Overview of National IHC program› Organization› Authority› Mission

PNW IHC program What we are currently working on Requirements and Qualifications Common equipment, gear, and why ???

USFS roots to post-war 1940’s in So. Cal.› “Hotshot” came from the crew’s being assigned to

the “hot” portions of the fire. Currently 109 IHCs in the country, in all G.A.s NFP hiring in 2001 created around 20 new

crews› R-5 RIHC program from NFP

4 Federal land management agencies› 11 BLM, 2 NPS, 7 BIA, 85 USFS

1 Sate sponsored crew, and 1 state/fed 1 City, and 1 County sponsored crew

National IHC Steering Committee› NIHCSC chartered under the assoc. National Fire

Directors IHCOG (05/89) to SIHCO in 2009

› Signed by 4 National Fire Directors› http://www.nifc.gov/policies/IHC/index.htm

IHC MISSION STATEMENT (from the SIHCO) › The primary mission of the IHCs is to provide a

safe, professional, mobile and highly skilled hand crew for all phases of fire management and incident operations.

PNW first crew in 1960 and 4 by 196610 by 1980’sBLM in 1996, NFP in 2001, AK/USFS in 2008

First National IHC workshop hosted by PNW in Portland, 1988

Release of the National IHC Operations Guide

Last National Workshop in 2001 in RenoRevised IHCOG and new NFP IHCs

13 Pacific Northwest West IHCs› 1 USFS/AK State crew in Alaska› 2 USFS crews in Washington› 1 BLM crew in Oregon› 1 BIA crew in Oregon› 8 USFS crews in Oregon

Current chair for the group: › Neil Austin, Winema IHC

Current co-chair: › Jeff Dimke, Entiat IHC

Current PNW rep to NIHCSC:› Eric Miller, Wolf Creek IHC

New group Charter & Code› Defined advisory roles and term limits› Established a steering committee› Defined “ambassador” concept…› Revised, and renewed commitment to

Code

IHC -EMT Scope of Practice› IHC-EMTs attended IMS conference in April› Starting affiliation under Dr Jui of OHSU› Covers our EMT’s when on the line

PNWIHC Inventory / replacement form

PNWIHC and NWCC cooperation Continued work on Improving

Incident Communication› Initial identification of issues in fall of 2007› Trying to close the “gap”› PNWIHC engage with outside meetings/groups › Began using “feedback” form with PNW teams in 2008› Additional element added to DofA in 2008 fire season regarding use of feedback› Incident Communication workshop in spring of 2009› AAR in fall of 2009

› Charter revision accomplished to increase capacity

› Front-loading PNW IMT’s with IHC info› Continuing/Building relationships in

PNW, by representation at group meetings

› Beginning efforts to incorporate all resources (engines, T2 crews, national shared resources) into united effort

› 2010 AAR planned in November

18-22 crewmembers Permanent supervision Minimum of 7 permanent/career positions At minimum 80% experienced crewmembers Mobilization time under 2 hours No geographic restrictions Have assigned vehicles and all equipment needs Logistically self-sufficient with agency purchase authority Able to break down into a min. of 3 squads for IA or

other… 40 hours operational training prior to availability (PNW

80) Arrive with ability to self-support for 24 hour min.

IHCs can be used to meet management objectives other than their primary mission of wildland fire operations. Utilization of IHCs will be initiated with strict compliance to accepted interagency and agency specific safety standards. Responsibility for compliance with these standards and the safe operation of an mc ultimately lies with the IHC superintendent.

› The priority for use of IHCs is as follows: Wildland Fire Incident Operations

› IHCs are staffed, conditioned. equipped and qualified to meet a variety of strategic and tactical wildland fire assignments. The organizational structure allows IHCs to form into small modules or squads and accomplish independent incident assignments. IHCs may be prepositioned for initial attack or perform ready reserve duties as required by national planning level requirements.

All Hazard Incident Operations › Within the limits of their experience and qualifications, IHCs are capable of

providing a disciplined, self contained and adaptable work force to meet the needs of incident managers in a variety of situations and during all hazard assignments.

Resource Management Objectives › When not committed to fire assignments. IHCs can provide a workforce to

accomplish a variety of resource management objectives while maintaining availability for incident mobilization.

Training Cadres › IHCs can provide a high quality cadre for fire management training at local,

geographic area and national levels.

Type 1 (IHCs exceed)

Type 2 IA Type 2

Can be broken into squads, Complex firing operations

Can be broken into squads, burnout

Crew size module, can fire with direction

Permanent supervision:Supt:TFLD, ICT4, FIRBAsst Supt:STCR, ICT43 SL:ICT52 Sr. FF: FFT1

N/ACRWBN/A3 @ICT5N/A

N/ACRWBN/A3@FFT1N/A

Full time organized crew

N/A N/A

5 programmable radios

4 programmable radios

4 programmable radios

3 agency qualified sawyers

3 agency qualified sawyers

N/A

Trained IAW SIHCO(e.g. 40 hours annually)

Basic FF training, or FF refresher

Basic FF training, or FF refresher

Own transportation and fully equipped tools/equip

Transportation , tools and equipment needed

Transportation , tools and equipment needed

Must be annually certified by local unit AA prior to assignment

N/A N/A

We are funded as a National Shared Resource We spend, on average, 90-120 days on assignment

per year In the PNW we are required to have at least a 110

day availability period We drive, fly commercial, fly contract, and fly

charter aircraft Often we are deployed in early, emerging incident

situations We can be on small incidents, or unattached at the

end of a Pay period We often get assigned to remote, inaccessible

locations

We learn from our experiences, are concerned with providing an efficient/productive service/product, and are committed to the safety of our crews.

The PNW IHCs realize, and admit to the past instances of inappropriate behavior in regards to incident replacement and are committed to mending our relationships with Incident Business Managers and providing professional crews that interact with honesty and integrity.

Questions? Comments?