Crew Cohesion Report. NWCG adopts Ten Standard Fire Orders

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1 NEWS AND NOTES Crew Cohesion Report The Crew Cohesion Report focuses on Fire Fighter Safety Issue - This report discusses the relationship of crew cohesion and fire fighter fatalities, the intracrew and intercrew cohesion problem, and how the types and stages of a wildland fire affect crew cohesion. Copies of the full report may be ordered from: USDA Forest Service, MTDC 5785 Highway 10 West Missoula, MT Or by request at the following address: wo_mtdc_pubs@fs.fed.us NWCG adopts Ten Standard Fire Orders At their May 2002 meeting, the NWCG adopted a change in wording and order of the ìten Standard Fire Ordersî, returning the order to the previous version and updating the language. Although the decision is effective immediately, the completion of the change will take place as NWCG training materials are revised. 1 Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts. 2 Know what your fire is doing at all times. 3 Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire. 4 Identify escape routes and make them known. 5 Post lookouts when there is possible danger. 6 Be alert, Keep calm, Think clearly, Act decisively. 7 Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor and adjoining forces. 8 Give clear instructions and insure they are understood. 9 Maintain control of your forces at all times. 10 Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first. INSIDE VOLUME 16 NUMBER 2 JUNE 2002 People in the News James M. Shannon President and Chief Executive Officer of NFPA Looking for Local Solutions To The Wildland Urban Interface Problem Upcoming Firewise Communities Workshops Prescott, Arizona Fire:Timber Ridge Avoids Disaster

2 2 WILDFIRENEWS& NOTES Volume 16 Number 2 WILDFIRENEWS& NOTES Volume 16 Number 2 2 Looking for Local Solutions To The Wildland Urban Interface Problem By G. Scott Waldron, Chief Frenchtown Fire District, Missoula County, Montana The Frenchtown Rural Fire District provides emergency services to a number of communities in Missoula and Mineral County of western Montana. Emergency response is provided from eight stations with 5 paid staff and 70 volunteer personnel. This area includes approximately 200 square miles of wildland urban interface. In 2001 the Frenchtown Fire District applied for and received grant funding to perform fuel reduction work. Without the grant funding the District lacks the financial ability and staffing to perform this much-needed work. The District recognizes our responsibility to utilize this funding effectively and work was started as soon as funding was confirmed. Exhibit 1 reviews the project mission, goals and objectives outlines how the funding is being used and to date we are on target to meet or exceed all of the goals and objectives originally identified. These goals are not only identified as short term desires but as part of the national Firewise Communities Projects a long term commitment to future planning so the problems are managed at the development and construction stage. New subdivisions will be designed with fire and safety as a priority. This project has so far been an excellent experience and the most productive effort in this area. Our partnerships with the USFS Nine Mile Ranger District, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe have been extremely productive. Jointly we have completed assessments on nearly 600 homes, fuel reduction work on 82 homes and 2.6 miles of access roads. Currently work is continuing on homes and jointly we are beginning cross-boundary fuel reduction that is beneficial to all parties. In addition, we are working with the local electric company to do collaborative work along roadways that serve as power line access to subdivisions and residential areas. Homeowners individually and in groups are recognizing and assuming their responsibility as part of this team effort. Shake roofs are being removed and timber is being thinned in residential areas. This project is truly changing the culture in this area! Homeowners are taking their responsibilities seriously and making significant changes. In the areas where we have performed work peer pressure is taking effect and groups of homes are being improved. The National Fire Plan has provided funding for projects such as these and I believe that prevention is a much better investment than suppression. There is some concern that use of public funds to do fuel reduction work is inappropriate; however, I think it is appropriate and necessary for firefighter and public safety. This is an example of how funds are spent in suppression action vs. prevention work. Exhibit 1 Frenchtown Rural Fire District Firewise Communities Project Mission Statement Provide for the safety of firefighters and homeowners by working cooperatively with our public and private partners to educate the public about fire hazards; homeowner responsibility; removing of hazards fuels around homes; improving access and egress routes; mapping and assessing homes in the WUI and creating a sustainable Firewise Communities program for the future. Goals Create a Firewise community by: Reduce the potential for loss of structures and the environment to catastrophic wildland fire Improve survivability of homes in the Frenchtown Fire District wildland urban interface Educate the public on fire risks around their homes and their responsibilities as homeowners Complete the Fire Safety Permit and adopt it in the District Improve access and egress routes into WUI subdivisions Complete assessment maps Objectives Complete assessments on all homes in the forested interface Working in a partnership with homeowners complete fuel modifications on 100 homes annually Identify on maps all water supply locations in the District Remove wood shakes from 50% of homes in District Remove brush along all interface roadways to minimum 10í off road Work with USFS and DNRC to create to reduce hazard fuels across boundaries Create Memorandum of Understanding with property owners to provide secondary emergency egress for Elk Meadows subdivision.

3 3 WILDFIRENEWS& NOTES Volume 16 Number 2 Implementation Phase 1. Priority Areas Homes with High Probability of ignition in a fire Homes with Moderate Probability of ignition in a fire Homes with residents who, by virtue of age or physical condition, cannot do mitigation work themselves Access and egress roadways 2. Create property owner agreement that: Identifies work to be completed Cost share for homeowner Identifies District responsibilities Identifies Homeowner responsibilities 3. Message we want to deliver This is a partnership between fire agencies and homeowners Requires homeowner participation and financial commitment Creating survivable homes and environment 4. Advertise program through newspapers and media Clark Fork Wagon Wheel Locate information signs on access roads School newsletters News releases - Print - Television - Radio 5. Utilize USFS, MT DNRC and Frenchtown prevention personnel to make homeowner contacts Continued assessments Follow up contacts Requests for mitigation work 6. Management Firewise project coordinator Crew leaders Create position descriptions/expectations for crew personnel 7. Project Time Line June 11th Board Review and Approval June 12th advertising and news releases June 12th Initiate crew hiring June Crew Training - Safety - Purpose - Conduct - Chain Saw Training June 19th begin mitigation work October 1 hold 2001 project review WILDFIRENEWS& NOTES Volume 16 Number 2 3 Exhibit 2 Prevention costs vs. Suppression Costs Sawmill Gulch Fire Frenchtown Fire District July 14, 2001-July 16, acres Suppression Costs: Estimated $70, Prevention Crews June 26, 2001-August 30, Homes Survivable/Defensible SpaceCosts: $30, The wildland interface involves a complex mixture of risks that cannot be resolved by a single action or approach. A combined approach that involves planning, ordinances and permitting with a consolidated suppression action is the best approach to managing the hazards that exist in this ecosystem. This paper was presented during a PERI Internet Symposium on ìreducing the Risk of Wildland ñ Urban Interface Firesî, October For more information on PERI programs and information services, visit their website at

4 4 WILDFIRENEWS& NOTES Volume Number 2 2 People in the News NFPA Elects New President NFPA Board of Directors unanimously elected James M. Shannon president and chief executive officer of NFPA effective June 1, Shannon succeeds George D. Miller, who will retire after 10 years. Shannon has served as NFPA senior vice president and general counsel since He oversees NFPA s legal affairs and has administrative and real estate responsibilities for the associationís properties. In addition, he has had a visible role in the organization s operations and government affairs, both domestically and abroad. His career includes being elected Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a senior partner of the Boston law firm Hale & Dorr, and served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Shannon earned his BA degree at Johns Hopkins University and JD at George Washington University School of Law. New Firewise Spokesperson Stacy Keach has agreed to be the Spokesperson for Firewise teaching homeowners in fire-prone wildland-urban interface areas how to prepare their homes from fire. As a survivor of four Wildland fires near his Malibu home within the last two decades, Stacy says heís been thinning and removing natural vegetation from around his property for fire-hazard reduction reasons for years, providing a defensible space in the likelihood that a severe wildland fire will once again approach his property. Stacy also knows that Firewise home construction materials and maintenance is just as important as Firewise landscaping. Stacy understands that being Firewise is an ongoing process that includes a property maintenance program using the Firewise principles. This effort is being filmed for a later documentary on the Home and Garden Network (HGTV). New NWCG Chair and Vice Chair elected The National Wildland Coordinating Group has elected Jim Stires as the new Chairperson. Jim, Chief of the Branch of Fire Management with the Bureau of Indian Affairs may be contacted at NIFC, 3833 So Development, Boise, ID, Dave Cleaves, who has become the new Vice Chair, may be contacted at the US Forest Service, Forest Fire & Atmospheric Sciences Research, POB in Washington, DC Don Artley, Past Chairperson, State Forester in Montana will soon be assuming the NASF Coordinator position at NIFC in Boise, ID. WN&N wishes each of them the best and much success in their new assignments. The NWCG is made up of representatives from the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and state forestry agencies through the National Association of State Foresters. The purpose of NWCG is to coordinate programs of the participating wildfire management agencies to avoid duplication and to provide a means of working together. The group provides a formalized system to agree upon standards of training, equipment, qualifications, and other operational functions. The NWCG operates through 13 Working Teams and Advisory Groups. An NWCG member serves as a representative on each working team and carries working team recommendations back to the parent body to be addressed and acted upon. Firewise welcomes Cheryl Blake Firewise welcomes Cheryl Blake as the Manager of Firewise Publications. Her responsibilities include the production and delivery of video programs, books and other materials to support the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program. Cherylís background in continuing education, the preparation of and development of materials, proposal development, budgeting, contract negotiation, and NFPA operations will greatly add to the capability of NFPA and the National Program in meeting the needs of the thousands of communities identified as at risk from wildfire. *Since 1986, NFPA International has been a contributing member and managing organization of the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program through cooperative agreements with the USDA Forest Service. IAWF Launches New Website The IAFC has launched a new website, as the official site of the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF). The IAFC has been providing professional management services for the IAWF since late 2000.

5 5 WILDFIRENEWS& NOTES Volume 16 Number 2 CALENDAR WILDFIRENEWS& NOTES Volume 16 Number 2 5 Following are events of note. Be sure to mark the date on your calendar! Upcoming Firewise Communities Workshops Lake George, NY...Sept , 2002 Albuquerque, NM...September 10-12, 2002 Oklahoma City, OK...Oct , 2002 Medford, OR...Late March 2003 Colorado...Early April 2003 Seattle, WA...Late April 2003 Nashville, TN...Late September 2003 Boise, ID...Late October 2003 Santa Fe, NM...November 2003 Washington DC...April 2004 Prescott, Arizona Fire:Timber Ridge Avoids Disaster REGISTER ON-LINE NOW! Each month, the Firewise website ( receives 115,000 hits. And 3,700 have already subscribed to receive each issue of Wildfire News & Notes online, so they never miss a single issue. Keep abreast of the latest news in the wildland/urban interface. Register NOW! To subscribe, simply go to and click on Wildfire News & Notes...Subscribe. Then fill in your address in the window provided and press Submit. You ll never miss another issue of Wildfire News & Notes! National Fire Protection Association One Batterymarch Park P.O. BOX 9101 Quincy, MA During the recent Prescott Arizona fire, where over 1,000 fire fighters were deployed to attack the fire, 5 homes and 2 outbuildings were lost and burning 1,300 acres. The Firewise Community of Timber Ridge along with other surrounding communities was asked by fire officials to evacuate Wednesday May 15. Residents of Timber Ridge were allowed to return home Friday May 17th. A representative of the Prescott Fire Department has told us that the homes lost did not provide any defensible space. Prior to the fire, Timber Ridge residents had been working hard to be pro-active in preparing for a possible wildland-urban interface fire. They began with holding a Firewise Homeowner s meeting to address questions relating to homeowners insurance, home evacuation, and fuels management. The City of Prescott Fire Department has assisted residents in assessing their property and providing fuel-hazard reduction support with the chipping operation and cleanup allowing residents to establish defensible space. As the fire crew goes through Timber Ridge, signs will be placed on approved property and identified with a sign Approved Firewise Lot. For more information on the Firewise Communities program please call your state forester or visit the Firewise website at SPONSORED BY: