February 2009 Smoke Signals Volume 12 Table of Contents Aerial Ignition Gets the Job Done Memorial...... 3 at San Carlos Administration...... 5 ~ William T. Grauel, PhD, Fire Use Specialist San Carlos Apache Tribe Fire Use/Fuels...... 6 Operations...... 11 Introduction Prevention...... 12 Blacksnakes Corner. 15 The San Carlos Tribal Fire Use Publishers & Info..Back Program strives to achieve ecologically meaningful fire effects in a cost efficient manner at landscape scales. The Hilltop Alpha & Bravo burn plan encompasses over 13,000 acres of ponderosa pine surrounded by juniper savannah uplands. With a primary goal of hazardous fuel reduction (HFR) in recently logged forest, the Hilltop project was developed with the recognition that ponderosa pine and timber sales exist in a larger fire- dependant landscape. Recent HFR burn plans had been confined to smaller acreages within timber sale boundaries Figure 4. Despite the relatively large acreage and smoke column, the fire and implemented stayed on the ground while removing much of the oak and juniper understory by ground ignition and slash. with drip torches. The Hilltop plan was by Duane Chapman, Supervisory Fuels designed to utilize the Plastic Sphere Technician, and received a technical review Dispenser in a helicopter to accomplish by Fire Behavior Analyst Ralan Hartzell of the desired fire effects on more acres at a neighboring Fort Apache Agency. The goal lower cost than ground ignition alone. of the project was to generate an intense understory burn in the pine forest, sufficient Timeline to reduce ladder fuels and raise the average canopy fuel base height. Planning began in July 2007. The Hilltop A & B burn plan was authored Cover Page 2 had been installed day the 3000 acre burn unit was by San Carlos complete. Despite the relatively large Fire Use and the acreage and smoke column (Figure Geronimo Hotshots 4), the fire stayed on the ground the week before. while removing much of the oak With temperatures and juniper understory and logging in the mid-70’s, slash. Burndown was rapid, smoke relative humidity was completely dispersed by the next around 20%, and morning, and little patrolling was one- and ten-hour necessary. The burn unit contains ten fuels around 7% FIREMON plots that were installed in moisture, the aerial 2007. Their remeasurement in early ignition proceeded 2009 will provide quantitative data on throughout the fuel reduction and scorch mortality. afternoon (Figure 2). Holding forces Cost efficiency had little to do other than observe Aerial ignition allows for the as the afternoon’s planning of larger prescribed burns, aerial ignition a necessity in forests whose fire Figure 2. Aerial ignition proceeded throughout the afternoon. accomplished about cycles are hundreds of years longer Photo taken by Dr. Grauer through the lense of his binoculars. 600 acres. than the historical record shows as Employing aerial ignition required normal. In addition, although flight careful planning (Figure 1), including The Burn Boss, Firing Boss, and time costs seem high, the ability to limited road closures during hunting FEMO surveyed the burn at dawn the season. The San Carlos Recreation next morning and Wildlife Department supported to observe fire the project by supplying Rangers to effects and enforce the temporary road closures. discuss ignition patterns (Figure The weather in late October 2008 3). Ignition looked favorable, and Chuck Maxwell began before of Predictive Services in Albuquerque midmorning on provided frequent 7-10 day outlooks. October 31, with Airwest Helicopters of Glendale, the helicopter Arizona provided the aerial platform. and firing team Lemual Juan of BIA San Carlos dropping the Agency was helicopter manager plastic spheres and serviced the Premo Mark III in strips oriented perpendicular to plastic sphere dispenser (PSD). John Figure 3. The Burn Boss, Firing Boss, and FEMO surveyed the burn Cervantes of BIA Fort Apache Agency the prevailing at dawn the next morning to observe fire effects and discuss ignition was brought in as the PSD operator southwest wind. patterns. while Carlos Nosie, Assistant Fuels Near the end of Specialist from the Western Regional the day, the main Office served as Firing Boss. John road bordering Lee, Western Regional AFMO, came the project was onboard as Safety Officer for the closed and project while Duane Chapman was ground-based Burn Boss. The Fire Effects Monitor ignition crews (FEMO) was William Grauel. burned off the road as the Implementation and Fire effects aerially-ignited fire approached At midday on October 30 all holding downhill No forces were in place and ignition holding issues began. The helicopter operation began arose and by by reinforcing the black line that the end of the Figure 1. Employing aerial ignition required careful planning including limited road closures during hunting season. Cover Page 3 accomplish larger acreages outweighs $22 per acre. In previous years, per acre. With proper planning and the costs associated with using an these types of HFR burns, within implementation, aerial ignition is the aerial platform. The 3000 acres the boundaries of timber sales only way to go! accomplished on the Hilltop A&B and done with ground ignition, prescribed burn cost approximately generally cost between $35 and $40

Memorial Remembering Fain LeBeau ~ Theresa Ann Wesley, NIFC Never say “Goodbye” - it’s always, “See You Later”

The date was October 17, 2008 in beautiful downtown Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Retirement preparations were well under way by late afternoon and only a few things were left to do - then came the wait. Fain LeBeau was going to retire from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and I was honored with the opportunity to be the Fain LeBeau while he was Lead Instructor for the 2008 Engine Academy at Crow Creek Agency. master of ceremonies at his retirement. on time, several guest speakers got With heavy heart, I passed the news Fain LeBeau came to the Bureau of up and spoke, among them, Mr. onto the staff. The LeBeau family Indian Affairs on October 17, 1975. Greg Bourland, Cheyenne River requested my return to Eagle Butte. He was hired as a general laborer. Agency Superintendent, Dalan My arrival was met with the buzzing He then became a Range Technician. Romero, Associate Chief, BIA-NIFC of what was completed, what needed He was hired in his last position as a Operations, and several life time to be done and what else should be Supervisory Range Technician in 2002 friends and acquaintances. Dinner was considered. Dates were set and things at BIA-NIFC. Fain created a top-notch served and the Drum Group Wakinyan were set into motion. Model 52 Engine program known Maza finished with an honor song. throughout the nation. His work The band, Stampede, performed and October 26, 2008 a wake was ethic was impeccable and his people the night was danced away. performed at the Eagle Butte High skills superb. He led by example and School gymnasium. I have never seen managed his team effectively. He took I returned to Boise ready to let so many people gather. Many traveled pride in his program, had a great staff, everyone know how well things a long way to attend. Many got up and a ‘can do’ attitude that always went at the retirement celebration. and spoke of the good things and what made things happen. Thirty-three However, that was cut short because Fain meant to them. I realized that on years to the date, Fain was going to the news of Fain LeBeau’s passing this visit, I was to wear more than one call it quits and retire and do other arrived. Where one week we were hat and that night I spoke as the close things he wanted to do. planning the retirement of a good friend and sister of Fain LeBeau. As friend, now very different preparations the others, I stood in front of all of That night things could not have had to be undertaken. them and gave personal testimony as gone better. The program started to how Fain and I met, how we were Administration Page 4 preserve lands, finding ways to do things better and he never made it to retirement.

The procession to the cemetery was phenomenal. Fain was to be transported in the C5500, his favorite truck. First came the escort, the local fire trucks, the C5500 with Fain and his family inside then rest of the family, friends and community. During the trip to the cemetery, I remembered Fain telling me one time, one never says Goodbye, one always says See You Later. And when the graveside services were over, I did just that. I was proud to be there for him and his family. I was honored to be a part of Fain’s life and feel this Dancing the night away. tragedy somehow allowed me to grow stronger. Thank you Fain Lebeau on kindred spirits and shared fun times do for him. He gave 33 years of his a job well done, have a good journey together, shared families and mutual life to the government, a lot of time and I will see you later. friends and how the fire world affected away from his family, fighting to both our lives. And like the others, I cried at the loss of my brother, my friend, and my coworker. I learned how to speak from the heart.

October 27, 2008 the funeral was held at the Eagle Butte High School gymnasium. Mr. Phillip LeBeau officiated. He was Fain’s brother. The gym was full of family, friends and . Keynote speakers were Terry Hodgkiss, BIA Standing Rock Agency, Faron Krueger, ND State , and Scott Weston, Pine Ridge Agency. That day I represented the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Interagency Fire Center and I spoke of Fain, the Fain and his family enjoy his retirement party.. kind of person he was, his personality, his accomplishments, his history. I presented the family with the Black Mountain plaque from the Wildland Foundation. I told the audience how not only the BIA would miss him but the interagency fire community as well; the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife, , and state, tribal and private fire programs. As a final salute to Fain, we had all the firefighters and fire personnel stand and salute. It was the least we could The cemetery procession. Administration Page 5 Robyn Broyles David Peters Joins the BIA Joins the BIA ~ Robyn Broyles, NIFC ~ David Peters, NIFC

Mary Stuever July 1995 Fresh burn areas draw all kinds of curious animals, and are among the crowd. From the years of mopping up forest fires—spending the last few days on assignment putting out any smoking log or duff Robyn Broyles joined the BIA on Welcome to David Peters, an ‘83 that is near the control line—I have December 8th as the National Fire graduate of Colorado State in witnessed many animals that find fresh Communication and Education Natural Resources Management. burned ground fascinating. The elk Specialist, located at the National David has worked for Colorado come in, and browse on the needles Interagency Fire Center in Boise. Her Parks and Wildlife Divisions, U.S. of remaining saplings as if they are career began in Pinedale Wyoming Forest Service, Natural Resources discovering a smoke-flavored delicacy. where she worked for two seasons Conservation Service, Bureau of land The raptors fly around, hoping to as an engine operator for the and the Bureau of Indian Service. She then moved to Ukiah, Affairs, since starting his natural catch some rodent emerging from the Oregon to gain rappel experience on resource career in 1979. David’s safety of their burrow but no longer the Frazier rappel crew. During her professional experience includes being into a world that offers immediate first season, she sustained a shoulder a Soil Conservationist in Indiana and camouflage. The bears saunter injury, hence, her career transitioned Colorado, a in Oregon and through, turning over rocks and logs into the dispatch arena. She Washington, and a Fire Prevention/ and generally just seeming to look worked at the National Interagency Education/Mitigation Specialist in around. Coordination Center for six seasons Arizona and Montana. He is currently while finishing her degree in Natural enjoying his new job in Montana and Often we debate if we see so many Resource Management and Fire is glad to be back with the BIA. bears after a fire because bears are Ecology from the University of Idaho. attracted to burn areas, or if it bears After graduation, she moved to the are always this close in the , but Northwest to gain further interagency until the brush has burned away, they experience with the Washington Forester’s are just hidden from our view. Department of Natural Resources as an Log: Bears initial attack dispatcher. Robyn then Therefore, I should not have been moved to Moab, Utah to gain aviation and Burns so surprised that afternoon, when dispatch skills as the Lead Aviation ©Mary Stuever, November 2008 Photos by Barbara Garrity. marking on Buddy Elkins’ ranch Dispatcher. outside of Grants, to hear three sharp The Forester’s Log is a monthly column whistles coming from the drainage Robyn comes to the BIA with published in newspapers and magazines below me. enthusiasm and excitement to support primarily in the American west. Stuever the field. It is her intent she will is a forester in the American Southwest. She can be reached at [email protected]. As a homeschooling parent and a become a contributing member of the For the column this month, here is a story consulting forester, my kids often national team and spread the news of from 1995 which will appear in Mary’s new work with me. In this instance, my the happenings in Indian country. book, The Forester’s Log: Musings from work was to mark leave trees on a the Woods, UNM Press, Spring 2009. Administration Page 6 private salvage sale after a major size paint gun I carried with me. behind the kids. It only took a second . The work required me to to realize it was a bear cub. I hollered evaluate every in the area which The two whistle call was more serious at the bear to let her know I was meant continually moving up and in nature. It meant come here as soon behind her and to distract her from my down the slope. as you can, even though it is not an children. Then I told the twins to start emergency. Usually the kids used moving slowly up the drainage toward My seven-year old twins preferred this call to signal they were ready for our car away from the bears. playing in the drainage bottom while lunch, or that they needed a jacket I worked the hillsides with marking from the car, or some other pressing Mama Bear must have had the same trees that had the best chance of post- reason to ask Mom to set down her idea, because she growled at her cub fire survival. paint can for awhile. and the little guy started moving down the drainage. In less than a minute, I We all had whistles, and through The three whistle call was a real was reunited with my cubs, and she the day we would communicate. emergency, and up until this day, we was reunited with hers. One whistle was a simple question, had never used it. When I heard it, I ‘everything is fine, but where are you?’ immediately came crashing down the I’m not sure what the bear family did This was answered with single whistle. hill slope in the direction of the kids. the rest of the day, but we broke camp Throughout the day, each ten to twenty As soon as I spotted Roland he was and headed home. I left the kids with minutes, we would signal each other. I waving his arms at me to stop. their father, and finished the marking would also leave my gallon paint cans job alone. with the kids, and tie in with them in Between us there was a large black person each time I emptied the quart- bear that was fixed on something

Fuels two days to burn back into the main fire. Flame lengths remained low Chippy Creek~ Laura FireAtkins, SCA, Northwest Region until it hit the untreated areas. This “A new fire is now burning southwest control date of September 24, 2007. backfire allowed the team to contain of the Flathead Valley with a plume the southeast edge of the fire. visible from Kalispell.” For Fuels Managers the scorched landscape would provide them with The Dry Fork Fuels Treatment Area This simple, if somewhat innocuous valuable answers, information, and is a project dating back to 1997 with statement found on a Montana opportunities to study the impacts of an individual Tree Selection harvest. television website on July 31, 2007, wildfire on the effectiveness of past In 1999 there was a harvest pile and could not foresee what would become fuels treatments which were designed burn with underburns carried out in Montana’s largest wildfire of the 2007 to lessen the effects of this kind of 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2005 to total an season: the Chippy Creek Fire totaled catastrophic event on timber resources. estimated 800 acres of treatment. The 99,090 acres, of which 35,266 were on goals and objectives of the treatment the Flathead Indian Reservation. One crucial move to the successful area included: restoration and control of the wildfire was the dozer maintenance of historical Ponderosa On August 3, 2007 the Chippy Creek line put in on August 8th. This strategic Pine old growth forest conditions; Fire spread from the Lolo National move allowed wildland firefighters to hazardous fuel reduction; stimulate Forest, where it had burned 30,000 tie into the Dry Fork Fuels Treatment seral shrub growth; and big game acres, and took hold on the Flathead Area and successfully burn out the habitat enhancement by treating 70- Indian Reservation burning until its area. The backfire took approximately Fuels Page 7 90% of the project area with a scorch Post Wildfire mortality of less than 30% in the over story of the Ponderosa Pine. Fuel loading in the Dry Fork Underburn Estimates of mortality in fuels Project was reduced treatments sites and in adjacent from 12 tons/ untreated areas shows a clear acre to 7 tons/acre relationship of the effectiveness of post-treatment and a well planned Fuels Management following wildfire only program in an area that has seen fuel two tons/acre were loadings accumulate beyond normal consumed due to a range of variability in the last eight reduction in fine fuels. On the adjacent Lolo to ten years. Lethal scorch mortality National Forest where in the Dry Fork Underburn Project Ron Swaney, Flathead Fuels Manager, intersecting untreated total reached (left) and treated (right) area was less than 5% with an average 84 tons/acre about 60% of the fire area which maintain moderate canopy scorch height of three feet. This is burned at high severity to the degree cover, cooler soil temperatures, and astonishing in the face of a recent that even root systems were affected sites dominated by native vegetation history of extremely low soil moisture are not favorable for the spread (Rapid Assessment of VeGetation aggravated by a prolonged regional of noxious weeds, though local Condition After Fire or RAVG). populations of invasive plants may Dry Fork Underburn Project persist depending on the species. Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment Post-Wildfire Fuel Model(s) Mixed 2, 9, 10 Mixed 2 & 9 Mixed 2 & 9 The moderating influence of effective Fuel Loading 12 tons/acre 7 tons/acre 5 tons/acre fuels treatments was clearly shown A look at pre and post wildfire conditions offers a clear glimpse into the success of the in the Dry Fork Underburn Project. treatments. Minimal loss of timber, watershed, drought during the past decade causing Something to watch with a cautious and wildlife habitat resources and at wildland fires to burn hotter, longer, eye is the invasion of noxious weeds. the same time stimulating growth of and deeper into the soil horizon. The The spread of plants like spotted grasses, forbs and herbaceous plants lethal scorch mortality in adjacent, knapweed (Centaurea stoebe spp.) for soil protection, wildlife forage and snow/rain intercept to allow slow untreated sites was in the range of 75- tends to occur after severe burns where direct sunlight and exposed infiltration into streams and rivers are 100% with average scorch heights of numerous benefits of careful fuels 80 feet. mineral soils in south facing aspects are conducive to invasion, particularly applications. below 5000 feet. Underburn projects

Pre-treated area <5% lethal scorch mortality Untreated area 75-100% scorch mortality Fuels Page 8

Great Plains SCA Annual~ Paul Pooler, Awards Fire Ecologist, Midwest Dinner and Great Plains Regions ~ Photos by Morgan Beveridge, BIA Fuels Specialist representation was also present during this year’s dinner.

The SCA crews have been the driving force behind the monitoring of fuels projects within the Great Plains for the BIA. The task for the 2008 SCA crew was to collect pre and post treatment data for planning future prescribed fire as well as studying the effects of fire

Left to right: Molly Lundberg; SCA Project Leader, Morgan Beveridge; Fuels Specialist, on the prairies throughout the Great BIA, Gene Sipes; SCA Intern, Davyd Betchkal; SCA Intern, Mary Taber, Fire Ecologist NIFC, Plains Region. FIREMON plots have Bethany Heins; SCA Intern, and Angela Ryczkowski; SCA Intern. been established on all reservations The BIA, Great Plains Region, has dinner was sponsored by the SCA within the Great Plains as well as the hosted SCA crews for three years and crew. The Region presented certificates Meskwaki Tribe in Tama, Iowa. for the third year; a season close-out of appreciation to the SCA crew. NIFC

Columbia River Road~ LauraFire Atkins, SCA, Northwest Regional Office On August 7, 2008 at 1:00 AM, a due to a lack of personnel, a burn out miles northwest of the fire origin. At fire was reported along the Columbia was not attempted. Dozers were sent this point the night shift began and River Road. As crews responded to to the north of the fire where there was focused mostly on structure protection the fire, they discovered a total of six a road system and a ridge line from in Kartar. One hand crew worked on fires. All the fires were contained early which to anchor the fireline, but had to anchoring the southeast flank of the in the morning, except one that was be pulled out when the fire heated up fire through the night and a burn out burning upslope from the road in grass and started to make a run to the north operation was conducted. and sagebrush. By mid-morning, the during the early afternoon. fire had burned approximately three Washington Interagency Incident and hundred acres. Structure protection About mid afternoon the fire jumped Management Team #4 (WIIMT#4) began at 6:00 am. The Columbia the dozer line in Hopkins Canyon was assigned the fire the next morning. River Road fire’s suppression efforts and made a run to the northwest In 4 days with maximum temperatures in conjunction with fuels reduction towards Whitmore Lookout and the of 100۫ F, the fire had grown to 21,900 treatments is explained below. rural ranching community of Initial attack for the first day shift Kartar. It was involved four dozers, fourteen engines, about this time seven overhead staff, and multiple that the fire aircraft. During the first burning moved in to period most of the available resources timber north and were focused on structure protection northwest of the along the Columbia River Road. The fire. By early fire burned to the ridge top and was evening the fire difficult to access. Suppression efforts was threatening then focused on the west flank, using structures in bucket drops, and retardant to try and Kartar and keep the fire from burning up through had crossed Hopkins Canyon. Some dozers were the Coyote able to build an indirect line along the Creek Road west flank up Hopkins Canyon, but approximately 6 Arial View of treatment vs. non-treatment area within fire. Fuels Page 9 acres. Suppression resources including five helicopters, an air tanker, twenty-four engines, twelve dozers, fifteen water tenders, and 702 personnel were challenged by the fire behavior and rate of spread. WIIMT#4 focused on maintaining safety principles in the application of all strategies to control the fire. Trigger points were developed to modify or alter suppression tactics should the fire go near wildland-urban interfaces (WUI). Numerous structures on the west flank (Columbia River Road and Kartar area) of the fire were protected by the local fire districts and Colville Confederated Tribes fire crews.

Resource damage was further reduced within and adjacent to fuels reduction treatment areas. The tribe treated 6 WUI treatment areas within the fire perimeter. Treatments consisted of Untreated area within fire. , piling, and piling burn treatments over 862 acres. The treatments were part of the HWY 155 WUI Project and in addition, there were 3 hazardous fuel reduction (HFR) treatment areas within the fire. 1,259 acres were underburned. The underburning was part of the Coyote Creek HFR Project. The presence of the underburn treatment areas along the east flank of the fire slowed fire growth, reduced fire intensity, and made it possible to effectively contain the east flank. The blocks were burned in 2006 and 2007. Unfortunately, the 6 WUI treatments were located in the path of the head of the fire which at that time had significant column development and exhibited extreme fire behavior, including crown fire with spotting to a half mile. It appears that within the WUI treatment areas, fire fell back to the ground but was intense enough to result in significant scorch mortality. Resources were not available at that time to take advantage Ground view of treated area withing fire. of the reduced fire behavior. The fire blew significant heat was generated. This contributed to the scorch mortality through these treatments and kept going. in the fuel break and would have cut off fire fighters escape route if an attempt to suppress the fire had been made here. Lessons learned from the wildfire included three main points. For one, wider fuel breaks This fire was a good example of the importance of fuels treatments would have been more effective. Secondly, the and wildfire. Lessons learned from the Columbia River Road wildfire previously completed pile and burn treatments are invaluable to the wildfire management at Colville, and hopefully should have been followed by an underburn. to other fire management officials. When terrain, fuels, and weather Finally, fuel break location should be carefully combine to make suppression efforts extremely difficult, the benefits considered. Many of the WUI fuels breaks ran of fuel reduction treatments are critical in minimizing the impacts of parallel to an untreated draw. A road served catastrophic fires. as a boundary between the draw and the fuel break, but when the fire moved into the draw, Fuels Page 10 BIA~Great Plains Region Monitoring Site Tour ~ Paul Pooler, Fire Ecologist Midwest and Great Plains Regions NIFC, Regional and effectiveness of RX Agency Staff conducted a fires on sites that were fuels treatment monitoring formerly managed by site tour on three Great the Corps of Engineers Plains Region project sites along the Missouri River. in November of 2008. Thompson stated that Sites visited were on the due to the seed bank in Crow Creek, Lower Brule the soil, fire appears to and Santee Sioux Indian be the most practical Reservations. Prescribed management tool to burn and mechanical eradicate introduced fuel treatment areas and species and initiate FIREMON plots established growth of native by the Student Conservation From Left to right: Clem Zephier, Santee Crew Foreman; Paul Pooler, vegetation. This will Association at the three Great Plains/Midwest Region Fire Ecologist; Mary Taber, NIFC Fire meet the goals and many Agencies were visited. Ecologist; DuWayne Traversie, Winnebago Agency Fuels Specialist and Andy Baker, Winnebago Agency Natural Resource Officer discuss fire objectives of the Agency effects on juniper at the Joe George Project Site on the Santee Sioux and the Lower Brule Data collected on Reservation. Sioux Tribe. FIREMON sites is used to obtain The Santee Reservation a current inventory of vegetative is continuing to composition, structure and fuel loading mechanically treat juniper for future treatment planning. It followed by broadcast is compared to FEIS (Fire Effects burning. Andy Baker, Natural Resource Officer, stated this ongoing fuel treatment project has helped increase native grass production and benefit wildlife habitat. Introduced grasses such as crested wheatgrass are a concern at Lower Brule Reservation.

Avery Thompson, Lower From Left to right: Lawrence “Avery” Thompson, Lower Brule Brule’s Fuels Specialist, Agency Fuels Specialist; Mary Taber, NIFC Fire Ecologist is using FIREMON and Paul Pooler, Great Plains/Midwest Region Fire Ecologist identify vegetative differences between burned and unburned data to monitor the areas of the Iron Nation Project at Lower Brule Reservation.

Winnebago Agency’s “Joe George” red cedar Amos Isburg, Soils Technician, and Mary management project Taber, NIFC Fire Ecologist, dixcuss FIREMON site at Santee. The plot placement and the value of photo photo represents a small records on Crow Creek Sioux Reservation’s segment of the total Wolf Creek Project Site. project, where over 1,000 acres of eastern red cedar Inventory System) and other have been mechanically local inventories for consistency. treated by the Tribe, broadcast burned and Expectations of plant response to fire, placed on a prescribed documented in FEIS and other local burn rotation by the records, are used as planning tools for Agency. fire prescriptions in the Great Plains. Operations Page 11 Rosebud Agency Wildland Fire Operations Specialist Retires ~ Steven Ipswitch, Fire Management Officer, Rosebud Agency After twenty years with Rosebud In those twenty years he has spent Agency, Operations Specialist Gene time as a firefighter, fire management Emery retired on January 21, 2009. officer, and operations specialist, as well as helping out the Land Gene began his career as a firefighter Operations and Facilities programs in the Simi Valley area of California with his ranching expertise. He in 1978. After fighting fire in became qualified as an Incident California for a number of years, Commander Type 3, Task Force as well as attending a semester at Leader, and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Pepperdine University in Malibu, Type 2. Gene wrote the most recent California, Gene returned to his home edition of the Fire Management Plan, in Rosebud and began working there and has responded to thousands of fires as a firefighter. He also attended at Rosebud Agency, as well as many college at the University of South other parts of the United States. Dakota in Vermillion and Sinte Smoke Signals was unable to obtain a Gleska University in Mission. We all wish Gene the best of luck in photograph of Gene. retirement!

Prevention Fire Prevention Welcomes Kim Smiskin &

Henry Kuehne ~ Laura Atkins, SCA, Northwest Region The Northwest Region would like to welcome Kim Smiskin and Henry Kuehne to the Colville Fire Prevention program.

Kim began her career in 2004 as an Emergency Fire Fighter, and quickly moved up to Engine Boss. She was an Engine Operator for two seasons on Colville Engine 123. She is currently a qualified Faller Type A, an ICT5, Firing Boss Trainee, Engine Boss Trainee, Prevention Team Member Trainee, Henry Kuehne and Smokey Bear. Henry is and a Fire Investigator Trainee. She is the the one on the left. Kim Smiskin proud mother of two children, Kyle J. Manley and Kendra J. Manley. In her work as a Prevention Page 12 Prevention Technician, Kim hopes to earn the respect of the community, especially the youth.

Henry attended college in Spokane and the University of Idaho after serving in the army for three years. For the next fifteen years after college he worked in Fire Management in Omak/Nespelem Forestry. During this time, he was able to work his way to a RXB2 and an ICT4. The concept of preventing fires before they start is a new approach for Henry after his long career of burning on prescribed fires and fire suppression on . Concerning his new role, he explains, he most enjoys meeting the public and discussing ways to prevent fires.

Just recently, the two implemented a Smokey Bear Poster Contest that reached five different schools in Winning poster on display. the area. This amounted to over on the poster. The winner was fifty entries. A winner from each of awarded a plaque, a t-shirt with the schools was chosen, based on the prevention poster design, the prevention message portrayed and the poster is displayed in the home town community. Out of the five winners chosen, a grand prize winner was selected and the winning poster is currently displayed at the Mt. Tolman Fire Center.

The work Henry and Kim will accomplish is vital to the success of the Colville fire program. We welcome them and look forward Looking over poster entrees to what they can achieve for fire prevention in Indian Country.

Spreading the Smokey message! Prevention Page 13 • Promote public and personal Benefits of Ordering Native responsibility regarding fire prevention in the wildland/urban American Fire Prevention interface (FIREWISE); • Assist Incident Management ~Teams Marco Minjarez, Fort Apache Fire Prevention Specialist Teams in accomplishing their objectives in working with the I remember going to work as a public to develop fire protection member of a hotshot crew who had Local fire managers should consider plans; been dispatched to a “fire assignment”. the use of FPET well before periods of • Promote “WeTip” program during Everyone was excited. severe burning conditions or unusually periods of increased arson activity. high fire occurrence are being “How large is the fire?” I asked. experienced. In general, FPETs should I have worked with fire prevention be activated long before the worst for five years. It took a while “There is no fire,” I was told, “we’ll be case scenario occurs. The Regional to reprogram my brain to think on standby!” WUI/Prevention Specialists must proactively instead of just being be consulted in the decision making reactive. I had to train myself to think I remember sitting around and waiting process. In addition, the processing in terms of prevention instead of only for fires to start, yet there was no of a request for a national FPET must thinking about suppression. lightning predicted. We were waiting be coordinated by the Regional WUI for a human-cause fires? I never did Prevention Specialist. Something else to consider is that the see a Fire Prevention Team. hotshot crew cost $24 – $25 thousand Using personnel that are dollars for two weeks. The cost of four Fortunately the use of Fire Prevention knowledgeable about the Native prevention team members runs around Education Teams (FPET) has grown in American value system as well as four thousand dollars for the same two recent years. An FPET may provide cultural aspects are beneficial when weeks. skilled and mobile personnel for fire the need for a prevention team prevention and education activities. arises in Indian Country. The exact I’ve found that it is pretty difficult They can be ordered to support a makeup of FPETs depends upon local to measure the successes of our variety of situations affecting large needs. Typical teams consist of a prevention programs. How many fires or small geographic areas. An FPET Team Leader, Public Affairs Officer, have we prevented? How many homes may be requested at the local (or Prevention Specialist(s), and optional have we saved? I remember asking zone), state, region, or national levels trainee or other team members as the this question to a veteran prevention depending on the availability of those situation dictates. The number of specialist, and she said “Just say we qualified to fill the request. Teams are members on the team depends on the prevented all of them, plus the one that effective in the reduction of unwanted work to be performed. didn’t burn down the whole forest!” human-caused wildland ignitions under the following conditions: FPETs can be used for both specific All I have to do is look to the west side prevention work (such as supporting of my reservation where the Rodeo- • When wildland severity conditions arson investigation/prevention) or Chediski fire burned and to remember are imminent; for general prevention work during how it looked before the fire. I also • when unusually high fire periods of elevated workload. remember how many people it took to occurrence is anticipated due put out that fire. The Rodeo Fire was to human activity, weather Specifically, FPETs can: started by a person that had started • conditions, or hazardous fuels Document, illustrate and fires in the same area previously but conditions; communicate the severity of the those fires were never investigated. If • when an above normal incidence situation; we had fire investigators, the Rodeo • of human caused fires exists; facilitate community awareness may never have been started. The • when a unit is experiencing high and education in fire prevention Chedeski was started by a person that arson occurrence; and prescribed burning; was in a closed area. For the cost of • • when local fire resources are coordinate announcement of sign materials we could have avoided low due to high fire activity or interagency restrictions and the loss of more than 400 homes. The assignments out of the local area. closures; total cost of suppressing these fires • coordinate and/or develop fire was more than $4 million dollars. I Prevention teams are designed prevention campaigns for special have lost almost half my reservation to supplement, not replace, local target groups, tribal, state and due to human-caused fires. Don’t let prevention and education program local agencies, and elected this happen to you. Prevention works! efforts on a short term basis. officials; Prevention Page 14 Wildfire Awareness Week ~ Val Christianson, Fire Prevention/Investigation Coordinator, Western/Navajo/Southwest BIA Regions March 29-April 4, 2009

The spring winds have arrived and with a below average snowfall and rain accumulation this winter for much of the entire Southwest, this could mean one very possible thing: the increased risk of wildfire throughout our rural communities.The Governor of Arizona will proclaim March 29-April 4 as ‘Wildfire Awareness Week’. The purpose of this week will be for all of the land management agencies, along with the County and State Fire Marshall’s Office, to encourage the vigilance for home and property owners in being proactive in protecting these values from the very real threat of wildfire. Some very basic mitigation measures property owners can take to safeguard their values-at-risk include (but are certainly not limited to):

1. Clean your roofs, gutters, 7. Remember which direction downspouts and porches your prevailing winds come from completely clear of all loose on your property and move your For AZ/NM Fire Restrictions, call debris, stack/piles of firewood to the toll-free 1-877-864-6985. downwind direction from your For fire information for Arizona, go 2. Trim away all vegetation that dwelling. Most of our winds in to www.azfireinfo.com overhangs your roof, patio and the Spring in Arizona are out of porches, the southwest, For more fire restriction information, go to www.publiclands.org/firenews/ AZ.php 3. If possible, remove all 8. Clean all overhanging vegetation from around any vegetation within the close For more wildfire prevention proximity of your dwellings that utility lines and clean all loose information, go to www.firewise.org could carry a flame into these vegetation from underneath these dwellings. if not possible, prune lines. BE CAREFUL! If there up your trees and shrubs so they is any question as to vegetation From the ‘Southwest Area near your power lines, CALL (Interagency) Wildfire Prevention- cannot carry a flame from the Information Committee’ ground (ladder fuels). your Rural Electric Association (REA) Cooperative staff and ask Lady Astor: “Winston, if I were your 4. Rake all of the down needles for advice, wife I’d put poison in your coffee.” and leaves that have accumulated over the winter downwind and 9. Keep all loose debris and Winston: “Nancy, if I were your away from your dwellings, vegetation away from any gas, husband I’d drink it.” fuels or solvents on your property, Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan’s The 5. Obey all open-burning rules 10. Have evacuation plans Glitter and the Gold she writes that and regulations that the County the exchange occurred at Blenheim Fire Marshall or County Sheriff rehearsed and valuables gathered when her son was host. may have in place. ALWAYS should you need to leave your call them before you do any open property in the face of an See the American edition of Martin burning on your property and oncoming fire front. Gilbert’s In Search of Churchill notify your downwind neighbors (not in the British edition). In that you are going to burn as well, 11. For more information as Nancy: The Life of Lady Astor, to how to better protect your Christopher Sykes confirms property from the threat of Consuelo Balsan’s account. “It 6. When you do controlled sounds like an invention but is well burning on your property, keep wildfire, call your local County authenticated. [Churchill] and the your piles small, away from other or your County Astors were staying with Churchill’s surface and aerial fuels, have Cooperative Extension Agent. cousin, the Duke of Marlborough, loose soil and a sturdy shovel, at Blenheim Palace. Nancy and and available water to control the Churchill argued ferociously burn. THIS IS CRUCIAL! throughout the weekend.” Blacksnake Page 15 such tribulations Blacksnake’s for Indian Corner people. ~ Walt Lara - Yurok Forestry Grandma Josie I have always been taught to respect was known for the forces of nature. I believe her sun-dried that those who work effectively in surf fish, as well forest fire management understand as other sea this concept. I also believe that foods that she this understanding comes from our could preserve experiences and the teachings of our or prepare. ancestors. There were My Grandmother, Josie, who has always friends been the biggest influence in my and family life, came from the village of Espeu, that would known today as Gold Bluffs located travel from the in the California State Park along the Klamath river Pacific Coast. Miners had pretty much or Hoopa to infiltrated the Pacific North Coast in trade for a suit their quest for gold during the turn of case or gunny the century. Espeu became a target for sack full of her their greed. specialties. At eight years old my Grandmother There was so Walt’s Grandmother Josie. and her immediate family were much knowledge and history of the she timed her burns just before given one day to vacate the village. Yurok People that my Grandmother the rain. I think she watched the Grandma Josie remembers trading the shared. Stories that would make you weather, forgot she was seventy- miners pieces of gold nuggets that she laugh and cry at the same time. I think eight years old, and her feelings of had picked-up along the beach, for about how hard she worked and it stewardship to the hillside took over. bread. Grandma Josie and her family always brings a smile to my face. She probably thought that the hunting traveled south to Chapek, where the trip might last two or more days. other side of her family lived. Once in the fall of the year, when I Because she had often preformed this was eleven years old, my Grandfather duty, (I might add it was one that she Chapek village crested Stone Lagoon and I were returning from our hunting loved), she never imagined it would and during high tides the ocean water trip. As we made the turn around get away from her. flowed over into the lagoon. This is a mountain, about three miles from where she grew up. Later, she and Oosamich, we noticed smoke that was By the time we reached the hillside my Grandfather raised five children fast and furiously bubbling ahead. it was out of control. My Grandma’s at Oosamich which was across the body moved quickly while motioning lagoon from Chapek. “Oh boy, she’s a burnin’ again!” my us to park out of the way of the fire. Grandpa said as we raced up the beach For someone who was so soft spoken Oosamich overlooked Freshwater and toward home. That little 1936 Five in three languages, she seemed to Stone Lagoons. It was a traditional Window Coop, was just’a rattling up command orders quite loudly. My hunting area that had a hole, 6’ deep by the road. Grandmother stood alone watching 8’ diameter, dug by my Grandmother’s the blaze. Her long skirt, hands and people when she was young. The I knew in an instant what my face were covered in soot. Only the perimeter of the hole was covered Grandmother had done. She would sparkle of her beaming eyes shone. I with brush. When they hunted, they light the long stocks of a hollow could not even see the hundred-and- would run the elk down a v-shaped weed on the flower end, place it in the eleven tattoo that she wore with such brush shoot into this pit and then use under brush and gently blow down the pride on her chin. their bows and arrows to kill the elk. stock. With the help of my cousins, Although not nearly as deep, the pit is grandfather, and myself, these burns The north wind kept the blaze held still there today. were always managed pretty well. to the rocky bluff that day. It burned out on it’s own. I don’t think my My Grandparents had always planted My Grandmother had always looked Grandmother was afraid for one gardens, grains for the animals, raised forward to burning season. She said minute. livestock, fished daily and had deer it was a tool for renewal for the meat since the deer would raid the oat livestock, wildlife, gardens, herbs, and I often question whether or not she fields on occasion. So by the time I gathering materials, and to clean out had planned it that way. However, came along, my Grandparents were the underbrush in case of lightning the forces of nature she respected so quite good at survival during a time of storms. It was always uncanny how much seemed to work with her. 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 Please start submitting articles for the next issue of Smoke Signals as soon as you can! Thank you! BIA/NIFC Old Administration Building 3833 So. Development Ave. Boise, ID 83705-5354 Attn: Smoke Signals

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