DOCSLIB.ORG

Fiscal Year 2015 Wildland Fire Management Annual Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Fiscal Year 2015 Wildland Fire Management Annual Report FY 2015 Wildland Fire Management Annual Report November 29, 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior USDA Forest Service “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.” Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 FY 2015 Fire Season at a Glance ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Fires Reported and Acres Burned .............................................................................................................................. 1 Structures Destroyed .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Requests for Firefighting Resources......................................................................................................................... 2 Aircraft and Equipment .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Incident Management Teams and Support Personnel ..................................................................................... 2 FY 2015 International Assistance and Interaction ............................................................................................ 2 International Support Received ............................................................................................................................ 2 Wildland Fire Support to the National Response Framework .............................................................................. 3 FY 2015 Federal Disaster Response ...................................................................................................................... 4 Financial Highlights ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 FY 2015 Wildland Fire Management Appropriation ............................................................................................ 5 FY 2015 Wildland Fire Statistics ................................................................................................................................... 7 Estimated Numbers of Fires and Acres Burned ..................................................................................................... 7 Fuels Management Program ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Fatal and Non-fatal Serious Accidents ....................................................................................................................... 12 Fatal Accidents ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 International Fire Program .............................................................................................................................................16 North American Forest Commission – Fire Management Working Group meeting .............................. 17 International Liaison Committee ........................................................................................................................ 17 International Fire Aviation Working Group and Wildland Fire Advisory Group .................................. 17 North American Study Tour ................................................................................................................................. 17 Other International Efforts ...................................................................................................................................18 Major Program Initiatives .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Joint Initiatives – U.S. Department of the Interior / U.S. Forest Service........................................................ 19 Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management, and Restoration ......................................................................... 19 Wildland fire Management and Clean Air Act Implementation ................................................................. 21 Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program ................................................................................................ 21 Wildland Fire Information and Technology .................................................................................................... 22 Wildland Fire Science ........................................................................................................................................... 22 USDA Forest Service Specific Initiatives............................................................................................................... 24 Forest Service National Aviation Program ....................................................................................................... 24 Human Performance .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Risk Based Wildland Fire Management ........................................................................................................... 26 The Department of the Interior Specific Initiatives ............................................................................................ 26 Wildland Fire Resilient Landscapes .................................................................................................................. 26 Risk Based Wildland Fire Management ........................................................................................................... 27 Secretarial Order 3336 – Integrated Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management, and Restoration ....... 27 Community Assistance ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Reviews and Open Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 32 Department of the Interior ................................................................................................................................... 32 USDA Forest Service ............................................................................................................................................. 34 Other Forest Service Audits ................................................................................................................................. 36 Performance Measures ................................................................................................................................................... 38 Department of the Interior ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Goal #1: Protect America’s Landscapes ............................................................................................................ 38 USDA Forest Service ..................................................................................................................................................40 USDA Strategic Plan ..............................................................................................................................................40 10-year Comprehensive Strategy Implementation Plan (updated December 2006) ...............................40 Forest Service Measures Set ................................................................................................................................. 42 Success Stories ................................................................................................................................................................ 44 USDA Forest Service ................................................................................................................................................. 44 Bureau of Indian Affairs ............................................................................................................................................. 46 National Park Service ................................................................................................................................................. 48 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ................................................................................................................................. 50 Bureau of Land
Load more

Recommended publications
  • California Fire Siege 2007 an Overview Cover Photos from Top Clockwise: the Santiago Fire Threatens a Development on October 23, 2007
    CALIFORNIA FIRE SIEGE 2007 AN OVERVIEW Cover photos from top clockwise: The Santiago Fire threatens a development on October 23, 2007. (Photo credit: Scott Vickers, istockphoto) Image of Harris Fire taken from Ikhana unmanned aircraft on October 24, 2007. (Photo credit: NASA/U.S. Forest Service) A firefighter tries in vain to cool the flames of a wind-whipped blaze. (Photo credit: Dan Elliot) The American Red Cross acted quickly to establish evacuation centers during the siege. (Photo credit: American Red Cross) Opposite Page: Painting of Harris Fire by Kate Dore, based on photo by Wes Schultz. 2 Introductory Statement In October of 2007, a series of large wildfires ignited and burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Southern California. The fires displaced nearly one million residents, destroyed thousands of homes, and sadly took the lives of 10 people. Shortly after the fire siege began, a team was commissioned by CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service and OES to gather data and measure the response from the numerous fire agencies involved. This report is the result of the team’s efforts and is based upon the best available information and all known facts that have been accumulated. In addition to outlining the fire conditions leading up to the 2007 siege, this report presents statistics —including availability of firefighting resources, acreage engaged, and weather conditions—alongside the strategies that were employed by fire commanders to create a complete day-by-day account of the firefighting effort. The ability to protect the lives, property, and natural resources of the residents of California is contingent upon the strength of cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local firefighting agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • Is It a Red Flag Day?
    Is it a Red Flag Day? A Special Section on the Social Aspects of Wildfire Presented by the National Park Service in cooperation with Project Learning Tree, the Fire Prevention Officers of Marin County, and the Marin Independent Journal Advertising Department 2 Fire Recycles ildland fire is an plant particles while the larger material AIR SUN W ecological remains as ash. process affecting almost Ash returns nutrients from plants back all of the earth's vegeta- into the soil, especially calcium, potassi- tion. Underwater plants um and phosphorous. Nitrogen is are generally an returned by the nitrogen-fixing plants that PLANTS excpetion, although flourish after a fire and begin the process FIRE when seaweed or algae of regrowth. Without nitrogen, proteins are left onshore to dry, cannot be made, and DNA cannot be SOIL they too, can become fuel. reproduced. In some places, wildland fire occurs regularly enough that Most of the earth's nitrogen is in the species depend on it. air, but can’t be breathed in. Nitrogen-fix- What's Inside ers host bacteria in their roots which The length of a fire return interval, or convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form Fire Recycles . 2 "fire cycle" varies based on the climate, plants and animals can use. Defensible Space vegetation, and ignition frequency of a Like many hardwood trees, shrubs and other Perspectives. 3 particular location. Ignitions are mainly Plants in the pea family (legumes) are flowering plants, this California bay survived caused by lightning, volcanic ash, lava, notorious for their nitrogen fixing abilities. a wildfire by resprouting at the base.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaster Declarations in California
    Disaster Declarations in California (BOLD=Major Disaster) (Wildfires are Highlighted) 2018 DR-4353 Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows Declared on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - 06:00 FM-5244 Pawnee Fire Declared on Sunday, June 24, 2018 - 07:11 FM-5245 Creek Fire Declared on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 07:11 2017 DR-4301 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides Declared on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 13:15 EM-3381 Potential Failure of the Emergency Spillway at Lake Oroville Dam Declared on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 14:20 DR-4302 Severe Winter Storm Declared on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 14:30 DR-4305 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides Declared on Thursday, March 16, 2017 - 04:48 DR-4308 Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Mudslides Declared on Saturday, April 1, 2017 - 16:55 DR-4312 Flooding Declared on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 - 14:00 FM-5189 Wall Fire Declared on Sunday, July 9, 2017 - 14:18 FM-5192 Detwiler Fire Declared on Monday, July 17, 2017 - 19:23 DR-4344 Wildfires Declared on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 - 08:40 2016 FM-5124 Old Fire Declared on Saturday, June 4, 2016 - 21:55 FM-5128 Border 3 Fire Declared on Sunday, June 19, 2016 - 19:03 FM-5129 Fish Fire Declared on Monday, June 20, 2016 - 20:35 FM-5131 Erskine Fire Declared on Thursday, June 23, 2016 - 20:57 FM-5132 Sage Fire Declared on Saturday, July 9, 2016 - 18:15 FM-5135 Sand Fire Declared on Saturday, July 23, 2016 - 17:34 FM-5137 Soberanes Fire Declared on Thursday, July 28, 2016 - 16:38 FM-5140 Goose Fire Declared on Saturday, July 30, 2016 - 20:48
    [Show full text]
  • The View from Here
    The View from Here Figure 1 -- The iconic image of the South Canyon Fire blow-up that will claim the lives of 14 wildland firefighters. Acknowledging our current culture and its shortcomings while using its strengths to lead change. December 2018 The View from Here 1 This collection represents collective insight into how we operate and why we must alter some of our most ingrained practices and perspectives. Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3 I Risk ................................................................................................................................................ 4 1. The Illusion of Control ............................................................................................................. 5 2. It’s Going to Happen Again ................................................................................................... 14 3. The Big Lie – Honor the Fallen .............................................................................................. 19 4. The Problem with Zero ......................................................................................................... 26 5. RISK, GAIN, and LOSS – What are We Willing to Accept? .................................................... 29 6. How Do We Know This Job is Dangerous? ............................................................................ 39 II Culture .......................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 2007 Fire Activity Report
    U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE Regional Map Akaska REGION 7 Pacific REGION 1 Mountain - Prairie Northeast REGION 6 REGION 5 Great Lakes-Big Rivers California and Nevada REGION 3 REGION 8 Southeast Southwest REGION 4 REGION 2 i TABLE OF CONTENTS 2007 Fire Statistics Regional Map .............................................................................................................. i Regional Activity Summaries Pacific .............................................................................................................. 1 Southwest ........................................................................................................ 5 Great Lakes-Big River .................................................................................... 8 Southeast ......................................................................................................... 12 Northeast ......................................................................................................... 18 Mountain-Prairie ............................................................................................. 24 Alaska .............................................................................................................. 28 California and Nevada...................................................................................... 41 Wildfires Fire Activity Map ............................................................................................. 50 Number / Acres ..............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Letter of Interest
    I would like to add my name to the list of nominations. In my professional capacity of Emergency Manager, I have over 35 years of local government experience. My work on local hazard mitigation plans projects affecting our coastline has helped me become familiar with the role of the California Coastal Commission. Currently, our City of Port Hueneme is working with local, state, and Federal stakeholders in addressing coastal erosion and sand replenishment. We also have several strategic plans that will cause us to interface with the Coastal Commission in the coming years. I believe in a regional approach to planning and caring for our coast. My local government experience has also provided me the skill set necessary for serving on this very important commission. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Laura D. Hernandez City Councilmember City of Port Hueneme 250 N. Ventura Road Port Hueneme, CA 93041 (805) 986-6503 [email protected] Laura D. Hernandez Port Hueneme City Council Ms. Hernandez was elected to the Port Hueneme City Council in 2018 She was elected by her peers as Mayor Pro Tem in 2019 and served as Education the City’s Mayor in 2020. Ms. Laura D. Hernandez offers over 35 years ▪ California State of local government experience. As a member of the City Council, she University, Los Angeles (CSULA) Master of serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the following special Science, Public districts and organizations. Administration (MSPA) ▪ University of • Ventura County Regional Sanitation District and
    [Show full text]
  • Wildfires and Air Pollution the Hidden Health Hazards of Climate Change
    SLUG WILDFIRES AND AIR POLLUTION THE HIDDEN HEALTH HAZARDS OF CLIMATE CHANGE By Alyson Kenward, PhD, Dennis Adams-Smith, and Urooj Raja 2013 WILDFIRES AND AIR POLLUTION THE HIDDEN HEALTH HAZARDS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ABOUT CLIMATE CENTRAL Climate Central surveys and conducts scientific research on climate change and informs the public of key findings. Our scientists publish and our journalists report on climate science, energy, sea level rise, wildfires, drought, and related topics. Climate Central is not an advocacy organization. We do not lobby, and we do not support any specific legislation, policy or bill. Climate Central is a qualified 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Climate Central scientists publish peer-reviewed research on climate science; energy; impacts such as sea level rise; climate attribution and more. Our work is not confined to scientific journals. We investigate and synthesize weather and climate data and science to equip local communities and media with the tools they need. Princeton: One Palmer Square, Suite 330 Princeton, NJ 08542 Phone: +1 609 924-3800 Toll Free: +1 877 4-CLI-SCI / +1 (877 425-4724) www.climatecentral.org 2 WILDFIRES AND AIR POLLUTION SUMMARY Across the American West, climate change has made snow melt earlier, spring and summers hotter, and fire seasons longer. One result has been a doubling since 1970 of the number of large wildfires raging each year. And depending on the rate of future warming, the number of big wildfires in western states could increase as much as six-fold over the next 20 years. Beyond the clear danger to life and property in the burn zone, smoke and ash from large wildfires produces staggering levels of air pollution, threatening the health of thousands of people, often hundreds of miles away from where these wildfires burn.
    [Show full text]
  • 15-15-08 Rough Fire Closure
    Forest Sierra National Forest 1600 Tollhouse Rd m Service Clovis, CA 93611 File Code: 2670 Date: August 13, 2015 Route To: File Subject: Forest Order No. 15-15-08 - Rough Fire Closure From: Dean Gould, Forest supervisor~ This document explains my rationale and the regulatory basis for implementing a closure order for the Rough Fire on the Sierra National Forest. On the afternoon of July 31, 2015 a lightning fire began in the Rough Creek drainage, near the Middle Fork of the Kings River, on the High Sierra Ranger District. By August 13, 2015, the Rough Fire had grown from its original size to over 9,948 acres. As of August 13,2015 the Rough Fire is 0% contained and has grown to approximately 10,000 acres. The purpose of this closure is to provide for public safety and facilitate fire suppression efforts. This restriction is necessary for the purposes of ensuring public safety until the wildfire can be managed to protect the public. Closure of the fire area is necessary to help ensure that no one is injured within or near the fire perimeter. All National Forest System roads, within the burned area will be closed due to fire suppression activities that create a hazard to the public which includes the falling of hazard trees that were weakened by the fire and fuel breaks being constructed and maintained along those roads. This closure will remain in effect until the fire is fully suppressed. I have concluded that this decision may be categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Immediate Post-Fire Effects of the Rough Fire on Giant Sequoia and the Surrounding Forest
    Immediate post-fire effects of the Rough Fire on giant sequoia and the surrounding forest March 2016 Prepared by: Fire Behavior Assessment Team (FBAT) USDA Forest Service, Adaptive Management Services Enterprise Team (AMSET) Alicia Reiner, USFS AMSET, [email protected], Carol Ewell, USFS AMSET Acknowledgements: We thank the Sequoia National Forest Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) and their staff. We thank Brent Skaggs for supporting FBAT work on the Rough Fire and for helping connect science monitoring results to fire management. We sincerely thank the Stanislaus Summit Wildland Fire Module for their help in completing monitoring efforts. We also appreciate the input from Marc Meyer, Region 5 Ecology Program, on the sampling regime and Craig Baker (RSAC) for severity map data. United States Forest Department of Agriculture Service Page 1 Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Background and Purpose .............................................................................................................................. 3 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Results and Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 9 Overall Results .........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Computational Modeling of Extreme Wildland Fire Events
    Computational modeling of extreme wildland fire events: a synthesis of scientific understanding with applications to forecasting, land management, and firefighter safety Janice L. Coena,b W. Schroederc S Conwayd L Tarnaye a National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado b Corresponding author. [email protected] c NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO/SPSD, College Park, MD d Conway Conservation Group, Incline Village, NV e USDA Forest Service, Region 5 Remote Sensing Laboratory, McClellan, CA ACCEPTED Journal of Computational Science Formal publication location: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocs.2020.101152 1 Abstract The understanding and prediction of large wildland fire events around the world is a growing interdisciplinary research area advanced rapidly by development and use of computational models. Recent models bidirectionally couple computational fluid dynamics models including weather prediction models with modules containing algorithms representing fire spread and heat release, simulating fire-atmosphere interactions across scales spanning three orders of magnitude. Integrated with weather data and airborne and satellite remote sensing data on wildland fuels and active fire detection, modern coupled weather-fire modeling systems are being used to solve current science problems. Compared to legacy tools, these dynamic computational modeling systems increase cost and complexity but have produced breakthrough insights notably into the mechanisms underlying extreme wildfire events such as fine-scale extreme winds associated with interruptions of the electricity grid and have been configured to forecast a fire's growth, expanding our ability to anticipate how they will unfold. We synthesize case studies of recent extreme events, expanding applications, and the challenges and limitations in our remote sensing systems, fire prediction tools, and meteorological models that add to wildfires' mystery and apparent unpredictability.
    [Show full text]
  • DATE: November 19, 2015 TO: SJVUAPCD Governing Board
    GOVERNING BOARD Tom Wheeler, Chair Supervisor, Madera County Oliver L. Baines III, Vice Chair Councilmember, City of Fresno DATE: November 19, 2015 Sally J. Bomprezzi Councilmember, City of Madera TO: SJVUAPCD Governing Board Dennis Brazil Mayor, City of FROM: Seyed Sadredin, Executive Director/APCO Project Coordinator: Sheraz Gill John Capitman, Ph.D. Appointed by Governor RE: ITEM NUMBER 9: DEVASTATING HEALTH David Couch IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH AIR POLLUTION Supervisor, Kern County FROM WILDFIRES AND POTENTIAL ACTIONS BY Bob Elliott Supervisor, San Joaquin County THE DISTRICT AIMED AT REDUCING THE NUMBER AND INTENSITY OF WILDFIRES IN THE Virginia R. Gurrola Councilmember, City of Porterville FUTURE Harold Hanson Councilmember, City of Bakersfield RECOMMENDATIONS: Buddy Mendes Supervisor, Fresno County William O’Brien 1. Review the enormous damage to public health from wildfires. Supervisor, Stanislaus County Craig Pedersen 2. Develop potential changes to District’s rules, policies, and Supervisor, Kings County procedures to facilitate more effective use of prescribed burning as Alexander C. Sherriffs, M.D. a means to reduce the number and severity of future wildfires. Appointed by Governor Hub Walsh 3. Work with local, state, and federal land managers and fire Supervisor, Merced County suppression agencies in an ongoing effort to identify gaps in land J. Steven Worthley management and fire suppression policies and practices and Supervisor, Tulare County develop solutions. Seyed Sadredin 4. Support S. 235 (Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2015) and similar Executive Director federal and state legislation to enhance and preserve funding for Air Pollution Control Officer land and forest management. Northern Region Office 4800 Enterprise Way 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Rationales for Plant Species Considered for Species of Conservation Concern
    Rationales for Plant Species Considered for Species of Conservation Concern Sierra National Forest Prepared by: Botanists and Natural Resources Specialists Pacific Southwest Regional Office and Sierra National Forest For: Sierra National Forest June 2019 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.
    [Show full text]