Here is the amount of continuity when maintaining and Officer’s will present a team with a money we think is appropriate to updating IAPs, maps, evacuation selected alternative that identifies the protect those values. You can use plans, ICP locations, resource following: as many or as few resources as you assignments, strategic plans, WFSA, deem appropriate. MAPs, and VTP. 1) Project boundaries 2) The values in that boundary that Whether it is full suppression, direct I like the term, “values to protect” need to be protected attack, limited suppression, in-direct (VTP). This directly coincides with 3) The amount of money appropriate attack, or a combination, the concept the amount of money being spent to protect those values. of protecting values at risk still to protect the “values” or things of applies. particular “value” on an incident. The IMT will then have to become These values are provided to the IMT very strategic, very creative, and be Some of these concepts for managing by the Line Officers who have the successful at applying the correct wildland fire, like fire management fiscal responsibility for the incident. strategies and tactics to protect those itself, are a work in progress; an AMR is nothing more than protecting values. unknown future. But, what we do the values that are at risk and being know is that fires are getting larger, the able justify spending the appropriate Here is an example of what I would woods are getting drier, we are doing amount of money to protect those hope to hear from a Line Officer in more with less, and there are more values. regards to this subject: homes to protect every year. There Here is the fire. Here is the will likely be less money than more.

Fuels Partnership Yielding Accomplishment on-the- Ground ~ Val Christianson, WUI Prevention Specialist - NIFC Several Bureaus within Interior have Fire engines, crew rigs and technical come together over the past several support are all housed by the BLM at years to successfully collaborate on the facilities in Cedarville. Trevor Jimenez in the blue helmet, and Kevin reducing hazardous fuels from around Konz in the Yellow, cutting Juniper and down both communities and other values- The history of the Fuels Crew has its snags at the Big Bally aspen project. at-risk in Northern California. The origin in 1991 when the BIA-Northern break, and ongoing maintenance, little known Interagency Fuels Crew California Agency created a Fire Crew spared the Reservation from the is made up of resources from the on the Fort Bidwell Reservation in Sanders Fire in September 2006. Bureau of Land Management, Surprise the remote northeastern corner of the Field Office in Cedarville, California; State. Two years later the Crew moved The crew transitioned from a primary the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific into the BLM facilities in Cedarville suppression entity into an interagency Regional Office out of Sacramento; and began to initiate a fuel break fuels reduction crew in 2002, and and at times Fish and Wildlife Service between the wildland-urban interface six BIA staff were funded out of Staff. The crew consists of a Fuels communities of the Reservation and the national WUI budget. When not Crew Leader, Assistant Crew Leader, the encroaching western juniper and working on fuels reduction projects Squad Bosses and Crewmembers. cheatgrass. A decade later, this fuel around the Tribal Rancherias, Forest Service lands, private lands and Fuels Page 10

This is the whole station presenting the former Field Office Manager, Owen Billingsley with a Certificate of Appreciation. The fuels crew is made up of the individuals wearing the denim long sleeve shirts; first row on knees L to R: Jared Strahorn, Marino Ferandez, Matt Brown, Jesse Wood, David Steger, Whitney Martin, Kelsey McCutchen; second row standing L to R: Rolando Guzman, Scott Soletti, Kevin Konz, Kenny Long, Josh Boneck, and Trevor Jimenez. BLM holdings, the Crew has traveled to the Great The Crew is a true testimony to the spirit of the National Lakes Region to assist National Wildlife Refuges on Fire Plan and the Federal Wildfire Management Policy, i.e., prescribed burns. When the need arises, the three Interior the cooperation between Federal agencies in the pursuit of Agencies have assembled their Fuels staff to make up community protection from wildfire. The work of the Crew has a twenty person handcrew to travel to incidents out of been very cost effective and the entries into NFPORS in the Region. HFR/WUI Fuels component is establishing further funding for endeavors for Fuels treatments in northeastern California. Another notable successful endeavor of the Interagency Crew is that of protecting the prehistoric resources at the Two BIA staff, Waposta ‘Posh’ Van Etten (Rosebud Sioux), and Massacre Rim Petroglyph site in the extreme corner of Trevor Jimenez (Paiute Gidutikad) both finished the 2007 field northwestern Nevada. The crew established a mechanical season successfully and are anticipating being picked back up in fuels treatment by hand, protecting the National Register the early spring for another season. The BIA is looking at hiring of Historic Places (eligible) site. Scientists explained to another staff as a Crew Leader for 2008. Other staff that have the Crew’s staff that intensive heat and smoke can lead been instrumental in the success of this interagency endeavor to the defacement of the indigenous Native American include Garth Jeffers, BLM-FMO at the Surprise Field Office, historical and cultural historic record. and Ron Recker, BIA-Pacific Region FMO. Remembering Donald Povatah ~ Val Christianson, WUI Prevention Specialist - NIFC Donald Povatah (Hopi/Navajo) was the Fire Management Officer (FMO) at the Hopi Agency, since 2001. His undergraduate degree was in Biology from Northern Arizona University. He had completed his Technical Forest Management coursework and he was also in the throes of completing his Master’s Thesis in Forest Ecology at NAU. Donald first attended ‘Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, FI-210’ in early February 2004. He was called up to his first off-unit assignment to the San Carlos Apache Reservation in July 2004. He worked competently and diligently with the lead INVF staff and the rest of the team. For the next three fire seasons he had to lead the suppression resources on the Hopi Reservation and was not able to participate in an investigation assignment. In June 2007, a rash of intentionally set fires began to occur on the Ute Mountain Reservation in southwestern Colorado. When requested to join the investigation team being formed, he gladly consented to do so. Again, his work with the team leaders and members was commended L to r: Aaron Massey, Ft. Apache Agency; Harry Wheeler, Northern by the Agency Superintendent and the BIA Police, as well Pueblos Agency; Donald Povatah, Hopi Agency. Photo taken at as by his coworkers. His taskbook was completed and he Colorado River Reservation (Parker, AZ) after the three finished their was fully qualified as a Type III Wildland Fire Investigator. Arson Investigation assingment on the Ft. Mojave Reservation, late Two arrests were made and one individual was prosecuted September 2007. Photo taken by Tim Marascal, Colorado River Indian Tribal Woldland Fire Dept. by the Assistant US Attorney as a result of the involvement of the Investigation Team. In October 2007, a number of Fuels Page 11 methodically planned fires were the Law and Fire staff and by both well as his knowledge of origin and being set along the Colorado River the Tribal Chair and Council and cause determination issues, made for on the Ft. Mojave Indian Reservation the Agency Superintendent. He lead the qualities of a good leader. He was destroying old growth stands of the instruction in the FI-110, Origin one of only four carded investigators Tribe’s mesquite. Donald was called and Cause Determination for First in the entire southwestern United upon to head up the investigation team Responders, for Law and Fire staff States in Indian Country, and he being formed. Under his direction, from the Colorado River Agency, and would have become an oft-called the Team worked closely with the also spearheaded the initial WeTip INVF Team Leader. Donald died Tribal Chairman and Council, Tribal orientation for Tribal and Bureau from complications due to a massive Police, Bordertown Fire Departments administrators. The wildfire starts stroke just before Christmas 2007. He and other Police Jurisdictions, as along the River plummeted after the is survived by his wife, four children well as with the Colorado River initial posting of the WeTip posters. and his parents all still living on the Tribal Wildland and Structural Fire Hopi Reservation. His parting has Management staff. Once again, he Donald’s mannerisms, soft voice, and left a noticeable void within our fire was commended by his peers, by attention he paid to an individual, as management community. Prairie Restoration at Sac & Fox Tribe in Iowa ~ Paul Pooler, Fire Ecologist Midwest and Great Plains Regions In April, the Midwest Region of the BIA assisted the Sac & Fox Tribe in conducting the Tribes first prescribed fire on approximately 150 acres of grasslands and woody draws. The plan was written by Paul Maday, Fuels Specialist at Minnesota Agency, BIA and conducted by Tom Remus, Fuels Specialist for the Midwest Region.

Mike Demarr, Natural Resource Director and Chris Clingan, Conservation Officer, of the Sac & Fox Tribe, stated the use of RX fire to re-establish the native prairie will not only benefit the tribal bison herd but will Recently acquired bison heard at Sac & Fox came within 100 feet of the ignitors. also provide for a variety of other wildlife The Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa has undertaken natural and natural resources. Data collected from prairie restoration and establishment of a tribal bison herd near Tama, Firemon plots and established photo plots Iowa. This project is in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Natural will generate information that will be Resources in an attempt to achieve shared wildlife management goals. utilized in refining and developing other One of the goals is to increase both grazing land for the bison and species natural resource management plans for the diversity on the Settlement by restoring the native prairie with prescribed tribe. burning.

Chris Clingan, Conservation Officer and Mike Demarr, National Resource Officer of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa. First ignition of a RX fire on Sac & Fox Tribe. Training Page 12 Southern Ute Agency Develops Training for Firefighters Working Near Oil and Gas Well Infrastructure ~ Dave Koch, NIFC Assistant Director - Training

Firefighter with monitor 2. Identify standardized operating procedures for wildland fire incidents within the oil and gas field. 3. Reference informational safety sheets to promote the identification of oil and gas Pump jack. industry hazards and possible The Southern Ute Agency recently developed a training program for firefighters ways to mitigate those hazards. conducting wildland fire operations in and around oil and gas infrastructure in 4. Identify well pad infrastructure the Four Corners Region. Encountering oil and gas well sites and infrastructure and associated hazards. is not unique to the Four Corners region and Indian Country. Oil and gas 5. Identify sources of oil and gas producing regions are prevalent throughout rural America exposing our information available to wildland firefighters to a unique set of mitigation measures during the execution of our firefighters. mission. 6. Identify hazardous gas areas and methods of mitigating the In 1999, two firefighters suppressing a fire near Marvel, Colorado became associated hazards. ill and exhibited symptoms consistent with asphyxiation and gas poisoning. A safety panel was convened to investigate the cause of the illness and to The success of this safety related provide recommendations to avoid future occurrences. While no direct link to program is made possible through hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or other noxious gases was proven, safety measures were protocols established collectively recommended and have since been implemented and supported by this training. within the local fire management zone. When fire personnel arrive at The objectives of this course are as follows: the scene of a wildland fire incident, their size-up includes an assessment of 1. Promote communication between the oil and gas industry and wildland fire oil and gas wells, pipelines, and other officials before and during wildland fire incidents. infrastructure. During pre-season Training Page 13 planning meetings with industry safety does the trick. I am ready to face the personnel, mitigation measures have day. As I stroll back to my trailer I can been developed to include not only see that all the units are awake now what to do when encountering such and going about the morning rituals, sites, but who to contact for expertise lunches are made, water is stowed in line gear, PPE is assembled, and in dealing with those sites. The local vehicles are loaded appropriately to zone dispatch office maintains a list accomplish the days tasks. Working of key industry contacts that can be with the agency’s burn plans we have contacted 24/7 in the event help is reconned most of the ground and have needed. developed two to three prescribed fire options depending on how the weather is on any given day. This is For more information on this course, day four and although my team had contact Rich Gustafson, Southern Ute not worked together in the past we Agency Fire Management Officer, at are starting to operate as a well oiled (970) 563-4571. cohesive crew. The team members are Well pad information. flexible and supportive; each sharing generously of their own experiences in the realm of prescribed fire to BIA Fire Mentoring Hub Works help achieve the ultimate mission of ~ Craig Cook, NIFC the program, to increase their own skill in prescribed fire, and reach the targets for the Seminole agency. I think most participants appreciate the unique opportunity that the BIA Fire Mentoring Program at Seminole offers us. This was the inaugural year for the BIA Fire Mentoring Program, and as you have gathered if you have read this far the Seminole Agency was selected to serve as a Prescribed Fire Mentoring Hub. The concept was straight forward, the Seminole Agency needed some extra help to accomplish their prescribed fire burning goals while the BIA, and Tribal fire management folks benefit from opportunities to hone their skills. It is always tough to be the first to engage in a new activity, like buying the first model year of a new car, there always seems to be engineering glitches that arise that were not Night burn. anticipated by those designers in their There it is again. That sound. My Still a bit confused I lie in my bed and ivory towers. It takes an intrepid hackles are up now as I strain to peer rerun the dream in my head. Then I group to take the new model and into the palmetto palms shrouded in hear that eerie sound again, this time I adjust, shape and build a product or darkness. I try to make out an outline, recognize the sound for what it is, the program that works. We were lucky an image, something that will tell me snoring of my room mate, who is part to have two such groups apply and if I should run or stand my ground.. I of my team working at the Seminole be selected this year to establish a am frozen to the patch of earth I now Agency as part of the new BIA Fire successful frame work for the BIA Fire occupy. Although I can’t see into the Mentoring Program. Mentoring Program. brush I am convinced that the groaning I hear is coming from a medium sized Relieved, I pull on my nomex pants Each group participated in a 21 day gator. Just as I decide the best course and slip into my tennis shoes and assignment allowing for about 19 is to back up and choose a different wander next door to trailer #4 where work days with two days set aside course around the burn unit I open I know Paley will have strong coffee for travel to and from the Seminole my eyes and find myself in my bed. brewing. As always, the black coffee Agency. As the first group completed their assignment the next group arrived Training Page 14 and picked up where the first group left off. The 2008 program began on January 9th and concluded when Group 2 traveled home on February 19th.

Both groups where highly productive and successful in meeting the goals of the program. Combined the groups hand ignited over 3000 arces for the Seminole Agency. That requires a lot of walking with a torch in hand! In addition Group 2 participated in a 500 acre aerial ignition burn with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the Florida Panther Wild life preserve. Both groups represented themselves well within the community, helping enhance the local community’s support for the program. The first group participated in the Rez Rally, a fun run, organized to focus attention Night burn. Agency for sharing their local burning on the benefits of fitness to the First of all, the word “works” expertise with the groups, Red community, proudly all members of accurately describes the bulk of what Anderson, Regional Fuels Specialist, the group placed in their respective the participants did. They worked a for providing regional expectations age groups. lot; they reviewed burn plans, created and support to the groups. Tony maps, wrote accomplishment reports, Recker, Regional FMO, for his help From the training and mentoring stand got vehicles stuck and freed, they establishing needed housing, Joe point, the program was also viewed as staffed engines as needed, operated Frank, Seminole Agency Forest success both from the view point of dozers, tractors, and walked many Manager for embracing the groups the individual participant’s feedback miles with drip torch in hand. But into his community, the NIFC Fuels and quantitatively from an objective “works” can also be seen in the Manager for making regional blanket point of view. Of the six RXB2 context of something akin to a place training accounts available to cover trainees that attended the program where things are made or constructed travel for two groups. And finally a two made substantial progress in such as an iron works, where ore is thanks to Jon Lee, Western Region’s completing tasks leading toward melded into the finished product, steel. AFMO, and Ralph Thomas, Fuels qualification. One completed his task I think this definition fits well because Specialist Fort Apache Agency, for book with a recommendation to the the groups meld their combined serving as Field Coordinators for the certifying official that they complete knowledge and practice burning skills two groups. a burn on their home unit prior to resulting in increased proficiency for certification and three RXB2 trainees all, which benefits Indian country. We are all looking forward to completed task books and received And thirdly, the word “works” can be another successful year burning recommendations for certification. seen as a testament to the program’s at the Seminole Agency. If you Of the 5 Firing Boss trainees, 3 initial success as in “the program are interested, applications will be were completely signed off with really works.” So, if you find yourself accepted beginning November 1, and recommendations for certification, and at Seminole you will know to expect ending November 30, 2008 for next 2 made significant progress in their lots of work and opportunities to grow session. For more information on the task books. professionally. program feel free to contact:

The title of this article “BIA Fire Special thanks goes to all those folks Craig Cook Mentoring Hub Works” was chosen who helped make this first year a Fire Mentoring Program Coordinator because it describes the program on success; Jamie McDaniel, Seminole 208-387-5965 three distinct levels. Agency FCO, Randy Pretty-on- FAX 208-387-5580 top, and David Walks, of Crow Thanks! Distribution

Thanks again to those of you who have submitted Please route this publication to your staff as well as articles and photographs. Keep up the great work! to your EFFers. If you need additional copies for your staff, or need copies sent to an another address Submission Criteria please contact us. Please make sure your seasonal fire employees have an opportunity to read Smoke Signals! Please include the author’s name, title and location, captions and high resolution photographs attached as Contact Information separate jpeg files. The article submission deadline for “Smoke Signals” is as follows: Dave Koch ~ 208/387-5577 [email protected] March 1 FAX: 208/387-5580 June 1 Laurel Simos ~ 208/387-5313 September 1 [email protected] December 1 Mailing Address We apologize for the tardiness of this issue. Serious hardware problems caused a long delay in production. BIA/NIFC Old Administration Building 3833 So. Development Ave. Boise, ID 83705-5354 Attn: Smoke Signals

Article Submission Checklist Author’s name Author’s title Author’s agency/location

High resolution jpg photos Photo captions Names of people in photo and where they work

Contact name, number, and email address