2020 PA-PAS Wildland Fire Program Annual Report

 We would like to take the time to share with you the 2020 Annual Report from the Pennsylvania Wildland Fire Program. For those of you who don’t know, our program protects 16 million acres of forest lands, 10 million acres of Wildland-Urban Interface, and we have 1,000 volunteer forest fire wardens and 373 fire-qualified employees. The wildland fire program safely and effectively manages wildland fire to enhance and protect life, property, and natural resources for the public benefit within Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania’s 2020 wildfire season kicked off early, with many fires in February. As the spring fire season progressed, weather conditions changed, and numbers dropped. Fall fire season was relatively active, recording over three times the ten-year average. The largest wildfire reported occurred in November and totaled just over 800 acres.

The Seven Pines Wildfire started on November 7, 2020, in Monroe County and burned 812 acres. Personnel from the PA Game Commission, the National Park Service, NJ Forest Fire Service, and local volunteers provided significant assistance. Photo courtesy Matt Reed.

The statistics for 2020 look like this:

·         1,508 wildfires

·         3,021 acres burned

·         99.5% of wildfires were human-caused

·         17 structures destroyed

·         12 injuries, 2 fatalities

·         10-year average: 750 wildfires for 3,500 acres 

We have some nationally-recognized Firewise USA Communities:

·         Big Bass Lake (District 11)

·         Hemlock Farms (District 19)

·         Penn Forest Streams (District 18)

·         Treasure Lake (District 9)

Even though COVID-19 mitigation measures limited the amount of our traditional public contact programs, we were still able to put on 50 wildfire prevention activities/events throughout the year.

Our Type 3 Incident Management Teams did have a busy season with COVID-19:

·         48 DCNR personnel assisted with Community Based Testing Sites from March-June

·         2 testing centers were set up and maintained for several months

·         Several truck loads of supplies were delivered

DCNR staff assisting PA National Guard and others at a Community Based Testing Site in Montgomery County. Photo courtesy John Hecker.

This year 145 volunteer fire organizations were awarded Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grants totaled $741,735. These grants were for the purchase of wildland firefighting personal protective equipment and firefighting equipment.

Congratulations to Bill Corbin of the Bald Eagle Forest District! He received the 2019 Arthur N. Creelman Memorial Award for his work in wildfire prevention throughout the mid-state area. Great job Bill!

Statistics for the Fire Cache for 2020:

·         100,000 items received

·         70,000 items issued

·         23,000 delivery miles

·         The cache supported mobilization of crews, engines, overhead, and training as well as the attainment and distribution of COVID-19 PPE.

Over 1,000 items valued at $1.5 million were obtained through the federal excess programs for distribution to local fire departments.

Despite significant risks and challenges, all personnel in the Pennsylvania Wildland Fire Crew were able to return safe and sound after providing assistance to our partners in other states:

·         5 Twenty-Person Hand Crews

·         2 Type 6 Wildland Fire Engines

·         71 Single-Resource Overhead Assignments

·         172 Total Resources Assigned

 

Air Operations this year was quiet, but we still flew some (statistics for both tanker bases, and helicopters):

·         7 wildfires supported

·         8,200 gallons dropped

·         19 hours flight time

·         34 hours flown for fire reconnaissance

Wildland Fire Training and Qualifications statistics for 2020:

·         25 classroom training sessions

·         456 students completed classroom courses

·         164 students completed online training courses

·         373 students completed refresher training, RT-130

·         61 position task books issues

·         44 position task books completed

Some updates from DCNR radio: installation of new P25 radio equipment continues; approximately one half of the Department has been converted by the end of 2020, and the entire Department is scheduled to be converted by July 1, 2021.

Our Prescribed Fire Program was shut down in early spring and again in the fall due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Prior to the shutdowns 15 prescribed burns covering 526 acres of DCNR lands were completed.

Prescribed fire on the Tioga State Forest, November 2020. Photo courtesy Brian Plume.

Search and Rescue statistics:

·         26 searches reported in 2020

·         16 individuals located, the other 10 self-extracted

·         DCNR personnel and cooperators invested 1,077 hours in Search and Rescue

·         Zero fatalities!

Congratulations to Jim Stiteler (Forest District 17) on his selection as the 2020 recipient of the PA Wildland Fire Leadership Award. Jim is a Type 2 Planning Section Chief and Burn Boss and a contributor on the national and local level. Great job Jim!

DCNR would like to thank everyone who assisted the wildland fire program in 2020, especially our valuable network of volunteers. We could not succeed without your dedication and service!

2021 Mid-Atlantic Compact Fire Academy

We have had many hurdles to overcome in the past year, with training having to, unfortunately, be canceled. We would like to start spring off with a little good news in the form on the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Compact Fire Academy!

Registration for the Mid-Atlantic Compact Fire Academy in McHenry, MD is now open for compact members. The 2021 Academy will look substantially different than in previous years, due to COVID still being prevalent, some adjustments needed to be made. The 2021 course offering will include nine classes taught virtually and six classes taught in-person in the normal classroom/field setting. As of now, out-of-state travel to the academy IS NOT permitted. A request to allow out-of-state travel to attend the academy has been submitted. If/when permission is given Fire Protection will let you know. Until that time please DO NOT register for in-person classes until permission has been given. All virtual courses have been approved by NWCG and credit will be given to those who successfully complete these courses as if they were delivered in-person. Students interested in taking any of the courses delivered virtually are encouraged to do so. The course matrix found on the academy website (and below) will guide you as to which classes are delivered virtually and in-person. To be sure compact members receive priority over other states and agencies, registration will remain closed to others until March 22, 2021. Contact your primary fire personnel or Michael Becker to receive the code to register for classes, once you receive the code you can register by clicking here. Be sure to use the I am a Compact Member and Have a Code option.

Classes being offered are:

·         FI-210 WF Origin and Cause Determination*

·         IROC for Dispatchers

·         L-280 Followership to Leadership*

·         L-380 Fireline Leadership*

·         RX-410 Smoke Management Techniques*

·         M-410 Facilitative Instructor*

·         S-130 Firefighter Training*

·         S-211 Portable Pumps

·         S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws

·         S-215 Fire Operations in the Wildland Urban Interface

·         S-219 Firing Operations

·         S-230 Crew Boss*

·         S-231 Engine Boss

·         S-270 Basic Air Operations* (Two Options are Given)

·         S-390 Introduction to Wildland Fire Calculations

Classes in Italics are Virtual Based Classes

Classes with a * require pre-course work; descriptions can be found here.

Defensible Space - Home Ignition Zone 3

The third home ignition zone (or Extended Zone) is 30-100 feet and out to 200 feet from your home.

Dispose of any heavy amounts of debris and litter, remove of any dead plant and tree material. If you have any small conifers growing in between your mature trees you should consider removing them. As always remove any vegetation that may be surrounding any buildings in this area.

It is recommended that trees 30-60 feet from the home should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops, and trees that are 60-100 feet from your home should have at least 6 feet between canopy tops. These distances are suggested based on NFPA 1144. However, the crown spacing needed to reduce or prevent crown fire potential could be greater due to slope, the species of trees involved and other site-specific conditions. It is a good idea to check with your local forestry professional to get advice on what’s appropriate for your property.

Some additional things to consider is to be prepared inside the home and within your family for fire. Have a checklist of certain fire safety needs within your home, you should be able to find these at your local fire department. Some things to have on your checklist are:

o   Develop an evacuation plan and practice fire drills – make sure your family understands the escape routes, meeting points, and other details

o   Maintain smoke detectors and fire extinguishers

o   Prepare a grab and go emergency kit that will last at least 3 days – include family and pet’s needs such as cash, water, clothing, food, first aid and prescriptions

o   Make sure an outside water supply is available – if it’s safe have a hose and nozzle available outside that will reach all parts of the house.

               

Check out this link to watch a short video about preparing your home for wildfires! 

Defensible Space - Home Ignition Zone 2

 Continuing from our previous post which covered Zone 1, we are going to discuss Home Ignition Zone 2 (or the Intermediate Zone). You may have heard these tips before, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded and go over it again.

Zone 2 is 5-30 feet from the furthest exterior point of your home. Landscaping and hardscaping are key elements here – employ these to create breaks that can help influence and even decrease the spread of a wildfire. Create fuel breaks using driveways, walkways, and patios.

Keep lawns trimmed to a height of four inches or less, and remove any ladder fuels so that a surface fire can’t spread to the tops of trees. Prune your trees 6-10 feet from the ground and make sure your trees have a minimum of 20 feet space between crowns. If you are planting trees, they should be arranged so that mature crowns are a minimum of ten feet away from the edge of your home. Tree and shrubs in this zone should be limited to small clusters to allow breaks in vegetation.

If you have any, move trailers, recreational vehicles, storage sheds, propane tanks, and other combustible items or structures out of this zone. If you are unable to move them, create intentional defensible space around them – trim vegetation and use landscaping to your advantage.

Defensible Space - Home Ignition Zone 1

You may remember back in April when we discussed Wildland Urban Interface month, there was the mention of concentric safety zones around your home regarding creating a defensible space. The end goal here is to cover each Home Ignition Zone, which may include tips and tricks you have or have not seen previously.

The first Home Ignition Zone is Zone 1 (or Immediate Zone), which is 0-5 feet around your home or to the property line. This zone includes the building itself, any deck/patio/balcony, or another outside entertaining space that touches your home, fencing (particularly where it meets the building), and immediate landscaping. 

An easy way to create defensible space in zone 1 is to remove weeds, brush, and other vegetation and debris. An option to consider while you’re doing your spring gardening is to use non-combustible rock mulch in place of standard mulch. Trim grass to 4 inches or less in height and try to maintain that through the summer. Trim back tree branches to at least 10 feet from your home if they are touching or overhang the building. Firewood and other combustibles should be stored farther from the structure. 

 

Vents and eaves are another place to keep an eye on as they can provide places for embers to gather and ignite in any combustible materials that are stuck there. An option to consider is to enclose the eaves, if that’s not something you want to do, make sure you clean out the eaves. Put a noncombustible screen across any vents, and make sure to keep the mesh clear of any debris. Roofs and gutters are particularly vulnerable surfaces, as embers can lodge here and start a fire. Regularly cleaning your roof and gutters of debris, installing gutter guards or screens, and blocking off any points of entry on your roof will all help harden your home. 

 

When it comes to decks and patios clean between the boards, underneath, and areas against the building. Consider constructing lattice or screening under porches and decks to keep leaves from collecting underneath. Something to consider is to keep planters, baskets, and other arrangements off the area during the fire season. You should also avoid storing combustible materials on the patio or deck.

 

To watch a video that shows the differences taking the time to create a defensible space in home ignition zone 1 can make, click here.

Fire Prevention Week - Debris Burning

 Our main source of preventable fires is caused by the general public. Some things that these fires result from are: campfires (as well as hunter’s warming fires), children, equipment use (cars, trucks and SUVs usually exhaust related; chainsaws, lawnmowers most often strike related), fireworks, miscellaneous (firearms, exploding targets, etc.) and debris burning.

In Pennsylvania, a wildfire that starts from debris burning is defined as: a wildfire spread from clearing land, burning trash, dumps, vegetation, logging slash or other prescribed burning. It is important to remember how to properly burn your debris so that a wildfire doesn’t result.

As part of Fire Prevention Week, we (with some help from the one and only Smokey Bear) would like to provide you with some helpful information to safely burn debris both now and in the future.

1.       Check conditions – don’t burn when its windy or if vegetation is very dry

2.       Check local regulations – a permit to burn may be required

3.      Watch what you burn – burn natural vegetation, it’s not a good idea to burn household trash,     plastic or tires (and may even be illegal to burn in some locations)

4.       Never burn beneath objects (i.e. powerlines, overhanging branches)

5.       Look around – the site should be surrounded by gravel or dirt at least 10 feet in all directions, keep the surrounding area watered down and have a shovel nearby

6.       Keep your pile small and manageable – you can add more as the other burns down

7.      If you’re using a burn barrel, make sure it is in good condition and made entirely out of metal, and has at least three evenly spaced, three-inch, screened vents and metal top screen.

8.     Stay with your fire until it is completely out; then drown the fire with water, turn the ashes with a shovel and douse again – repeat several times.

9.     Check the burned area regularly over the next few days, especially if the conditions are warm, dry and windy

 

Fire Prevention Week - Campfires

 October 4-10 is Fire Prevention Week, it is observed each year during the week of October 9^th in tribute of the Great Chicago Fire. The fire began on October 8, 1871, and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless, destroyed more than 17,000 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land. The National Fire Protection Association has sponsored Fire Prevention Week since 1922. To learn more about the NFPA click here.

While this year’s theme is Fire Safety in the Kitchen, remember that we also cook on grills and campfires outside.

Some tips for campfire safety, directly from Smokey Bear himself:

1.       Don’t build a campfire if the campground, area, or event prohibits them

2.       Don’t build a campfire in hazardous, dry conditions

3.       Find out if there is an existing fire pit for use

4.       If there isn’t one already there, and you can build a campfire, choose a site at least 15 feet from tent walls, shrubs, trees, or other flammable objects – and be aware of low hanging branches

5.       Choose an open, level location away from heavy fuels (i.e. logs, brush, decaying leaves)

6.       Take the wind, and its direction into account and choose a spot that is protected from gusts

To correctly build your pit follow these steps:

1.       Clear an area 10 feet in diameter of grass, twigs, leaves and firewood

2.       Dig a pit about 1 foot deep

3.       Circle the pit with rocks

To properly maintain and extinguish your campfire:

1.       Always have a source of water, bucket, and shovel nearby

2.       Keep the fire small and under control

3.       Never leave your campfire unattended

4.       Allow the wood to burn completely to ash, if possible

5.       Pour lots of water on the fire to drown all embers, continue to pour until hissing stops

6.       If you don’t have water, stir dirt or sand into the embers with a shovel to bury the fire

7.       Scrape any remaining sticks and logs with a shovel to remove embers

8.       Continue adding water, dirt or sand and stirring with a shovel until all material is cool

Remember: If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave

 Something to consider when camping on State Forest Land in Pennsylvania during the springtime:

"If a campfire is desired during spring fire season -- you must obtain permission from the district forester to have a campfire from March 1 through May 25; no campfires are permitted when the district forester determines the forest fire danger to be high, very high, or extreme."

Always check with the State Forest District Office before building a fire.