Fire and Aviation Level One Report
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Part 1 of 2 Missoula Fire and Aviation USDA Forest Service • Technology and Development Program • 5100 Fire, 5700 Aviation Technical Services— community through their involve- ment in groups such as the Fire and Aviation National Fire Protection Associa- Management tion (NFPA), National Wildfire Coordinating Group, and National Technical services provided by Fire Equipment Systems (NFES) MTDC’s Fire and Aviation committee. By maintaining a close Management Program are used to relationship with workers in the transfer information and technol- field—those folks in the yellow ogy from specialists to the field shirts—MTDC anticipates new units. MTDC personnel stay needs, enabling the Forest Service current on technologies and issues to provide a safer, more productive that affect the wildland firefighting work environment. Dick Mangan, Fire and Aviation Program Leader Dick has been Program Leader for Fire, Aviation, and Residues at MTDC since 1989. Before coming to the center, he spent more than National 20 years working on Ranger Districts and National Forests in Oregon and Wildfire Washington, participating in the full Coordinating range of wildland fire activities. He serves on the National Wildfire Group Coordinating Group (NWCG) Fire Equipment and Safety and Health Working Teams and is chairperson of the National Fire Protection The National Wild- Association (NFPA) 1977 Technical fire Coordinating Committee for Wildland Fire Group (NWCG) is an Personal Protective Clothing and organization whose Equipment. Dick remains active in membership includes the field, representing MTDC on fire entrapment investigations and the National Associa- serving as Operations Section Chief tion of State Foresters, on a National Type 1 Overhead Team. National Fire Protec- tion Association, the Phone ........................ (406) 329-3849 U.S. Fire Administra- IBM ....................... rmangan/wo,mtdc E-mail .... rmangan/[email protected] tion, and all Federal agencies responsible for wildland fire Dick Mangan (left) provides technical services in many management. NWCG field settings. provides national August 1997 9751-2812-MTDC1 Part 1 of 2 coordination for training tech- niques and the latest technologies affecting fire management. Specific areas of concern are handled by working teams and subcommittees comprised of experts from across the country. MTDC fire management personnel serve as advisors to several teams, including the Fire Equipment Working Team (FEWT), the Safety and Health Working Team (SHWT), and the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) Sub- committee. Center Specialists offer expert technical advice to these groups and often work on specific projects assigned by them. Recent projects in which MTDC fire man- agement personnel have played a major part include: • Maintenance of the national fire entrapment data base • Review of the 100-person first aid kit stocked by the fire caches Close inspection of the fire shelter provides clues of temperature ranges experienced during an entrapment. • Leadership in the continuing study of the Health Hazards of Smoke. Fire Entrapment Vehicle Entrapment Investigations Studies MTDC Fire Program personnel are For many years, wildland fire- often involved with onsite investi- fighters have debated what to do gations when fire entrapments when entrapped with a vehicle General Services occur. They collect tools, personal (engine, tender, pickup, sedan): is Administration protective equipment, and other it best to “ride it out” in the vehicle, personal effects. In addition, they or abandon the vehicle and get The Fire Program at MTDC coordi- record extensive photographic into a fire shelter? There have been nates with the General Services evidence. Many times these exam- lots of gut-feeling responses, and Administration to provide quality inations lead not only to improve- some real-life experience on both wildland firefighting equipment at ments in equipment, but also give sides of this question, but little a reasonable cost. The specifica- insights into the effectiveness of hard data to compare conditions tions and drawings for many items firefighter training and the actions under similar situations. MTDC are produced at MTDC, then sent firefighters take when faced with has conducted a study to quantify to GSA, where large numbers are life-threatening incidents. In 1995, what really happens—inside the procured under contract. Articles MTDC published a technical cab of a vehicle and inside a fire produced during the first produc- report on investigations, Investi- shelter—when a burnover occurs. tion run are carefully inspected gating Wildland Fire Entrapments The study was conducted in coop- by MTDC technicians before GSA (9551-2845-MTDC). eration with the Florida Division stocks contractors’ fire equipment. of Forestry, the Montana Depart- 2 Part 1 of 2 These vehicle entrapment tests in Dillon, MT, provided field comparisons of the effects of heat on fire shelters and engines. ment of Natural Resources and subjected to direct flame and were collected from selected vehicles Conservation, the Beaverhead burned over in conjunction with and fire shelters were analyzed. National Forest, and the Los prescribed burns. Data were In 1997, MTDC published a tech- Angeles County Fire Department. collected from three field tests nical report documenting this around the country in several fuel project, Comparing Conditions The study measured radiated heat types. Several fire shelters and Inside Vehicles and Fire Shelters and maximum temperatures inside shelter prototypes were outfitted During Fire Entrapments (9751- a variety of vehicles. The vehicles, with instrumentation and set up 2817-MTDC).d which were no longer in use, were adjacent to the vehicles. Gases 3 Part 1 of 2 Job-Related Work updated with the latest fitness and work performance information, Capacity Tests and incorporates many of Dr. Sharkey’s other publications, In response to a need for a work giving firefighters and other capacity test that reflected the employees an easy-to-use physical demands of wildland fire- reference tool. fighting, Dr. Sharkey and MTDC began a process to replace the Step Test with something more suitable, that would be just as easy to administer throughout the nation. The result is a new job- related work capacity test, the Pack Health Hazards Brian Sharkey Test. It has received extensive of Smoke laboratory and field testing and is Brian Sharkey completed a Ph.D. in being recommended for adoption Dr. Sharkey’s role in this long- exercise physiology at the University in 1998. term study has been to coordinate of Maryland before coming west to national efforts for ongoing and join the faculty of the University of future studies on the effects of wild- Montana and begin a long associa- land fire smoke on firefighters. He tion with MTDC. His work for the conducts lab and field studies, Forest Service has included research and development on fitness tests works with regulatory and and programs, heat stress, hydra- Fitness and standard-setting organizations, and tion, nutrition, protective clothing, fosters communication among fire tools, work/rest cycles, employee Work Capacity managers, firefighters, researchers, health (wellness), and more. manufacturers, organizations, and A researcher, author of several books, Fitness and Work Capacity (9751- others with a semiannual report and past president of the American 2814-MTDC), a booklet published (Health Hazards of Smoke), visual College of Sports Medicine, Dr. by MTDC in 1977 under the presentations, displays, and per- Sharkey practices what he preaches, direction of Dr. Sharkey, was sonal communications. This effort participating regularly in running, intended to provide employees culminated in April 1997 with a mountain biking, cross-country with the information they needed symposium at Missoula, MT. All skiing, backpacking, canoeing, and other pursuits. His work has recently to maintain the level of physical the findings were presented, and been honored with a USDA Distin- fitness required by wildland a risk management plan outline guished Service Award, and a Forest workers. The publication has been was developed for field use.d Service Technology Transfer Award. The new edition of Fitness and Work Capacity will help Forest Service workers keep fit for work. 4 Part 1 of 2 Specifications curement contracts. The GSA will not award contracts to suppliers unless their products meet the The specifications maintained at specifications maintained at the MTDC include major personal Center. This process assures that protective items used by wildland affordable, safe, and functional firefighters, such as the fire shelter, equipment specially designed for Nomex clothing, and chain saw the needs of wildland firefighters chaps. Other MTDC specifications is made available to the agencies include fireline handtools, such as that require it. Twenty or more the Pulaski and the Combi tool. contracts may be ongoing at any Many other items used by fire- one time, and MTDC works fighters and other wildland closely with GSA contracting and resource workers must meet the quality assurance people around Bob Hensler specifications kept at the Center. the country to facilitate this pro- Sleeping bags, first aid kits, water- cess. In a typical fire season, Bob has worked at the Center since bags, and field packs are just a Federal and State resource agencies 1974. He served as the Center’s few items whose specifications buy more than $15 million of fire senior writer-editor until 1987.