Wildland Fire Crew Updates 9/20/2021

Our last crew, Penns Woods, returned home from their assignment Saturday 9/11/2021. Their last assignment was with the Greenwood Fire in Minnesota.

E-604 worked their last shift Saturday 9/11 and began travel home on Sunday 9/12. Their last station was at Montana's NE Land Office in Glasgow, MT.

E-603, currently assigned to the Greenwood fire in Minnesota, has been extended. Their last shift will be 9/22. Some photos sent to us from one of the operators of E-603:

"603 is working on the Greenwood Fire near Isabella, MN, Division Alpha, working hot spots near DP15. Fire creeps and smolders through the thick, deep peat. Rain does not really slow it down much, as the peat shelters the heat. This picture is of a swamp that dried out and burned. It was burned weeks ago and already has green grass."

There are no plans at this time to send out any other crews or engines.

Let’s take a moment to discuss our Wildland Fire Crewmembers. By now you may have gathered the basics about our crews – 20 member crews that meet qualifications to take out-of-state assignments. So, let’s talk about their qualifications and duties. There is a Crew Boss who is in charge of the whole crew, three squad bosses (Firefighter Type 1) who are in charge of no more than 6 including a squad boss trainee, faller, and 3 FFT2s. Three squads of 6 plus CRWB and CRWB(t) or Crew Representative, whose job it is to make sure the crewmembers have everything they need and can represent the agency to make agency-specific decisions; ensure established guidelines are followed by all assigned crews, including work/rest and agency safety standards and procedures; advise CRWB on how to obtain logistical support and/or make necessary arrangements for logistical support; and facilitate special transportation needs.

They have several pieces of training required by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group that they need to complete.

The S-190: Introduction to Wildland Behavior, this is a foundational fire behavior course that introduces the firefighter to the basic concepts of wildland behavior such as wildland fire environment components, how fuels, weather, and topography affect fire behavior and how fire behavior can affect risks to the firefighter.

The S-130: Firefighter Training, which is meant to train new firefighters in basic firefighting skills. This gives them the Standard Firefighting Orders and Watch Out Situations, the Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones (LCES) system, tools and equipment, methods for extinguishing a fire, and the ability to construct fire line. Every year they must attend a refresher course for the S-130.

The L-180: Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service, which introduces firefighters to human performance concepts as part of basic wildland firefighter training. This involves an interactive simulation where firefighters practice decision-making skills in a high-risk environment.

They must also complete two courses provided by FEMA. The ICS-100: Introduction to ICS, gives them the basic concepts of the Incident Command System. IS-700: NIMS, An Introduction, which gives them a basic understanding of the National Incident Management System.

They also must meet the arduous work requirements. This includes passing a work capacity test (pack test) which consists of completing a 3-mile walk over level terrain in 45 minutes or less while carrying a 45-pound pack.  

Some of their duties include suppression, preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. They can help perform engine activities such as laying out the hose and running the pump. They also pack heavy loads of food, water, and tools for miles over rough terrain in hot and smoky conditions to get to the worksite. They can also perform pump operator duties such as site selection, set up, and operation.