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10/22/2004

Interagency Fire Program Management Standards Webcast Archives

On October 21st, 2004 the Interagency Fire Program Management webcast addressed the new Interagency Fire Program Qualifications Standards and Implementation Plan that became effective October 1, 2004. The material covered is essential for current fire personnel including initial attack dispatchers, engine foremen, senior firefighters, and fire managers, those who aspire to management roles in the fire program; and Human Resources and training personnel.

The webcast will be available for the next two months.

Link to archives

10/08/2004

OUTREACH
Fire Training - Career Development
2005 Redding Interagency Hotshot Crew Opportunity

Are you interested in becoming a Type 1 Interagency Hotshot (IHC)?

The Redding Interagency Hotshot Crew Leadership Development Program is offering an intensive leadership training opportunity targeted specifically for fire management career/career conditional employees who are potential or current fire line supervisors and have been recognized as individuals who will excel in a fire management career.

Applications for 15 positions are now being accepted thru December 10, 2004 for the upcoming fire season. The following announcement explains the hiring process and contains all the information needed to apply for a crew member position with the Redding IHC. More information can be acquired by contacting the the North Zone Training Unit, at (530) 226-2722 or (530) 226-2724.

Announcement: (MS Word) (PDF File)

9/27/04

Five photos of trees and bushes that have changed to their fall colors. As the fall outdoor recreation season begins, don’t let the change of season fool you into thinking fire danger is over. As you head out to go hunting, fall color watching, or taking a short ride in the mountains you should know that fire bans may still be in effect on federal lands, so use caution. Conditions remain very dry, so take extra steps to prevent wildfires.

Hunters, campers, and hikers are urged to follow some simple guidelines.

Follow all public-use restrictions and access closures. It is important to check with local agencies about any closures before going to the outdoors.
Don’t leave campfires unattended or abandon. Nationwide, 85 percent of all wildfires are caused by humans, and unattended or abandoned fires are to blame for many of them.
Be careful with gas lanterns, barbecue grills, gas stoves or anything that could possibly ignite a wildfire.
Park vehicles only over bare ground or pavement. Exhaust systems can heat up to over 1,000 degrees and ignite adjacent grasses and shrubs.
Make sure chainsaws, ATVs and motorcycles have spark arrestors. Before heading outdoors, clean the spark arrester on any recreational vehicles to reduce the chance of a spark starting a wildfire.
Keep cigarette butts in the car. Embers that would go out in normal years could start a fire in this year’s unprecedented dry conditions.
Do not dump ashes or charcoal where they could start a fire, and douse them completely with water before disposal.
Do not use camp stoves inside a tent. Even the most cautious camper can knock over a stove, risking starting a major fire and losing his or her life.
Be ready to stop fires. Carry a shovel and water as you head into the wild, and know how to use them to put out a fire.
To report a fire, call 9-1-1.

9/24/04

Alaska Division of Forestry

Oregon Dept. of Forestry

National Park Service

FEMA

7/6/02

Forest Service and University of Wisconsin
Develop New Tools

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) releases new scientific maps depicting the communities and lands within the wild land urban interface (WUI) across the lower 48 states. This is the first consistent nationwide representation of the WUI and makes possible mapping and analysis at national, state and local levels.

For more information visit http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/Library/WUILibrary.asp

7/2/04

Aerial Resources for
Wildland Fire Operations Information
(Large Airtanker)

For complete details visit http://www.nifc.gov/nr_airtanker-contracts.html.

For further information contact Rose Davis or Anne Jeffery, Public Affairs at the National Interagency Fire Center at (208) 387-5437 or (208) 387-5458.

6/24/04

Minimum Age for Firefighting

In August 2003, the Fire and Aviation Directors for the federal wildland fire agencies and the National Association of State Foresters issued guidance that persons under 18 years old will not perform hazardous or arduous duties during wildland fire management operations on federal jurisdictions. The Forest Service position is that there is sufficient hazard that agency policy remain that we will not hire or assign 16-17 year olds to participate in fire operations on Forest Service jurisdictions, including execution of prescribed burns. More... (MS Word) (PDF File)

6/17/04

FSH 5109.17 Now Available

The Fire and Aviation Management Qualifications Handbook (FSH 5109.17) has been revised and is available electronically on the Forest Service web site at:

http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/directives/fsh/5109.17/ and to other agencies and the public on the World Wide Web at http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/5109.17/.

This handbook is the primary wildfire position qualification requirements guide for Forest Service employees.

6/17/04

2004 Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook

The revised and updated Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook is now available on the web at:

http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/ibpwtnew/ibpwtnew.htm or from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Cache ($7.77/copy).

The web site offers the choice of two formats, standard 8.5"x11" or a smaller 6.5"x8" format. The Cache will stock only the 8.5"x11" format, in a 3-ring binder. The web site also includes a summary of changes made in the 2004 revision of the Handbook.

The Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook provides basic policy and direction for incident business management, including timekeeping & pay, compensation for injury, acquisition, property management, interagency cooperation and claims.

3/2004

Radio Communication

The primary federal wildland fire agencies (BIA, BLM, NPS, USFWS, and USFS) have elected to focus special attention on radio communications in 2004. As the National Emphasis Topic, our goal is for personnel to utilize radios, including the new multi-mode radios, more effectively so that communication and safety is enhanced.

A Virtual Radio Tour web site was created to assist hand-held radio users. This web site goes through all the steps from changing a battery to the most extensive radio functions. Some of the information provided includes Communication "Watch Out" Situations, Radio Programming Pocket Guide, Programming and Cloning Procedures, Thales Terminology, and Radio Operations Etiquette. The 'Virtual Tour' makes this web site unique. You are able to look at the entire radio as it turns in front of you on the computer screen.

Virtual Tour web site.

2004

Cramer Investigation Information

2002

Thirtymile Fire Investigation Factual Reports, OSHA Citations, more info...