Wildland Fire Crew Updates 8/15/2024

A direct update from Chad Northcraft, our Incident Management Specialist:

We occasionally hear the question, "Why do we send our people out west?" While it's not a common inquiry, it does come up from time to time. When it does, and if the person is willing to listen, I take the opportunity to explain how the experience we gain from large-scale incidents directly benefits situations here in the Commonwealth. A perfect example is unfolding right now: the PEMA Incident Management Team (IMT) is currently assisting Tioga County with the flood damage they sustained over the weekend. Out of the 25 or so people on this team, 16 are from forestry. This isn't a coincidence. These individuals have qualifications and experience gained directly from fire assignments. Each of them started at the bottom of their respective sections and worked their way up through dedication and experience.

The program also offers significant personal growth opportunities, allowing individuals to step into leadership roles. This growth isn’t limited to the fire line or during incidents but extends to the daily work we do. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who supports this program. Often, in these updates, I share how grateful citizens from other states are for our help, but today, I believe there are citizens in the northern part of our state who are equally thankful that we have this program.

Crew Updates:

• PA-PAS – Keystone: Returned home.
• PA-PAS – E-603: Currently stationed at the Wenatchee River Ranger District in Washington. They’re engaged in Initial Attack operations and have responded to several small fires. We’ve extended the crew’s assignment to allow more time for qualified resources to become available.
• PA-PAS – Liberty: Returned home.
• PA-PAS – Independence: Today marks their final workday. Despite the district’s request to keep them on, we couldn’t arrange a crew swap due to a shortage of qualified personnel. While we have plenty of willing FFT2s, we lacked the necessary overhead and fallers to form a complete crew. As a result, they’ll be driving home and are expected to arrive sometime over the weekend. They’ll complete demobilization tomorrow, and I’ll update everyone with the details as I receive them.
• PA-PAS – Anthracite: This crew has moved from the Rocky Mountain GACC to the Great Basin GACC and is now assigned to the Middle Fork Complex (formerly the Bulldog Fire). They’ve been putting in long hours, doing the hard work that crews do: digging, burning, mopping up, dragging hose, and occasionally catching some rest. Photos from the crew:

Single Resources:

• Total number of resources for the year: 55
• Total number currently on assignment: 12

Incident Management Team:

• 16 resources assigned.
• Currently getting up and running, I will have a better update on the next one.

INVF Assignment

Today we would like to take the time to present you all with something a little different. Recently we had one of our own utilize his training and experience to make an arrest as well as help with many investigations while on an out of state assignment. Here we have something from him, in his own words on this recent assignment. So, sit back and enjoy this account from Jacob Novitsky, a fire forester in Forest District 18.

"Imagine receiving a call from a dispatch center asking for your assistance in solving how a wildland fire started. This particular fire started more than 2,500 miles away from your hometown. The weather, not quite like home, is 117 degrees Fahrenheit with 8 percent humidity, and it hasn’t rained in months. Winds are variable at 8-10 mph, with gusts to 15. Furthermore, wildfires have been popping up more and more over the past few weeks in and around the area.

When you are about 15 miles out, you start seeing a large plume of smoke rising out of the valley - and you’re headed right for it. While driving, you pass tons of cacti and they seem to wave “Hi,” welcoming you as you fly down State Route 72.

As you get closer and closer, you start documenting what color the smoke is, what direction the column is leaning, and what times you start witnessing these signs. This happens as you try to stay the course as your GPS directs you where to turn - and you’re simultaneously talking on the phone with local volunteer fire companies.

Finally getting to your destination, you meet the Incident Commander (IC) where you find yourself right in the middle of a burn-out operation. It is here where you get a briefing where you learn that the fire started somewhere down that way, near a residence. At first you think it could be a dream, but it wasn’t.

Just a few weeks ago this happened to me. I was able to go out on my first single resource assignment as an INVF (Wildland Fire Investigator) under the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The trip was to Arizona, where I was based in the city of Chandler just outside of Phoenix. For this assignment, I was able to do 21 working days.

I served as a regional INVF resource and worked with multiple dispatches, and covered Indian reservations, along with federal and state lands. When a wildfire would occur in this region and an INVF was needed, they would dispatch me to determine the O&C (Origin and Cause). I investigated approximately three dozen wildfires while I was there. The causes included debris burning, equipment use, lightning, power line, and incendiary.

During this assignment, I have seen how much my training, in-state and out-of-state experience, and mentoring has helped me become a great INVF. Having opportunities to go on out of state assignment, let it be single resource, engine, or hand crew greatly increases the learning curve. I started out at an FFT2. I worked my way up, step by step, moving up the ladder to faller, squad boss (ITC5), crew boss, and other single resource positions. This gave me a well-rounded look at what we do, how we do it, and why we do what we do.

On my recent assignment, I had the training and experience not only to determine my O&C but notice when things weren’t lining up. I was able to determine where a wildfire started, how it was started, and find out who started it.

I was able to interview, interrogate, and get a signed confession of the individual responsible for starting a wildfire that measured approximately 80 acres. It was my first arrest outside of Pennsylvania.

With our agency allowing us to go and have these experiences, we are not just gaining knowledge but helping other agencies as well. Not only was I able to make an arrest for arson, but I was able to mentor one of their own investigators. He now has more knowledge and experience that he can take and help out his own agency."

Independence Wildland Fire Crew Photos - Shirley Fire

Good morning! 

Crew members from the Independence crew have sent photos from the Shirley fire to share with all of you. Sit back and enjoy! 

The Liberty WFC returned home Wednesday (8/7/2024). Anthracite is assigned to the Bulldog fire. Independence is assigned to the Shirley fire.

 

Independence Wildland Fire Crew Photos

Good morning!

We have a quick treat for all of you! Photos from the Independence WFC have been sent to us to share with all of you. These photos are from the Nelson Draw fire in Montana.

The Keystone WFC has returned home, Liberty is on Preposition, Independence is still assigned to the Nelson Draw fire, and Anthracite headed out early this morning (8/5/2024).

Wildland Fire Crew Updates

The season remains busy across the west, and Pennsylvania is actively supporting the high demand for resources. This week, we are planning personnel swaps for one of our crews (Keystone) and our engine (E-603). For those interested in national numbers, you can find useful information on the NICC website. Although it's a bit early in the season for the Northwest to be experiencing this much activity, it is more surprising that the Southwest remains at a Level 3, as this should be their monsoon season. Here is an overview of our current resource assignments:

• PA-PAS – Keystone: This crew is currently in Miles City on preposition. They have been assigned to two different fires: the Sawlog Fire on Crow Nation land and the Badger Fire, which burned from Wyoming into Montana. The crew is currently rehabbing equipment for the Independence Crew, with whom they will swap later in the week.
• PA-PAS – E-603: Currently assigned to the Cle Elum Ranger District in the Wenatchee National Forest. The area has experienced several dry lightning storms in recent weeks, resulting in multiple fires. E-603 is still engaged in initial attack efforts and nightly patrols. Attached is a photo that was taken by the current ENGB on 603.

• PA-PAS – Liberty: The crew has recently returned to preposition after spending a few days on the Owen Fire in Wyoming. We are planning their crew swap for next week, with more details to follow.
• PA-PAS – Independence: This crew is gathering Monday night to fly out early Tuesday morning for the swap with Keystone. They will be assigned to the same preposition.

Single Resources:

• Total number of resources for the year: 36
• Total number currently on assignment: 21
  

Human Factors - 2024 Week of Remembrance

The last topic is about human factors and how we can honor the fallen through learning. While the Week of Remembrance was spent reflecting on the 2018 Mendocino Complex, the last day (July 6, 2024) is also spent remembering the Fallen 14 who lost their lives on the Storm King Mountain 30 years ago (1994) in the South Canyon Fire.

“How do we honor these days and the people involved through learning? How can we better equip ourselves to recognize and navigate within similar events when they repeat?”

“The Mendocino Entrapment Facilitated Learning Analysis closing remarks observe that adaptability and planning led firefighters to make life-saving decisions in the face of extreme fire behavior and incredible urgency. Likewise, each fire season firefighters effectively maneuver through countless uncertain and high-risk situations. The same human factors we associate with an unintended or undesirable outcome in one instance, may also be our greatest asset in another situation. That is to say, the human factor is present in everything we do – independent of the outcome. To be honest students of fire, we, the fire community, must also be students of our own thinking. Through reflection, curiosity, humble inquiry and open dialogue, our greatest asset can flourish.”

There is a plethora of environmental factors that are out of our control such as weather, terrain, other drivers, etc. However, we have influence over human factors such as our physical fitness, which is frequently the main focus of fire training. We must also take time to invest in our mental fitness as well.

Take time to build awareness and understanding of the way you and your team think. If you are interested, click here for further resources. Explore the following questions and feel free to engage in the comments.

• Beliefs – How do you respond when someone voices a value or belief contrary to your own? What role does curiosity play in maintaining a willingness to challenge your own beliefs or better understand someone else’s? 
• Communication – How can we include quieter voices in all conversations? How do you know when you need to speak up?
• Perspective – How do you systematically check for blind spots in your thinking? How do we keep our ears and minds open to new ideas?
• Planning – How can reflection improve future planning? How could your planning become more robust if you were to pause and consider the above questions about beliefs, communication, and perspective before taking action?
• Training – What would it look like to dedicate more time and effort to our mental fitness? Take a moment with your team and brainstorm some ideas for daily mental fitness “PT” (e.g., tactical decision games, sand tables, incident reviews, etc.).

Barriers to Refusing Risk - 2024 Week of Remembrance

Day six is about barriers to refusing risk, once again the NWCG site for this does a perfect job of discussing the topic. Looking over the interviews for the FLA of the Mendocino Complex Entrapment it was noticed that there were several common themes concerning day six’s topic, specifically urgency and speaking up. There’s not much I would change, nor really could change, about how they wrote it. With that, come along with us once again as we read about today’s topic.

“During the burnout operations, a sudden wind shift and explosive fire growth occurred, and personnel were cut off from their escape routes. Most of the firefighters moved back to their vehicles to exit the area. However, six individuals farther down the dozer line were forced to run in front of the advancing flame front, through unburned fuels to a nearby dirt road for approximately one mile before they were picked up and transported for treatment.”
— Mendocino Complex Entrapment Facilitated Learning Analysis (FLA).

URGENCY: Real and Perceived
“What are we doing here? Why are we burning? Where are our escape routes? I have a really bad feeling.  This is not good. What is the fire doing? It’s dicey but it might be doable.” Resources assigned to DIV H burnout, Mendocino Complex Entrapment FLA.

SPEAKING UP: Creating an environment that promotes safety
“I should have spoken up sooner. When I drove up, I should have voiced more that this was not a viable plan.” Overhead, Mendocino Complex Entrapment FLA.
 

If you would like to see more resources click here, and we have more discussion questions for you. Feel free to engage in the comments or use them to engage others in your unit.

• Operating in the wildland fire system is inherently risky on its own. When we add a sense of urgency to the system, how might that affect one’s decision-making processes [with regards to risk]?
• What conversations need to occur prior to/during an operational tempo increase to manage our assumption of risk?
• How do you ensure your instructions and assignments are clear? (18 Watchout Situations, #6)
• How can a leader encourage their followers to speak up and contribute to the good of the crew even when using a directing leadership style? How does a follower do so when their thoughts or observations contradict their leader?