Two More Chains
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Two More Chains Spring 2012 ▲ Vol. 2 Issue 1 ▲ Produced and distributed quarterly by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Initial Attack We’re Doing a Good Job, But . Photo by Kari Greer By Paul Keller Initial Attack (IA): A planned response to a wildfire given the wildfire's potential fire t first, the stats sound pretty impressive. behavior. The objective of Initial Attack is to stop the fire and put it On a national annual basis, we catch 98.5 percent of all out in a manner consistent with firefighter and public safety and values to be protected. A new wildland fire starts at the Initial Attack stage. According to the National Interagency Coordination Center, on Initial Attack Fire (IAF): average, only 1.5 percent of new starts escape Initial Attack. Fire that is generally contained by the attack units first dispatched, without a significant augmentation of reinforcements, within two No one argues that this ratio of “saves” is pretty darn significant. To hours after Initial Attack, and full control is expected within the first be sure, these numbers say a lot about our ability to effectively jump burning period. onto those “unplanned ignitions.” But we might want to take a closer NWCG Definitions look at what’s been happening recently on our IA fires. What is this level of IA efficiency costing us? For instance, if you think that entrapments happen mostly on our large, established fires, that’s not what we learned last fire season. In this Issue Based on incident reviews submitted to the Wildland Fire Lessons If you would Learned Center during 2011, 71 percent of wildland firefighter Why do we love Initial Attack? Page 2 like us to include you entrapment incidents—including four fatalities—occurred during Videos that share Initial Attack lessons. on our e- Initial Attack. (See statistical pie charts on page 2.) Page 4 mail So, what are the challenges and risks—the potential pitfalls— Nozzle tips. (You got any?) Page 5 subscription that might await you out there on your next IA assignment? Tim Woody shares his IA insights. Page 6 list, please click here. [Continued on Page 3] Your Feedback. Page 11 1 Ground By Travis Dotson Fire Management Specialist Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Truths [email protected] Tiger By the Tail love a good IA fire, It’s for that small portion of the especially the ones 2011 Fire Operations Incidents job when we have a tiger by the I you aren’t certain you tail. I’m talking about the IA are gonna catch! where things are happening fast 13% and every decision counts. It’s The Proverbial Hill why we love buzzer beaters, Case in point: I was third on skiing avalanche country, or an the load when the buzzer 55% IA animal in our crosshairs. It’s went off. Eight of us waddled 36% both chaotic and exciting, out to the Otter and flew to Extended there’s danger and opportunity. Nevada. We dropped the first couple on a good deal two- RX What is the danger on a going manner—which put me first IA? Things are touch-and-go and in the door. Over half of the 55 reports related to Fire Operations our decision space is small. Any in 2011 came from Initial Attack situations. slip could cascade into serious We went on to circle a fire in grass and consequences—and we all feel that. We all sage as the sun was getting ready to set. The fire was about five have a part in the action and we each play a crucial role. acres—and growing. The spotter asked what I wanted and I said: “Everybody.” I went out, hit the ground, and immediately went to What is the opportunity? Everyone matters. You could be the the top of the hill to get an official size-up in to dispatch. one to connect that critical piece of hose and open that last wye—allowing us to turn the corner on the head. Enacting all of The fire pushed 15 acres before the sixth jumper got on the our training, we approach synergy. How cool is that? ground. We did our best for most of the night trying to secure an But back to the danger. What are we thinking about during our anchor. The next day, as I was trying to garner some air support, IA time? Are we thinking about LCES? Are we thinking about dispatch asked me: “What will happen if you don’t get this PPE or what we will do if someone gets hurt? aircraft?” (good dispatcher!). With little tact, I replied: “If we don’t get some support, this fire is going over the hill!” Not always. (Look at the numbers.) We are in the moment. Literally chasing fire and not wanting to let the team down. Long pause… What Really Matters? Then the voice came back: “What’s the name of the hill the fire will Everyone says “safety first,” but that’s not always true. That’s go over?” Not missing a beat, I replied: “The ‘proverbial hill’!” not what we are thinking about in those moments. Knowing “Copy,” the voice said. “Proverbial Hill.” this, maybe take some time before you’re actually out there and discuss exactly how you will respond to an injury, or where I couldn’t help but smile as I imagined someone scanning the map you keep your gloves, or who is going to be the lookout. I’m not for “Proverbial Hill.” advocating anything other than taking a moment before your Well, we got our air support and 2011 Entrapments next IA to consider what actually with some gunny-sackin’, dirt goes on in those chaotic, bond- flying, flapper action, heads-up by Stage of Attack forming, good-timing, story- hard work, we caught and held creating, seat-of-your-pants, that fire at 200 acres. I had a 6% fun-filled, risky moments we all blast and I love telling that story. 24% IA love. Why? 71% Extended We often get hurt in those moments. Just take a pause and Danger/Opportunity RX think about the folks next to you Asking why we love IA is almost and what really matters. like asking why we got into the business in the first place. 12 out of 17 entrapments reported to the Lessons Learned Center Dig on, tool swingers. occurred during Initial Attack. 2 [Continued from Page 1] Last year, firefighters ran into trouble on Initial Attack fires— from coast to coast in a wide range of terrain and fuel types—in a variety of ways: Florida – Tractor Plow Hung-Up on Stump: Two wildland firefighters, operating tractor plows building Initial Attack line, perish after one of the machines becomes hung-up on a stump. The second tractor plow operator comes to help after the first operator calls for assistance. As they try to dislodge the tractor-plow, the smoke and flames overrun them. Both firefighters try to escape on foot. Their bodies are found in close proximity to the disabled tractor plow. Two other firefighters, an engine operator and tractor plow operator, who try to come to their aid, suffer smoke and heat-related injuries. During post-accident follow-up interviews with firefighters, they say that they had felt like this fire was just like all the other ones they had been dispatched to the past several weeks. Regarding this fire, they said they thought Engine Captain on the Plumas National Forest directs hose lay on Initial “they had it.” Attack on the Rowland Fire near Constantia, Calif. Photo by Sue McCourt. For Initial Attack insights from a veteran firefighter with both extended east http://wildfirelessons.net/documents/Blue_Ribbon_Final_Report.pdf and west coast wildland fire experience, see page 6. Texas – Brush Trucks Stuck in Sand: On an IA brush fire, two volunteer fire department brush trucks become stuck in sand. To escape the approaching fire, the four firefighters abandon their vehicles. Within approximately 300 yards, due to thick smoke, they become separated. Josh Burch Brett Fulton Volunteer Firefighter Elias Jaquez, 49, is later found approximately one mile away, Two Firefighters Perish on Initial Attack Fire lying in a dirt road. With severe third- On June 20, 2011 on Florida’s Blue Ribbon Fire, two Florida degree burns on his head and torso—over Division of Forestry firefighters building line as tractor plow 60 percent of his body—he is transported Elias Jaquez operators perish when overrun by fire [see more details above]. to a local hospital and then to a Josh Burch, 31, father of two sons, ages 4 and 5, had been with metropolitan burn center where he remains in critical condition for 11 the agency 10 years. Brett Fulton, 52, father of two grown days before his death. A two-year volunteer fireman, he is the father children, had been with the agency 12 years. of four daughters. http://wildfirelessons.net/documents/Road_U_Fatality.pdf Texas – Type 6 Engine Sinks in Dry Slough: Two Texas Forest Service tractor plows and a U.S. Forest Service Type 6 Engine are attacking a 15-acre fire burning in a dry slough with patchy hardwood timber and surface fuels that include grass, brush, and mowed sawgrass. After working the line for approximately 20 minutes, brief wind shifts produce several spots across the line. As they chase spots with the tractor plow and hard line from the engine, the Engine Boss decides to reposition the engine away from the increased fire activity. When the engine is backed out, the front end sinks and the engine becomes stuck.