June 2007 Smoke Signals Volume 6 Table of Contents Welcome to Firefighter Bootcamp

Administration...... 3 ~ The Sycuan Rookie Training Budget...... 6 Model Dave Koch, NIFC Fire Use/Fuels...... 7 ~ Planning...... 9 Prevention...... 11 Training...... 14 Blacksnakes Corner.15 Publishers & Info...Back

Sycuan Academy included helicopter operations training. ~ Photo Gary G. Ballard It’s Sunday afternoon and firefighter who quickly inspects the disheveled students recruits slowly assemble at the academy and indoctrinates them with academy barracks. They come from various parts of philosophy, expectations, procedures, and the country, representing diverse cultural logistics. (Chief Murphy implemented his and economic backgrounds. All have one academy vision 10 years ago.) thing in common: to experience a firefighter rookie training program unlike anything else The next order of business is gear issuance, in the country. There are a lot of unknowns. the shaving of heads (yes, it all comes off), Mysterious stories about past academies and the first round of physical training flow from one student to the next. Nervous for the day. Each academy day begins at anticipation builds. 5:00am with intense physical training as the first order of business. The recruits do At 1400, students are prodded to attention PT twice a day, sometime more. Those by the barking of instructions from former that last the entire 21 days can expect to be Marine Corps drill instructors (DIs). stronger, faster, and have more endurance Students quickly form two lines as the DIs’ than they’ve ever had. There is a physical order them to stand at attention. They are transformation that takes place with these introduced to the founder of the Academy, recruits. former Marine Corp Sergeant and Chief of the Sycuan Hank Murphy During the academy, there is little time for entertainment. Recruits are generally Cover Page 2 When students graduate, the prospect of being placed into seasonal fire positions with the Sycuan Tribe or other fire programs is very good. Of the 23 graduating in 2007, all were placed. Batallion Chief Ray Ruiz, Sr. is the Director of Training Operations at Sycuan and Superintendent of the Golden Eagles Interagency . Says Chief Ruiz: “The mission at the Sycuan Training Center is to Sycuan Academy students back row l to r: J. Diaz, J. Ordonez, K. Milstaed, G. McClellan, D. Mylar, J. Benham, B. Drake, M. Flores, B. Watte, C. Warfel, F. Ulrich, K. Pardi. Front Row l to r: develop future leaders. Our R. Rosenthal, J. Davis, P. Brass, S. Hays, A. Santana, C. Rivera, M. Ruiz, E. Castro, B. Jean, J. academy is unique. Not Vervelde, and Capt. Juan Mendez. ~ Photo Gary G. Ballard everyone agrees with our exhausted by the end of the day. Sleep and supervise every aspect of their rookie training tactics, but is all they think about. Their dreams lives at the academy. Recruits learn the fruits of our labor are evidenced are either filled with thoughts of home- quickly that there are “consequences” by the personal transformation that cooked food or, nightmarish images of for their actions, something that they often occurs in the recruits. We being chased by fire, drill instructors, may not have experienced in their seek to provide them a foundation of or chaparral vegetation sporting upbringing. It is strict enforcement discipline, respect, duty, and service vindictive smiles and poorly matched of rules, adherence to protocol, and to the public that will not only benefit outfits purchased at Wal-Mart (well, discipline that sets the Sycuan fire them in their fire careers, but in their maybe not that last part). academy apart from other firefighter personal lives, regardless of the career programs. path they take.” Recruits learn how to work with engines and construct progressive The success of the Sycuan Wildland APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Fire Academy can also be partially hoselays; they learn how to construct The Sycuan Wildland Fire Academy fireline and conduct burnouts; they explained by its ability to dismiss recruits with attitude problems, lack of holds yearly academies between the work with helicopters and sling loads; months of April and June. Interested and they experience coyote tactics, line motivation, inability to work in a team environment, or inability to perform individuals should contact the spikes, and night operations. department at the following address: physical job requirements. While The BIA-Sycuan Fire Fighting they do not subscribe to a “no child SYCUAN FIRE DEPARTMENT Academy is a joint effort between the left behind” philosophy, they do not 5449 Sycuan Way Sycuan Fire Department, the Sycuan take pride in removing recruits from El Cajon, California 92019 Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, and the the program. Every effort is made to Phone: (619) 445-2893 Bureau of Indian affairs. It is a 21-day develop recruits while complying with Marine Corps style “boot camp” for mandatory minimum standards. Applicants must be 18 years of age entry-level firefighter certification and or older, have a high school diploma job placement. Recruits complete the following or equivalent, be in good physical training while at the academy: S-110, conditioning, and have a positive “can The strength of the Sycuan Wildland Basic Wildland Fire Orientation; do” attitude. Fire Academy lies in the blending S-130, Firefighter Training; of two successful organizations. In S-133, Look Up, Look Marine Corps boot camp, as well as Down, Look Around; S-190 in the Sycuan Academy program, Introduction to Wildland Fire recruits learn how to be followers first, Behavior; I-100 Introduction and leaders second. The Sycuan Fire to ICS; S-211 Portable Department believes that in order to Pumps and Water Use; S- be an effective leader, one must be 212, Wildland Fire Chain an effective follower. When recruits Saws; S-271, Helicopter enter the Marine Corps (or the Sycuan Crewmember; and 16 hours Wildland Fire Academy) they learn of basic first aid and CPR quickly how to receive and follow training. Each academy orders. graduate is entered into the Incident Qualifications and Former Marine Corps DIs (drill Certification System IQCS. Sycuan Academy students instructors) are assigned to the recruits ~ Photo Gary G. Ballard Administration Page 3 achievements are quite lengthy and notable; they speak to the heart and integrity of him has an individual. As Chief Forester in Washington, D.C., Arch was instrumental in monitoring Indian issues and providing “heads-up” to the ITC Executive Committee. He battled with the Administration to protect, highlight and enhance Indian sovereignty, elevated awareness of tribal issues, and nurtured government-to-government consultation. Arch’s impacts on Indian forestry and wildland fire management were extensive and varied, including: • Established an indefinite Dirk Kempthorn, Secretary of the Interior and Arch Wells, Deputy Director of Trust Intergovernmental Personnel Services, BIA ~ Photo Tami Heileman, DOI Action (IPA) for the ITC Technical Specialist (Don Motanic) Arch Wells Retiring • Ensured the BIA was involved in the early stages of the National ~ Bodie Shaw, BIA-NIFC Fire Plan (he has continued to push Arch Wells, Deputy Director of Science degree in Natural Resources for BIA and tribal interests as a Trust Services, BIA, Washington Management with a minor in Geology member of WFLC) DC will retire July 1, 2007. A native from Marietta College (1973). • Monitored and shepherded the of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Wells Arch and his wife Sharon, also a evolution of Trust Asset Accounting served previously as the acting Bureau of Indian Affairs employee, and Management System (TAAMS) Regional Director for the BIA’s live in Washington, D.C., however, and its impacts on Indian Forestry Southwest Region in Albuquerque, upon retirement; both will reside in • Oversaw the move of the Branch New Mexico, beginning in 2002. Albuquerque, New Mexico. of Forest Resources and Planning His former positions also include (BOFRP) from Portland, Oregon to Trust Resources Protection Manager, Arch Wells was appointed acting Lakewood, Colorado Southwest Region, BIA (2000-2002), Bureau Deputy Director, Office of • Served as a member of the US BIA Chief Forester, Washington DC Trust Services (OTS) for the Bureau Forest Service’s “Tribal Relations (1995-2000), BIA Forest Development of Indian Affairs (BIA) in 2004. As the Task Force” Forester, Washington DC (1993-1994), Bureau Deputy Director, he has been • Participated as a BIA representative BIA Natural Resources Manager, responsible for all activities associated in the US Forest Service sponsored San Carlos Apache Agency, Arizona with management and protection “Sustainable Forestry Roundtable” (1991-1993), BIA Forest Development of Trust and restricted lands. This • Expanded the Forestry Cooperative and Management Planning Forester, protection involves the oversight of Education program to include over Western Regional Office, Phoenix, national programs that include forestry 20 students nationally Arizona (1984-1991), BIA Forester, and wildland fire management, • Regularly worked on ITC issues as Hoopa Agency, California (1979- probate, safety of dams, irrigation presented by the ITC board 1984), and served in the Peace Corps, and power systems, energy resources, • Developed and enhanced the BIA’s Colombia, South America (1976- land, title and records, minerals relationship with Haskell Indian 1978). management, and fisheries, wildlife Nations University (Lawrence, and parks. Kansas) in regards to promoting Wells earned his Master of Science native student involvement in degree in Natural Resources Mr. Wells will always be remembered the natural resources field for the Management from the University for the noteworthy achievements he National Center for Cooperative of Michigan at Ann Arbor (1976), a has made for the benefit of Indian Education program. Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry people and their natural resources; from University of Michigan at Ann all told, a federal career that has For the past three years as acting Arbor (1974), and a Bachelor of spanned over 30 years. Arch Wells’ Deputy Bureau Director OTS, Arch Administration Page 4 has continued to be a strong advocate Arch was instrumental in the ever- Today we are seeing some of the fruits for the Indian forestry and wildland evolving relationship between the ITC of his labor with the establishment of fire management programs. He has and tribes with respect to operations the US Forest Service “Office of Tribal been a tireless ambassador for the involving the US Forest Service. Mr. Relations”. programs in numerous forums such Wells continually strove to help the as: Wildland Fire Leadership Council US Forest Service understand that Wells is the 2007 winner of the “Earle (WFLC), the new Fire Executive they also had a Trust responsibility R. Wilcox Forester at Large Award”. Council, the Trust Executive Steering and that government-to-government Congradulations to Arch on both his Committee, BIA’s Senior Managers consultation was not the same as retirement and this prestigeous award! Meetings and at various tribal sessions public forums for the general public. and forums. Arch’s career is marked with Kempthorne and Johanns situations where his presence resulted in improvements to the agency or Thank International agencies under his jurisdiction. From his days as a regional forest Partners for Aid in development officer, where he regularly assisted agencies in the 2006 development and implementation of ~ Shane Wolfe , DOI their programs and accomplishments, to his participation in national policy development, he always produced measurable results. He participated in writing the report “Native American Woodland Resources: A National Overview”, which is still in use today. As a silviculturist, Arch supported the Tri-Regional Education in Ecology and Silviculture Education by participating as a BIA certification team member and facilitating internal bureau prescription reviews prior to the official certification review. This process was critical for the silviculturists’ preparation for certification, and enhanced the success Participants in the appreciation reception included, from left, Merrill Saleen, of the deliverable program to Indian Fire Operations Officer with the Bureau of Land Management; New Zealand County. Ambassador Roy Ferguson; Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne; Australian Ambassador Dennis Richardson; Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan; Arch’s leadership has benefited Canadian Deputy Chief of Mission Claude Carriere; New Zealand Minister of Trade Negotiations Phil Goff; Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns; Bodie Shaw, many forestry and fire programs as Deputy Director, Wildland Fire Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs; Jeffrey Stern, well as producing future program Secretary Kempthorne’s White House Fellow and former wildland firefighter and leaders throughout Indian Country. battalion in Colorado. ~ Photo amiT Heileman, DOI From a programmatic perspective, as the Phoenix Area (Western Region) WASHINGTON –Secretary of and Mexico – and our close allies from Forest Development Officer, and the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and across the Pacific – Australia and New Chief Forester, Mr. Wells’ was Secretary of Agriculture Mike Zealand – deserve our special thanks uncompromising when it came to Johanns today formally thanked for their cooperation and their help.” excellence in the silviculture, forest the ambassadors of Australia, New management, inventory and planning, Zealand, Mexico, and Canada for “Our wildfire collaboration is an woodlands management and integrated their nations’ assistance last summer, important partnership,” said Secretary resource management planning. when they dispatched hundreds of Johanns. “We are grateful to the their wildland firefighters to help firefighters from Australia, Canada, Maybe Arch’s strongest characteristic quell forest and rangeland fires in the Mexico and New Zealand who last was his tenacity and ability to see western United States. year stood shoulder-to-shoulder with through bureaucratic rhetoric. He our firefighters on the fireline. I’m was instrumental in elevating ITC’s “Through our mutual exchange confident that I speak on behalf of exposure to the level of the Assistant of firefighters, information and USDA and indeed all Americans, when Secretary of Indian Affairs and the technologies, we strengthen the I say thank you to our international necessary exposure to get Indian issues capabilities of our nations to meet the firefighting partners.” on the federal radar screen. formidable challenges of wildland fire management,” Secretary Kempthorne Representing their respective nations said. “Our closest neighbors – Canada were Australian Ambassador Dennis Administration Page 5 Richardson, New Zealand Ambassador CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA Roy Ferguson, Mexican Ambassador - Secretary of the Interior Dirk Crew Arturo Sarukhan and Canadian Deputy Kempthorne today in Canberra, Chief of Mission Claude Carriere. Australia, met and personally thanked Assistance Australian firefighters who recently In the 2006 fire season, the four nations sent several hundred traveled to the United States to assist Opportunities firefighters to assist the United States U.S. firefighters in battling wildland in battling wildland fires in the West. fires in the West. Kempthorne, on Incidents joined by U.S. Ambassador Robert ~ Jan Everett, HRSP Program Manager, The Departments of Interior and USFS ~ Northern Rockies Agriculture, through the National McCallum, expressed appreciation Interagency Fire Center, also send to Neil Cooper, Hilton Taylor and Human Resource Specialist firefighters to help fight wildland fires David Ingram during a meeting at the (HRSP) Position in these countries. Ambassador’s Residence at the U.S. Embassy in the Australian capital city. The HRSP is available on Incidents to During the official reception at the provide a point of contact for incident Interior Department, Kempthorne and In 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2006, personnel to discuss human resource Johanns presented the ambassadors Australian firefighters were deployed concerns. They act as a neutral party with chrome-plated pulaskis, a to assist their U.S. counterparts and make a concerted effort to involve firefighting tool, and engraved plaques, in suppressing wildland fires in the appropriate incident personnel expressing the nation’s thanks. to resolve issues informally, quickly, Colorado, California, Washington, legally, and at the lowest impacted Oregon, Montana and Idaho. In 2006, level. The HRSP will: Secretary 114 American firefighters from the National Interagency Fire Center in • Listen with full attention Boise, Idaho, reciprocated, assisting • Determine the extent of the issue Kempthorne Australian counterparts in firefighting • Determine who needs to be efforts in the state of Victoria. The involved in problem resolution Thanks exchange of firefighters is a result of • Engage in basic fact finding a cooperation agreement between the • Facilitate the problem resolution Australian U.S. Department of the Interior, the process U.S. Department of Agriculture and Firefighters A HRSP can help crews or individuals participating Australian fire agencies. with a variety of issues and problems including: for Assistance “These men and women who traveled from Australia to the United States • Family/Personal emergencies in Battling U.S. to assist our firefighting efforts • Conflict/Lack of Mutual Respect deserve our thanks for risking their • Conduct issues/problems WildFires lives with such bravery and such • Facilitate problem resolution ~ Chris Paolino , DOI professionalism,” Kempthorne said. • Initial Defusing process “This cooperation in firefighting is for Critical Incident Stress just one example of the close U.S.- Management (CISM) and if Australia relationship that so often required, CISM Liaison results in the United States and • Liaison (resource ordering, Australia standing side-by-side.” logistical support, coordinating, liaison between crews and CISM Kempthorne is leading a Presidential Clinician) for success of CISM process Delegation to Australia to commemorate the 65th anniversary of The HRSP is available to assist crews the Battle of the Coral Sea. or individuals with Human Resource Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne thanks Australian related training. They can provide firefighters Neil Cooper, Hilton Taylor Mutual Respect training or they and David Ingram who recently “Good people do not need laws can inbrief crews with information traveled to the United States to assist of Incident Management Team U.S. firefighters in battling wildland to tell them to act responsibly, expectations. fires in the West. Kempthorne, joined by U.S. Ambassador Robert while bad people will find a McCallum, expresses appreciation at way around the laws.” The HRSP’s are on Incidents to assist a May 4 meeting at the Ambassador’s you with your Human Resource Residence, U.S. Embassy, Canberra, issues, questions, and concerns. Be Australia. ~ Plato (427 ~ 347 B.C.) sure to ask for their assistance. ~ Photo DOI Budget Page 6 reimbursement from FEMA are storms already predicted for the 2007 All-Risk to credit the funds to the correct season, with 3 –5 possibly becoming appropriation. Each Federal agency major hurricanes. Assistance involved is responsible for: ~ Gini Broyles and Maggie Moran, Here are some administrative BIA-NIFC • Maintaining documentation to support requests for reminders for the times we are called First Response to a disaster is the job reimbursement; upon to assist: of local government’s emergency services with help from nearby • Notifying FEMA when a task is Establishment of All-risk Incident: municipalities, the state, and volunteer completed; The BIA-NIFC Budget Management agencies. In a catastrophic disaster, Section is responsible for providing and, if the governor requests, federal ◊ Submitting partial or final administrative direction for “all- resources can be mobilized through reimbursement requests within risk” events through memorandum the U.S. Department of Homeland 90 days of completing a task. to the Regional Directors. Budget Security’s Federal Emergency Management will establish appropriate Management Agency (FEMA). Those ◊ Applying proper financial accounting strings which must be requests are for search and rescue, principles, policies, regulations, obtained prior to dispatching any electrical power, food, water, shelter management, and internal resources. The Budget Management and other basic human needs. controls to ensure full Section works very closely with our accountability for the expenditure GACC interagency personnel to gain It is the long-term “Recovery” phase of DRF funds. critical information regarding the of a disaster which places the most st disaster. That information will aid severe financial strain on a local or June 1 marks the official start of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. The in the timely and accurate set up of state government. Damage to public accounts. All costs must be tracked facilities and infrastructure, often not National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is “predicting by mission assignment. It is very insured, can overwhelm even a large important to work as a team to ensure city. a 75 percent chance that the Atlantic hurricane season will be above all parties have the correct information normal”. With the start of the Correcting errors that could have been A major disaster could be the result of prevented doubles our work load. a hurricane, an earthquake, a flood, a hurricane season NOAA recommends tornado or a major fire in which case that those in hurricane-prone regions have preparation plans in place and Resource Order(s): Obtain a copy the President makes a determination of your resource order. The Resource regarding supplemental federal aid. keep a close eye on weather conditions as they develop in your regions. If order proves the single resource was The event must be clearly more than mobilized to an all-risk incident. A state or local governments can handle your area is under a hurricane watch or warning you can obtain detailed crew manifest is required if a crew alone. If declared, funding comes is mobilized. These supporting from the President’s Disaster Relief weather information on the NOAA web site at http://www.noaa.gov. documents are required by FEMA Fund (DRF), which is managed and are to be e-mailed, faxed or by FEMA, as well as disaster aid The Associated Press pinpointed sent via snail mail to NIFC Budget programs of other participating federal Management. The resource order agencies. five of the most vulnerable coastal spots: Galveston, Texas; Miami, also provides Budget Management Other Federal agencies providing Florida; New York City, New York; personnel with the Mission disaster assistance under their own Lake Okeechobee, Florida; and the Assignment number for billing authorities independent of the Stafford Outer Banks, North Carolina. NOAA purposes which is very important for Act are to use their own funding. experts have selected 13 to 17 named reimbursement. Federal agencies providing assistance under the Stafford Act via mission assignments may seek reimbursement from FEMA for eligible costs incurred during performance of the mission. Federal agencies receiving Budget Page 7 Purchase Card Log(s): It is questions coding time during an all- Have a safe 2007 hurricane season! imperative that purchase card risk incident. holders use the purchase card log Point of Contact Information that is in the Incident Business Supporting Documentation: Maggie Moran, Management Handbook (NWCG The best policy is to send all BIA NIFC Budget Officer HB2, Tool Kit Page 32 of 33). documentation regarding an all- 208.387.5932 A charge card statement is not risk assignment to the BIA-NIFC 208.869.1037 required if a complete purchase Budget Management section. This [email protected] card log is submitted as supporting may include a resource order, travel [email protected] documentation. FEMA requires authorization, travel voucher, purchase that each purchase be itemized and card log, cell phone bill documents, Rufina Villicana, the purchase card log satisfies this and purchase authority documents. It Senior Budget Analyst requirement. Please keep all receipts is better to have too much information 208.387.5862 in case FEMA or their many auditors than not enough! [email protected] request to see items purchased. [email protected] “Talent does what it can; genius Payroll Coding: Remember, payroll does what it must.” Gini Broyles, hours code 113 is not allowed on all- Budget Analyst risk incidents. Holiday code 050 is 208.387.5346 also not allowed. Holiday worked ~ Edward George Bulwer-Lytton [email protected] code 051 is allowable. Please call (1803 ~ 1873) [email protected] BIA-NIFC Budget if you have any

and to Mark Schaff, Spokane Fuels The second day included a GIS, for work done at the Pacific presentation by Joe Scott, one of the Northwest Coordination Center authors of “Standard Fire Behavior during last summer’s NW wildfire Fuel Models: A Comprehensive season. Presentations started with Set for Use of Rothermel’s Surface Fuels a LANDFIRE Overview by Jeff Fire Spread Model” (Scott, Joe H. Jones, one of the LF gurus. This & Burgan, Robert E., June 2005). was followed by a presentation by He explained how these additional Northwest Eric Geisler, Fuels Specialist, Coeur fuel model calculations were derived d’Alene Tribe, entitled “Coeur and how they were designed to Regional d’Alene Risk Assessment & Project augment, not replace, the original Prioritization”. (Covered in the Sept, Anderson 13 Fuel Models. Also, Office Fuels 06 Smoke Signals edition, Cooperative three different presentations were Fuels Treatment Prioritization Project, done on BEHAVE + 3.0.3. These Workshop pg 9). This project is a wall to wall included an overview by Patricia risk assessment for all lands within Andrews, Fire Behavior Research Recap the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Reservation Scientist; fuel model assumptions and ~ Gene Lonning, NW Regional Fuels boundaries including other federal, interpretation in BEHAVE + by W. Specialist state, private & private commercial Matt Jolly, Research Scientist; both at During the week of January 9-11, the lands. This assessment was over two the Missoula Fire Sciences Lab and a Northwest Region conducted a Fuels years in the making and will be used to contingency example using BEHAVE Workshop at the Coeur d’Alene Casino validate and update a multi-year fuels + by Tobin Kelley, AFMO. Both in Worley, Idaho. At one point, there project plan schedule. Patricia Andrews and W. Matt Jolly are were over 60 folks in attendance. This draw was largely due to presentations on the new 40 fuel models and BEHAVE + 3.0.3 which took up most of the second day of the workshop.

Highlights from the first day included award presentations to seven of the nine major fuels programs within the region for exceeding FY06 fuels targets, six fuels program L to R: Gene Lonning presents awards for outstanding fuels program work; Scott leads for outstanding fuels program Rodgers, Colville; Brent Demko, Yakama; Tim Droegmiller, Nez Perce; Eric Geisler, Coeur D’Alene; Kevin Ritzer, Spokane; and Darrell Clairemont, Confederated Salish work over the past several years and Kootenai Tribes Fuels Page 8 from the Missoula Fire Sciences Lab then develop a multi-year (hopefully and Tobin Kelley is on detail to the five years out), prioritized project Lab. (For their contact information, plan. (Note: this meets the NFP goal call Gene Lonning at the NW Region, of project prioritization and explains 503-231-2175). the methodology for developing the priorities that should stand up to Other main topics for the workshop an outside audit.) There were also included a discussion on the plan to presentations by the National and NW use LANDFIRE data and develop Tri-Regional (Alaska, NW and Rocky a risk assessment for the Spokane Mountain) Monitoring Leads, Mary Reservation. The intent is to develop Taber and Karrie Stevens respectively, this as a cookbook process that can on expectations for monitoring. The Kim Kelly, Pacific Northwest be duplicated on other reservations goal is that the NW reservations will Coordination Center thanks Mark Schaff for his contributions during last year’s where LANDFIRE data is completed have monitoring plans in place within fire season. and available. From this risk one to two years. assessment, the Spokane folks will for tribal crews and resources to Forester’s assist with management activities on neighboring national forests. Tribes Log: Sawing can recommend projects that will protect their interests on public lands. into the If the funding is available, they can non-competitively contract with the Tribal Forest agency to complete the work. Protection Act For this first project, our Tribal ~ © Mary Stuever, Assistant Tribal Manager, Chairman sent a letter to the Apache- White Mountain Apache Tribe Sitgreaves Forest Supervisor “It’s pretty clear from the majority of recommending that we partner stumps out there, that the sawyers on together to protect the newly your crew know what they are doing,” constructed boundary fence between the Forest Service contract inspector the reservation and the forest located tells me. There is a story in every in the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski burn. stump, told from the holding wood, the The towering dead pine trunks were face cut, and the back cut. The stump rotting and falling on the new fence tells of experience, knowledge, care, at alarming rates. Clearly the trees and skill. In the area we are discussing needed to be put on the ground to the challenges of cutting the dead protect the fence. The Forest Service the Forest Service side, which did not standing trees are complex. agreed and found some funds to start have a post-fire salvage sale, many the first 21 miles of the project. The trees were quite large and challenging. tribe provided funds for the reservation The wood, which for the most part side of the fence, but because of has been dead for four to five years, salvage logging done right after the was often rotten complicating its fire, the number and size of trees on interaction with the teeth on the saw’s the tribe’s side were smaller. chain and the holding wood’s ability to guide the timing and direction of tree’s The contract was signed last fall, fall. but winter snows kept the crews out of the woods. As soon as the roads The sawyers have a mix of experience, dried out, tribal saw crews spent a including working as loggers and These tribal sawyers are working week completing the nine miles not advanced fire fighters. Rated by on our first Forest Service project restricted by Mexican Spotted Owl firefighting standards based on contracted under the 2004 Tribal activity. field tests, “A” sawyers are novices Forest Protection Act (TFPA). The who have size limitations and need act was passed in response to several Any dead tree within a tree height of additional supervision, while “C” tragic southern California fires in the fence was cut down, as long as sawyers are “elite” saw wielders. For 2003. The legislation clears the way it could be safely accomplished. On this project, our crew included one Fuels Page 9 “C” sawyer, a few “A” sawyers, a projects and funding, they can develop sawyers. The crew leader explains that logger who hasn’t yet been classified, a simple plan, signed off by the line- he tries to keep our “A” sawyers on but the majority fell in the “B” sawyer officer and the tribal forest manager, the reservation side of the fence where category. The Forest Service also and put tribal employees on a project the trees are smaller and not as closely uses the same standards and safety with a minimum of paper-work. The spaced together. We all agree that guidelines for their saw work. employees remain on the tribal payroll, sawyer safety is our top concern, and but the costs are reimbursed to the that the contract is proceeding well, The tribal crew leader carefully tribe by the federal government. efficiently and in a safe manner. monitored the costs and kept accurate records, allowing the tribe to charge This win-win situation allows the tribe I can only hope it is the beginning of the Forest Service only for project- to focus on employee development, a long and active chapter of Forest related expenses. The crew follows and provide uninterrupted benefits Service and tribal cooperation. guidelines in the WMAT Tribal to employees, while allowing the Forestry Operations Plan, which Forest Service access to a work force includes OSHA job hazard mitigations, that can shrink and swell as project emergency procedures, and policies funds are available. Meanwhile, tribal that protect cultural resources, guide employees, who are also trained work ethics, and provide for a drug firefighters, are available to the forest and alcohol-free work environment. as initial attack wildfire resources. One The crew worked quickly and of the Forest Service’s objectives is to efficiently, determined to convince the expand tribal employees’ knowledge neighboring agency to learn to rely on of Forest Service operations, thus their expertise. increasing the opportunity for cooperation between the organizations. In additional to this first TFPA Continuing our discussion on stump The Forester’s Log is a monthly column contract, the tribe has recently signed stories, the Forest Service inspector written by Mary Stuever, Assistant Tribal a “Participatory Agreement” with the has noticed a few less-experienced Forest Manager for the White Mountain national forest which will allow the sawyers on the contract. We quickly Apache Tribe. Mary can be contacted at federal agency to utilize tribal forestry fess up, explaining that we are using [email protected]. employees on as “as-needed” basis. the contract work to provide some on- When the Forest Service identifies the-job training to less experienced

Planning Use of LANDFIRE Data in Wildland Fire Risk Long Term Assessments ~ John Barborinas, NIFC A fire weather and behavior long the Missoula Fire Lab (USFS) for require landscape data such as fuels term risk assessment was developed LANDFIRE data assistance. and topography as base layers. for the Ashley Lakes Fire in the FARSITE also exports GIS shape Mission Mountain Tribal Wilderness A long term assessment is used to files that can be easily used to create on the Flathead Indian Reservation determines the relative risk of a fire professional looking maps for reports in September of 2006. The fire was reaching identified values (such as and presentations. Until LANDFIRE managed by the fire management a structure or valuable resource) for data was available, acquiring the staff of the Confederated Salish and various time periods. The outputs data locally and converting it into Kootenai Tribes with assistance from assist in the development of strategy acceptable format was time consuming other federal, state, and local fire and tactics for managing the fire. and difficult when it was even personnel and equipment, including To help in projecting where the fire available. Since the summer of 2006, NOAA and NWS for short and is likely to move, fire simulation the Remote Sensing Applications long term weather forecasting, and models like FARSITE and FlamMap Group has transferred LANDFIRE Planning Page 10

Wildland Fire Projections Maps using two simulation models on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Description: FlamMap and FARSITE fire spread projections using LANDFIRE data layers: fuels, crown cover information, elevation, slope, and aspect. data onto DVDs with an easy to allows local fire managers to assess Data quality is the underlying theme use template in Arc GIS that allows modeled outputs and recommend of how effective all of these programs for quick conversion of data layer adjustments to help the Long Term will be in simulating fire spread and files into an acceptable format for Fire Behavior Analyst calibrate the risk assessment. Poor or inaccurate FARSITE and FlamMap. FARSITE model to actual conditions. data will lead to poor decision making The landscape data layers are used This information then can be used and ultimately fire professionals not in FARSITE to create a landscape to assist in making more permanent believing the outputs and thus, not file (.lcp) which is the basis for all revisions to the LANDFIRE data base using the data. A system that allows fire projections that are performed in at a later date. for timely updates of the LANDFIRE FARSITE and FlamMap. Additionally, database will help its usefulness and some data within certain layers, such Without the LANDFIRE data, fire appeal to the fire community. as fuels, can be easily changed in spread projections would have been the landscape file within FARSITE. done by hand on a topographic map. Acquiring the data layers to create For example, on the Ashley Lakes Detailed projections beyond a day the landscape file required in fire Fire, FARSITE was projecting fire or two get very time consuming spread prediction models has always spread high in the Mission Mountains when done manually resulting in less been a major challenge In Indian when local knowledge and aerial accurate longer term fire behavior Country. LANDFIRE data that is observations confirmed a lack of forecasting for fire managers. Hand readily accessible and reasonably spread in sparse fuels. The fuel model drawn maps are also less accurate and accurate allows for real time analysis within FARSITE was adjusted and not professional looking. and assessments of risk from active subsequent simulations were more fires. FARSITE enables the user to representative of actual spread. This LANDFIRE data is also being used in simulate fire behavior on the modeled allowed for more accurate outputs for the Fire Planning Analysis and the “FS landscape, make adjustments to the use by fire managers. Pro” fire spread probability system. data when errors or inaccuracies LANDFIRE data can also be used in are found to calibrate the computer This process of simulating fire spread fire spread projections for prescribed model with observed fire behavior. on the existing LANDFIRE data burn contingency planning as well. This results in more accurate risk Planning Page 11 assessments needed by superintendents If you would like assistance in contact BIA-NIFC: John Barborinas @ and other line officers when making using these products to assist in the 970 563-9483 or Rich McCrea @ 208 critical decisions for fire operations management of an existing problem 387-5558. and management teams. fire, or the planning of a future one,

Prevention slopes through the thick underbrush in Eastern Cherokee, North a box canyon near the homes needing Carolina Fire Department protection. The Cherokee Crew began first by Mutual Aid Assist, Saves yelling into the doorways for any residents then started setting up a Homes hasty structure triage for one home ~ Steve Swimmer, Prevention/Mitigation Eastern Cherokee Agency as directed by the incident IC. With the one-way egress now blocked off by the on coming traffic the engine crew had no choice but to engage whole heartedly. As one of the engine crewmember (Jonah Saunooke) opened up the valves all the way other crewmembers (AJ Bird, Wilson Oocumma, Tom Simons, Steve Smith, Sam Tiger, Aaron Williams and Captain Mernie Taylor) quickly started spraying down the structures and surrounding vegetation. To the amazement of the property owners this quick tactic seemed to be working as the fire front skirted around this property only to gain force heading to the next place on up the mountain. L to R; Volunteers AJ Bird, Wilson Oocumma, and Tom Simons. Cherokee Fire Department personnel Steve Smith, Sam Tiger, Aaron Williams and Chief Mernie However the danger was not over as Taylor. This command vehicle was on the fire. Firefighters formed a protection another ball of orange glow started squad that worked along side the engine to protect as many homes as possible. surfacing down the bottom of the Rural volunteer and other local fire voluntary fire departments to respond mountain. departments are the nation’s first line to the Grassy Branch Community to of defense against fire starts in the assist in an out of control wildland fire This time the property owners and wildland urban Interface (WUI) and occurring on very steep and densely bystanders could not hide their fear surrounding landscapes. The ability forested slopes just out of the town of local firefighters to contain a fire of Bryson City a township 20 miles incident through quick and efficient west of the Eastern Cherokee Indian initial response can dramatically reservation. reduce large – scale wildfire impacts to the public and to the environment. When the first Cherokee volunteers arrived at the fire, one of the incident On Sunday March 11, 2007 Cherokee commanders directed them to go on up Emergency Dispatch received such the narrow curvy road to help protect a call for assistance from the Bryson some very high dollar homes in harms City, North Carolina Fire Departments. way at the head of the fire. Flames The Pelohi cove area of the Grassy The call went out for any and all could be seen racing up the long steep Ridge community. Prevention Page 12 –control wildfire. Dry weather and windy conditions helped fuel the fire that Sunday in Swain County which burned several mountain ridges in the Pelohi cove area of the Grassy Ridge community, a residential area of 27 homes. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Editors Note: It may appear through the creativity of this writer that basic firefighter safety protocol had been compromised. However, this was not the case. In interviewing the Incident Commander and the author it was found that hazards had been properly identified, risks had been mitigated, and LCES was firmly in place Johan Saunooke, commanded this engine. throughout the incident. adding to the chaos the Cherokee Agency and the Cherokee Tribal crew had to face. The more department should be congratulated experienced crewmembers started for their partnerships in cooperative “Facts are the enemy of truth.” taking control and described exactly wildland fire training and incident what was about to happen. They command response. calmly instructed everyone as to the ~ Don Quixote situation at hand and the strategy for The destruction of nine homes and 200 “Man of La Mancha” survival. They told them by the looks acres near Bryson city demonstrate the of things, there wasn’t much they disastrous consequences of an out-of could do except to get on the uphill side of the road and use the road as WeTip ~ For a Safer America protection as much as possible. The ~ Soledad Holguin, Fire Prevention Specialist crewmembers set up a water shower around their engine to help beat the heat back as the second front passed through the area. The bystanders could see the devastating effects of the same flame front just as it engulfed two houses on up the road.

The Cherokee crew couldn’t wait around for congratulations or a pat on the back as they hurried to pack up their hose. Just as they were about to roll on up to the next house a red dog raced out of one house and jumped into the cab of the fire-truck as they pulled out. And so it went, on into the night, home after home, after home with this lone red dog. This was only one story happening on that fire on that night, but it shows how important the basic Firewise concepts can be, both for home protection and for firefighter safety. Nine homes were lost that night, but thanks to the quick thinking Back row L to R: Sue Aguilar, WeTip CEO and Vice President; Jim Nanamkin, men of the Cherokee Fire department, Regional Fire Prevention Specialist, BIA, Pacific Region some were spared. The wildland fire Front row L to R: Dennis Kottmeier, WeTip President; Soledad, Holguin; Sue management staff of the Cherokee BIA Mandell, WeTip National Manager and Corporate Accounts Prevention Page 13 Wetip (Conference held April 26- presentation was on the subject of Team Leader, Long Term Fire 27, 2007) is a national nonprofit the partnership that BIA and WeTip Analyst, Division Group Supervisor, organization, staffing operators that have developed and how the arson Communication Unit Leader, take anonymous tips from all 50 states, hotline has become a valuable tool in Communication Technician, Crew Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Indian Country. The campaign efforts Representative, Trainee Operations WeTip takes a “total community encompass education, mitigation and Section Chief and Type 2 Burn Boss. involvement” approach to solving and prevention of wildland fires. The preventing crime. Wetip Arson reporting hotlines gives Lee has made certain to educate his the community “A Voice Against teams on the benefits and uses of the Jim Nanamkin, Regional Fire Crime” to anonymously provide WeTip Arson Hotline. He has invited Prevention Specialist and Soledad information to local law enforcement, WeTip personnel to several of his Holguin, Fire Prevention Specialist and wildland fire investigators. The region’s training meetings in many attended on behalf of the Bureau Wetip Arson reward on Indian trust of the Great Plains States to inform of Indian Affairs (BIA). The lands throughout the United States is his teams on how and why to use the $10,000. WeTip Hotline

Gary Hilton ~ Arson Investigator of WeTip National Statistics the Year Midwest and Eastern, Fire Prevention Tips Taken 454,659 Forester Arrests 15,021 Convictions 7,601 In recent years, the Bureau of Drugs seized $312,138,496 Indian Affairs has actively pursued Cash seized $ 6,688,540 the development of a wildland fire Recovered Property $ 16,587,856 investigations program. Accurately Rewards Paid $ 933,265 identifying fire cause trends is critical Arson Damage $ 18,501,531 to the success of a fire prevention program, and it is equally important in determining those responsible for unwanted fire. Most importantly, cases involving arson, identifying the Bureau of Indian Affairs perpetrator is of vital public interest. In 2001, Gary Hilton went to the Receives National WETip Minneapolis/St. Paul area to serve as the Fire Prevention Forester for the Recognition Awards BIA Midwest and Eastern Regional ~ Soledad Holguin, Fire Prevention Specialist The Bureau of Indian Affairs was Offices. He serves as the Lead recognized for their contribution to Wildland Fire Investigator for the the protection of trust lands and the eastern half of the county. prevention of crime in Indian Country. He has been working on wildland Lee Schmunk ~ Special Service fire investigations since 1991. Along Award with Jim Nanamkin of the BIA Rocky Mountain and Great Plains, Pacific Region, Gary serves as a BIA Fire Prevention Forester representative to the Wildland Fire Investigation Interagency Working Lee Schmunk is a Forester and the Team. Wildland Fire Prevention and WUI “The difference between ‘in- Specialist for the Bureau of Indian volvement’ and ‘commitment’ Affairs, National Interagency Fire Left: Dennis Kottmeier, WeTip is like an eggs-and-ham break- Center assigned to the Great Plains President,Presenting “Woman of the Year” award to Soledad Holguin, BIA, fast: the chicken was ‘involved’ and Rocky Mountain Regions. Fire Prevention Specialist, Pacific Region - the pig was ‘committed’.” Lee is red-carded as a Type III ~ unknown Wildland fire Investigator, Prevention Page 14 The purpose of the Wildland Fire work with the WeTip Corporation. In She has done presentations and Prevention and Education teams is to her capacity as the Pacific Region, incorporated incident specific flyers assist the local unit in the prevention Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fire when needed to keep community of unwanted human-caused wildfires. Prevention Specialist she has worked awareness elevated. This is more than a full time job. Gary to share the WeTip’s anonymous is continually out on assignments arson reporting hotline. Soledad working diligently to identify the has gone far beyond the doors of causes and person responsible for her Sacramento, California office to unwanted wildland fires. make a difference in Indian Country “Once more into the breach, throughout the United States dear friends, once more ...when Soledad Holguin ~ Woman of the the blast of war blows in our Year Soledad has demonstrated the Pacific Region, Fire Prevention ability to understand how the Native ears, then imitate the action of Specialist American culture can embrace the the tiger.” WeTip program and use it in a way ~ William Shakespeare, Soledad Holguin is honored as the that is proactive and non-threatening. (King Henry V, Act 3, Scene I) “Woman of the Year” for her dedicated

Training Great Plains Rookie Camp ~ Paul Pooler, Fire Ecologist Midwest and Great Plains Regions For the past five years, the Great Plains Agencies and Tribes have provided a region-wide fire fighter rookie camp in the Black Hills near Custer, South Dakota. The training is hosted by Camp Bob Marshall which is operated under a special use permit with USDA Forest Service, Black Hills National Forest in cooperation with the Western Dakota 4-H Camp Association.

This five day training provides NWCG-certified training courses including S-130 Firefighter Training; S-190 Introduction to Wild Land Fire Behavior; I-100 Introduction to ICS;

Trainees at rookie camp get practice deploying shelters. and L-180 Human Factors on the Fire compass use, and deployment of safety Line. Besides classroom instruction, shelters. outdoor activities include use of hand Crew members from Three Affiliated tools and firing devices, water use, Crew Bosses and Squad Bosses are Tribes, ND learn gridding and crew pumps and hose lays, map reading and also provided opportunities to teach formation. Training Page 15 trainees proper squad formation, gridding, and plenty of hiking time in crew formation.

Cadre members are GS or Tribal employees from each of the supporting Agencies or Tribes and have all completed M-410, Facilitative Instructor. The camp also provides security, EMT’s and timekeepers. Trainees stay on site during the training and camp in tents or stay in primitive cabins. Restrooms and a bathhouse are provided as well as catered meals.

Over the past five years approximately 900 trainees have Cadre members Brady Ward Cadre members Terry Hodgkiss (left), Standing (left) Cheyenne River Agency gone through the Great Plains Rock Agency, and Daigre’ Douville, Pine Ridge and Jim Rodriguez, Pine Ridge Agency, discuss training Agency, during a break from rookie camps. pumps and hose lay exercises. From Blacksnake’s Corner ~ Walt Lara - Yurok Forestry I am called “Blacksnake” by close friends and by Fire activities including: Timber Sales Officer; wildlife, people who simply like the name. Once, somewhere fisheries, Tribal member public relations, Cultural around 1945 when all the Indian kids from Requa, CA coordination, etc. for ground disturbing activities. Walt, were playing, they chose names from comic books a Yurok Tribal member from Moreck (downriver from of famous gun slingers like Black Bart, Lone Ranger, Cappell Creek) on the Klamath River, is married to a and Hop-Along Cassidy. After I finished my chores, I Hoopa Tribal member, has two grown sons and five joined them, but all the good names were taken. The grown daughters and lives in Hoopa, CA. group told me I had to be Blacksnake, the bad guy hero! Reluctantly, I took the name. The late Bill Trip, who was getting out of the “candy wagon” (crummy), heard the teasing and continued to call me Blacksnake and the name stuck. Bill worked for Coast Redwood Logging Company, located on Ah Pah Road five miles south of Klamath, CA as a timber faller. He liked that I was a hard worker and three years later hired me on, at age 14, during summer vacations. I was to pack his gear and equipment (drag saws, misery whips, wedges and , boards and driver “spring board”), thus began my training in the woods as a timber faller.

In 1952 I enlisted in the Army Airborne, unassigned. My first duty was kitchen police or “KP”. My job was to mash the potatoes and mix in the butter. There were two pots on the stove and I thought both were butter. But, one was soap used to scrub the floors. When I poured what I thought was butter into the potato pot I saw big chunks and I knew it was not butter. I did not know what would happen to me if the Mess Sergeant found out so I took out the big chunks, mixed in the butter and served the potatoes to the troops, 6th Army E 20th. All the troops had the GI’s but I didn’t. I had to make it look like I did so I grunted and groaned like I did.

Walt is the Yurok Forestry/Wildland Fire Field Coordinator, responsible for Forestry and wildland Walt “Blacksnake” Lara. 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 Thanks to Walt Lara for his story and we look forward your staff, or need copies sent to an another address to more from Walt in the future. please contact us. Please make sure your seasonal fire employees have an opportunity to read Smoke Signals! Submission Criteria Contact Information Please include the author’s name, title and location, captions and high resolution photographs attached as Dave Koch ~ 208/387-5577 separate jpeg files. The article submission deadline for [email protected] “Smoke Signals” is as follows: FAX: 208/387-5580 Laurel Simos ~ 208/387-5313 March 1 [email protected] June 1 September 1 December 1 The greater BIA wildland fire family extends their sympathy to the families, friends and co-workers of the nine structural firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty in Charlotte NC.A sad reminder to our own firefighters who are about to embark on a season of wildland firefighting.Your family and friends need you, so practice your safety skills.

The largest single loss of life for firefighters in America occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, when 343 firefighters died. The following numbers are some of the worst documented U.S. fires in terms of firefighters lost:

April 16-17, 1947: 27 firefighters killed following fires and ammonium nitrate explosions aboard two ships docked at Texas City, Texas.

Dec. 22, 1910: 21 firefighters killed at a stockyard and cold storage warehouse inChicago .

July 29, 1956: 19 firefighters killed at the Shamrock Oil and Gas Corp. refinery in Sun ,Ray Texas.

July 9, 1953: 15 firefighters killed in a wildfire in the Mendocino National Forest in California.

July 6, 1994: 14 firefighters killed in a wildfire on South Canyon mountain near Glenwood Springs, Colo.

March 10, 1946: 13 firefighters killed in a roof collapse at the Strand Theatre in Brockton, Mass.

Aug. 4, 1949: 13 firefighters killed in a forest fire at Gates of the Mountain, Mont.

Dec. 21, 1910: 13 firefighters and one police officer killed inPhiladelphia a leather remnants factory.

July 5, 1973: 12 firefighters killed at the Doxol Gas Co. in Kingman, Ariz.

Oct. 16, 1966: 12 firefighters killed when a floor collapses atNew a York City drugstore.

June 17, 1972: Nine firefighters killed in a collapse at the Hotel Vendome in Boston.

Dec. 4, 1999: Six firefighters in Worcester, Mass., died after they were trapped inside a burning warehouse.

Source: Facts on File, National Fire Protection Association