Two More Chains

Spring 2012 ▲ Vol. 2 Issue 1 ▲ Produced and distributed quarterly by the Wildland 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 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 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 . 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, swingers. occurred during Initial Attack.

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[Continued from Page 1] Last year, 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 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 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 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. The tractor plow is unable to pull the engine out. Engine crew members work to extinguish spot fires beneath the engine. As these spot fires grow, the engine’s pump quits running. Several attempts are made to restart the pump—with no success. Due to extremely heavy smoke, escalating radiant heat, and increasing spot fire activity surrounding their location, the Engine Boss elects to depart the area. The engine crew walks the short distance down their escape route to a predetermined safety zone. No crew members are injured. The Type 6 engine is burned and destroyed.

http://wildfirelessons.net/documents/Bowles_Creek_Bottom_LLR_Final.pdf

The Type 6 Engine after it catches fire and burns. Note the [Continued on Page 4] front wheel settling into underlying soil. 3

[Continued from Page 3] Firefighter Entrapped in Engine Georgia – Firefighter Overrun by Fire: A volunteer structure On Aug. 11, 2011, on Initial Attack on firefighter arrives in his privately owned vehicle at a moving grass fire the Coal Canyon Fire on the Black wildland-urban interface incident. Twenty mph wind gusts are Hills National Forest, State of South pushing the fire’s rate-of-spread and threatening structures. After Dakota Firefighter Trampus Haskvitz, 23, perished when rapidly spreading tying in with his engine crew, the firefighter realizes that he needs to fire overran his position and he was move his vehicle from the head of the fire’s path. After moving his entrapped in his engine. One other vehicle and sizing-up the fire area, he returns on foot toward his state firefighter and two U.S. Forest engine and crew. A sudden wind shift occurs. The firefighter cannot Service firefighters were also injured. outrun the flames. Burned over 26 percent of his body, he is http://wildfirelessons.net/documents/Coal Trampus Haskvitz transported by the IC to the ground ambulance for initial care and _Canyon_Fire_SAI_Report_REDACTED.pdf transport to the Augusta Burn Center’s helicopter. http://wildfirelessons.net/documents/McCormick_Hwy_Fire_Entrapment.pdf

Mississippi – Firefighter Entrapped by Fire: During Initial Attack, a burn out is being conducted using a forest road as the control line. Several spot fires occur. Fire personnel begin picking up the spots with bladder bags and hose lays. Dozers arrive to construct contingency lines—due to the number of spots—north of the control road. To help suppression efforts, a District Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) changes out of uniform into fireline PPE. This firefighter is assigned to patrol a plow line with bladder bag to suppress spot fires. While working a spot, he realizes that it is more than he can handle on his own. The main fire flashes over the plow line in front and behind him. The firefighter decides to jump over “knee-high” flames to get into the black. In trying to get back to where he knows the vehicles are staged, he is forced to run through areas where heavy fuels are burning. He holds his breath and tries to run between these burning jackpots, later saying that he “felt like a linebacker on the Eva Schicke football field.” He receives first degree burns on his hands and a quarter-size second degree burn on his right elbow. Videos that Share Initial Attack Lessons http://wildfirelessons.net/documents/Acadian_fire_burn_injury_FLA.pdf Remembering Eva – What You Can Learn from Firefighter Eva California – Firefighter Suffers Dehydration/Exhaustion: During Schicke’s Death on the Tuolumne Fire (17 min.) Initial Attack on a 15-20 acre grass fire burning in light grass with a http://youtu.be/hlGEprG84EY rapid rate-of-spread, firefighters build direct handline until they hit Oh, It’s Just a Grass Fire – Lessons Learned Fighting Fire in a terrain that is deemed too steep by the crew captains. The crews Potentially Underestimated Fuel Type (25 min.) start building indirect handline until they are directed to move into http://youtu.be/hl1gNlF0JkY pre-identified safety zones. As a result of climbing an extremely steep hill in soft, sandy soil, one crew member suffers Why Were They Entrapped? (12 min.) http://youtu.be/BNhXHs9ixv4 dehydration/exhaustion. He is transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. What Went Wrong? Lessons Learned from the ‘Near Miss’ http://wildfirelessons.net/documents/Gilman_Fire_Summary_Report.pdf Woodview Fire Burnover (20 min.) http://youtu.be/HtOfkwlRZHs Oregon – Sawyer’s Swamper Hit By Hazard Snag: A hand crew, an engine, and a Type 3 helicopter are dispatched to a one and one-half acre timber fire. Snags are communicated to be the biggest hazard on this IA incident. As a two-person team cuts line, they notice a burning 40-foot snag located 12 feet off their line. As the swamper throws a bucked section of a log into the green, the top half of this burning snag falls onto the firefighter. An IC is immediately established for this “incident within an incident.” Within one hour, the injured firefighter is onboard a ground ambulance Your IA Size-Up enroute to a nearby hospital where he is diagnosed with a broken scapula, two broken ribs, two fractured vertebrae, and a sprained Are these three questions part of your IA Size-Up? ankle. http://wildfirelessons.net/documents/Snow_Gate_FLA.pdf 1) What will we do if someone gets hurt? [This IA incident is also discussed in this hazard tree awareness video: 2) How will we get them out of here? http://youtu.be/e2KUB6eDVU4] 3) How long will it take to get them to the hospital?

If you are truly evaluating risk: Initial Attack Fire Size-Up/Safety They Should Be

http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/6MFS_IAFireSizeupSafety.pdf 4

Shop Talk

Nozzle

Tips

Which nozzle you choose

will have an impact

on how much water

you use, and may vary— depending on your assignment.

Forester This lightweight polycarbonate nozzle is

Commonly known as the “,” this one- relatively inexpensive as well as lightweight. inch twin-tip nozzle allows operators to apply This nozzle can deliver straight-stream as well water with either a straight-stream or a fog as fog patterns, and because of its low weight, spray pattern. Both sides of this nozzle can be it’s often used in hose-lay packs. Got Intel on nozzles? Got a tip or customized with one of several tips or fog discs. trick? Share it with us and others. This nozzle uses a minimal amount of water at 3-6 gallons per minute—a great mop-up nozzle! Nozzle photos courtesy Use this QR Code: David Eaker, Zion National Park

Barrel

This “barrel,” or dual range nozzle, can deliver

a huge range of flow rates and is frequently used on hose reels.

Or, go to http://bit.ly/HLq9a8 to share your thoughts.

If you have a subject idea for “Shop Talk,” please send it to us:

[email protected]

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One of Our Own

Photo by Eli Lehmann Tim Woody

“The Prarie was Set on fire. . . The fire went with such velocity that it burnt to death IA Insights— a man & woman who Could from Training to, not get to any place of Safty. . . Among other, a Small boy Yes, Gators who was Saved by getting under a green [fresh] By Travis Dotson Buffalow skin. . . The Fire did not burn under the Skin, leaving the grass round the henever we ask how boy. This fire passed our people learn in this Camp about 8 oClock P.M. It went with great rapitidity W business, the most and looked Tremendioius.” common answer is: “From the experienced folks around us.”

On the subject of Initial Attack, we recently looked around for someone who has done their fair share in a variety of locations.

We found Tim Woody.

Tim is the Station Manager at the East Everglades District of Everglades National Park in Florida.

He started in fire in 1994 on the Kootenai National Forest. Tim Fire Frame of Reference: The Everglades; Kootenai, Umpqua, and Ocala NFs; Grand Canyon NP eventually began working over On the subject of Initial Attack, veteran wildland firefighter Tim Woody—who holds extended wildland fire the winter months as an Engine experience on both the east and west coasts—says: “I think I can speak for every firefighter about the Foreman at Everglades while excitement, the adrenalin. It’s seeing that smoke column and getting the fire call from dispatch. Gathering info continuing his western fire season as you roll, getting those visual indicators, looking at the clouds, looking at what the smoke column is doing . . .” duties. In 1999 he was a member of the Flathead . Tim has also spent time working at Grand Canyon National Park (Engine and ), the Umpqua National Forest in Oregon, and the Ocala National Forest in Florida.

Because Tim has done quite a bit of IA, we asked him to share some of his knowledge.

That Adrenaline Factor Right away, Tim talked about the universality of the excitement surrounding Initial Attack. “I think I can speak for every firefighter about the excitement, the adrenalin. It’s seeing that smoke column and getting the fire call from dispatch. Gathering info as you roll, getting those visual indicators, looking at the clouds, looking at what the smoke column is doing. Arriving on scene and establishing LCES, making decisions, getting to work and containing a wildfire and getting it done safely.

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“I’ve been doing it for a lot of years and the excitement and adrenalin is still there. You get that call and your adrenalin is pumping, your heart is pumping, you’re excited, and you see it in people. Even the folks that get a lot of IA, it’s still there—every time.”

What do we do with that excitement and energy we all experience? We have all seen folks react in different ways to that rush. Sometimes it’s the chicken with their head cut off and sometimes it’s the Hindu cow. Tim makes a conscious effort to harness and direct that energy toward the task at hand.

“For myself, I have to channel that excitement I feel on IA. At my station, we are not that far from where most of our fires start. When we get the call, we are looking at four or five minutes max response time. But even that small amount of time allows me to relax, take a few deep breaths, and channel that excitement into focus—so I am able to Photo courtesy Tim Woody make good decisions.” Take Every IA Seriously

Initial Attack Pitfalls—Watch Outs “Never underestimate that fire,” says Tim Woody. “Never make it routine. Take every IA seriously. Some of our folks have been in place for years and we have been to fires in the same The other side of the coin is some of the area four or five different times. But we still emphasize you have to follow the proper procedure pieces we don’t relish, the things that are every time.” part of IA that we wish we could ‘turn off.’

“In some areas,” Tim explains, “I don’t like the excessive amount of radio traffic. There is a lot going on and traffic coming from dispatch, aircraft, additional resources, resources from other jurisdictions or agencies. It amps up the stress level and adds to the chaos. I’ve been places where you get a fire and they only have one command channel so you’ve got project volunteers talking, Law Enforcement stuff going on. It becomes something you have to deal with, but it doesn’t mean you have to like it!”

In those instances, this experienced fireman reminds us to take the time to focus on what needs to be in place for a safe operation.

“When you’re trying to establish LCES, that stuff can hamper the Communication portion of it. Spend the time scouting your fire, identify your hazards, establish LCES and make sure everybody is communicating.”

Never Underestimate That Fire When asked what upcoming firefighters need to keep in mind about Initial Attack, Tim is immediate—and emphatic—with his response.

“Never underestimate that fire. Never make it routine. Take every IA seriously. Some of our folks have been in place for years and we have been to fires in the same area four or five different times. But we still emphasize you have to follow the proper procedure every time.

“But even that small amount of time allows me to relax, take a few deep breaths, and channel that excitement into focus— so I am able to make good decisions.”

“We stress that you need to use your IRPG, go over that risk management process, go over that incident complexity analysis. Realize that an IA is an ever-changing environment. It could be just skunking around here and there, but you get a wind shift or gust and things can change in a second.”

Tim Woody is right. We see this time and time again in incident reviews. Firefighters often report feeling like they were “confident they would catch it” or, it was “just like all our other fires” or “it didn’t seem like any big deal” right before something bad happens. Guarding against such ill-fated notions can be difficult. One tactic is to look for training opportunities.

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Trainees Take the Fire “If we do have a ‘routine’ fire, we have our trainees take the fire,” Tim points out. “It keeps their minds engaged. We make sure they provide a clear and precise size-up and keep dispatch informed. We try to encourage them to think further ahead.”

Tim is definitely onto something here. Putting everyone in a slightly different role helps to increase awareness by changing perspective. All of a sudden, the person expecting they would simply be pulling hose and mopping up is making decisions, talking to dispatch and documenting everything. The trainer has to evaluate and provide guidance, and this always forces you to ‘tune in’ a bit more.

Tricks of the Trade Related to developing our future ICs, I asked Tim for some concrete ‘tricks of the trade.’

“I’ve found it helpful to recognize the adrenalin that comes with a response and remind myself to take a deep breath, calm down, think before I speak on the radio. I also place a lot of value on getting to know your local weather factors and indicators. In your area, find out what influences your fire behavior.”

Tim continues, “For example, here in South Florida, if the RHs are anywhere in the 30s and you have winds of 10-plus mph, it’s gonna be tough to contain a wildfire. Always identify and use trigger points and contingency plans. I’m always looking at alternative roads, levees, canals—whatever the next place to hold it would be to make that work. Trigger points keep me thinking ahead, keep me asking those ‘what if’ questions.”

“I get concerned when I see complacency—going into a fire like it’s routine . . .” “I also get concerned with firefighters who are overly aggressive. Those folks who shoot straight toward the head of the fire without covering the basics.”

And what’s the best way to transfer this knowledge?

“The best way to teach new folks is to get them out on the ground and spend time with the experienced folks around them. My expectations for new folks are to be willing to learn from those with experience, and those with experience need to be willing to teach.

“Here in the Everglades, if we’re not doing prescribed fires or , we are trying to conduct training scenarios out in the field, out in our urban-interface area and mutual aid agreement area. We do scenarios with all our folks to keep up the practice and address decision making and stress.

“It’s also important to contribute to AARs afterword so we are all on the same page when it comes to the actual IA. I’ve seen this work. I’ve seen training scenarios pay off on the real thing.”

Initial Attack Stage Entrapments In 2011, the vast majority of our entrapments took place in the IA stage. I mentioned this to Tim and asked for his thoughts.

“I guess that statistic is a little surprising. But I know there was a On Thinking Ahead lot of extreme fire last season. Under dry conditions in light “I’m always looking at alternative roads, levees, canals—whatever the next place to hold it would be to make that work,” Tim Woody explains. “Trigger flashy fuels, it only takes a little elevation or wind shift to cause points keep me thinking ahead, keep me asking those ‘what if’ questions.” issues. Maybe you get a few spots across the line. Even though you have LCES established, if you’re not adjusting it for the changes in the environment, things happen. Something else to 8

think about is the amount of exposure. In some of these areas, especially in the Southeast, they were running multiple fires daily. Maybe the fatigue factor contributed.”

It’s easy to Monday morning quarterback situations with a bad outcome. We all have a tendency to list all the things that should or should not have been done. Tim takes a different approach. He calls it having “hazardous attitudes.”

“I get concerned when I see complacency—going into a fire like it’s routine. Having an attitude like ‘this is how we’ve always done it’ and not being willing to change or adapt. I get just as concerned when I see people making assumptions— assuming that everybody is on the same page, assuming Hidden Hazard everyone knows their LCES and the overall plan. I also get On Tim Woody’s first IA assignment in Everglades National Park, he’s walking concerned with firefighters who are overly aggressive. Those through the sawgrass toward the fire when, just over his right shoulder, he folks who shoot straight toward the head of the fire without hears this sudden “hiss.” Photo by Tom Iraci covering the basics.”

A Great Story We all love stories. IA is often so dynamic that it generates some of the best ones. You know, those stories we share while we’re sharpening in the engine bay or cleaning up in the saw shop. Tim has a good one.

“Well, I’ve got a few, but I’m here in the Glades and it’s a pretty interesting place. The first two weeks I was here, back in 98, the Park was conducting a 2,000-acre prescribed fire. So we were working that and things are going well and about half way through the burn there was a fire call. The new fire was about six or seven miles away out in the Glades. Me and another firefighter jump in the helicopter and fly out to it. It looked like it might be about five acres in sawgrass. We fly around it, size it up. The helicopter lands and we climb out with our flappers. We come up with a plan and start walking to the fire. As we are walking, just a little to the right of my shoulder, I hear this “hiss.” I glance over and there’s about a five-foot gator sitting there with his mouth wide open! [Laughs.] I kinda flapped the flapper at it to try and scare it away. He went one direction and I went the other pretty quick, which, luckily, was straight toward the fire. Man, we flapped that fire out— standing in knee-high water—in about fifteen minutes! Then we hopped back in the ship, flew back to the prescribed fire and finished up the burn. Pretty good first experience in the Everglades: A prescribed fire, an IA, and a gator all in one day!”

Effectively Sharing the Lessons How many lessons were captured from that one day? How do we make sure we are passing on this constant experience we gain? Tim had some final thoughts on creating an environment in which information moves fluidly for the benefit of the organization.

“I just think it’s important for firefighters to feel like they can speak up. If something doesn’t feel right or you don’t understand something: Speak Up. Whether it’s during an incident or sometime later, but especially during the AARs. The more communication we can have from the bottom up—and addressed in the AARs—the safer and smoother things will go and the more often we will be on the same page.”

Genius. Got a potential “One of Our Own” candidate? Please let us know. Contact: Paul Keller 503-622-4861 [email protected]

Check Out Please Provide Us with Your Input Our New LLC

Mobile App ! After reading this issue, will you do anything differently in the field? This app features four automatically updating RSS feeds that send notifications to your smartphone. How can we improve Two More Chains for you? While we have yet to release the application to any of the app marketplaces, it is available to download To answer these type of questions, and have an opportunity via this QR Code, or the link below: to share more of your thoughts and suggestions with us, PLEASE click on the title link (above).

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http://mippin.com/app/wildlandfirellc Photo by Ben Croft https://d ocs.goo 9 gle.com /spreads heet/vie wform? Four Receive Annual Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

This April, four people from the wildland fire service received—based on their demonstration of valued leadership traits during or in support of wildland fire operations—the ninth annual 2011 Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award.

NWCG’s Wildland Fire Leadership Development Subcommittee presents these annual Paul Gleason leadership awards in three categories: Motivation and Vision; Mentoring and Teamwork; and Innovation or Initiative. Individuals and groups from federal, state, local and tribal agencies are eligible for these awards.

Tony Doty Mentoring and Teamwork Award Tony has provided exemplary leadership as a mentor and training specialist to countless firefighters and incident management teams. As Chief of the Alaska Fire Service’s Branch of Fire Training, Tony ensured that students had the necessary facilities and training needed to grow in their careers as firefighters, managers, and future leaders—within and outside the wildland fire service. Of special recognition are his efforts to provide a field version of the S- 420 course, hosting Alaska’s first L-480 course, and contributions to the Incident Management Organization Succession Planning Team. Tony Doty, Emergency Preparedness Operations Manager, DOI Office of Emergency Mgmt. Patrick Lookabaugh Mentoring and Teamwork Award Throughout Patrick’s career, he has risen to the challenge of mentoring numerous firefighters and building cohesive, adaptable and highly motivated teams. Patrick has also contributed training and development to the wildland fire workforce as an instructor at Shasta College and the Northern California Training Center. The Whiskeytown Fire Management Module’s consistently strong reputation throughout the wildland community is a testament to Patrick’s commitment to developing wildland fire leaders.

Patrick Lookabaugh, Leader, Whiskeytown Fire Management Module. Ralph Thomas Initiative and Innovation Award Ralph has been instrumental in the development and growth of the BIA’s National Fire Mentoring Program that connects upcoming fire leaders with mentors to conduct field- oriented prescribed fire and suppression training. Ralph serves as a mentor, field coordinator, and role model in the BIA and tribal programs. The scope and positive influence of Ralph’s mentoring will be reflected in the future as he continues to train others to conduct themselves with respect, professionalism, and leadership as students of fire.

Ralph Thomas, Supervisory Fuels Technician, Fort Apache Agency, BIA. Travis Dotson Motivation and Vision Award Throughout his career as hotshot and , as well as working at the Fire Use Training Academy (FUTA) and Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center, Travis has developed exceptional expertise and leadership skills that help bridge the gap between technical and practical. His continued involvement in Facilitated Learning Analyses and Lessons Learned Review opportunities, and his development of mentoring and student goal-tracking programs related to FUTA, all demonstrate his outstanding commitment to duty in the wildland fire service.

Paul Gleason Travis Dotson, Fire Management Specialist, 1946-2003 Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center. Paul Gleason, taken by colon cancer at 57, was

Know any firefighters who are good dedicated to wildland fire leadership. During his mentors? To learn more about the remarkable four-decade wildland fire career—with 20 Paul Gleason Leadership Award and years of hotshot crew leadership experience—Gleason how to nominate a candidate: made numerous contributions to the wildland fire community, including developing LCES. He will always http://www.fireleadership.gov/toolbox/L be known for his passionate crusade for firefighter BE_award/LBE_award_info.html safety and propelling his “student of fire” philosophy.

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Your

FEEDBACK

Getting Away From Pointing Fingers I consistently find good information in Two More Chains. I those consequences? How will we respond to unplanned use this information with my coworkers, as well as in my elements that may impact the planned burn? daily operations. Please add me to your subscription list. I had the pleasure of being part of an Australian and New I want to add that I am very impressed with the direction the Zealand IMT that worked for six weeks in British Columbia in agencies are taking in terms of FLA development. I was part 2009. We worked with Canadian and USA IMTs, along with of the FLA in August 2010 that took place on the Sawtooth many contract and unit crews. Filling the role as Division National Forest, as a member of the Flathead Interagency Supervisor, it was one of the most rewarding six weeks of my Hotshot Crew. career. The level of camaraderie and sense of what we shared as land managers was undeniable. I felt that the way in which information was gathered for the review was very respectful of the event we had just been Brad Fisher, Roading Manager, Gippsland Region – East through and much more geared toward understanding and Level 2 Incident Controller/Level 2 Operations Officer identifying what happened, rather than toward focusing on Department of Sustainability & Environment what should have been done differently, or who was at fault. Land & Fire Services - Gippsland Region Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia Kudos to you guys [at the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center] for making the FLAs available for everyone to learn ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ from and getting away from pointing fingers. Fire Management Handbook Translated into Arabic, Farsi

Wendy McCartney, FUELS 82 Many thanks for the wildfire lessons. The [cover Eagle Lake Ranger District topic in Two More ’s fall issue] is totally unknown here in Lassen National Forest Finland and needs to be introduced.

▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ By the way, thought you might be interested to know that our Learning from Each Other 1993 Finnish Handbook on Forest (based on Thanks for the latest edition of Two More Chains. It's always Canadian experiences) was distributed (20,000 copies) all an informative read. around the world. I updated the Handbook in 2007 with inclusion of the Incident Command System (ICS)—renamed as Interesting article on planned burn escapes and lessons the Wildland Fire Handbook for Trainers. learned. You guys have some excellent systems in place to capture and communicate this information. It is also In 2006, the older Forest Fire Handbook was translated into reassuring that so many of us land managers across the Arabic and became the official Wildland Fire Management world face very similar issues, both with our bushfires Handbook for: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, (wildfire) and planned burns. This presents excellent Morocco, Algiers, Yemen, and Iran (translated into Farsi in 2005). opportunities to learn from each other.

I agree that review lengths are often too long. The length of The latest inclusion in the updated fire world over here is the time that can elapse from the time of incident to release of Finnish handbook (in Finnish) on flammability (danger rating) of the report can also be an issue. We need to ensure they are forest fuels (biomass) subdivided into 15 different classes. This timely to assist with relevance and summarized to the point handbook is now being translated into Russian and Swedish by these two governments. that encourages learning.

Ben Jacobs’ comments on the planning process are spot on. Mike Jurvélius, Turenki Community, Finland After the “Black Saturday” fires here in 2009, the Victorian ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Government set ambitious targets for significantly lifting the annual planned burn program. This, in turn, has significantly Two More Chains, published quarterly by the Wildland lifted the planning workload. Fire Lessons Learned Center, is dedicated to sharing information with wildland firefighters. For story tips, We look for ways to improve/streamline the process, questions, or comments, please contact: Paul Keller, however, the reality is there will always be policy, statutory, [email protected], 503-622-4861. preparation and recording requirements that must be met. The Burn OIC (Burn Boss) being across these issues is a critical element of success. For past issues of Two More Chains:

Before we light a match we need to ask: What will the http://wildfirelessons.net/Additional.aspx?Page=TwoMoreChains consequences of this be? Are we fully prepared to manage 11