PAS #8

UPDATE:

Earlier today PAS #8 left on commercial flights for Missoula, Montana. They will receive the location of their assignment upon arrival. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more.

8/31/2017 1700 (1500 Crew time)

A crew member from PAS #8 sent this picture in with the update that the crew had arrived and was waiting for their assignment.

8/31/2017 2123 (1923 Crew time)

The crew member updated that PAS #8 will be assigned to the Sartin Draw Fire in eastern Montana tomorrow. An eight hour drive from Missoula.

Crew Member Photos

An engine crew member sent in these fantastic photos for submission on the blog. 

Below are some photos of the Engine Crew Members drying their gear after a storm cell blew through while they were assigned to the Mauer Mountain Fire. Unfortunately the rain didn't reach the fire itself, and chose our firefighters to pour on.

Here are some photos from a burn out Engines 604 and 601 did on the Mendenhal Fire

PAS #7

UPDATE:

PAS #7 Departed from Harrisburg on Monday 8/20/2017. For some of them it was their first time on a fire assignment, so that would make for a memorable trip. But even those who have been out before were treated to something to make their trip that much more memorable! Their flight left before the solar eclipse hit it's totality in our part of the world. 

PAS #7 loading onto buses to be transported to the Harrisburg International Airport to board the NICC Jet.

PAS #7 loading their gear into the NICC Jet in preparation for their flight.

The crew arrived safely at their destination and are currently at the Lolo Peak Fire.

Crew Member Photos

Crew members from Engine 601 provided this photo on their last night of their assignment in Miles City, Montana. 

PAS #5 and #6 Update

UPDATE:

PAS #5 and #6 returned home from California last night between 1600 and 2200. They returned on staggered flights. Upon arriving at the Mobilization Center they were fed thanks to the volunteers at the Mobilization Center. After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, they were released to their districts this morning at 0700.

Tonight, the crew members for PAS #7 will be arriving at the Mobilization Center to check in and receive necessary gear for their assignment in Montana. They will be departing via NICC jet tomorrow afternoon.

Incident Management Situation Update

The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group (NMAC) set the National Preparedness Level to 5 last week.

The NMAC establishes Preparedness Levels through the year to help assure that firefighting resources are ready to respond to new incidents. The levels are dictated by fuel and weather conditions, as well as fire activity and resource availability.

The levels range from 1 to 5 – 5 being the highest. As the levels rise, more federal and state employees become available for mobilization.

Being at Preparedness Level 5 means that national mobilization is heavily committed and measures need to be taken to support Geographic Areas. Active Geographic Areas must take emergency measures to sustain incident operations.

• Full commitment of national resources is ongoing
• Resource orders filled at NICC by specifically coordinating requests with Geographic Area Coordination Centers as resources become available
• Potential for emerging significant wildland fires is high and expected to remain high in multiple geographic areas.

The current situation report from the National Interagency Coordination Center has listed the Active Incident Resource Summary with totals as:

• ·         Fires: 104
• ·         Cumulative Acres: 815,591
• ·         Crews: 508
• ·         Engines: 879
• ·         Helicopters: 171
• ·         Total Personnel: 19,793

This year to date there have been 42,185 fires and 6,350,711 acres across the nation.

Pennsylvania currently has 2 firefighter crews consisting of 20 firefighters (each) assigned to the Minerva 5 Fire in California and 2 engine crews consisting of 4 firefighters (each) assigned to Montana. PA also has one crew listed available to assist in any further operations.

If you would like to reference the National Interagency Fire Center for more information about the Preparedness Levels or see the most current NICC Situation Report click here.

Wildland Fire Crew Update

UPDATE:

PAS#5 and PAS#6 have been reassigned to the Hayfork Ranger District in the Shasta Trinity National Forest. They have been doing some initial attack, supporting burnouts, and mopping up. 

Engines E601 and E604 did a crew swap in Miles City, MT. Extreme drought conditions and gusty winds continue to plague eastern Montana. The engines are part of an initial attack taskforce and they have been fairly busy.

Fire Camp Final Post

Hello again! Today is the final post in the fire camp series. Thank you so much for sticking with me and following along, I appreciate it!

We had completed the final event for the day successfully. Lastly was the long hike and spiking out for camp. Of course, the other lady and myself were collected and put in the vehicle for the way back. It had been a long day for everyone, and I was still tense from my anxiety attack, but I felt accomplished.

Once we made it back to where we were camping for the night it was time to set up. I used the 60 second tent my co-worker lent me, and got it done quick. I then unrolled my sleeping bag and took out the clothes I would need for the morning.

Deciding that I had plenty of time to shower and eat, I started gathering my hygiene kit. One of the females in my crew asked me to go with her in a buddy system and I agreed; another member of our crew walked down with us as well. I took a quick shower and returned to my tent, and having switched over to flip flops to give my feet some air I was fairly content.

I joined the others in the large tent with my MRE (grilled chicken breast and minestrone soup) and listened to the others chatter as they waited for theirs to heat. When I was in boot camp we never used the heaters, in my opinion it doesn’t ever make much of a difference of more than a few degrees. I didn’t bother wasting the time and dug in, ignoring some of the odd looks I was given.

I snickered when I heard our Crew Supervisor make the comment that he regretted wasting the time on the heater.  My co-worker stopped by to ask me about the day, I told him that I was still thoroughly exhausted and looking forward to curling up in my sleeping bag for the night. I finished what was left of my MRE and went to my tent; not long after my head hitting my makeshift blanket I was asleep.

The next morning I was up earlier than planned due to 1. A very loud diesel engine firing up near my tent 2. Someone saying “GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE” to literally everyone who walked by and 3. I was ready for the day to be over already. We were told breakfast was at 8, I had woken up at 6, so that gave me 2 hours to tear down camp and put my gear in the cabin to be picked up, brush my teeth and get to breakfast. I handled the first two things within an hour, and I took a lap around the camp area before deciding to take a chance that we could eat breakfast early.

Strangely enough, the breakfast hall was already open and some members of the other crews were in there eating. It was only 7:10, oh well, I grabbed my food and sat down at a table with people I recognized. I finished eating, but got up for a coffee and joined someone I knew from my crew. I sat and talked with him as he finished his food, and walked out with him to where we were gathering in the tent for our final classes.

The last class was about what to pack when going on an assignment. There are plenty of essentials to pack and then it’s down to personal preference. Of course, one also must remember the weight limit for flying. There are items that you can get once you arrive at your destination.

Once this class was over we got our reviews from our crew bosses and received our certificates of completion. I thought that I had done well for my limitations, and it seemed that my review reflected that as well. We cleaned up common areas that we used over the weekend, and then headed to the last event of the day: a final meeting.

We gathered in the amphitheater for closing remarks, and finally we were done. I had learned a lot this weekend, and it was still kind of spinning around my head in a fervor; but I did feel prepared. I didn’t feel like if I were to be assigned on a fire, that I’d be completely lost.

Speaking from a support point of view, I recommend taking this camp if you’re going to be in a support position. It would really help you to understand what the firefighters are doing and going through while on an assignment. Be prepared for it, don’t go in blind – even if you’re behind the scenes.

-Katie

Wildland Fire Crew Updates

UPDATE:

The Wildland Fire Crew had a pretty eventful week this week; it saw firefighters coming home safe and fresh crews leaving to assist in fires.

PAS#3 and PAS#4 returned from Montana on Tuesday evening, as PAS#5 and PAS#6 were assembling and heading to California for the Minerva 5 Fire. 

Crews 3 and 4 retrieve their gear from the plane.

The fifth and sixth crews to leave Pennsylvania this year were requested to fly commercial, and after two days of cancelled, postponed, and rerouted flights, all crewmembers have finally arrived at the incident. They have been assigned to the night shift.

We’ve also received requests to replace the crews on the two engines that have been assigned to Montana for the past two weeks, and those crews will leave this weekend. These engines are serving as part of a task force performing initial attack in eastern Montana.

Fire Camp Pt. 5

Hello all, we are closing in on the end of my Fire Camp "series." Just one more section after this! I do thank you for sticking with me so far.

Our final event was to learn about medical evacuations while on the fire line. We watched a video about a situation where a firefighter was injured and needed to be evacuated by helicopter. However, it was almost 12 hours before he was removed. The team relied too much on the helicopter coming, but there were many dead ends for the helicopter.

We learned how to carry a crew member out on a litter and how to make one from materials at hand as well. Our group also showed the instructors how to use our Nomex shirts to create a litter; it held light and heavy weight successfully.

Next, we ran a scenario. Our crew was once again split in half for this. We were assisting on a fire where we had to attack from two sides. One had to go up a very steep logging trail to attack the fire, and the other took a slightly less steep trail. I was on the crew on the less steep trail.

We were digging line when it came across the radio that there was a medical situation with a firefighter – she had twisted her ankle severely. We continued to work because the situation was under control. Soon after however, the situation escalated and they needed help getting her from the fire line.

We made our way off the line we had dug and made our way to the other crew. We picked up the litter that was laying at the gathering point and climbed the hill.

Then I had a problem…

My physical limitations wouldn’t have allowed me to safely carry her, myself and my tool down the side of this hill. I had problems getting up it as it were, and when I realized this I had a small anxiety attack. I let my squad leader know what was going on and explained my limitations. I then removed myself from the situation without jeopardizing the safety of myself or others.

I felt terrible that I had to bow out, but, at this point I thought to myself it’s almost over there’s not much I can mess up now. But another part of me was worried that I would fail the camp because I didn’t finish that part.

They brought her down off that steep hill in a safe manner; someone had thought to tie all the tools together and bring them down that way to give the others balance while carrying her. They signaled the helicopter (no, not a real one) in and got her evacuated swiftly.

Next week I will post the conclusion to my series! I hope you stayed tuned!

-Katie