January 2010 Smoke Signals Volume 20 Table of Contents Successful Prescribed Burn Fuels...... 3 Project Opens Door for Operations...... 6 Prevention...... 7 Reintroduction of Natural Fire on Training...... 13 Blacksnake...... 15 the Southern Ute Reservation ~ Richard Gustafson, Fire Management Officer, Southern Ute Agency

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Redonda 2 burn From October 12th through 15th, 2010, five Rich Gustafson, Fire Management Officer Bureau of Indian Affairs Agencies, the for the Southern Ute Agency, was the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and local fire Burn Boss and had identified this burn as a departments came together in cooperative critical area to pre-treat with prescribed fire spirit to complete the 1,142 acre Redonda before allowing fire to play its natural role 2 burn. The project completed a long in the landscape. term planning effort that will enhance future management of unplanned, natural Southern Ute Agency had included the use ignitions to a portion of Southern Ute of fire for resource benefit as a management Reservation. The Southern Ute Agency strategy in the revision of its Fire (SUA) hosted the project with participants Management Plan in 2009. from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Agency, Zuni Agency, Jicarilla The Redonda 2 burn was completed Apache Agency, Navajo Agency, Los Pinos using both heli-torch and Plastic Sphere Fire Protection District and Archuleta Dispenser (PSD) operations and proved to County Office of Emergency Management. be very difficult to hold due to steep terrain Cover Page 2 Supervisory Forestry Technician, for multiple objectives within this and Dave Vega, Los Pinos Fire landscape. For more information Wildland Coordinator, carrying out regarding this burn or the planning the holding actions. Kenny Wehn, process involved in preparing the SUA Forestry Technician supervised landscape for the reintroduction of the line construction and preparation. natural fire, contact Rich Gustafson at Ute Mountain Agency supplied (970) 563-4571. helicopter and PSD personnel and Jicarilla Agency supplied their Heli- The Superintendent, Southern Ute torch module which enabled aerial Agency, would like to extend his operations to function smoothly gratitude and appreciation to all of the and a mid-slope control line that was throughout the entire project. Southern cooperating agencies for making their created during the 2003 Bolt Fire. Ute Agency is now looking forward resources available for this project. Holding resources from Zuni, Navajo, to managing unplanned ignitions Ute Mountain and local agencies were kept busy between the black line and the aerial operations, often times being dispersed over large areas. John Barborinas, a NIFC Planner, oversaw the aerial ignition operation and had to coordinate closely with ground forces to prevent excessive heat from bumping the control lines. Jesse Ramirez, SUA Fuels Specialist, ran the black lining operation and ground ignitions and was tasked with lighting a very steep control line with unburned fuels above.

Ken Van Zee, SUA Forest Manager, supervised holding resources with Howard Richards Jr., SUA Redonda 2 Burn Personnel enjoy the moment after ignitions were completed. cache, helitack, airtanker base, and lead planes.

From 2006-2007 Lisa was the Executive Secretary for the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) based at NIFC. Prior to starting Administration with BIA, Lisa was an administrative specialist for the USFS Rocky BIA~ NIFC Mountain Regional Forester. Welcomes Lisa earned a Business Administration degree from the University of Denver Lisa Street! and completed coursework towards an ~ Lisa Street, BIA ~ NIFC Environmental Policy Management Lisa Street was born and raised in Masters degree. Colorado and started her federal career in 1986 with the Pike & San and information officer (T3). Lisa is married to Phil Street (retired Isabel National Forests, Cimarron US Fish & Wildlife National Fire & Comanche National Grasslands. She later served as the Business Director) and they have a happy family Working as a visitor information aide/ Manager for the Rocky Mountain of three sons and one daughter. They personnel clerk on the South Platte Area Coordination Center and enjoyed currently reside in Eagle, Idaho and Ranger District led to collateral duties supporting all administrative aspects of enjoy camping, fishing, golfing, and all as a FFTR (T2), personnel time the center including GACC dispatch, winter sports. keeper, expanded dispatch recorder, Page 3 Currently Richard has the fire qualifications of Prescribed Fire Southern Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2), Field Observer (FOBS), Helicopter Manager California (HMGB), Firing Boss (FIRB), Burned Fuels Fuels Area Response Specialist (BAES), BIA Welcomes and Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO). He Monitoring is stationed at the Western Regional Richard Office in Phoenix, Arizona, and can be Trip reached at (602) 379-6798 ext. 1236. ~ Josh Simmons, Regional Fuels Management Specialist, Pacific Region Johnson! ~Richard Johnson, Fire/Fuels Ecologist, ~ Richard Johnson, Fire Ecologist, Pacific Pacific and Western Regions and Western Regions BIA Welcomes In September 2009, the BIA hired Richard Johnson as the Fire Ecologist Laura Atkins! for the Pacific and Western Regions. ~ Laura Atkins, Lead Monitoring Technician, Richard is stationed at the Western NW, AK and RM Regions Regional Office in Phoenix, Arizona, however he serves both the Pacific and Western Regions by providing planning and implementation of a Fire/ Fuels monitoring program.

From August 2-6, 2010, Richard, Josh Simmons, Regional Fuels Management Specialist, BIA-Pacific Regional Office, and Maja Pepion, Richard Johnson joined the BIA in Fire and Fuels NEPA Coordinator, September 2009 as the Fire Ecologist BIA-Southern California Agency, for Pacific and Western Regions. toured southern California to introduce Prior to that Richard spent twelve The Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire and Richard to the Tribes, their key fire/ years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Fuel Program would like to welcome fuels staff and fuels conditions that Service, primarily as a Prescribed Laura Atkins, as the Lead Monitoring exist in Southern California. Also, the trip provided Richard with an Fire Specialist in Iowa and Texas, but Technician for the Northwest, Alaska, and Rocky Mountain Regions. understanding of fire conditions, also as a Fire Management Officer fire return intervals, and vegetative in Minnesota and Biological Science re-growth that occurs in Southern Technician (Wildlife) in Illinois. Laura comes from the Student Conservation Association. She California. The tour consisted of stops worked for the Northwest Regional at the Southern California Agency Richard has also worked for the office from April 2007-April 2010 as Office in Riverside to meet BIA staff, National Park Service, Kansas a Fire Prevention Intern for two years and Viejas, Campo, Santa Ysabel, Department of Wildlife and Parks, and and a Monitoring Technician Intern for Mesa Grande, Rincon, Pauma, and U.S. Forest Service as a technician in one year. Pechanga Reservations. Since there fire, fisheries and wildlife, and timber are numerous Tribes located within the jurisdiction of the Southern California management. This past summer she was the Fire/ Fuels Specialist for Chugachmiut, Agency, only a few were selected to be visited. Richard holds a B.A. in Biology a Native Non-Profit located in Anchorage, Alaska. There she was from Pittsburg State University in his The intent of the tour was to introduce hometown, Pittsburg, Kansas, and has able to help initiate a monitoring program for fuels treatments being Richard to various staff members also attended the University of Kansas completed on the Kenai Peninsula. at some of the Tribe’s locations to in Lawrence, and California State establish points of contact. Also, the University, San Bernardino. Laura is enthusiastic about her current tour provided Richard with a visual position, and looks forward to working introduction to the various types of Richard has been traveling through the with Indian Country in the fire and fuels management projects utilized by Southern California Tribes. During regions to meet field staff and become fuels program. his time at the various tribal locations, familiar with the vegetation and fuels Richard was able to learn the unique treatments being implemented. Fuels Page 4 Southern California so that an effective plan can be developed to address fuels monitoring. A brief presentation was given to each tribal location visited to introduce the concepts of fuels monitoring, its importance, and how the fuels monitoring plan will impact the Tribes. Once this plan is completed, Richard and Josh will develop fuels monitoring plans for the remainder of the Pacific Region, which of course will require additional site visits.

The group was shown ongoing fuels management projects at Campo, Santa Ysabel, and Pechanga Reservations, and at Mesa Grande Reservation, saw where an entire subdivision of homes was saved from the destructive Witch Discussing fuels reduction projects on Palomar Mountain (from left) are: Shea O’Keefe, USDA fire in 2007 through the efforts of local Natural Resource Conservation Service Wildlife Biologist; Jeremy Zagarella, Pauma Band; residents. Jonathan Snapp-Cook, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife; Clifford Devers, Pauma Band Forest Technician; Pedro Torrez, Native American liaison, Pauma Band; and USDA Forest Service Wildlife Biologist Jeff Wells (behind truck). Another of the projects the group ~Photo by Richard R. Johnson looked at included work with relationship the BIA has with the Richard, Josh, and Maja have been interagency partners on the Palomar Tribes located in the Pacific Region, working on a draft Fuels Monitoring Divide Truck Trail, part of an wherein most of the fuels management Plan for the Southern California extensive firebreak through the Pauma program is 638 Contracted or managed Agency to cover all Tribal lands within Reservation that connects with U.S. through Self Governance. Therefore, its jurisdiction, pending approval by Forest Service roads. the BIA provides these Tribes with the individual tribes. It was important technical assistance and contract to have Richard on the ground to meet oversight. The BIA also has the ability the tribal staff and get an idea of fuels What’s an to assist with planning needs. conditions and fuels management in SOPL and Why Should the Line Officer, Land Management Staff and Fire Managers Care? ~ Mary Taber, BIA Fire Ecologist On August 29, 2009, the Mill Flat Fire, which had been burning since July 25, rapidly burned out of the Pine Valley Pechanga Fuels Crew with Regional and Agency staff. Front row: Nathan Knight, Kyle Lara, Wilderness on the Dixie National Sean Mares, Fuels Crew Leader Mike Mata. Back Row: Maja Pepion, Southern California Forest in Southern Utah towards the Agency Fire and Fuels NEPA Coordinator; Richard Johnson, Pacific and Western Regional Fire Ecologist; Josh Simmons, Pacific Regional Fuels Management Specialist; Matt Buczyna, town of New Harmony. When the Kyle Coggins, Austin Tuer, George Vargas, and Steve Mares. smoke cleared the following morning, ~Photo by Martin Zendejas all town residents had been evacuated, Fuels Page 5 jurisdictions, and most years, but when there are fires management areas. This that burn for several days or weeks, information can assist Indian Country has to make the most fire managers is setting of the resources available to them. In priorities for scarce addition, more and more tribes are resources. allowing wildfires to play their natural role as a means of restoring ecosystem SOPL’s do not work diversity, resiliency and health; this alone. Long-term fire approach requires long-term risk behavior analysts and assessments and analysis to weigh the resource specialists who costs and benefits. understand modeling, fire behavior, fire ecology, Given the wildland fire management Fire managers developing long-term plan. fuels management activity in Indian Country and the six homes were destroyed or severely and climatology work benefits a SOPL can bring to the table, damaged, and several buildings and together to develop recommendations. Line Officers cannot afford to overlook corrals were significantly burned. Lack They can help line officers with developing SOPLs. of sufficient long-term planning was making decisions such as if a larger cited as a contributing factor to this incident management organization is If I need a SOPL, how do it get unfortunate outcome. needed, and can establish breakpoints one? for ordering resources. In a constantly While this incident took place on changing, dynamic and dangerous Indian Country needs to invest in National Forest land, it could easily environment, the SOPL is an their future. At this time, there is one have burned somewhere in Indian Country. Each year, fire crews put out 98 percent of all wildfires that occur in Indian Country, yet it is the two percent of fires that place the most number of people and resources at risk, burn the longest, and are the most costly to fight and to rehabilitate.

If there was a resource with the potential to reduce the duration, risk and cost of wildfires, would you use it?

What is a Strategic Operational Planner?

The Strategic Operational Planner (SOPL) is a resource fire managers and line officers need on hand at the onset of any wildfire incident expected to last three or more days. After three days, uncertainties in the weather forecast are introduced, making Example of a management action point developed by a Strategic Operational Planner forecasts unreliable and complicating invaluable resource that should not be qualified SOPL, but he is a hotshot models. They are trained to look at overlooked when assessing strategies, superintendent and may not be always fire weather, fuel conditions and fire alternatives and available resources. be available for SOPL assignments. history to assist decision makers Several tribal and agency employees and fire operation specialists with Does Indian Country really need are working on SOPL taskbooks; choosing the best course of action SOPLs? ordering SOPL’s for wildfire events that meets tribal land management offers training opportunities. Over objectives. The outcome is a reliable Indian Country is not exempt from time, these trainees will become risk assessment that reflects worst-case needing the skills of a Strategic qualified and find they are the mentors scenarios that could occur as a fire Operational Planner. Large fires are of tomorrow. grows and moves across landscapes, a rare occurrence in Indian Country Fuels Page 6 To qualify as a SOPL, one must be This will be the only opportunity For more information about SOPLs, either a Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Indian Country has to get into the visit the Lessons Learned Center Type 2 or as a Division Supervisor. class without competing with other at http://www.wildfirelessons.net/ They must also attend Advanced agencies. Nominations must be entered Additional.aspx?Page=329. Fire Management Applications, into IQCS by your training officer by (S-482). S-482 will be held in April February 11. You may also contact Mary Taber, BIA at the Albuquerque Training Center. Fire Ecologist, at 208-387-5042.

Operations Chumash Fire Department Firefighters Receive Special Recognition ~ Veronica V. Sandoval, Assistant Director of Public Relations Chumash Casino Resort SANTA YNEZ, CA – December 21, 2010–Two Chumash Fire Department firefighters received special recognition at the Allan Hancock College Fire Academy graduation ceremony held on Dec. 17.

“It speaks volumes to the level of Pictured Left to Right: Chumash Fire Department Firefighter Richard Garcia, Engineer Jay firefighters we have working for our Kennedy, Battalion Chief JP Zavalla, and Engineer Gilbert Romero. fire department,” said JP Zavalla, explained Zavalla. “With almost given to him by his fellow cadets. battalion chief for the Chumash Fire nine years in firefighting, Kennedy “It’s an honor to be recognized by my Department. “Not only did these is a solid firefighter with a solid instructors and fellow cadets,” said individuals represent themselves background. He’s a natural leader with Garcia. “I was the oldest to go through during the course of the academy they the experience to back him.” the academy and to receive the Most also represented the Chumash Fire Motivated award was really surprising. Department and we’re very proud of Kennedy has been with the Chumash I didn’t set out to be an inspiration to that.” Fire Department for three years. the younger guys, but when you’re Richard Garcia, a firefighter with the doing something you like – the reward James Kennedy, an engineer with the department and member of the Coastal comes with it.” Chumash Fire Department, received Band of Chumash Indians, was the Outstanding Cadet award. The honored with two awards presented To date, the Chumash Fire Department Outstanding Cadet honor is awarded by the instructors and faculty of the has had four graduates of the Fire by fellow cadets. Only one award is academy, the Merit of Achievement Academy and three more have been presented at each academy. pin and Most Improved Cadet accepted to the next accredited 16- award. Garcia also received the Most week course through Allan Hancock “It’s not a surprise that Jay received Motivated Cadet award, an honor College. this prestigious commendation,” Operations Page 7 “We’re always pleased with the cadets Established in 2005 and lead by and boasts a Cultural Rehab Crew that enroll in our program from the Zavalla, the Chumash Fire Department – these crew members are specially Chumash Fire Department,” said Andy has a full-time crew along with trained to recognize and preserve Densmore, fire academy coordinator. seasonal firefighters. The department is Native American sites. “With the capabilities of the Chumash equipped with two engines. Fire Department and the skills they The Chumash Fire Department is an obtain in the Fire Academy the The Chumash Fire Department operation run by the Santa Ynez Band graduates are a skilled and well-trained currently has a special contract with of Chumash Indians. resource for the reservation.” the Los Padres National Forest Service

Prevention What Did you Learn in 2010? ~ Soledad Holguin, Wildland Fire Prevention Specialist, Pacific Region 2010 California Interagency Fire Native American Fire Prevention Alliance (NAFPA) Board Members left to right: Bob Blanchard, Benae Calac, Chuck Pister, Ron Reed who were conference supporters. Prevention/Mitigation and Education Conference. (Generation Green) team teaching Fire Oberservation and Origin Scene at Camp Smokey. The audience Protection for First Responders) and Variety is the spice of life, and so diversity makes a statement, “We are handed out certificates of completion. it is with Wildland Fire Prevention all linked by one element – prevention Education. The Public is a diverse of unwanted/unplanned fire.” A special thank you to the cadre target audience, with individual members: Debra Hein (BLM), value systems and emotional opinion The “Take Responsibility” statewide Ed Ramirez (United States Forest towards fire - tool or disaster. campaign, which was set in motion Service), Jennifer Chapman (National during a Severity Fire Prevention Parks Service), Jim Nanamkin (BIA), The 2010 California Interagency Team, was presented by Debra Hein, and Margret Grayson (Fire Safe Fire Prevention/Mitigation/ Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Council). Education Conference was attended / Forest Service Interagency Fire by fire service personnel as well as, Mitigation Officer (team member). The 2011 California Fire Prevention homeowners, insurance agents, law Conference is scheduled for June 7-9, enforcement, and Tribal Leaders. Debra gave an update on the in Palm Springs, California. If you The presenters were as unique as our campaigns’ success, how to acquire would like to provide topics of interest, audience. Listed are just a few of our rack cards on other topics, defensible or share a fire prevention education guest speakers: Dr. Ron Hodgson, space; ember awareness and again success story at the conference, retired BLM Fire Social Scientist; redefined the concept that individuals please forward to Jim Nanamkin, Chief Bob Roper, Ventura County Fire assume responsibility for their Regional Fire Prevention Officer, Department; Doug Allen, retired CAL personal safety and property. [email protected] or Soledad FIRE who specialized in the analysis Holguin, Wildland Fire Prevention and profiling of serial arsonists. One day prior to the conference, Jim Specialist, [email protected]. The group also viewed a video on Nanamkin, Bureau of Indian Affairs an interagency statewide effort at (BIA) Regional Fire Prevention the California State Fair; youth Officer, instructed FI-110 (Wildland Fuels Page 8 Course topics included, Myths of California Wildland/Urban Fire, Understanding Wildland/Urban Fire, Wildfire Home Ignition Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone, Zone Training and Assessing Wildfire Hazards. ~ Soledad Holguin, Wildland Fire Important points included discussions Prevention Specialist, Pacific Region about fuels breaks, embers, the defensible space concept (developed to protect the forest from structural fires), and how to understand the home ignition zone. The information is based on scientific studies conducted by Jack Cohen, USFS Scientist. However, the presentation by Pat and Hank was done in a manner that would Sponsored by the Bureau of Indian benefit both homeowners and the Affairs Pacific Region, the “Home general public. Ignition Zone” training was held at Course Instructors back row L to R: Elfrego two locations in California during the Covarrubias, Pala Fire Department, Hank The second day was set aside for an month of August. Over 35+ students Backwell, and Pat Durland. BIA Course Coordinator, (center front) Soledad Holguin. informal field study. Each student was participated at each session. given a form to make evaluations on fire prevention educators, resource several structures and the instructors conservation district personnel, an The first session took place on August then heard what thoughts the students insurance underwriter, the Director 19-20, 2010 at Blue Lake Rancheria, had on mitigating structural and of Wildlife Protection, a grant and the second session was held at landscape issues. Certificates of administrator, a landscape architect, a Pala Indian Reservation on August 23 course completion were issued by the fuels manager, a fire science student, and 24, 2010. The presenters where instructors. several Fire Safe Council members surprised to get a diverse group of attendees with interesting viewpoints and several BIA/Tribal employees. Many thanks to the Blue with reference to approaching wildfire Lake Rancheria and hotel at the community level. facility Special Events Coordinator, Lisa Corral, Blue Lake Rancheria, attendees and to Compliance Manager, included members of the community Greg Perry. The Southern association, USFS contractors, a California course was fuel analysist, environmentalists, hosted by the Pala Indian an insurance underwriter, a fire Reservation Fire Department, prevention educator, fire protection The course was presented by Pat thank you to Battalion Chief, Doug specialists, Fire Safe councils, BIA and Durland and Hank Blackwell Moriarty and Elfrego Covarrubias, Tribal employees. (Stone Creek Fire, LLC) who were Fire Prevention Officer. Because of informative and encouraged some their participation and generosity, no In Pala, attendance representatives noteworthy conversation. tuition was required by the attendees. were community forestry coordinators, Prevention Page 9

California Home Ignition Zone training activities.

times and this year is no exception Prevention and Intervention Program California with estimated, daily visitors of Coordinator from the Oregon Office State Fair 800+. Further, sponsoring of youth, of the State Fire Marshal. The “Generation Green,” gives students Oregon message is, “Safe Fire” and “Camp an opportunity to participate and “Unsafe Fire,” which is different provides memorable insight into the than the previous message “Good Smokey” professional world including what it and Bad Fire.” The BIA took its ~ Soledad Holguin, Wildland Fire own spin on this important message Prevention Specialist, Pacific Region takes to work with the Public. This year, the BIA was tasked with giving and incorporated Traditional Native a fire prevention message, and an American Fire Use: education presentation in the Little Red School House. A Safe Fire is Useful and has Benefits when: Camp Smokey staffing is dependent • Always small and supervised by on volunteers, many from Generation an adult Green, Federal, City and County • Used as a tool Agencies. The Pacific Region was • Practical and beneficial very fortunate to get the assistance of Inessa Bartholomew, and her mother, Historical fires set by Native BIA employee Julie White, who are Americans were important in three Karuk Tribal Members. 14 year old ways: Inessa took time from her very busy summer schedule to spend 15 days 1. Depending on purpose of fire, the helping out at Camp Smokey. Inessa time of year was important. really connected with the attendees 2. Fires were set often at the in a professional manner, using same time of year and in the same Inessa Bartholomew, Camp Smokey props to explain the use of fire and locations. volunteer and Karuk Tribal member. its benefits. She was able to answer What makes Camp Smokey so special questions about her culture and had an 3. Low intensity fires burned along is that many of the attendees are understanding of traditional fire use the ground and did not damage trees repeat visitors that bring their children and the importance of fire use during or roots. and grandchildren. The California ceremonial/spiritual tribal events. State Fair is visited by people from Adults used fire for: hunting throughout the United States and The Little Red School House food; land management; pest other Countries. Camp Smokey is an educational presentation was inspired control; animal hide tanning; interagency fire education project that by Judy S. Okulitch, a Youth Fire tree felling. continues to grow with the changing Prevention Page 10 Other Natural Benefits: cone seed 2. Animal life; insects; plants; and BIA received many compliments release; dormant seed germination; the ecosystem for the presentation. Many adults opening forest to sunlight; and indicated that this material was new reduction of dead trees and other 3. Watershed and landscape and helped them to understand fire vegetation. use and prescribed fire. Many of Because of time constraints, our the adults did not realize that Native presenters learned quickly to size up Unsafe Fire can have bad Americans continue to practice their their target audience in order to ensure consequences and are destructive to: use of traditional fires. that the fire prevention message was 1. Human life; homes; buildings and received and understood. property Standing Rock Hires Prevention Tech ~ David Peters, Interface/Prevention Specialist, NIFC This past summer the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was fortunate to hire an experienced fire fighter to run the BIA fire prevention program. Sid Bailey, Jr., who is from Standing Rock, brings to the program 18 years of fire fighting experience on hand crews and engines. He studied at the United Tribes College in Bismarck, North Dakota in criminal justice. Sid is a Task Force Leader, Incident Commander Type 4, Prescribed Fire Burn Boss 3 and a Sid Bailey, Jr. Prevention Education Team Member heavy emphasis on training courses, Native American Unicor sign designs. Trainee. involvement on prevention and He will be creating a fire awareness education teams, establishing a burn kiosk at the Prairie Knights Casino Sid is tackling a lot of prevention permit program, and revising the and Hotel, developing Community program initiatives, predominately the agencies Wildfire Prevention Plan over Fireworks Areas at eight communities, top four issues which are: camp fires, the next couple of years. and purchasing a PDA and Red equipment use, debris burning and Zone software to complete home youth. Mr. Bailey is concerned that Standing Rock has applied for strong assessments. too much rangeland grass is burning funding in Community Assistance up on the reservation in an unplanned (CA) and Prevention Supplemental Sid also plans on purchasing a Billy way. Prescribed burns can be very for 2011. If the CA funding comes Brushwacker (spokes-goat for youth healthy for the land if done right, through, Sid will be putting up three fire mitigation education) outfit, but negligent agricultural burning or 8’ X 16’ community fire awareness DVD’s, booklets and posters, as welding on a dry windy day can burn billboards and creating a traveling well as Smokey Bear and Firewise up a lot of grass unnecessarily. He billboard for fire education messages. materials. Congradulations Sid, we also is focusing his program on the He will be putting together messages look forward to good things coming arson issue. Sid plans on developing for a trailer to be used for prescribed from your program! his prevention officer skills through a fire and suppression efforts and he will work with local schools developing Prevention Page 11 National Recognition for Ivy Dickinson ~ Len Diaz, Northwest Regional Office the University of Idaho. She was a member of a core group that started a monthly Nez Perce Tribal Environmental Education Movie Night.

2010 Ivy is Chairperson of Idaho Firewise. She secured funding to aide in the hiring of an Americorp Intern through the Palouse- Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI). The Intern served as Ivy Dickinson from the Nez Perce Tribe receives a Smokey Bear Award Certificate at the Idaho an Idaho Firewise Educator. She Wildfire Conference in Boise on October 6, 2010, from Len Diaz NWRO is a member of 3 sub-committees Ivy Dickinson, Prevention Technician 2008 (Education, Communications, & at the Nez Perce Tribe has been Ivy was a member of the 2008 Idaho Home Evaluations) of the ISFPWG. recognized by the National Forest State Fire Plan Working Group Ivy was part of a joint inter-agency Fire Prevention Program Committee. (ISFPWG) Fire Conference planning effort to secure funding and implement Ivy was presented with a Smokey committee. She provided leadership Fire Squirts Summer Camps in 2010. Bear Award certificate at the Idaho for the Prevention module at the The Fire Squirts program is a fun, Wildfire Conference in Boise on conference. Ivy was part of the editing educational week-long camp that October 6, 2010. The committee team of the video, “Are We Safe From teaches children, ages 8 to 14, about honored her “efforts to educate Fires, Protecting Idaho Communities.” fire ecology, fire history, fire behavior, people to be responsible with fire The video won the 2009 Firewise fire prevention, fire effects on plants including contributions of developing Leadership Award and was presented and animals, and Nez Perce Tribal partnerships, organization, and to the Idaho State Fire Plan Working culture. direction to fire prevention in and Group by the National Fire Protection around the State of Idaho.” National Association. Ivy has left the Nez Perce tribe awards of this nature are given for 2009 and taken her talents to the Idaho work sustained over a minimum 2 year Ivy was one of 4 individuals to Department of Environmental Quality. period. start the North Central Idaho Fire She is presently the North Idaho Prevention Coop in 2009 and is the Smoke Coordinator. Prior to her Listed below are highlights of Ivy’s 2010 Chairperson. She worked with departure Ivy completed the Wildfire interagency prevention efforts while USFS employees to construct a school Prevention Plan revision. Ivy will she represented the Nez Perce Tribe. presentation brochure focusing on be missed, but she can still be found Her emphasis was the betterment K through 8th grades. The brochure at ISFPWG meetings continuing of the Nez Perce Tribal prevention provided teachers an awareness of prevention work in a cooperative program. She had the foresight to interagency personnel willing to interagency effort. Great job! Thanks improve the program through an make presentations on topics of fire for all your efforts to advance the Nez interagency approach. Interagency prevention, forestry, and fire ecology. Perce Fire Prevention program and efforts take advantage of limited Ivy was instrumental in designing to make the Nez Perce Tribe a true dollars and limited number of the current Idaho Home Evaluation interagency partner. positions to provide quality products. Forms. Ivy secured funding, along with other cooperators, for fire prevention messages during the 2009 & 2010 Vandal football games at Prevention Page 12 Pine Ridge Builds Wildfire Safety Exhibit ~ Jim Rodriguez Pine Ridge Fire Prevention Officer ~Patti Maguire, Pine Ridge Fire Prevention Technician ~ David Peters, NIFC Interface/Prevention Specialist Agency buildings. The exhibit is easily accessible for handicapped individuals. Two picnic tables were placed under the exhibit and landscaping surrounds the structure. Many people frequent the site to have lunch, take a break from work or browse the informational exhibit. Future plans include a poster contest for local students to design a wildfire prevention message. Winners will have their poster featured in the exhibit.

The Pine Ridge Fire Prevention Program Fire Management Exhibit was designed and built for under $20,000 which includes bulletin cases, picnic tables and a finished 13’ x 20’ structure. Local firefighters worked on the construction of the shelter. Prevention Officer Jim Rodriguez Wildfire Safety Exhibit and Prevention Technician Patti Pine Ridge Reservation has some of The fire prevention program has Maguire worked together to solicit the highest occurrences of human- developed numerous messages that local suppliers for the picnic shelter caused wildland fires in the nation, will be posted on four large bulletin kit, site preparation and construction averaging 385 human ignitions per cases throughout the year. Magnetic consultation. year. Most of these human related vinyl posters, that cost about fifty fires occur by youth, followed by fire dollars to make, are cost effective In addition to the new Fire use, such as debris burning, and then enough to provide a variety of Management Exhibit, the program has equipment use. Fire management staff fresh messages addressing wildfire worked on new outreach activities. has been working hard over the past management and safety issues. Two fire prevention and education several years to reduce these wildland teams came to the reservation for a fires, while protecting communities The wildfire safety exhibit is located month this year, one in the spring from existing ones. Nearly eighty- in the heart of Pine Ridge, on the for two weeks, the other around eight thousand acres have burned over main path to the Pine Ridge Agency Independence Day for a couple weeks. the past decade. Several approaches office. Finishing touches are used by managers to protect on the exhibit include the communities. installation of animal proof trash receptacles and an This past summer the Pine Ridge ash urn. Native artwork is Fire Prevention Program utilized installed on the ceiling. A Community Assistance funding to main exhibit sign will be design and build a fire management attached to the roof, and exhibit. The exhibit will keep the a solar light kit will be community aware of local wildland installed. fire management activities and topics including, fuel reduction projects, The vivid black and red Wildfire Prevention, Investigation and exhibit is highly visible, Suppression activities. situated in front of the Wildfire Safety Exhibit Oglala Sioux Tribal and BIA Training Page 13 These teams reached over three tribal support for a Youth Fire Setter starting wildfires. This program can thousand people on the reservation Intervention Program (YFIP). Once reduce youth started fires significantly during their tours. Together with the tribal council supports this as seen on reservations around Indian fire fighters that were present at initiative the BIA will provide a Country for the past couple of years. community activities throughout the contractor who will assist the Agency reservations districts, prevention teams to train and establish an YFIP. This For more information on how to encouraged people to use safe zones, program teaches potential coalition develop a wildfire safety exhibit, you such as baseball fields, to light off partners (health, social, juvenile can contact Jim Rodriguez at the Pine fireworks. and family services, police and fire Ridge Agency, or David Peters at the departments, tribal courts, and other Rocky Mountain Regional Office. One new program that the Prevention interested parties) how they can work Officer is working on, is gaining together to reach youth involved in

Back row, l to r: Clinton Smith, Archie Flat Lip, Darren Kimmerly, Jeremiah Faumuina, Michael Flores, Loren Bell, Richard Bowen, Patrick Kenny (Instructor) Middle row, l to r: Mike Peterson, Leon Ben (Instructor), Steve Jackson (Lead Instructor), Bernadette Lucero, Wayne Smith, Jr., Noah De La Rosa, Karen DeBord, Stephen Fillmore, Candy Lupe Front row, l to r: Andrea Gilham (Instructor), Melvin Hunter, Jr., Howard Richards, Jr., Travis Du Bois, Josesito Montana, John Gilham ~ Photo, Laurel Simos (Instructor) not shown Becoming referenced in the NWCG Field briefings, After Action Reviews; Manager’s Course Guide to instruct and 200 level or higher courses. In an Effective • addition to helping one become Any communication scenario where information sharing within compliant with yet another federal Facilitative dynamic groups is the key. policy, this course also focuses on Instructor ways to improve: ~ Steve Jackson, Wildland Fire Operations This year’s course continued the Specialist, Salt Lake BLM tradition of combining individuals The BIA sponsored its 8th annual • The quality of instruction at the from a variety of fire positions and NWCG M-410, Facilitative Instructor local, geographic, and national locations from the wildfire community level; training January10-14, 2011 in San in an arena where they are encouraged Diego, California at the Catamaran • Interaction with other teachers to try techniques and methods that Resort. and course coordinators in a cadre reach beyond fire topics. Furthermore, environment; Tribal and Bureau employees not This course meets the requirements working in Fire Management are also • Skills for conducting meetings, encouraged to participate. Blacksnake’s Corner Page 14 ~ Walt Lara - Yurok Forestry I would like to share a story of my personal experience in a natural disaster, the 1955 Flood of Klamath California, my home town. From this experience, I have learned the importance of disaster training, safety guidelines, and the flow of emergency information to agencies and communities.

Klamath, at the time was a booming town. It was also known as “Little Reno.” There was a tavern on every corner, fish canneries, theaters, restaurants, shops, and stores of all sorts. There was a large population of Yurok people who were fishing guides, cannery workers, loggers, and so on. The Yurok Tribe had not been formed at the time and the Klamath area was inundated with non-Indian businesses.

I stood at the window of my home over-looking the raging Klamath river as logs and other debris swept by. Highway Patrol Officer, Danny, and a Yurok elder, (awok) Seelie Griffen, drove into the yard. Walt “BlackSnake” Lara, Yurok Forestry Merkie and I were able to alert several others. Most people refused to believe that the water would reach their homes and would not leave. Wes Rook and I took a 16 foot Klamath River Sled boat with a 35 horse Johnson motor to let cattle and other live stock out of fenced areas and barn yards. When we got back up the river, there were huge logs and other debris coming down the river.

By nightfall it was too dark to operate the boat because of the debris. We built a large fire up on the north side of the bridge. There were about Seelie explained that the river had two old ladies were standing on the 20 men that had gathered together surrounded his house and his wife back of the couches. We waded into to assist us in rescues by truck. We and her sister would not leave, the house, picked the ladies up, bells, worked with kerosene lamps and “they’re down there ring’n the bells candles, petticoats and all and headed spotlights. Through the dark night and pray’n,” he said. The two old back to the row boat. They both came we heard screams and cries and tried ladies were Shakers and believed willingly. desperately to find what direction they would be saved. Merkie Oliver, they came from. who I grew up with, lived just down I had to step along the fence to reach the road so I stopped to pick him up. the boat. Merkie, who stepped in time By daylight, the officer with us with the song, missed the fence line declared Marshall Law which The road from Requa to Klamath was and went over backwards. The lady he allowed us to use one of the logging already under water. It took us 25 carried in his arms landed on his chest tug boats that was docked. One of minutes to drive through the water to and he couldn’t move. As his head the guys, Donnie Melvin, was able to get to the highway. The village was bobbed up out of the water, I was able operate tug boats, so with Donnie as 7 miles away. We took a row boat to to pull them both up and get them into our operator we set out. reach the house. We heard the singing the boat. and the bells inside. The water was The river was rising about a foot per about a foot deep in the house, the hour. The rain was continuous and Page 15

22 individuals, there were many lives lost. I will never forget the individuals that clutched logs and that lay on top roof debris as they floated out. One man raised his hand in a wave knowing that there was nothing that could be done.

I can’t help but think that if there was a plan of action for disaster, training, equipment, medical teams and much more, that more lives could have been saved. This is one reason I am an advocate for training, safety guidelines and a flow of emergency rescue information available for agencies and community members.

My daughter, Dr. Pooh (aka. Dr. Lara- Cooper), talks to her students about “worldview” and “epistemology”. She says that our contributions and perspectives are a reflection of our the water more vicious by the minute. I grabbed the structure and was able values, beliefs, and experiences. How The debris was getting thicker and the to crawl along the side of the house we make sense of the world and the tug boat seemed to crawl against the until I reached the tug boat and Officer work that we do, evolves from our swift water. There was a lady standing Danny pulled me back in. We used an worldview. on the top of her store, swift water axe to cut a hole in the wall where I circled the structure. We pulled up found Nellie and her friend, Maggie For the past few years, it has been my next to it and pulled the lady aboard. Pilgrim, standing on the couch. The privilege to share traditional stories, As she boarded, the turbulence from water was up to their knees. Nellie historical events, and my personal the tug boat caused the building to quickly attached herself to my neck experiences. I have come to an break away and float down the river. as we made our way to the tug boat understanding that my contribution We took her and others that we had through the hole in the wall. Then, I to forest management, forest land and picked up to the north side of the went back for Maggie. fire prevention, and environmental bridge. awareness is to share my experiences I can’t stress enough how thick the that have developed over the past As we tried to go up under the bridge water was with debris, roof tops, seventy some years. we saw that the river was rising closer livestock, huge fir and redwood logs to the bridge, the tug boat could with the tree boughs still on them. The It is my hope that these articles and barely fit through, and I knew this log jam was so thick that there was a the stories that I have shared will was going to be bad. We circled back bull that rode the drift 27 miles north contribute to the development of around to the town site to get people in ocean waters to Crescent City. your philosophies toward forestation out of that area. practices, forest land fire prevention It was impossible to operate any kind and training, and environmental We reached Nellie Hill’s house. She of boat at this point. Defeated, we awareness to keep a healthy balance was an elder and I wanted to check were forced to dock at Simpson yard on our homelands. When we hear of on her. Nellie’s husband, who could (Hopel Creek). We had burned out one natural disasters we think they are not speak English very well, was motor. The tugs had two Chrysler 300 somewhere else and don’t prepare. standing on the front porch in about motors. Although it rained for 22 days, Whether it floods, earthquakes or two feet of water. He was yelling and the water slowly receded. There were fires, preparation and training are motioning inside. I tried to get him a lot of lives saved and lost in this necessary. to move back so that we could back natural disaster. For miles our beaches the tug close to the door. He didn’t were filled with debris that once Smoke Signals (Vol. 19) contained an understand so, Donnie got as close to sheltered a community. error in Blacksnake’s Corner. The the structure as he could. I stepped out article described Preston Peak as of the boat and missed the porch by a Although our team (Danny, Wes, being within the Yurok boundaries, few feet. The water swept me under Donnie, Merkie and myself) did and the article should have read and I came up along side the house. the best that we could in rescuing Sheldon Peak. 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 Laurel Simos ~ 208/387-5313 June 1 [email protected] September 1 December 1 FAX: 208/387-5580

Please start submitting articles for the next issue of Mailing Address Smoke Signals as soon as you can! Thank you! BIA/NIFC Old Administration Building “If a man does his best, what else is there?” ~ General 3833 So. Development Ave. George S. Patton (1885-1945) Boise, ID 83705-5354 Attn: Smoke Signals

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