SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW-----GEM COUNTY WILDLAND FIRE EXERCISE

Gem County Wildland Fire Exercise

Ola Community Center

April 24, 2013

0930 – 0945		Welcome and Introductions – Dan Christman
0945 – 0955		Present Fire Scenario
0955 – 1015		Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements
1015 – 1030		Extended Attack, Incident Complexity Analysis, Ordering a Team
1030 – 1045		Break
1045 – 1100		Wildland Fire Decision Support System Introduction
1100 – 1130		Delegation of Authority/Team In-Briefing
1130 – 1200		Fire Management Assistance Grant / Air Guard Request
1200 – 1300		Lunch ($10.00 / person)
1300 – 1330		Fire Business - Documentation
1330 – 1400		MOU’s / Mutual Aid Agreements
1400 – 1415		Break
1415 – 1445		Structure Protection Authorities and Responsibilities
1445 – 1530 1530 - 1545		Cost Share Agreements  After Action Review and Close-out

Gem County Wildland Fire Exercise

Squaw Creek Fire

August 23, 2013

Present Fire Scenario; Initial Attack- Julia Sullens

It is late afternoon and a dry lightning storm with high winds has passed over the Boise District Bureau of Land Management (BOD) earlier the same day.   A red flag warning has been issued to continue over the next three (3) days.  Several fires have been reported on BLM protection as well as new starts on the Mountain Home Ranger District on the Boise National Forest (BOF). Both agencies are busy dealing with new fires in their protection areas.  The leading edge of the storm has passed north of Squaw Butte heading northeast.

The local Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (agency leads) has been called together to prioritize wildfires and direct initial attack (IA) resources with the Boise Dispatch Center.  The majority of IA resources, including aircraft, are committed to other fires. Competition for aircraft and handcrews is high due to large fires burning in the eastern great basin. Most resource orders will take two to three days to fill through the dispatch system.  

A new fire has been reported south of Ola near Squaw Creek drainage and is threatening structures.  The main fire is thirty-acres in size actively burning in grass and sage brush.  The fire is spreading rapidly influenced by 35 to 40 mph wind gusts.  Gem County 2 Fire Protection District (FPD) personnel are on scene requesting agency resources through Gem County Dispatch.  

The fire started on state land in BLM protection, and quickly moved onto private land. This is a priority fire for the Boise Dispatch Center.  Additional resources responding include law enforcement, local Rural Fire Departments (RFD), and utility companies.  

Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements – Bob Shindelar, Jim Newton  

Extended Attack, Complexity Analysis, and Ordering an IMT- Julia Sullens

The fire continues to be pushed by 25 to 30 mph winds minimizing any control efforts.  The fire has jumped the Sweet/Ola highway onto Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) protection and is now over 500 acres in size. Two structures are lost and the community of Ola is threatened. Early into the night, under Unified Command, an Incident Complexity Analysis has been completed. The Type 3 Incident Commander in consultation with the BLM and IDL Duty Officers is requesting a Type 2 Incident Management Team to take over command of the fire.  The IDL Fire Bureau in Coeur d’ Alene has notified the Bureau of Homeland Security (BHS) of the situation. The Geographic Coordination Center has filled the request from Boise Dispatch with a Type 2 Incident Management Team.  The team will arrive the morning of the 25^th for an in-briefing from the Agency Administrator(s).       

Gem County Wildland Fire Exercise

Squaw Creek Fire

August 23, 2013

Complexity Analysis – Steve Acarregui (Type 3 Incident Commander), Rick Finis (Incident Operations)

Break

WFDSS Presentation- Justin Boeck (Fire Planner)

In-Briefing / Delegation of Authority to the IMT2 – Tom Romanello (Type 2 Deputy Incident Commander) 

Current Situation Update – Steve Acarregui (Type 3 Incident Commander)

It’s the morning of the 25^th and the fire is approaching 1,500 acres in size.  The fire has burned over BLM, State, and private ownership, and is quickly approaching the community of Ola from the south. Forest Service land is also being threatened.   

Safety concerns include the public (evacuation and structure protection), high rates of spread, flashy fuels, rocky slopes, access, livestock, infrastructure, limited resources and overhead. Heavy smoke along with high winds hampers visibility ahead of the fire.

Air support (air tankers and helicopters) has been limited due to higher priorities on other fires. 

Outlying homeowners have been notified along with the residents in Ola and High Valley.     

Fire Weather and Fire Behavior Update – Chuck Redman (Fire Meteorologist)

Agency Administrator Briefing and Delegation of Authority – Steve Douglas, Andy Delmas (Line Officers) 

The Agency Administrator conducts the in-briefing to the IMT2.  Discussion points include approval of the Fire Management Assistance Grant along with suppression tactics on private ownership.  

Fire Management Assistance Grant / Air Guard – Fred Apt, Jim Newton, Chris Eden (Trigger Points)

Lunch

Documentation – Wendy Walters, Carol Salo, Lee Ann Evans (Incident Business Advisors)

Gem County Wildland Fire Exercise

Squaw Creek Fire

August 23, 2013

IDL Memorandum of Understanding / Mutual Aid Agreements – Jim Newton, Steve Acarregui

 Break

Structure Protection Authorities and Responsibilities – Mark Larson, Jim Newton

Discussion includes distinction between structure protection and/or suppression resources and who has the authority, responsibility, and pays the cost; coordination between the Type 2 Incident Commander, Gem County Emergency Coordinator, Sheriff, and Gem County 2 Fire Chief.   

Cost Share Agreements – Wendy Walters, Carol Salo, Lee Ann Evans   

After Action Review and Close-Out – Dan Christman