state operations plan

Texas Forest Service State Fire Operations

Plan November 2010

Texas Forest Service Fire Operations Plan Table of Contents 1. Overview and Purpose .............................................................................................................. 1‐1

Purpose .................................................................................................................................................. 1‐1

Texas Forest Service Mission ................................................................................................................. 1‐1

Forest Resource Protection Division Mission ........................................................................................ 1‐1

Statutory Authority ................................................................................................................................ 1‐1

Wildland Fire Operations Doctrine ........................................................................................................ 1‐5

The Nature of Fire Operations .......................................................................................................... 1‐6

Wildland Fire Operations Risk Management .................................................................................... 1‐6

Fire Preparedness .............................................................................................................................. 1‐6

Fire Operations Command Philosophy ............................................................................................. 1‐6

Fire Leadership .................................................................................................................................. 1‐6

Fire Suppression ................................................................................................................................ 1‐7

Cost‐Effective Fire Operations .......................................................................................................... 1‐8

Guiding Principles of Texas Forest Service Wildland Fire Operations ................................................... 1‐8

Strategy for Forest Resource Protection Division ................................................................................. 1‐9

Predictive Services ............................................................................................................................. 1‐9

Mitigation and Prevention ................................................................................................................ 1‐9

Planning and Preparedness ............................................................................................................. 1‐10

Local Capacity Building .................................................................................................................... 1‐11

Incident Response ........................................................................................................................... 1‐12

Law Enforcement ............................................................................................................................ 1‐12

Command and Control, Delegation of Authority ................................................................................ 1‐13

Strategy for Interagency Cooperation ................................................................................................. 1‐14

Agreements ..................................................................................................................................... 1‐14

Relationships ................................................................................................................................... 1‐14

Strategy for Operational Fire Plans ..................................................................................................... 1‐14

Forest Resource Protection Steering Group and Working Teams ....................................................... 1‐15

2. Preparedness ............................................................................................................................ 2‐1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 2‐1

Local Preparedness Level ....................................................................................................................... 2‐1

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Dispatch Level ........................................................................................................................................ 2‐2

Significant Fire Potential ........................................................................................................................ 2‐3

Calculating Local Significant Fire Potential ............................................................................................ 2‐5

3. Safety ....................................................................................................................................... 3‐1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 3‐1

Risk Management Process ..................................................................................................................... 3‐1

Work/Rest Ratio .................................................................................................................................... 3‐1

Length of Assignment ............................................................................................................................ 3‐1

Assignment Extension............................................................................................................................ 3‐1

Single Resource/Kind Extensions ........................................................................................................... 3‐2

Management Directed Days Off ............................................................................................................ 3‐2

Driving Standards................................................................................................................................... 3‐3

General Driving Rules ........................................................................................................................ 3‐4

Incident Operations Driving .............................................................................................................. 3‐4

Fire Vehicle Operation Standards ..................................................................................................... 3‐4

Use of Lights and Audible Devices .................................................................................................... 3‐5

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Fire Operations .................................................................... 3‐5

Head Protection ................................................................................................................................ 3‐6

Eye and Face Protection .................................................................................................................... 3‐6

Hearing Protection ............................................................................................................................ 3‐6

Neck Protection ................................................................................................................................. 3‐6

Fire Shelters ....................................................................................................................................... 3‐6

Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG) ................................................................................................ 3‐7

Incident Briefings and Turndown Protocol ............................................................................................ 3‐7

Standard Safety Flagging ....................................................................................................................... 3‐7

Six Minutes for Safety Training .............................................................................................................. 3‐8

Visits to the Fireline/RX Burns ............................................................................................................... 3‐8

Hazardous Materials Transportation ..................................................................................................... 3‐8

Gasoline, Drip‐Torch, and Propane Fuels .......................................................................................... 3‐9

Diesel Fuel ......................................................................................................................................... 3‐9

Fusees ................................................................................................................................................ 3‐9

Labeling ............................................................................................................................................. 3‐9

Placarding .......................................................................................................................................... 3‐9

Border Operations ............................................................................................................................... 3‐10

Accidents/Injuries ................................................................................................................................ 3‐10

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Personal Injuries .............................................................................................................................. 3‐10

Vehicle Accidents ............................................................................................................................ 3‐10

Accident Reporting and Notifications ............................................................................................. 3‐10

4. Training and Qualifications ....................................................................................................... 4‐1

Certification and Record Keeping .......................................................................................................... 4‐1

Certification of Non‐Agency Personnel ................................................................................................. 4‐1

The Incident Qualifications and Certification Card (Red Card) .............................................................. 4‐1

Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training ............................................................................................. 4‐1

Certification Committee ........................................................................................................................ 4‐2

Taskbooks and Certification .................................................................................................................. 4‐2

Physical Fitness ...................................................................................................................................... 4‐3

Basic Fireline/Prescribed Burn Training ................................................................................................. 4‐6

Texas Forest Service Standards for Chainsaw Operators and Fallers .................................................... 4‐6

NWCG Chainsaw Certification Standards .......................................................................................... 4‐6

Non‐NWCG Certification Standards .................................................................................................. 4‐7

5. Incident Response Equipment ................................................................................................... 5‐1

Transport Trucks .................................................................................................................................... 5‐1

Safety and Training ............................................................................................................................ 5‐1

Maintenance and Inspections ........................................................................................................... 5‐2

Heavy Equipment ‐Dozers, Tractor Plows, and Motor Graders ............................................................ 5‐2



Standard Equipment Inventory ......................................................................................................... 5‐4

Engines and Tenders .............................................................................................................................. 5‐4




Miscellaneous Equipment ‐ ATV’s, UTV’s, Trailers, Vans, Crew Carriers, and other Motorized Equipment ............................................................................................................................................. 5‐6




Fixed Caches, Cache Trailers and Satellite Trailer ................................................................................. 5‐6

6. Incident Response .................................................................................................................... 6‐1

Initial Attack Dispatch ............................................................................................................................ 6‐1

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Initial Attack Resources ......................................................................................................................... 6‐1

Aviation Operations ............................................................................................................................... 6‐1

The Role of Texas Forest Service ........................................................................................................... 6‐1

Turning Down a Request for Assistance ................................................................................................ 6‐1

Entering Private Lands ........................................................................................................................... 6‐2

In Briefings ............................................................................................................................................. 6‐2

Initial Size‐Up ......................................................................................................................................... 6‐2

Incident Complexity ............................................................................................................................... 6‐3

Type V Complexity ............................................................................................................................. 6‐3

Type IV Complexity ............................................................................................................................ 6‐3

Type III Complexity ............................................................................................................................ 6‐4

Incident Management ........................................................................................................................... 6‐4

Fire Status Reporting ............................................................................................................................. 6‐5

Communications .................................................................................................................................... 6‐5

Incident Rehabilitation .......................................................................................................................... 6‐7

Incident Close‐out .................................................................................................................................. 6‐7

Fire Reports ........................................................................................................................................... 6‐8

After Action Reviews ............................................................................................................................. 6‐8

Guidelines for the AAR ...................................................................................................................... 6‐8

7. Regional/Branch Operational Fire Plan Template ...................................................................... 7‐1

Regional/Branch Inventory .................................................................................................................... 7‐1

Administrative and Political Boundaries ........................................................................................... 7‐1

Population and Demographics .......................................................................................................... 7‐1

Fire History ............................................................................................................................................ 7‐1

Fire Resources ................................................................................................................................... 7‐1

Physical Characteristics ..................................................................................................................... 7‐1

Cooperator Contacts ......................................................................................................................... 7‐1

Incident Response Planning ................................................................................................................... 7‐2

Logistics ................................................................................................................................................. 7‐2

Appendix

1. Overview and Purpose

Purpose The purpose of the Texas Forest Service Fire Operations Plan is to provide direction in all wildland fire related activities conducted by agency personnel within the State of Texas. This includes statutory compliance and agency procedures related to wildland fire operations. It is expected that agency employees will incorporate the directions outlined in the Fire Operations Plan into their regular operating procedures.

Texas Forest Service Mission The Mission of the Texas Forest Service is to provide statewide leadership to assure the state’s trees, forests, and related natural resources are protected and sustained for the benefit of all.

Forest Resource Protection Division Mission The Mission of the Forest Resource Protection Division of the Texas Forest Service is to provide statewide leadership in the protection of the citizens, property, and natural resources of Texas from fire and other disasters.

Statutory Authority

Authority to Enter Private Lands

EDUCATION CODE CHAPTER 88. AGENCIES AND SERVICES OF THE TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS SUBCHAPTER B. THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE

§ 88.104. Authority to Enter Private Lands

Authority is hereby granted to every employee of the Texas Forest Service and any outside labor or assistance the employee deems necessary to enter upon any privately-owned land in the performance of fire suppression duties which are by state law under the direction of the director. These entries on privately-owned land may be made whenever it is necessary to investigate forest and grass fires and to ascertain whether they are burning uncontrolled, and whenever it is necessary to suppress forest and grass fires that are known to be burning uncontrolled.

TFS Regular Duty Fire Response

East Texas



§ 88.102. General Duties (3) take any action deemed necessary by the board to prevent and extinguish forest fires;

East Texas Fire Response

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East Texas Fire Response

Texas Forest Service Regular Duty Fire Response West Texas

EDUCATION CODE

CHAPTER 88. AGENCIES AND SERVICES OF THE TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SUBCHAPTER B. THE TEXAS FOREST SERVICE

§ 88.118. Statewide Fire Coordination Center (a) The director shall establish a statewide fire coordination center. (c) The center shall provide a central location for statewide:

(1) wildfire monitoring; (2) coordination of the response to each major or potentially major wildland fire in the state, including fires in places where urban areas and rural areas meet, with the coordination function including a direct liaison with the state emergency operating center;

GOVERNMENT CODE

CHAPTER 418. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Sec. 418.042. STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN. (a) The division shall prepare and keep current a comprehensive state emergency management plan. The plan may include… Sec. 418.113. DISASTER DISTRICTS. (a) This state is divided into disaster districts to engage in homeland security preparedness and response activities…

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STATE OF TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN Annex F Firefighting

3. ….Requests for assistance outside the forested area of Texas should go through the DDC. Additionally, Texas Statutes mandate the TFS to coordinate the response to each major or potentially major wildland fire in the state…

C oun ty Judge reques ts A ss is tance from D isas te r

D is tric t C ha irpe rson (D D C )

F ire c rew responds

T FS E m ergency O pe ra tions C en te r (E O C ) rece ives the

reques t and no tifies appropria te TF S supe rv iso r

D D C d irec ts TF S to respond

D D C ve rifies request w ith D epa rtm en t o f P ub lic S a fe ty

(D P S ) troope r o r T FS em p loyee

TFS Fire Response Under a Governor’s Emergency Proclamation



§ 88.118. Statewide Fire Coordination Center (2) coordination of the response to each major or potentially major wildland fire in the state, including fires in places where urban areas and rural areas meet, with the coordination function including a direct liaison with the state emergency operating center;

STATE OF TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

C. OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE 8. State Lead Agencies for Certain Incidents d. Texas Forest Service ‐ coordination of response to major or potentially major wildfires…

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V. ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

2. Organizations b. Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)

6) Firefighting ESF a) Responsible For: Coordinating plans and emergency actions to detect and suppress fires on state and private lands, coordinate firefighting operations for large wildland fires encompassing several governmental jurisdictions, and assist in large industrial/structural fires. Maintains Annex F to the State Plan. b) Primary Council Agency: Texas Forest Service

Annex F Firefighting

II. PURPOSE The purpose of this annex is to define the organization, operational concepts, responsibilities, and procedures to accomplish state emergency firefighting requirements in Texas. This annex is applicable to all agencies, organizations, and personnel with firefighting emergency support function (ESF) responsibilities.

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TFS All-Hazards Incident Management STATE OF TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

Annex N Direction and Control IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS F. SPECIALIZED RESOURCE PLANNING 3. Incident Management Teams (IMTs)

…The Texas Forest Service (TFS) has organized several IMTs composed of experienced NIMS/ICS personnel that can be deployed as needed to either manage or assist in the management of emergency response operations… The IMT is under the operational control of the DDC Chairperson when mobilized for all‐hazard incidents.

Prior to or following a disaster, TDEM requests incident

management support from TFS through the TFS representative on

the State Emergency Management Council

TDEM issues an ICS 213 General Message form to TFS. This is a mission assignment

TFS EOC receives the request

Appropriate incident management personnel are

mobilized

Updates are provided to TFS EOC and TDEM

Wildland Fire Operations Doctrine Fire operations doctrine states the fundamental principles on the subject of fire operations. This doctrine establishes a particular way of thinking about fire operations. It provides a philosophy for leading firefighters in fire operations, a mandate for professionalism and a common language. Fire operations doctrine does not consist of procedures to be applied to specific situations so much as it sets forth general guidance that requires judgment in application.

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The Nature of Fire Operations Fire is a complex, dynamic and often unpredictable phenomenon. Fire operations require mobilizing a complex organization that includes management, command, support and firefighting personnel, as well as aircraft, vehicles, machinery, and communications equipment. While the magnitude and complexity of the fire itself and of the human response to it will vary, the fact that fire operations are inherently dangerous will never change. A firefighter utilizing the best available science, equipment and training and working within the scope of agency doctrine and policy, can still suffer serious injury or death.

Wildland Fire Operations Risk Management The primary means by which we prevent accidents in wildland fire operations is through aggressive risk management. Our safety philosophy acknowledges that while the ideal level of risk may be zero, a hazard free work environment is not a reasonable or achievable goal in fire operations. Through organized, comprehensive and systematic risk management, we will determine the acceptable level of risk that allows us to provide for safety yet still achieve fire operations objectives. Risk management is intended to minimize the number of injuries or fatalities experienced by wildland firefighters.

Fire Preparedness Fire preparedness is the state of being ready to provide an appropriate response to wildland fires based on identified objectives. Preparedness is the result of activities that are planned and implemented prior to fire ignitions. Preparedness requires identifying necessary firefighting capabilities and implementing coordinated programs to develop those capabilities. Preparedness requires a continuous process of developing and maintaining firefighting infrastructure, predicting fire activity, identifying values to be protected, hiring, training, equipping, pre‐positioning and deploying firefighters and equipment, evaluating performance, correcting deficiencies and improving operations. All preparedness activities should be focused on developing fire operations capabilities and on performing successful fire operations.

Fire Operations Command Philosophy It is essential that our philosophy of command supports the way we conduct fire operations. First and foremost, in order to generate effective decision making in fire operations and to cope with the unpredictable nature of fire, commanders’ intent must be lucid and unambiguous and lines of authority must be clearly articulated and understood. Subordinate commanders must make decisions on their own initiative based on their understanding of their commander’s intent. A competent subordinate commander who is at the point of decision may understand a situation more clearly than a senior commander some distance removed. In this case, the subordinate commander must have the freedom to take decisive action directed toward the accomplishment of operational objectives. However, this does not imply that unity of effort does not exist, or that actions are not coordinated. Unity of effort requires coordination and cooperation among all forces toward a commonly understood objective. Unified, coordinated action, whether between adjacent single resources on the fireline or between the highest command level and the most subordinate firefighter, is critical to successful fire operations.

Fire Leadership Leadership is the art of influencing people in order to achieve a result. The most essential element for success in the wildland fire service is good leadership. Good leaders provide purpose, direction and motivation for wildland firefighters working to accomplish difficult tasks under dangerous, stressful circumstances. Leaders often face difficult problems to which there are no simple, clear‐cut, by‐the‐book solutions. In these situations, leaders must use their knowledge, skill, experience, education, values and judgment to make decisions and to take or direct action ‐ in short, to provide leadership. All firefighters, regardless of position, must provide leadership.

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Fire Suppression The purpose of fire suppression is to put the fire out in a safe, effective and efficient manner. Fires are easier and less expensive to suppress when they are small. When the management goal is full suppression, aggressive initial attack is the single most important method to ensure the safety of firefighters and the public and to limit suppression costs. Aggressive initial attack provides the Incident Commander maximum flexibility in suppression operations. Successful initial attack relies on speed and appropriate force. All aspects of fire suppression benefit from this philosophy. Planning, organizing and implementing fire suppression operations should always meet the objective of directly, quickly and economically contributing to the suppression effort. Every firefighter, whether in a management, command, support, or direct suppression role, should be committed to maximizing the speed and efficiency with which the most capable firefighters can engage in suppression action. When the management goal is other than full suppression, or when conditions dictate a limited suppression response, decisiveness is still essential and an aggressive approach toward accomplishment of objectives is still critical.

Principles of Suppression Operations The primary means by which we implement command decisions and maintain unity of action is through the use of common principles of suppression operations. These principles guide our fundamental fire suppression practices, behaviors and customs, and are mutually understood at every level of command. They include Risk Management, Standard Firefighting Orders and Watch Out Situations, LCES and the Downhill Line Construction Checklist. These principles are fundamental to how we perform fire suppression operations and are intended to improve decision making and firefighter safety. They are not absolute rules. They require judgment in application.

Principles of Fire Suppression Action The principles of fire suppression action provide a framework for developing fire suppression strategy and for conducting fire suppression operations. Again, these are not absolute, immutable rules. These five principles provide a consistent set of considerations with which to evaluate decisions, plans, and actions in different situations.

1. Objective The principle of the objective is to direct every fire suppression operation toward a clearly defined, decisive and obtainable objective. The purpose of fire suppression operations is to achieve the suppression objectives that support the overall management goals for the fire.

2. Speed and Focus Speed is rapidity of action. Focus is the convergence of appropriate resources at the desired position to initiate action. The principle of speed and focus maintains that rapidly deploying and concentrating firefighting resources, in a calculated fashion, at the decisive time and place increases the likelihood of successful suppression actions. 3. Positioning The principle of positioning maintains that rapid, flexible and opportunistic movement increases the effectiveness of fire suppression resources. Positioning ranges from single resource offensive or defensive reactions to dynamic fire conditions, to pre‐positioning of multiple resources based on predicted activity and values at risk. Positioning should

1‐7 October 2010

always be undertaken with speed and focus in mind and with sufficient time for positioning to occur before operations begin. 4. Simplicity The principle of simplicity is that clear, uncomplicated plans and concise orders maximize effectiveness and minimize confusion. Simplicity contributes to successful actions. 5. Safety The principle of safety maintains that ensuring the safety of firefighters and other persons affected by fire operations is fundamental to successful suppression action. Safety not only contributes to successful actions, it is indispensable to them.

Cost‐Effective Fire Operations Maximizing the cost effectiveness of any fire operation is the responsibility of all involved; including those that authorize, direct or implement those operations. Cost effectiveness is the most economical use of the suppression resources necessary to accomplish mission objectives. Accomplishing fire operations objectives safely and efficiently will not be sacrificed for the sole purpose of “cost savings.” Care will be taken to ensure that suppression expenditures are commensurate with values to be protected, while understanding that other factors may influence spending decisions, including the social, political, economic and biophysical environments.

Guiding Principles of Texas Forest Service Wildland Fire Operations The guiding principles listed below are based on the core values of Duty, Respect and Integrity:

• Our job is to provide leadership, professional development, coordination, assistance and support on wildland fire and incident response issues, helping Texans help themselves

• Safety of citizens, firefighters and emergency responders is our highest priority • We recognize Texas is a private property state • We recognize the independent nature of Texas firefighters and of local government; they are

our partners in fire prevention, suppression and incident management • We recognize that volunteers are just that, volunteers. They have jobs and private lives; they

volunteer their time to their communities • We will require of ourselves, ethical and effective management of FRP programs while keeping

to a minimum the bureaucracy of our programs and the requirements and policies which limit local decision making

• While we cannot control the weather, we will strive to accurately predict and communicate fire potential, based on fire risk analysis, prior to wildfire occurrence

• The occurrence of human‐caused wildfires can and will be mitigated through effective public education and fire prevention campaigns

• Our most effective tool in the protection of homes, lives, improved property and natural resources are owner‐driven risk mitigation efforts and fuel reduction before the wildfire starts

• We will utilize cost‐effective technology and systems to insure decision makers have access to relevant information in a timely manner

• Proper planning and preparedness is essential to coordinated and effective response operations • Rapid response with appropriate resources is critical to saving lives, property and natural

resources • We will strive to provide “one stop shopping” to fire departments

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• We will treat local officials and emergency responders with the respect they deserve

Strategy for Forest Resource Protection Division The objective of the Forest Resource Protection Division is the successful statewide implementation of the Texas Wildfire Protection Plan, through assessment of wildland fire risk and hazards, mitigation and prevention of risk and hazards, planning and preparation for incident response, building local fire response capacity, and response to wildland fires and all‐hazard incidents in a cost‐effective and efficient manner. The Forest Resource Protection Division will successfully achieve its mission and objectives by implementing the following departmental strategies.

Predictive Services Texas Forest Service Predictive Services Department integrates climate, weather, wildland fuel conditions, and resource status into products that will enhance the ability of managers to make sound decisions regarding both short and long‐term strategy development, resource requirements, and the safety of response personnel. Strategies include:

• Determine current and predicted weather conditions throughout the year. o Establish and maintain statewide Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) network o Develop and maintain state and national network of weather and assessment

professionals • Monitor the condition of wildland fuels

o Establish and maintain a standardized method of collecting and analyzing live and dead fuel moistures

• Provide decision support products to fire managers o Calculate current and predicted fire danger and fire risk o Track fire occurrence and ignition sources

• Provide decision support products to incident response personnel o Produce fire behavior and fire weather forecasts o Provide dead and live fuel moisture conditions and NFDRS indices

• Identify and document Wildland/Urban Interface areas o Produce and maintain a statewide wildland fire risk assessment

• Disseminate assessment information to cooperators, elected officials, and the public o Establish and maintain public website for delivery and communication of predictive

services products o Provide drought information to county and state officials as required in Local

Government Code 352.081 and 352.051

Mitigation and Prevention Texas Forest Service Mitigation and Prevention Department will maintain programs that reduce fire occurrence, hazardous conditions, and the risk of loss from wildfires. Strategies include:

• Reduce wildland fire threat to Wildand/Urban interface areas o Utilize Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SWRA) to identify areas at risk o Develop cooperative relationships with local governments and other agencies to

increase participation in FireWise Communities Program and Community Wildfire Protection Program (CWPP)

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o Empower communities and property owners to mitigate fuel hazards in Urban/Wildland Interface areas

• Reduce hazardous wildland fuels in areas of significant risk o Serve as a member of the TDA Prescribed Burning Board and deliver prescribed burning

training in East Texas as directed by the board. (Natural Resource Code, Chapter 153.041)

o Administer prescribed burning grant programs o Reduce hazardous fuels through utilization of accepted fuel reduction practices o Conduct prescribed burns for demonstration purposes, reduction of hazardous fuels

identified in Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP’s), and in support of cooperators.

o Develop and maintain Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with agencies to deliver wildland fuel reduction programs

• Prevent fire occurrence and fire loss o Initiate prevention efforts prior to a developing fire season o Utilize data from Predictive Services and Planning and Preparedness departments to

identify areas of highest susceptibility o Target prevention messages based on fire cause. o Involve cooperators in designing and delivering programs

Planning and Preparedness Texas Forest Service Planning and Preparedness Department will work collaboratively with other departments and agencies in planning, developing, implementing, supporting, and evaluating TFS response capabilities and needs. Strategies include.

• Collaborate with appropriate FRP departments to determine appropriate response. o Monitor local preparedness levels and, in consultation with FRP staff, determine state

preparedness levels o Mobilize appropriate fire resources as directed by Incident Response Department Head. o Maintain TFS Emergency Operations Center as the state fire coordination center in

accordance with Education Code 88.118 o Implement Expanded Dispatch at the EOC as appropriate during emergency response

activities • Involve local, state, federal, and private sector resources

o Maintain MOU’s with local, state, federal, and private sector cooperators o Utilize Texas Interagency Coordination Center to coordinate local federal resource

mobilization o Maintain and mobilize Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) in conjunction

with Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) o Mobilize regional Type 3 all‐hazard incident management teams in conjunction with

TDEM o Assist Purchasing Department in development of TFS emergency contracts for state,

local, private sector resources and facilities • Maintain readiness of resources.

o Coordinate with appropriate TFS units to maintain the State Fire Operations Plan. o Track qualifications of TFS and local government emergency responders; identify

position shortages and recommend training needs o Maintain fixed and mobile supply caches throughout the state

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• Provide intelligence to internal and external customers to promote safety and efficiency o Enhance public safety by collaborating with other agencies to communicate hazards and

risks o Collect, analyze, and disseminate TFS and fire department fire data o Develop and maintain electronic information tools to support internal and external

customers; products include the Texas Interagency Coordination Center website, Dispatch Tracker, Fire Reporting database, VFD Assistance database, Risk Pool database, and additional resource and situational awareness products

o Develop and maintain Fire Department Directory in accordance with Government Code 614.151, as a comprehensive multi‐agency fire department information source

o Gather data from FRP staff and develop online operational briefings for emergency responders

o Maintain Texas Regional Response Network for use by TIFMAS, TDEM, and local and regional entities for mobilization of resources

Local Capacity Building Texas Forest Service Capacity Building Department is committed to providing leadership, training and equipment to strengthen emergency response capabilities of fire departments. Strategies include:

• Enhance local fire department capabilities through the development and delivery of assistance programs to eligible fire departments

o Provide equipment and training grants through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program (Government Code 614.102)

o Combine federal Volunteer Fire Assistance Program grant funds with the Rural VFD Assistance Program

o Provide workers compensation and death and disability insurance grants through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program to protect firefighters and their families (Government Code 614.072)

o Provide firefighting equipment acquired through the US Forest Service Federal Excess Personal Property and the USFS DOD Firefighting Property programs

o Provide equipment donated under the TFS Helping Hands Program (Education Code 88.106)

o Provide a low‐cost source of structural and wildland protective clothing, water expansion products and wildland fire equipment through the Firesafe and Fire Quench programs

o Provide and administer a vehicle liability insurance program through the Volunteer Fire Department Motor Vehicle Self‐Insurance Program (Insurance Code 2154)

• Maximize the effectiveness of TFS capacity building programs through proper stewardship and minimal bureaucracy.

o Focus program delivery on critical priorities that increase fire fighter safety and effective operations

o Utilize the Rural Fire Advisory Council to provide an external local perspective for the fire department assistance programs

o Manage internal processes to ensure streamlined assistance across multiple programs, such as utilization of a common application form

o Work cooperatively with federal, state, and local cooperators to facilitate efficient delivery of programs from all sources.

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Incident Response Texas Forest Service Incident Response Department will ensure rapid and effective response to suppress wildfires and provide incident management teams during all‐hazard incidents as directed by TDEM. Strategies include:

• Provide for the safety of emergency responders and citizens o Ensure a safety culture is institutionalized within the agency o Ensure agency personnel are appropriately trained, equipped and credentialed o Enhance public safety by disseminating alerts and warnings through public and social

media outlets o Maintain knowledge of fire departments’ capabilities, training and equipment o Maintain situational awareness of all regions, to include vegetation, topography,

weather and hazards o Maintain operational readiness of all emergency response equipment and personnel. o Implement the appropriate use of incident safety officers, briefings, materials, and other

measures • Conduct response operations to minimize losses and large, multi‐period fires.

o Maintain a robust command structure o Utilize Operational Fire Plans for development of daily operational strategies o Staff with appropriate numbers and types of resources based on current and expected

fire danger o Maintain flexible and mobile force structure o Incorporate fire suppression resources from other state agencies o Utilize TIFMAS fire suppression resources as appropriate

• Conduct response operations in an efficient and cost‐effective manner o Monitor weather, fire occurrence and fire danger indices to determine appropriate

staffing o Establish an incident finance section as needed to monitor daily costs of operations and

issue cost saving recommendations o Maintain a proactive role in the disaster declaration process at the state and federal

level to maximize the availability and use of federal emergency funds. • Support state and federal disaster operations by providing all‐hazard incident management

personnel and response teams o Develop and maintain TFS Lone Star State IMT o Develop and maintain Type III – Regional IMT program o Encourage participation in state and national responses

• Provide leadership in delivering wildland fire and incident management training. o Deliver NWCG and all‐hazard curriculum to internal and external customers o Manage interagency wildfire and incident management academies

Law Enforcement Texas Forest Service Law Enforcement Department ensures the enforcement of laws pertaining to the protection of forests and grasslands and pursues the prosecution of violators (Government Code 88.102). Strategies include:

• Enforce laws relating to wildland fires o Provide wildfire cause investigation on escaped and suspected arson‐caused fires o Provide training in fire cause determination to other cooperators

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o Maintain canine arson investigation program • Enforce laws relating to timber theft

o Provide investigation for suspected timber theft cases o Serve as subject matter experts for local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies

• Support agency law enforcement needs o Provide security and investigation of activity on state forests and agency property. o Conduct internal investigations o Perform missing property investigations for federal excess property assigned to fire

departments o Manage investigations for the Capacity Building Department programs o Provide support for incident response

Command and Control, Delegation of Authority The State of Texas assigns to the Texas Forest Service the authority to take all actions deemed necessary for the suppression of wildland fires. The Texas Forest Service delegates this authority to the Forest Resource Protection Division. The Forest Resource Protection Division of the Texas Forest Service is responsible for ensuring the safe and effective delivery of the agency’s mission to provide protection of the lives, property and resources of the citizens of Texas. Under this mission, the Division maintains strategic authority for all fire and emergency response activities. This strategic authority includes command and control of all incidents. Response authority and command and control have been delegated by the Division to the regions/branches to safely and effectively manage fire operations up through a Type 3 level of complexity under normal conditions. Since the Division is accountable for all fire and emergency response activities and outcomes, its involvement will increase as needed based on risk and fire complexity. Increased involvement may occur under any of the following conditions/events:

• Conditions o Critical fuel dryness (ERC’s above 90th percentile) o Prolonged drought o Critical weather conditions forecast with critically dry fuels present

• Events

o Occurrence or potential occurrence of Type 3 fires o Extended period of fire activity o Evacuations of civilians o Loss of structures o Fire entrapments

Increased involvement will be based on maintaining safe and effective operations and will be coordinated through and utilize existing agency resources, field offices, supervisors and personnel. Actions may include:

• Initiation of scheduled conference calls, online meetings and other measures to insure situational awareness, information flow and a common operational picture at all levels

• Mobilization and assignment of additional suppression resources to insure sufficient capacity for safe and effective operations (including firefighters, equipment and aircraft)

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• Mobilization and assignment of additional incident support personnel to supplement existing agency command and control personnel and infrastructure

• Mobilization and assignment of incident management teams to mission‐specific assignment

Strategy for Interagency Cooperation The success of our programs depends on a multi‐agency approach. Activities involved with predictive services, mitigation and prevention, planning and preparedness, local capacity building, incident response, and law enforcement should, wherever practical, be conducted on an interagency basis with the involvement of cooperators and partners. Texas Forest Service maintains the following statewide agreements and relationships:

Agreements Texas Forest Service maintains the following agreements:

• Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreement with U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

• Wildland Fire Management Cooperative Agreement with the Nature Conservancy • Adjutant General’s Department of Texas MOU with the Texas Army National Guard • Multi‐Agency Coordinating (MAC)Group Charter with U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service,

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Agri‐life Extension, and Nature Conservancy

• Southern Group of State Foresters Fire Compact with 13 southern states and Puerto Rico

Relationships Texas Forest Service maintains the following relationships:

• Rural Fire Advisory Council • State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas • Texas Fire Chiefs’ Association • Texas Engineering Extension Service • Texas Agri‐Life Extension Service • Texas Department of Transportation • Texas Department of Criminal Justice • Texas Department of Public Safety • Texas State Association of Firefighters • Texas Commission on Fire Protection • State Fire Marshal’s Office • Texas Department of Agriculture • Texas Association of Counties • Texas Military Forces • Texas Animal Health Commission

Local cooperative agreements and relationships will be listed in the Regional/Branch plans.

Strategy for Operational Fire Plans The Texas Forest Service desires a consistent approach in the implementation of Operational Fire Plans across the agency. To facilitate this, the following guidelines are provided. They include:

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• The highest ranking position within each region/branch is tasked with ensuring that the operational fire plans are implemented. For East Texas these are the Regional Foresters. For Central and West Texas these are the Assistant Chief Regional Fire Coordinators.

• Regions/Branches should use common standards as identified in the State Fire Operations Plan and Operational Fire Plan template for all aspects of their fire management programs to facilitate effective collaboration among other regions/branches and cooperating agencies.

• The roles and responsibilities among local, state, and federal fire protection entities should be identified.

• Responses to wildland fire should be coordinated across all levels of government regardless of the jurisdiction at the ignition source.

• Operational Fire Plans should be intergovernmental in scope and developed on a region/branch‐wide scale.

• The Operational Fire Plan should serve as a decision support process to guide and document wildfire management decisions. The process should provide situational assessment, analyze hazards and risk, define implementation actions and document decisions and rationale for those decisions.

• Appropriate complexity analysis and fire typing are critical for adequate response to an increasing intensity fire. The Operational Plan should pay particular attention on how this important process will be implemented.

• Initial action on wildfires will be to suppress the fires with the fewest negative consequences with respect to firefighter and public safety, minimal property losses and lowest suppression cost.

Forest Resource Protection Steering Group and Working Teams Wildfire and emergency response involves some of the most dangerous tasks the agency undertakes. To safely and effectively perform these duties requires continual development and improvement of agency personnel, equipment, practices and procedures. To maintain the progression of work and better incorporate field level input into these processes the Forest Resource Protection Division has established a Steering Group and Working Teams. This action was approved by the TFS Executive Team on June 21, 2010. The Steering Group is chaired by the FRP Fire Operations Chief and includes the five FRP Department Heads, FRP Planning & Policy Analyst, one Regional Forester and one Assistant Chief Regional Fire Coordinator. The Regional Forester and Assistant Chief Regional Fire Coordinator will serve one‐year terms and rotate at the beginning of each fiscal year. The Working Teams will include a cross‐section of agency personnel named by the Steering Group with a designated liaison member from the Steering Group. Working Teams may form Task Groups to facilitate information gathering and development of products. Task Groups will dissolve upon completion of the assigned task.

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FRP Steering Group

Plans Working Team

Operations Working Team

Finance Working Team

Logistics Working Team

Safety Working Team

Public Info Working Team

Prescribed Burning Working

Team

Preparedness Working Team

1‐16 October 2010

2. Preparedness

Introduction One of the primary responsibilities of the Texas Forest Service is to provide wildland fire suppression assistance to the state of Texas. Most of this assistance is delivered in the form of initial attack assistance from local TFS offices. The fire managers and firefighters at these local offices need a realistic assessment of the daily and weekly wildland fire potential in order to provide an appropriate response of suppression resources and to know the potential complexity of any fires that do occur. A systematic approach of gauging fire potential on a daily and weekly basis at the national, regional, state and local level is essential to providing an appropriate response at any given management level. Firefighters must assess both underlying fuel dryness and daily fire weather to determine what type of wildland fire they may encounter on any given day. The combination of underlying fuel conditions and daily fire weather will provide a realistic evaluation of daily and weekly significant fire potential. Our systematic approach will be to measure the daily fire weather and determine what we will call the Dispatch Level. At the same time we will measure the weekly fuel dryness to determine what we will call the Local Preparedness Level. The combination of the weekly local preparedness level and daily Dispatch Level will provide a gauge of daily Significant Fire Potential.

Local Preparedness Level Local preparedness level is a description or characterization of the underlying wildland fuel conditions. The drier the wildland fuels, the higher the local preparedness level. National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) indices such as ERC, 100‐hr FM, 1000‐hr FM, and KBDI are indices that correlate well with fuel dryness. Live fuel moistures, drought, and percent of normal rainfall can also be used to gauge fuel dryness. These are all wildland fuel metrics that tend to change slowly over time. The final determination of local preparedness level is a subjective process as all the fuel dryness metrics may not be in agreement for a given local preparedness level. For example, the ERC value may be representative of local preparedness level 1 while the KBDI is representative of local preparedness level 2. The user must decide which metric will carry more weight in the local preparedness level determination. Following is a description of four local preparedness levels using drought, rainfall, fuel moistures and NFDRS indices to differentiate between the four local preparedness levels.

Local Preparedness Level 1 • Weather trends provide normal to above normal rainfall • Herbaceous fuels are green • Live fuel moisture in key species is > 25th percentile • 1000‐hour FM greater than 50th percentile • 100‐hour FM greater than 25th percentile • ERC values less than 75th percentile • Fuel Dryness is above normal to normal moisture level • KBDI less than 75th percentile • Drought Monitor lists no drought or D0 drought level

Local Preparedness Level 2 • Weather trends provide 50‐100% of normal rainfall • Herbaceous fuels are green or in transition • Live fuel moisture in key species range from 11th to 50th percentile

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• 1000‐hour FM range from 11th to 50th percentile • 100‐hour FM range from 11th to 50th percentile • ERC values range from 50th to 89th percentile • Fuel Dryness is normal moisture to dry level • Drought Monitor lists D0 to D1 drought levels • KBDI ranges from 50th to 89th percentile

Local Preparedness Level 3 • Weather trends provide 11% to 50% of normal rainfall • Herbaceous fuels are in transition or cured • Live fuel moisture in key species range from 4th percentile to 25th percentile • 1000‐hour FM range from 4th to 25th percentile • 100‐hour FM range from 4th to 25th percentile • ERC values range from 75th to 96th percentile • Fuel Dryness is dry to critically dry level • KBDI ranges from 75th to 90th percentile • Drought Monitor lists D1 to D3 drought levels

Local Preparedness Level 4 • Weather trends providing 5% to 25% of normal rainfall • Herbaceous fuels are cured • Live fuel moistures in key species less than 10th percentile • 1000‐hr FM less than 10th percentile • 100‐hour FM less than 3rd percentile • ERC values exceed the 90th percentile and most likely exceed the 97th percentile • Fuel Dryness is critically dry or extremely dry • KBDI exceeds the 90th percentile • Drought Monitor lists D2 to D4 drought levels

Dispatch Level Dispatch level is a description or characterization of daily weather factors that influence the likelihood of wildland fires initiating and spreading. Dispatch level can also provide a measure of effort required to contain initiating wildfires. Weather elements such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation will influence the daily dispatch level. NFDRS indices such as Burning Index, Spread Component, and Adjective Fire Danger are calculated based on daily weather elements and can be used to gauge the daily dispatch level. 1‐hr fuel moisture, 10‐hour fuel moisture, and probability of ignition are also measurements that can be used to gauge daily dispatch level. All of these measurements and indices tend to change quickly over time. Following is a description of four dispatch levels using weather elements, fine dead fuel moistures, and NFDRS indices to differentiate between the four dispatch levels. As with local preparedness level, the final determination of the daily dispatch level is a subjective process for the user.

Dispatch Level 1 • Most if not all weather elements below critical thresholds • 1‐hour and 10‐hour FM’s above the 50th percentile • Fire Danger is low to moderate • BI values below the 50th percentile

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Dispatch Level 2 • Some but not all weather elements could reach critical thresholds • 1‐hour and 10‐hour FM’s range from the 11th to 50th percentile • Fire Danger is moderate to high • BI values range from the 50th to 89th percentile

Dispatch Level 3 • Most if not all weather elements reach critical thresholds • 1‐hour and 10‐hour FM’s range from the 4th to 25th percentile • Fire Danger is high to very high • BI values range from the 75th to 96th percentile • Frontal passage may be forecast • Lightning has been observed

Dispatch Level 4 • Weather elements exceed critical thresholds and many elements reach extreme

threshold criteria • National Weather Service issues red flag warnings • 1‐hour and 10‐hour FM’s are at or below the 3rd percentile • BI values at or above the 97th percentile • Strong frontal passage with distinct dry line may be forecast

Significant Fire Potential The NWCG definition for significant fire potential is “The likelihood a wildland fire event will require mobilization of additional resources from outside the area in which the fire situation originates.” Another simple definition for a significant fire is a fire that reaches Type 3 complexity. Both definitions give a sense of a fire that is not a normal fire and a fire that will require more consideration, effort and experience to safely contain. Therefore it is important for firefighters and fire managers to recognize the possibility of significant fire occurrence within their response area. An approach that combines the local preparedness level and dispatch level will provide a gauge for the likelihood of significant fire occurrence. The graphic below is an example of using local preparedness level and dispatch level to calculate Significant Fire Potential.

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Significant Fire Potential Rating

Listed below are descriptions of the expected fire activity and the difficulty of control associated with each level of significant fire potential. These descriptors can be used to help validate the calculated significant fire potential when determining the significant fire potential for the local response area.

Very Low Significant Fire Potential • Fire occurrence is unlikely • Any fires that do start are slow to develop and exhibit very little resistance to control

Low Significant Fire Potential • Some initial attack occurrence during the afternoon peak burning period • Fires exhibit low resistance to control and generally do not exceed Type 5 complexity

Moderate Significant Fire Potential • Initial attack occurrence is high with fires occurring earlier in the day and burning later

into the evening and night time hours. • Multiple initial attack fires per day is common • Initial attack fires are exhibiting more resistance to control and require multiple

resources for containment. • Fires generally do not exceed Type 4 complexity • Significant fire occurrence is possible but rare

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High Significant Fire Potential • Initial attack activity is very high • Significant fire occurrence is likely when fires occur in problem fuel types

Very High Significant Fire Potential • Significant fire occurrence is likely in most fuel types • Multiple significant fires are possible

Calculating Local Significant Fire Potential Each region/branch will calculate local significant fire potential on a weekly basis as a minimum and on a daily basis when required by the operational plan. The basis for determination will be the local preparedness level which will be represented by the energy release component (ERC) and dispatch level which will be represented by the burning index (BI). These NFDRS indices are calculated from RAWS observations. The region/branch and predictive service staff will select the RAWS that represent their region. The ERC and BI will be averaged from all of the representative RAWS to obtain the regional average. There may be occasion to use selected RAWS to represent part of the region when there are obvious differences in moisture levels across the region. Predictive services staff will assist each region/branch to determine the breakpoints for the ERC and BI values that represent the four levels of local preparedness and dispatch. The Texas RAWS forecast and observed values for ERC and BI will be posted on the predictive services website each morning. The steps for determining the daily significant fire potential are as follows:

1. Obtain forecast ERC and BI values of representative RAWS from the preparedness section on the predictive services website.

2. Add all of the ERC values from the representative RAWS and divide this total by the number of representative RAWS used to obtain the average local ERC value.

3. Add all of the BI values from the representative RAWS and divide this total by the number of representative RAWS used to obtain the local average BI value.

4. Using the local breakpoints for ERC provided by predictive services; assign the regional average ERC to the appropriate local preparedness level.

5. Using the local breakpoints for BI provided by predictive services; assign the local average BI to the appropriate dispatch level.

6. Insert the determined local preparedness level and dispatch level into the significant fire potential matrix to determine the daily significant fire potential.

3. Safety

Introduction Firefighter and public safety is our first priority. All activities must reflect this commitment. The commitment to and accountability for safety is a joint responsibility of all firefighters, managers, and administrators. Every supervisor and employee is responsible for following safe work practices and procedures, as well as identifying and reporting unsafe conditions. The primary means by which we implement command decisions and maintain unity of action is through the use of common principles of operations. These principles guide our fundamental wildland fire management practices, behaviors, and customs, and are mutually understood at every level of command. They include Risk Management, Standard Firefighting Orders and Watch Out Situations, LCES and the Downhill Line Construction Checklist. These principles are fundamental to how we perform fire operations, and are intended to improve decision making and firefighter safety. They are not absolute rules. They require judgment in application.

Risk Management Process The Risk Management Process identified in the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG) helps ensure that critical factors and risks associated with fireline operations are considered during decision making. This process enhances safety practices when applied to fire operations prior to taking action.

Work/Rest Ratio Plan for and ensure that all personnel are provided a minimum 2:1 work to rest ratio (for every 2 hours of work or travel, provide 1 hour of sleep and/or rest). Work shifts that exceed 16 hours and/or consecutive days that do not meet the 2:1 work/rest ratio should be the exception, and no work shift should exceed 24 hours, except for initial attack or special circumstances (with prior approval of TFS fire administrator/ incident chain‐of‐command). However in situations where this does occur (for example, initial attack), incident management personnel will resume the 2:1 work/rest ratio as quickly as possible. The Incident Commander or agency administrator must justify work shifts that exceed 16 hours and those that do not meet 2:1 work to rest ratio. Justification will be documented in the daily incident records. Documentation shall include mitigation measures used to reduce fatigue. The Time Officer’s/Unit Leader’s approval of the Emergency Firefighter Time Report (OF‐288), or other agency pay document, certifies that the required documentation is on file and no further documentation is required for pay purposes.

Length of Assignment An assignment is defined as the time period (days) between the first full operational period at the first incident or reporting location on the original resource order and commencement of return travel to the home unit. The standard assignment length is 14 days, exclusive of travel from and to home unit, with possible extensions identified below. Time spent in staging and preposition status counts toward the 14‐day limit.

Assignment Extension Prior to assigning incident personnel to back‐to‐back assignments, their health, readiness, and capability must be considered. The health and safety of incident personnel and resources will not be compromised under any circumstance. Assignments may be extended when:

• life and property are imminently threatened, • suppression objectives are close to being met,

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• a military battalion is assigned, • replacement resources are unavailable, or have not yet arrived.

For non‐TFS employees, upon completion of the standard 14 day assignment, an extension of up to an additional 14 days may be allowed (for a total of up to 30 days, inclusive of mandatory days off, and exclusive of travel). Regardless of extension duration, two mandatory days off will be provided prior to the 22nd day of the assignment. Texas Forest Service employees should take two days off during any 21‐day work period (see Management Directed Days Off below).

Single Resource/Kind Extensions When an incident management team is in place, the Section Chief or Incident Commander will identify the need for assignment extension. The Incident Commander will approve the extension using the NWCG Length of Assignment Extension Form and will obtain the affected resource’s concurrence, along with documentation of his/her home unit supervisor’s approval. If the potential exists for reassignment to another incident during the extension, the home unit supervisor and affected resource will be advised and must concur prior to reassignment. When an IMT is not in place, the Regional Fire Coordinator/District Forester will coordinate with the appropriate Regional Forester/Assistant Chief Regional Fire Coordinator to determine whether an extension is warranted. If approved, completion of the Length of Assignment Extension Form will be required.

Management Directed Days Off The following guidelines from the Texas Forest Service Administrative Procedures will be followed for management directed days off:

1. GOVERNING REGULATIONS

The procedure is governed by several policies and regulations: 1.1 System Policy 31.03 Leaves of Absence 1.2 System Policy 34.07 Emergency Management 1.3 System Regulation 31.01.09 Overtime 1.4 System Regulation 31.03.01 Vacation 1.5 System Regulation 31.03.03 Leave of Absence With Pay 1.6 System Regulation 31.03.04 Leave of Absence without Pay 1.7 Administrative Procedure 30.09 Overtime and Compensatory Time

2. REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS

These procedures are similar to the guidelines published by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) in Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook, Sections 12.7 ‐ 12.7.3.

3. DEFINITIONS

Primary supervisor, in this procedure, refers to the employee’s supervisor for day‐to‐day duties in the employee’s designated headquarters. The primary supervisor is usually different from the employee’s immediate supervisor during assignment to an emergency response incident.

4. GENERAL

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http://tamus.edu/offices/policy/policies/pdf/31-03.pdf

http://tamus.edu/offices/policy/policies/pdf/34-07.pdf

http://policies.tamus.edu/31-01-09.pdf




http://tfsfinance.tamu.edu/modules/finance/admin/admin_procedures/3009%20Overtime%20and%20Comp%20Time.docx

http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/large.html#IIBMH

Extended work periods increase employee fatigue and stress and can result in impaired job performance. An employee may be required to take a management directed day off as a leave of absence if, in the supervisor’s judgment, continued work periods would create a substantial risk to the employee and/or co‐workers. The purpose of this procedure is to quantify when these conditions exist and define the responsibilities for enacting guidelines for a mandatory management directed day off for safety reasons.

5. SITUATIONS INVOLVED IN MANAGEMENT DIRECTED DAYS OFF

Management directed days off may become necessary when combinations of extended work periods occur. These management directed days off may result from in‐state or out‐of‐state Federal or non‐Federal incidents.

6. GUIDELINES

6.1 Primary supervisors are responsible for monitoring the consecutive working periods of each of their employees.

6.2 In general an employee is required to take two management directed days off if the

employee has worked or is likely to work continually for twenty‐one days. The specific management directed days off will be at the discretion of the supervisor and may be at any point within the twenty‐one day period.

6.3 If a management directed day off is a scheduled work day, the employee has the option

to use compensatory time, vacation time, or leave without pay for the management directed day off. If a management directed day off is not a scheduled work day, the employee is off duty as usual. To the extent possible, management directed days off will not be on scheduled workdays.

6.4 An R&R day off related to a Federal assignment is subject to Administrative

Procedure 30.09 Overtime and Compensatory Time.

7. EXCEPTIONS

If operational reasons require an employee to exceed the guideline in paragraph 6.2 written concurrence must be obtained from the chief regional fire coordinator, regional forester, or someone at a higher level in the chain of command. This type of exception should be a rare occurrence based on a clear and present threat.

Note: When TICC receives the name of a TFS person available to fill an outstanding request, the number of consecutive work days should be reported as well. The ordering entity will determine the viability of using that resource based on the number of days remaining of his/her 21‐day limit.

Driving Standards All employees driving motor vehicles are responsible for the proper care, operation, maintenance and protection of the vehicle. The use of government‐owned, rented, or leased motor vehicles is for official business only. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

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General Driving Rules • Employees must have a valid state driver’s license in their possession for the appropriate vehicle

class before operating the vehicle. Operating a government‐owned or rental vehicle without a valid state driver’s license is prohibited.

• All drivers whose job duties require the use of a motor vehicle will take defensive driver training every five years.

• The operator and all passengers are required to wear seat belts and obey all federal and state laws.

• All traffic violations or parking tickets will be the operator’s responsibility. • All driving requiring a CDL will be performed in accordance with applicable Department of

Transportation regulations. • Seat belts must be available and used in agency motor vehicles. Without exception, seat belts

must be worn at all times by motor vehicle operators and passengers, regardless of the distance to be traveled or the time involved.

• Employees operating any motor vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or more, towing a vehicle 10,000 pounds GVWR or more, hauling hazardous material requiring the vehicle to be placarded, or transporting 16 or more persons (including the driver) must possess a valid Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with all applicable endorsements.

Incident Operations Driving These guidelines address driving by personnel actively engaged in wildland fire suppression or all‐risk activities, including driving while assigned to a specific incident (check‐in to check‐out) or during initial attack fire response (includes time required to control the fire and travel to a rest location).

• Agency resources assigned to an incident or engaged in initial attack fire response should adhere to the current agency work/rest policy for determining length of duty day.

• No driver should drive more than 10 hours (behind the wheel) within any duty day. • Multiple drivers in a single vehicle may drive up to the duty‐day limitation provided no driver

exceeds the individual driving (behind the wheel) time limitation of 10 hours. • A driver should drive only if they have had at least eight consecutive hours off duty before

beginning a shift. Exception to the minimum off‐duty hour requirement is allowed when essential to:

o Accomplish immediate and critical suppression objectives. o Address immediate and critical firefighter or public safety issues.

• As stated in the work/rest ratio section above, documentation of mitigation measures used to reduce fatigue is required for drivers who exceed 16‐hour work shifts. This is required regardless of whether the driver was still compliant with the 10‐hour individual (behind the wheel) driving time limitations.

• Manage fatigue; every effort should be made to avoid off unit (excluding IA response) mobilization and demobilization travel between 2200 hrs and 0500 hrs.

Fire Vehicle Operation Standards Operators of all vehicles must abide by state traffic regulations. Operation of all vehicles will be conducted within the limits specified by the manufacturer. Limitations based on tire maximum speed ratings and Gross Vehicle Weight restrictions must be followed. It is the vehicle operator’s responsibility to ensure vehicles abide by these and any other limitations specified by Texas Forest Service or state or federal regulations.

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Use of Lights and Audible Devices TFS supervisors may approve the installation of lights and audible devices on certain TFS emergency response vehicles. Authorized audible devices may be a siren, whistle, or bell that can be heard from a distance of not less than 500 feet. The following color combinations are approved for emergency lighting on TFS vehicles:

• Amber and yellow – transport trucks • Red and yellow – engines • Red – supervisory vehicles (RFC’s, DF’s, etc.)

A red and blue lighting combination will be used by TFS law enforcement personnel only. All persons operating a vehicle with lights and/or audible devices must have completed the TFS Emergency Vehicle Operator (EVOC) course or equivalent prior to use of the lights or sirens. Equivalent courses must be approved in writing by the TFS Chief Law Enforcement Officer. Copies of all EVOC certificates should be sent to TICC. When responding to a wildfire, TFS response vehicles will obey traffic laws and traffic control devices at all times. It is recommended that transport trucks operate with active amber or yellow lights while in route to or on the scene of an incident. All other vehicles should not utilize red lights or audible devices until reaching the fire scene except in areas of congestion where lights and audible warning devices may be used to temporarily alert other motorists that the response vehicle is “requesting the right of way”. This in no way grants the driver/operator the right to disregard applicable motor vehicle laws.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Fire Operations Required PPE includes the following:

• Wildland fire boots – Minimum 8” (from bottom of heel to the top of boot), lace‐up leather work boots with Vibram‐type, melt‐resistant soles

• Fire shelter • Hard hat with chinstrap • Goggles or safety glasses • Ear plugs or other hearing protection • Nomex shirt • Nomex pants • Leather gloves

Polyester, polypropylene, and nylon materials are not to be worn, as they melt and stick to the skin when exposed to flame or heat. Because most synthetic fibers melt when exposed to flame or extreme radiant heat, personnel should wear only undergarments made of 100 percent natural fibers or other fire resistant materials. Nomex clothing should be cleaned or replaced whenever soiled, especially when soiled with petroleum products. Nomex clothing should be replaced when the fabric is so worn as to reduce the protection capability of the garment or is so faded as to significantly reduce the desired visibility qualities. Nomex clothing should not be altered with patches or screen printing. If minor alterations in size need to be made or if small cuts in the material need to be repaired, nomex thread will be used. (The TICC and McGregor caches have nomex thread available at no cost.) Nomex should be laundered at a water temperature below 140 degrees F with regular laundry detergent. Do not use chlorine bleach or fabric softener. Nomex should be dried on a low heat setting.

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Employees who opt to purchase PPE or fire supplies with their personal funds will not be reimbursed if the items are damaged or destroyed. If the supervisor approves the replacement of items, the employee may be provided an equivalent GSA item at the local unit’s cost.

Head Protection Personnel must be equipped with hard hats and wear them at all times while on the fireline. Hard hats must be equipped with a chinstrap, which must be fastened while riding in, or in the vicinity of, helicopters. Acceptable hardhats for fireline use are “Helmet, Safety, Plastic” (NFES #0109, NSN 8415‐01‐055‐2265) listed in NWCG National Fire Equipment System Catalog: Fire Supplies and Equipment, or equivalent hardhat meeting the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for use in Wildland Firefighting. Hard hats consist of two components ‐ the shell and the suspension ‐ which work together as a system. Alteration of either of these components compromises the effectiveness of the system (e.g. wearing hardhat backwards) and is not allowed. Both components require periodic inspection and maintenance. Specific inspection and maintenance instructions are found in Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) Tech Tip publication, Your Hardhat: Inspection and Maintenance (0267‐2331‐MTDC). www.fs.fed.us/eng/t‐d.php

Eye and Face Protection The following positions require the wearing of eye protection:

• Nozzle operator • Chainsaw operator/fallers • Helibase and ramp personnel • Wildland fire chemical mixing personnel

Hearing Protection Personnel who are exposed to a noise level in excess of 85db must be provided with, and wear, hearing protection. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Chainsaw operator/fallers • Pump operators • Helibase and aircraft ramp personnel • Wildland fire chemical mixing personnel • Any other personnel exposed on a regular basis to damaging noise levels

Neck Protection Face and neck shrouds are not required PPE. However, if used, face and neck shrouds shall meet the requirements of FS specification 5100‐601 or NFPA 1977 Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting. Leg Protection All chainsaw operators will wear chainsaw chaps meeting the NFPA 1977 Standards Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Firefighting.

Fire Shelters New generation fire shelters will be issued and carried in a readily accessible manner by all line personnel. Firefighters will inspect their fire shelters at the beginning of each fire season and

3‐6 October 2010

http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/t-d.php

periodically throughout the year, to ensure they are serviceable. Information on inspecting fire shelters can be found at http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/newshelt72.pdf Training in the deployment of new generation fire shelters will be provided prior to issuance. Training shelters will be deployed at required Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training. No live fire exercises for the purpose of fire shelter deployment training will be conducted. The deployment of shelters is to be viewed as a last resort, and will not be used as a tactical tool. Supervisors and firefighters must never rely on fire shelters instead of using well‐defined escape routes and safety zones. When deployed on a fire, fire shelters will be left in place if it is safe to do so and not be removed pending approval of authorized investigators.

Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG) The IRPG should be carried by all firefighters. Individuals should pay particular attention to the following areas:

• Risk Management • Look Up, Down, and Around • LCES – Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones • Common Denominators of Fire Behavior on Tragedy Fires • Standard Firefighting Orders and Watch Out Situations • Downhill Checklist • Wildland/Urban Interface Firefighting • Thunderstorm Safety • Hazard Tree Safety • Power line Safety • Roadside Response Safety • Unexploded Ordnance Safety • Oil and Gas Site Safety • Last Resort Survival • Hazmat Incident Operations • All‐Hazard Incident Response • Aviation Watch Out Situations

Incident Briefings and Turndown Protocol Fire managers must ensure that safety briefings are occurring throughout the fire organization, and that safety factors are addressed through the IC or their designee and communicated to all incident personnel at operational briefings. The identification and location of escape routes and safety zones must be stressed. A briefing checklist can be found in the IRPG. Every individual has the right to turn down unsafe assignments. When an individual feels an assignment is unsafe they also have the obligation to identify, to the degree possible, safety alternatives for completing that assignment. The IRPG contains the process for How to Properly Refuse Risk.

Standard Safety Flagging The NWCG recommends the following Safety Zone/Escape Route flagging for wildland fire activities: Hot‐pink flagging marked “Escape Route” (NFES 0566). Crews with colorblind members may wish to carry and utilize fluorescent chartreuse flagging (NFES #2396).

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Hazards should be marked with yellow with black diagonal stripes, 1 inch wide (NFES 0267). If the above recommendation is not utilized on an incident, the I.C. or his/her designee will need to identify the selected color and it make it known to all firefighters.

Six Minutes for Safety Training It is recommended that daily “Six Minutes for Safety” training be conducted that focuses on high‐risk, low frequency activities that fire personnel may encounter during a fire season. A daily national “Six Minutes for Safety” briefing can be found at: http://www.nifc.gov/sixminutes/dsp_sixminutes.php or the National Situation Report.

Visits to the Fireline/RX Burns On occasion it may be necessary or practical to allow an observer on the fireline. This may include media personnel, agency administrators, or employees who have not completed their required training.

• Escorted personnel may not perform any aspects of fire suppression • Visits to the fireline must have the approval of the IC/Burn Boss • All visitors must be escorted and receive training in the proper use of PPE • Visitors and escorts must maintain communications with the DIVS or appropriate fireline

supervisor of the area they are visiting • Required PPE ‐ wildland fire boots, yellow nomex shirt, nomex pants, hard hat with chinstrap,

leather gloves, fire shelter • Required equipment/supplies – hand tool and water canteen (if determined necessary by

escort) • Visitors must be able to walk in incident terrain and be in good physical condition with no

known limiting conditions • Escorts must be line qualified

Hazardous Materials Transportation Vehicles and drivers are required to meet all DOT regulations regarding fuel transportation, storage containers and licensing. For additional information visit U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration at www.phmsa.dot.gov or PMS‐442 Interagency Transportation Guide for Gasoline, Mixed Gas, Drip‐Torch Fuel, and Diesel at http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pms.htm. Pertaining to weight of fuel use the following; gasoline weighs approximately 6.42 lbs. per gallon and diesel weighs approximately 7.15 lbs. per gallon. The type of driver’s license and training required depend on the amount of fuel being transported and the size and type of the fuel container. To avoid the need for a commercial driver’s license hazardous materials endorsement, limit the total amount of fuel being transported to 119 gallons or less than 1,001 pounds (including the weight of the containers). To avoid the need for shipping papers and to reduce training requirements, limit the total amount of hazardous materials—including fuel being transported—to 440 pounds, with no fuel container larger than 8 gallons. With any fuels less than 440 pounds or 119 gallons, a minimum of one 5 lbs. B:C extinguisher is required or two 4 lbs. B:C extinguishers. OSHA requires these be visually inspected one a month by facility personnel and inspected once a year by a certified individual. The annual inspection must be recorded.

3‐8 October 2010

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/

http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pms.htm

Gasoline, Drip‐Torch, and Propane Fuels Drip‐torch fuel, gasoline, or mixed gas shall be transported only in DOT‐specification tanks. Most tanks available at general supply stores are designed only to transport diesel and do not meet DOT specifications for transporting drip‐torch fuel, gasoline, and mixed gas.

Diesel Fuel Shipping papers and the Emergency Response Guidebook are required only when diesel is transported in tanks larger than 119 gallons.

Fusees Fusees are considered hazardous materials and the weight being transported must be taken into account. This weight must be included with other hazardous materials not weighing over 440 pounds. For example if you are carrying 140 pounds of fusees, you may only carry 300 pounds of fuel and containers. Original containers for fusees have proper labeling stenciled on the box in addition to the appropriate placard. If a new container has to be used, all of the pertinent information should be transferred to the new container where it is just as visible. Do not allow fusees to come into contact with other hazardous fuels, this may result in unpredictable results during use. Fusees should be stored in a cool dry place.

Labeling The diamond‐shaped (red background with white letters) FLAMMABLE LIQUID label (below) is required on many gasoline, mixed gas, drip‐torch fuel, and diesel containers of 119 gallons or less. These labels are available through several vendors. They must be maintained in good condition. The corners measure about 4 inches apart.

Placarding A FLAMMABLE placard is required when the gross weight of all hazardous materials is 1,001 pounds or more or when any tank is larger than 119 gallons. Placards must be installed on each side and on each end of the transport vehicle or tank. If placards are required, the United Nations (UN) identification number also must be displayed. The identification number may be shown separately as an orange panel (below, left) or may be included as part of the placard (below, right). The UN identification number for:

• Gasoline or mixed gas is 1203. • Drip‐torch fuel is 1993. • Diesel is 1202.

3‐9 October 2010

In all cases, it is the driver’s responsibility to know the regulations for the type and amount of hazardous materials he or she is transporting.

Border Operations All personnel responding to fires along the US‐ Mexico border need to be aware of issues related to illegal activities on or near the border and have a understanding of the unique problems they will face while fighting fire near the border. It is imperative that agency offices along the border provide IMT’s and incoming resources a very thorough briefing on the unique border safety issues. There is a real possibility firefighters will encounter illegal immigrants or drug smugglers. When firefighters encounter immigrants or smugglers, the firefighters may be distracted, losing the situational awareness they need to keep themselves and their crews safe. It is important that IMT’s responding to the border region set up coordinated efforts with local law enforcement (e.g., Border Patrol) in anticipation of illegal activities.

Accidents/Injuries The procedures listed below will be followed for all TFS personnel involved in personal injuries or vehicle accidents. For accidents or injuries involving state or federal cooperators assigned to an incident, contact the finance section chief or safety officer for direction.

Personal Injuries Each administrator shall submit a Preliminary Report of Injury to the TFS Human Resources Department within two days when an employee sustains a job related injury that results in lost time or medical attention. The form is available in the “FORMS” section of the TFS website. Precautionary Reports ‐ Occasionally an employee may suffer a minor injury and is reluctant to fill out a preliminary report of injury form. However, even the slightest injury can lead to complications that require medical attention or result in lost time e.g. back strain or exposure to chemicals. If an employee sustains an injury and does not see any immediate need for medical attention or does not lose any time as a result of the injury, they may submit the injury report as a precautionary measure by writing “PRECAUTIONARY” on the top of the form.

Vehicle Accidents Drivers of state‐owned vehicles that are involved in a motor vehicle accident will complete and submit the TAMUS Motor Vehicle Accident Report (MVAR) form to the TFS Human Resources Department within two days; the form is available in the “FORMS” section of the TFS website.

Accident Reporting and Notifications Fax or email administrative forms to the Environmental Health & Safety Officer in the TFS Human Resources Department:

3‐10 October 2010

3‐11 October 2010

Fax#: (979) 458‐6699 e‐mail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

4. Training and Qualifications The Texas Forest Service utilizes the standards set forth by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s (NWCG) publication Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualifications Systems Guide PMS 310‐1 in training and qualification of its incident response personnel. Requirements that may deviate from those established by the NWCG are approved by the TFS Certification Committee.

Certification and Record Keeping Training and certification information for all TFS emergency responders shall be maintained at the Texas Interagency Coordination Center. Data will be entered electronically into the Incident Qualifications System (IQS) and a hard copy file folder will be kept for each employee and will include certificates and taskbooks.

Certification of Non‐Agency Personnel Non‐TFS firefighters and support personnel will not be certified by TFS.

The Incident Qualifications and Certification Card (Red Card) The TFS Chief of Fire Operations is responsible for annual certification of personnel serving in emergency response positions. Agency certification is issued annually in the form of an Incident Qualifications and Certification Card, which certifies the individual is qualified to perform in a specified position. The Red Card must be signed by the agency administrator or delegate. The agency administrator, supervisor, and individual are responsible for monitoring fitness, training, and performance, as well as taking appropriate action to ensure the employee meets all position performance requirements. The Red Card will have a 12‐month currency. The Texas Forest Service typically issues Red Cards at the beginning of each calendar year, and as needed during the year as qualifications change due to initiation or certification of taskbooks.

Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training is required for all personnel participating in fire suppression or prescribed fire activities, or for those who may be assigned to the fireline performing non‐suppression duties. The refresher training must include the following core topics:

• Entrapments – Use training and reference materials to study the risk management process (as identified in the Incident Response Pocket Guide) and rules of engagement (i.e. LCES, 10, 18, Look Up…)

• Current Issues – Review and discuss hot topics and national emphasis topics. Review forecasts and assessments for the upcoming fire season and discuss implications for firefighter safety.

• Fire Shelter – Review and discuss last resort survival. Conduct hands on fire shelter inspections and practice shelter deployments.

• Other Hazards and Safety Issues – Choose additional hazard and safety subjects, which could include SAFENET, current safety alerts, site/unit specific safety issues and hazards.

These core topics must be sufficiently covered to ensure that personnel are aware of safety concerns and procedures and can demonstrate proficiency in fire shelter deployment. Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training will have a 12‐month currency. A web site entitled “Annual Wildland Fire Safety Refresher Training” is available to assist in the training. It can be accessed through the safety web page at www.nifc.gov.

4‐1 October 2010

http://www.nifc.gov/

In addition to the annual fireline refresher, Helicopter Managers will be required to attend RT‐372 every three years, and crew members must attend the yearly Helicopter Crew Member classroom refresher to maintain currency.

Certification Committee The TFS Certification Committee is a group of personnel whose expertise represents the functional areas of the Incident Command System – Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance, Aviation, Prescribed Fire, and Dispatch. The committee is responsible for providing management oversight and review of the wildland and prescribed fire positions within the agency. The committee also:

• Certifies that qualifications are valid by reviewing the training and experience of each employee. • Determines if each employee possesses the personal characteristics necessary to perform the

position in a safe and efficient manner. • Makes recommendations to the appropriate agency administrator or designee who is

responsible for final certification signature. • Recommends classroom training needs to the Texas Interagency Training Committee.

Taskbooks and Certification The NWCG taskbook is available for all primary ICS positions and satisfactory completion is a requirement for certification within the Texas Forest Service. The following procedures shall be followed for all taskbooks:

• After determining that all prerequisites for the position have been met according to NWCG’s 310‐1 – required training and experience – the East Texas Training Coordinator shall initiate all taskbooks for the East Texas Operations Dept. All taskbooks for FRP Incident Response Dept. personnel shall be initiated by the appropriate Assistant Chief Regional Fire Coordinator. Taskbooks for all other FRP and FRD personnel shall be initiated in conjunction with the TICC Assistant Emergency Response Coordinator.

• When a taskbook is issued, the cover page will be faxed to TICC. The TICC Assistant Emergency Response Coordinator will verify that the individual has met all the prerequisites and he/she will then be considered for trainee assignments. A revised red card will be issued at that time.

• Once all tasks have been performed and evaluated, the final evaluator must sign the inside cover of the taskbook. Taskbooks can be signed by personnel who are supervising the trainee, but the final evaluator must be qualified in the position for which he/she is evaluating. The trainee should make sure the evaluator is qualified before he/she signs in one of the evaluation blocks.

• It is strongly recommended that individuals go on multiple assignments while completing a taskbook. If an individual completes all tasks within Texas, it is at the discretion of the TFS Certification Committee whether or not he/she must take his/her first assignment out of state as a trainee in the position.

• Single resource boss, unit leader, Incident Commander Type 4, Safety Officer Type 2 and positions above those levels must be evaluated in a minimum of two different fuel types, have a minimum of three assignments in the position, and at least one evaluator must be a TFS employee. Trainees must get at least one performance evaluation prior to completion of a taskbook.

• Taskbooks should be completed within three years of the date of issue. If an individual is unable to complete the taskbook within that timeframe, he/she should contact the Assistant Emergency Response Coordinator at TICC. In most cases, an extension will be allowed if significant progress has already been made in the taskbook. Once completed, a copy of the

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taskbook should be retained at the local office and the original forwarded to TICC. After confirming all required training has been completed, a synopsis of the experience will be forwarded to the Certification Committee. The synopsis will include number and duration of assignments, names and agencies of evaluators, fuel types, complexity of incidents, etc. The committee will provide a recommendation for certification or request an additional assignment(s). The TFS Certification Committee has delegated authority to the Planning & Preparedness Department Head to approve or reject entry level taskbooks (below unit leader, squad boss, ICT5, etc.) when the trainee clearly has gained sufficient experience or is severely lacking in experience. Questions regarding these taskbooks will be directed to the Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) on the TFS Certification Committee.

• The Planning and Preparedness Department Head will certify all taskbooks approved by the committee. Once certified, a new red card will be issued and the individual must serve satisfactorily in that position on at least one incident before being eligible to start a taskbook at the next level.

• To retain currency, performance is required in that or a similar position at least every five years (three years for aviation and dispatch positions). NWCG 310‐1 lists all positions that will help maintain currency. If currency lapses, the individual will temporarily revert back to a trainee in the position. To regain full qualification in a position, the individual must demonstrate satisfactory performance for a minimum of two shifts. An Individual Performance Rating (ICS 226) should be used to document performance and should be forwarded to TICC.

• Qualification for positions for which there is no taskbook must be approved by the TFS Incident Response Department Head in conjunction with an SME.

Physical Fitness The following procedures from the Texas Forest Service Administrative Procedures will be followed for all work capacity testing: 1. GOVERNING REGULATIONS

These procedures are governed by Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1) published by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

2. GENERAL

Fitness and health of Texas Forest Service (TFS) firefighters is of utmost importance to ensure the safety of all personnel working on the fire line. The Work Capacity Test (WCT) is the primary means to assess the fitness level of firefighters. The WCT for budgeted and seasonal TFS employees will be administered twice per year (October 15 through December 20 and March 15 through June 15) by regional fire coordinators (RFC), qualified alternates designated in writing by the Incident Response Department Head, or TFS Human Resources Department personnel. The WCT will be administered and recorded in accordance with the Work Capacity Test Administrator’s Guide. Employees should be notified at least six weeks prior to the testing so they may prepare as necessary (conditioning and medical screening). The notification letter will direct employees to immediately fill out the Health Screening Questionnaire (HSQ).

3. APPLICABILITY

All firefighters are required to maintain a current WCT fitness level to perform their duties. Firefighters are defined as budgeted and seasonal TFS employees whose position description identifies fire fighting as an essential duty.

4‐3 October 2010

http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/docs/pms310-1.pdf

http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/PMS307.pdf

http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/PMS307.pdf

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/wct/5100-31.pdf

4. WORK CAPACITY TESTING AND CRITERIA

4.1 There are three fitness levels assigned by work capacity testing:

Arduous—for positions involving field work which calls for above average endurance and superior conditioning. Moderate—for positions involving field work requiring complete control of physical faculties and may include considerable walking, standing, and lifting 24-50 pounds. Light—for positions involving occasional field duty.

4.2 Criteria for each fitness level are as follows: Fitness Level / Work

Category Test Distance (miles)

Pack (pounds)

Time (minutes)

Arduous Pack 3 45 45 Moderate Field 2 25 30 Light Walk 1 None 16

4.3 The WCT administrator is responsible for submitting, by fax or email, the completed WCT Data Sheet (page 20 of the WCT Administrator’s Guide) to the Human Resources Department for review and forwarding to the payroll office to process incentive payments.

5. REQUIREMENTS

5.1 All TFS firefighters must maintain at least a moderate fitness level. (See section 12 for special provisions for “grandfathered” employees.)

5.2 For NWCG assignments outside of Texas, employees must meet the applicable fitness

level listed by position in NWCG Publication PMS 310-1. 5.3 Employees filling positions on South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact

orders must meet the same fitness level requirements as for assignments within Texas. 6. FITNESS AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

6.1 The fitness and incentive programs do not apply to seasonal and part time employees. 6.2 As an incentive to firefighters, a monetary payment of $500 will be awarded to those who

achieve and maintain an arduous fitness level. The incentive payment will be paid at the rate of $250 per semi-annual test in which the arduous fitness level is met. The WCT administrator must ensure that proper medical clearance has been received and the consent form signed before the arduous test can be taken.

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6.3 To assist firefighters in achieving and maintaining a higher fitness level, TFS will provide an opportunity to conduct continuous physical exercise at the rate of one hour per day, three days per week, unless in a travel status or during emergency response. The physical fitness program will be managed by the chain of command, but districts and offices are encouraged to train together. Employees will review and utilize the USDA Forest Service WCT Brochure as a guide in developing their training regimen.

7. GUIDELINES

7.1 Detailed guidance for conducting the WCT is found in the NWCG publication Work Capacity Test Administrator’s Guide.

7.2 At least one emergency medical technician (EMT) shall be on site from start to finish. It

is recommended to have at least one EMT for every 20 participants. A person may not take the test while serving as an on-site EMT. It is also recommended that an ambulance be on site throughout the test.

7.3 Participants for the pack or field test should provide a pack with the appropriate weight

for the test. Each pack will be weighed by the WCT administrator prior to the test. 8. MEDICAL SCREENING

8.1 At the beginning of August, each applicable employee must fill out an HSQ. This must be done prior to conditioning for, or taking, any fitness level of the Work Capacity Test. All HSQ’s will be collected by the appropriate supervisor and sent through the chain of command to the Human Resources Department for review and filing.

8.2 Only one HSQ must be completed annually unless there is a change in the employee’s health or their physician directs them to return prior to taking the Spring WCT. Employees who have had a change in medical condition since the previous WCT must have a medical clearance form clearing them for the WCT completed by their physician. The medical clearance form must be faxed to the Environmental Health and Safety Specialist at 979/458-6698 prior to the WCT.

8.3 The chain of command, in conjunction with the Human Resources Department, will review each HSQ. The chain of command, with advice from the Human Resources Department, will determine whether an employee is cleared to start conditioning and take the WCT or requires further medical evaluation. If further medical evaluation is required, TFS will reimburse full-time employees for any out of pocket costs incurred (i.e., co-payments). Seasonal employees will be reimbursed for any costs incurred, up to the co-payment amount paid for full-time employees in the same geographical area.

8.4 Employees requiring medical evaluation must have their personal health care professional complete the Wildland Firefighter Medical Clearance Form prior to taking the WCT. This form, when completed, will be forwarded to the Human Resources Department for review and filing.

4‐5 October 2010

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/wct/2002/brochure_2002.pdf

http://tfsfinance.tamu.edu/modules/finance/admin/procedures/Wildland%20Firefighter%20Medical%20Clearance%20Form.doc

8.5 All WCT participants will also sign a Work Capacity Test: Informed Consent form. This form will be collected by the WCT administrator on test day and sent to the Human Resources Department for review and filing.

For additional information on the TFS work capacity testing procedures, please go to http://tfsfinance.tamu.edu/modules/finance/admin/admin_procedures/default.htm

Basic Fireline/Prescribed Burn Training Prior to performing any suppression work on the fireline (on a wildfire or prescribed burn), all employees must complete the basic firefighter curriculum – I‐100, L‐180, S‐130, and S‐190. All heavy equipment operators must complete the TFS Tractor Plow/Dozer Operations course prior to operating equipment on a wildfire or prescribed burn. In addition, personnel must complete the Caterpillar simulator training prior to operating a Cat 120M motor grader. All fitness and shelter training requirements must be met prior to performing any suppression duties.

Texas Forest Service Standards for Chainsaw Operators and Fallers All TFS employees shall have appropriate training to operate a chainsaw on projects or incidents. An agency certifier for chainsaw operators shall be appointed by the Incident Response Department Head and approved by the TFS Certification Committee. The certifier will choose his own delegates to assist in annual refresher training at the district/branch level. These delegates must be given their annual refreshers prior to being used as local certifiers, and may be used only to certify Class A Fallers.

NWCG Chainsaw Certification Standards The TFS Certification Committee has established the following minimum qualification and certification process for Chainsaw Operators (Red Card certified as Class A Faller):

• Successful completion of S‐212, including the field exercise. • Successful completion of annual refresher training, including chainsaw maintenance, safety

review, successful falling of a 12” (max.) tree, as well as demonstrating proficiency in limbing, bucking, and brush removal under various conditions.

• Documentation of chainsaw training and annual certification will be maintained by the certifier for each individual. This information shall also be forwarded to TICC to be entered into the individual’s master training file.

The TFS Certification Committee has established the following minimum qualification and certification process for Class B Fallers:

• Successful completion of S‐212, including the field exercise. • Successful completion of annual refresher training, including chainsaw maintenance, safety

review, successful falling of a 24” (max.) tree, as well as demonstrating proficiency in limbing, bucking, and brush removal under various conditions.


The TFS Certification Committee has established the following minimum qualification and certification process for Class C Fallers (more than a 24” tree):

• The agency will not certify anyone as a Class C Faller without prior approval by the Incident Response Department Head.

4‐6 October 2010

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/wct/fs_5100_30-1.pdf

http://tfsfinance.tamu.edu/modules/finance/admin/admin_procedures/default.htm

4‐7 October 2010

A certified chainsaw operator’s card will be issued and the appropriate qualification will be added to the individual’s red card, allowing operation of a saw on TFS project work or any state or federal incident.

Non‐NWCG Certification Standards The Certification Committee has established the following minimum qualification and certification process for Chainsaw Operators (TFS certified as Class A Faller):

• Successful completion of a three‐day TFS Chainsaw Operations course, including field exercise. (This course will contain the same material as the S‐212 course, but because of the smaller class sizes, it will be possible to teach it in three days rather than four.)

• Successful completion of annual refresher training, including chainsaw maintenance, safety review, successful falling of a 12” (max.) tree, as well as demonstrating proficiency in limbing, bucking, and brush removal under various conditions.


A certified chainsaw operator’s card will be issued, allowing operation of a saw for TFS project work or TFS incident, however, an individual must be fireline qualified to operate a saw on a TFS fire.

5. Incident Response Equipment The Texas Forest Service utilizes a variety of equipment and vehicles to support fire and emergency response operations. Proper usage, training and maintenance are essential to insure both safe and effective operations.

Transport Trucks The TFS fleet includes a variety of transports, varying from automatic transmissions to 18‐speed standard shifts. They can safely and efficiently deliver crews and equipment to work sites and fire scenes if properly maintained and operated.

Safety and Training It is a requirement for all TFS employees to have a class A CDL driver’s license to operate a TFS transport truck. To operate any of these units it is important to be familiar with their particular shifting patterns. These are listed on the dash of each unit and in the owner’s manual. A loaded transport unit can weigh between 13,000 to 80,000 pounds. Maneuvering these vehicles can be difficult. Turning too fast and to sharp can result in injury and vehicle damage. Accelerating from 0 to 50 mph can take a full minute or more. At 40 mph it takes nearly 200 feet to stop. Increased following distance and other defensive driving patterns are essential to safe operations. Parking First, park in the direction you intend to travel. That means parking so that you can start off without backing out into traffic or making a U‐turn across oncoming traffic. Second, park so that you won’t block the view of other drivers. A transport parked near an intersection could block the view of other drivers and might cause an accident. Third, avoid parking on steep grades. Setting the parking brake is no guarantee that the transport won’t roll during loading or unloading. If you must park on a grade, always turn the front wheels toward the curb or away from traffic and chock the wheels. When parking for the evening, make sure the location is secure and well lit. Set the parking brake and leave the truck in low gear and Low range. Roll up the windows lock the door and remove the keys from both the transport and tractor. When parking at a fire, position the truck so that it faces the nearest exit. If you’re forced to leave in a hurry, you don’t want to spend time backing up or turning around. Make sure you leave the roadway clear for other vehicles. If there is a chance the fire might reach your truck, blade a fire lane around it before you attack the fire. Roll up the windows and leave the door unlocked and the keys in the ignition. With the windows up, the cab will be free of smoke and ash and, if someone has to move your truck in a hurry, they’ll be able to get in and move it.

Backing Backing up any transport truck can be a hazardous operation, and should be a last resort. Avoid backing situations where possible. For example, park parallel to the curb or roadside in the direction you intend to travel. If you need to turn around, find a spot where you can turn without backing. (Never back around a corner of an intersection to turn around). If you have a passenger, have them get out and guide you.

5‐1 October 2010

When you must back up, the following procedures are recommended for your safety. First, know what is behind you. Either you or your passenger should get out and check for holes or obstructions. After you’ve checked for possible hazards behind you, switch on your emergency flashers and honk the horn briefly as you start back. Remember to use the low rear axle range on the split shift transmissions when backing a fully loaded truck. Have your passenger or someone else guide you whenever possible. The person guiding the driver should stand past the rear of the truck and on the driver’s side so that they are visible in the driver’s outside mirror at all times. Use your mirrors while backing and don’t lean out of the cab while the truck is moving. Never use more than one person to help guide you. It is the responsibility of the person signaling to indicate the driver when to start, when to stop, and how much distance is remaining. To make sure the driver sees the signals use both hands. At night the lights on the tractor can be used to light up the area behind the truck and the person signaling can use a flashlight to signal the driver. If you are forced to back across a flow of traffic, someone must help control traffic and signal you when the way is clear.

Maintenance and Inspections Maintenance shall be completed in a timely manner and not to conflict with operator’s manual for the equipment. Inspecting your vehicle serves two purposes. First, a brief but thorough inspection detects most maintenance problems in time to prevent costly repairs. A careless driver might overlook small leaks or incorrect fluid levels, but a good inspection will spot these problems before they produce a breakdown or an accident. Second, each inspection protects you. The Texas Forest Service does not expect you to operate an unsafe vehicle, but you must take the responsibility for notifying your supervisor if there is a defect with any equipment. Don’t take chances; inspect your units (vehicles) properly. A thorough daily inspection must be completed before the unit is used each day. Daily and weekly equipment checklists should be kept in the unit for easy access (Appendix B).

Heavy Equipment ‐Dozers, Tractor Plows, and Motor Graders The TFS heavy equipment fleet consists of Type 2 & 3 dozers, Type 2, 4, 5 & 6 tractor plows, and motor grader units. The location of the equipment is dependent on fuels and terrain. The age and condition of this equipment varies greatly. Regardless of type or kind, heavy equipment will be properly secured to transports with adequate chains and binders as outlined by state regulations. It is the responsibility of the transport driver to verify that the equipment is properly secured before and during each trip. The transport driver of this equipment shall know the overall height of the load and avoid low clearance areas that would result in an impact. This equipment shall be operated in a safe manner regardless of the fire or training situation. In wildfire situations, suppression units will be operated by a qualified operator or by an operator trainee under the supervision of a qualified operator. This provides the opportunity for training on wildfires while having experienced personnel to supervise suppression activities.

Safety and Training Any personnel to operate heavy equipment will complete the TFS Dozer /Tractor Plow Maintenance & Operations course. This class should be completed before operating any equipment on a wildfire or

5‐2 October 2010

prescribed burn. Classes are widely available at TFS annual academies and local levels. Operators will work on the Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) position task book to become a qualified operator, which requires a minimum of 40 hours of training. This task book, after certification, only qualifies an operator at the basic level. The “Initial Attack” status will be determined by the local supervisor and experienced operators after the individual has obtained the NWCG Fire Fighter Type 1 (FFT1)/ICT5 qualification and after having been certified as a basic operator exhibiting advanced firefighting skills. While a person may become certified as an operator, the only equipment to be operated should be within the capabilities of that operator; e.g. a person who was qualified as an operator on a JD 450 should not be ordered on a wildfire to operate a JD 750 without any previous experience. Operators should not be placed on equipment that they are not familiar with regardless of the need, which otherwise could jeopardize their safety. Communications will be established with other personnel before beginning any task, including checking that mobile/handheld radio(s) are working and on correct frequency. Any AM/FM radios or other music listening devices should remain off while engaged in any live fire activities. The equipment’s engine should be warmed up before every use, idled down after use, and allowed to cool before shutting down. A seat belt shall be worn at all times during operation. No one but the operator should approach and/or climb on the equipment during operation or when idle. To prevent any injury inside the cab and maintain good visibility, the operator should keep the cab clean at all times. At no time will heavy equipment be operated or transported with the doors open. Regardless of protection cage and/or environmental cab, a correctly sized fire shelter for the current operator will be present on the unit during all operations. Upon completion of any training or suppression activities, the equipment fuel level should be returned to full capacity. Heavy equipment will be operated by an appropriately qualified operator or by a trainee under the supervision of a qualified operator. The NWCG dozer boss (DOZB) and tractor plow boss (TRPB) positions should be utilized during equipment deployment to aid the operator. These positions should be persons working on the ground and not operating the equipment. If a DOZB / TRPB is not immediately available, utilize a “swamper” (minimum qualification is NWCG FFT2) to mitigate hazards and identify risks.

Maintenance and Inspections Heavy equipment should have safety and operational inspections accomplished either on a post‐fire or daily basis. It is the responsibility of the operator to insure proper inspections are completed. The OF‐296 Vehicle / Heavy Equipment Safety Inspection Checklist and instructions can be found in Appendix B. Offices should document these inspections. Periodic maintenance (as required by the manufacturer) shall be performed at the intervals recommended and properly documented. All fluid levels should be checked after each use and monitored on a monthly or as needed basis. All engine air and cooling systems should be checked after each use and serviced or replaced as needed. The radiator should be checked for debris after each use; it should only be cleaned with air, not water. Any air blow gun used should have a rubber tip to prevent damage to equipment. Windows and mirrors should be inspected after each use and maintained in a safe working condition. Equipment and all attachments should be greased after every use or daily. The engine compartment should be kept clean and free from accumulation of flammable fluid and litter. To reduce the transport, introduction, and establishment of noxious weeds or other biological contaminants on the landscape due to fire suppression activities, fire suppression units should be cleaned at a designated area prior to arriving and leaving the incident. Onsite fire equipment should be

5‐3 October 2010

used to thoroughly clean the undercarriage, tracks, radiator, and exterior of the unit. The cleaning area should also be clearly marked to identify the area for post fire control treatments, as needed.

Standard Equipment Inventory A correctly sized fire shelter for the current operator will be present on the unit during all operations. A recommended tool kit, which should consist of but not limited to fencing pliers, wire cutters, tie wire, screw drivers, socket set with adequate sockets and attachments to remove access panels and adjust moving items, fuses, 12‐24 volt test light, grease gun, extra tubes of grease, and electrical tape. Class ABC Fire Extinguisher, first aid kit, flashlight with rechargeable or extra batteries, hand cleaner, window cleaner, disposable towels, chain or tow strap adequate for equipment weight, and an extra personal safety light for ground personnel. In addition, motor graders should be stocked with an air hose with necessary adapter to connect to air tank (if applicable), air gauge, tire repair kit, and necessary tools to remove or tighten wheels.

Engines and Tenders The TFS engine fleet currently consists of Type 3 & 6 engines. These engines have been acquired over many years and have all been designed differently. They vary in transmission type, water capacity, toolbox/storage arrangement, cab setup and vehicle length. Engine typing and respective standards are identified in the NWCG Fireline Handbook, 410‐1. Fuel cards issued to these vehicles are strictly for fuel in the vehicle itself. Any fuel needed for drip torches, chainsaws, pumps, or any other use will be purchased using a spare gas card. If there is no spare issued to the engine or to personnel operating the engine, contact a TFS fire supervisor for those fuel needs. Approved foam concentrate may be used to improve the efficiency of water, except near waterways where accidental spillage or over spray of the chemical could be harmful to the aquatic ecosystem, or other identified resource concerns. Use available water sources as needed, however, make every effort to get permission from private landowners when using stock pond water. If predetermined draft or fill up sites are already established and known, use those instead of pioneering new sites.

Safety and Training Engines require different considerations than a standard vehicle not having the additional weight. While TFS engines do have baffled tanks, the driver should consider the movement of water in the tank when in travel. Engine operators should maintain at least 10 percent of the useable capacity of the water tank for emergency engine protection and drafting. At least one set of wheel chocks will be carried on each engine and will be properly utilized whenever the engine is parked or left unattended. This includes engine operation in a stationary mode without a driver “in place.” All engines will have at least one 5 lb. ABC ‐rated (minimum) fire extinguisher, either in full view or in a clearly marked compartment. Each engine shall carry, in a clearly marked compartment, a fully equipped 10‐32 person first aid kit. While operating the engine in reverse, all drivers should have a backing guide monitoring the movement. Should the driver loose visibility with the backing guide at any time, the driver will stop

5‐4 October 2010

immediately and place the vehicle in park with the brake applied. This will remain in effect until the backing guide is again visible to ensure their safety. Operators are responsible for checking that the GVWR is not exceeded. Supervisors must ensure that the maximum allowable weight of the vehicle is not exceeded. For commercially designed highway vehicles used in off‐highway applications, the Cargo Load (CL) must not exceed 90% of the difference between the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the vehicle's Curb Weight (CW). In numerical form: Max CL = .90 (GVWR ‐ CW) – DP. The curb weight (CW) is defined as the actual weight of a vehicle including all permanently attached items and a full tank of fuel. It does not include the cargo (water, tools, supplies, gear, etc.), the driver, or passengers. DP is the driver and passengers riding in the vehicle. GVWR is the maximum weight at which the vehicle is certified to operate. The maximum allowable vehicle operating weight is therefore the curb weight plus the allowable cargo load. The Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) shall not be exceeded under any circumstances. TFS employees who wish to work on an engine should have a pre‐fire briefing of the engine and are encouraged to take the PMS‐419 Wildland Engine Operator course. Sufficient time should be spent with all trainees going over the equipment and proper operational procedures. Any employee wanting to be qualified as an NWCG Engine Boss (ENGB) must first complete the TFS Engine Operator (ENOP) task book and required to take the PMS‐419 Wildland Engine Operator course, after obtaining the NWCG Fire Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) qualification. Minimum staffing for Type 6 & 7 engines is two individuals. Minimum staffing for Type 3, 4 and 5 engines is three individuals. For staffing of three or more, in addition to the ENGB, a minimum of one crew member should be Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) qualified.

Maintenance and Inspections Apparatus safety and operational inspections will be accomplished either on a post‐fire or daily basis. Wildland engine inspection sheets and instructions can be found in Appendix B. Offices should document these inspections. Periodic maintenance (as required by the manufacturer) shall be performed at the intervals recommended and properly documented. All annual inspections will include a pump gallons per minute (GPM) test to ensure the pump/plumbing system is operating at desired specifications. Winterization of the fire engine and pump package is the process of preventing damage due to freezing temperatures. Appendix B has a field and full winterization checklist with instructions. These inspection sheets can also be used for tenders. To reduce the transport, introduction, and establishment of noxious weeds or other biological contaminants on the landscape due to fire suppression activities, fire suppression and support vehicles should be cleaned at a designated area prior to arriving and leaving the incident. Onsite fire equipment should be used to thoroughly clean the undercarriage, fender wells, tires, radiator, and exterior of the vehicle. The cleaning area should also be clearly marked to identify the area for post fire control treatments, as needed.

Standard Equipment Inventory In addition to standard PPE requirements, each fire fighter should have a fire pack and receptacle for carrying drinking water. An inventory of supplies and equipment carried on each vehicle is required to maintain accountability and to obtain replacement items lost or damaged on incidents. The standard inventory for engines is found in Appendix B, and adheres to the minimum standard for all agency engines. There are additional columns for recommended items for in‐state assignments.

5‐5 October 2010

Miscellaneous Equipment ‐ ATV’s, UTV’s, Trailers, Vans, Crew Carriers, and other Motorized Equipment TFS has a fleet of ATVs, UTVs, trailers, crew carriers, and other motorized equipment, including tracked engines, backhoes, forklifts, and skid steers.

Safety and Training All TFS employees that will be operating an ATV, UTV or other motorized equipment using must take a TFS authorized safety training course pertaining to each equipment type. The course will be provided by the agency or by a local dealer of equipment to be used. Contact the TFS Environmental Safety Specialist for course information. Operate the vehicle for its intended use and not outside those perimeters. Headlights and taillights should be turned on at any time the vehicle is in use. No firing devices will be used from these vehicles while moving or stopped. All firing devices and fuel will be firmly secured. Any spilled fuel should be cleaned from the vehicle in a timely manner. Any equipment transported by these vehicles will be firmly secured to prevent any damage to the vehicle or injury to the occupants. Operators should use caution while using this equipment and make every effort to brief personnel working within the immediate area of use. Ensure item stored on equipment is firmly secured, engine shut down, lights off, doors closed and if applicable all DOT regulations are met. Due to the risk of a rollover accident no one should operate a 12 or 15‐passenger van with more than 10 occupants. Drivers of TFS crew carriers are required to hold a Class B license with the air brakes restriction removed. Passengers and drivers of vans and crew carriers are required to wear a seat belt at all times. When towing a trailer, drivers must ensure they have a vehicle and hitch that are appropriate for the task.

Maintenance and Inspections Maintenance shall be completed in a timely manner and not to conflict with operator’s manual for that equipment. Inspecting your vehicle serves two purposes. First, a brief but thorough inspection detects most maintenance problems in time to prevent costly repairs. A careless driver might overlook small leaks or incorrect fluid levels; but a good inspection will spot these problems before they produce a breakdown or an accident. Second, each inspection protects you. The Texas Forest Service does not expect you to operate an unsafe vehicle. But you must take the responsibility for notifying your supervisor if something goes wrong with your equipment. Don’t take chances; inspect your units (vehicles) properly. A thorough daily inspection must be completed if the unit may be used that day. Inspection forms should be kept in the unit.

Standard Equipment Inventory Equipment inventory will vary depending on type of vehicle and purpose. Specific needs should be addressed in Regional/Branch plans.

Fixed Caches, Cache Trailers and Satellite Trailer TFS has fixed caches and mobile trailer caches located throughout the state. These caches are available year around for wildfire or all‐risk use. The primary fixed caches are located at the TFS facilities in

5‐6 October 2010

5‐7 October 2010

Hudson (TICC) and McGregor, with smaller caches being maintained at Abilene and College Station. Small mobile trailers are located in Ft. Stockton, Canyon, and La Grange. There are also hurricane trailers at Hudson (TICC) and La Grange. Expendable items from the fixed caches or trailers may be ordered from the host cache manager using an “S” number if being charged to an incident number. Routine orders for FRP Incident Response Department personnel will be submitted with an appropriate account number through the Assistant Chief Regional Fire Coordinator. Routine orders for the East Texas Operations Department personnel will be submitted through the District Forester. A satellite internet trailer (M.O.S.E.S) with phone and fax capability is located at College Station and can be ordered through the TFS Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Users of M.O.S.E.S. are responsible for any charges incurred. If used on an incident, the charges should be paid by an incident number. When used for non‐incident project work, the charges should be paid from a TFS budgeted or local account.

6. Incident Response Incident response combines the capability to dispatch initial attack resources, size up the incident and manage the incident in a safe and efficient manner. Incident response also incorporates preparedness and incident response planning which ensures that responding firefighters are aware of the potential for significant fires and that fire managers are staffing appropriate resources for response.

Initial Attack Dispatch The initial attack dispatcher is responsible for implementing the initial response to an incident upon request for assistance or detection. The initial attack dispatcher will coordinate communications and provide logistical support until such time that the incident management structure can support the incident. The initial attack dispatch will follow standard operating procedures as outlined in the operational response plan. At a minimum, initial attack dispatch organizations will ensure that the following activities are performed for each incident.

• Maintain a dispatch log • Record resource dispatch, arrival, contain, and control times • Record resources dispatched • Record location with Lat/Lon • Obtain and record estimated fire size • Obtain and record fuel type • Obtain and record fire complexity • Obtain and record command structure (identify IC) • Record values threatened or lost (homes, infrastructure) • Provide updates to Dispatch Tracker • Periodically check communications link with incident resources • Provide flight following for aviation resources as outlined in TFS aviation plan • Provide weather updates; spot weather forecasts

Initial Attack Resources The TFS initial attack IC will have the responsibility of sizing up the situation and implementing a safe, effective, tactical plan. This plan should be inclusive of all resources on the incident. The TFS IC is also responsible for transitioning the incident back to local authority.

Aviation Operations All TFS incidents will operate under the guidelines set forth in the Texas Forest Service Aviation Guide.

The Role of Texas Forest Service TFS is recognized as the lead wildland firefighting agency on private lands in Texas. The TFS may fill the role of incident IC, set up a unified command with the local authority, or may fill the role of OSC upon arrival at an incident. The TFS role should be established with the requesting authority upon arrival.

Turning Down a Request for Assistance There have been occasions when agency resources have been requested to provide assistance that exceeded our qualifications or equipment capabilities. The responding TFS IC will have to make this determination. If the request is unsafe or exceeds the capabilities of our equipment, our response should be to explain our limitations and work with the requesting party to find a resource capable of filling their needs.

6‐1 October 2010

Entering Private Lands Under Section 88.104 of the Texas Education Code (see 1‐1), TFS employees are authorized to “enter upon any privately‐owned land in the performance of fire suppression duties”. Entries upon privately‐owned land may be made whenever it is necessary to investigate forest and grass fires and to ascertain whether they are burning uncontrolled. Any entry upon private lands must be done in a reasonable and prudent manner by the shortest route, and using established ingress and egress points and roads to the maximum degree. At any time, should a TFS employee perceive any type of threat from a landowner, a request for law enforcement assistance should be made through the local TFS dispatch office, and no further attempt to access the land should be made until law enforcement arrives. § 88.104. Authority to Enter Private Lands

Authority is hereby granted to every employee of the Texas Forest Service and any outside labor or assistance the employee deems necessary to enter upon any privately-owned land in the performance of fire suppression duties which are by state law under the direction of the director. These entries on privately-owned land may be made whenever it is necessary to investigate forest and grass fires and to ascertain whether they are burning uncontrolled, and whenever it is necessary to suppress forest and grass fires that are known to be burning uncontrolled.

In Briefings TFS resources arriving at an incident should contact the incident IC (if there are resources engaged) and request an initial briefing on the incident. The briefing should be commensurate with the incident complexity. This initial briefing should also serve to establish the incident management structure and the IC. Briefing elements to be considered can be found on the briefing checklist located on the inside back cover of the Incident Response Guide (IRPG).

Initial Size‐Up An initial size‐up is required before implementing tactical suppression operations. Size‐up provides essential information needed to conduct a safe and efficient operation. Size‐up information will be provided to the dispatcher upon arrival and updated as needed. The size‐up report on the inside front cover of the IRPG is an excellent reference for size‐up elements. Minimum requirements for size‐up should include:

• Identify Incident Commander • Name of Incident • Identify Incident Complexity

o Current o Potential

• Location • Size • Fuel Type • Fire Behavior • Values at Risk • Current Resources • Resource Needs • Communications/Tactical Frequency

Subsequent size‐up will be needed as time passes or fire complexity changes.

6‐2 October 2010

Incident Complexity To ensure that the appropriate level of management is applied to an incident, initial attack responders need to include a fire complexity analysis as part of their initial size up and any subsequent size ups. There are five levels of complexity that have been defined. Type I complexity is the most complex and requires the highest level of skill and management. Type V complexity is the least complex incident requiring only the basic firefighter requirements to manage an incident of this complexity. The complexity analysis of an incident is not a completely objective process. There are many factors to consider that can influence the determination of incident complexity. Some of the major factors that should be considered in an incident complexity analysis include the number and type of resources engaged or needed for suppression operations, values at risk, threat to life and property, jurisdictional boundaries, fuel types, fire behavior, significant fire potential, and firefighter safety. There is a complexity analysis guideline in the IRPG (pg. 18) that helps to determine the difference between the group of type 3, 4, and 5 fires versus the group of type 1 and 2 fires. This guideline does not distinguish the differences between type 5 fires, type 4 fires or type 3 fires. Below are some characteristics of type 3, 4, and 5 incidents to help differentiate between these complexities. These characteristics are meant to be a guide in the complexity determination process, not an absolute definition of type complexity.

Type V Complexity

• Generally a small fire or a larger fire with a high percentage of inactive perimeter. • 2‐7 firefighters with 1‐2 units and the local fire department are an adequate number of

resources to contain fire. • Fire presents low resistance to control. Initial attack will be successful. • Fire behavior and fire intensities allow for direct attack.

Type IV Complexity

• Fire is large enough to require multiple units and a designated supervisor with no collateral responsibilities.

• Local resources include 2‐5 units and 1‐5 fire departments. • A reconnaissance aircraft and/or 1‐2 tactical aircraft may be present. • Fire behavior and intensities can cause containment problems near the head fire with slop overs

and short range spotting. • Direct tactics are generally used but indirect tactics may sometimes be used to cross the head

fire due to high fire intensities or high rate of spread. • Fuel dryness levels may require extended mop up after containment. • Fire behavior drops off significantly with sunset and increased moisture recovery. • Fires are contained in one burning period.

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***Type 3 Complexity Transition Indicators***

The more indicators that are present increase the likelihood that you have transitioned to a Type 3 fire.

• Attempt(s) to contain head have failed • Indirect tactics are being used • Significant fire potential rating is high or very high

6‐3 October 2010

• Peak burning period has yet to occur • Cannot see the entire fire • Tactical aircraft are engaged or ordered • Evacuations have occurred or are recommended • Number of resources (agency, fire departments, law enforcement) exceed span of control • Difficult to manage/monitor all communications • Fuels and/or terrain limit access

Regardless of size or complexity, if any of the following are present an ICT3 must be ordered:

• Entrapment • Shelter Deployment • Burnover • Fatality or serious injury

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Type III Complexity

• Cannot see the entire fire or cannot gain access to the entire fire. • Resources may include 20‐50 responders from a variety of organizations including wildland

agencies, fire departments, law enforcement, and relief agencies. • Regional resources may be dispatched to fill some of the command and general staff positions,

usually at the division/group or unit leader level. • Tactical aircraft are dispatched when available. • Fire will be an extended attack fire. Containment in a single burning period will not be possible

due to fuel types, dry to critically dry fuel conditions, active to very active fire behavior, or limited access to fire.

• Indirect tactics and structure protection are part of containment strategies. • Public safety is at risk prompting evacuations or road closures.

*Note: Alert chain of command; initiate order for Type 3 I.C. for any fire that may reach Type 3 complexity.

Incident Management The following guidelines should be followed by all suppression personnel:

• Incident objectives are to protect life, provide for firefighter safety, and protect values at risk. • Incident management structure should be commensurate with incident complexity. • Tactical briefings should be provided before initiating suppression actions and should be

commensurate with incident complexity. • Clear, concise communications are essential for safe suppression operations. A tactical

frequency and a command frequency should be assigned to each incident. A third frequency should be designated as an air to ground frequency when aircraft are assigned to the incident.

• Detection and tactical aircraft are often assigned to incidents. Personnel directing aircraft from the ground must have the required qualifications and experience and must follow procedures as presented in the TFS Aviation Guide.

• Suppression actions that unnecessarily damage or destroy improved property, natural resources or cause harm to livestock should be avoided.

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• Contained: The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire’s spread.

• Controlled: The completion of control line around a fire, any spot fires there from, and any interior islands to be saved; burned out any unburned area adjacent to the fire side of the control lines; and cool down all hot spots that are immediate threats to the control line, until the lines can reasonably be expected to hold under the foreseeable conditions.

Fire Status Reporting Periodic updates on the incident status should be provided to dispatch. Arriving resources, significant events, or operations normal should be reported from the incident and entered into the dispatch log by the dispatcher.

Communications Texas Forest Service (TFS) has a primary radio system consisting of VHF high‐band base, repeater, mobile and portable radios. The TFS operates dispatch centers in Linden, Henderson and Livingston in the East Branch and in LaGrange in the Central Branch. Repeaters are located throughout the East Branch and in key locales in other parts of the state, primarily where we have traditionally pre‐positioned suppression resources. A secondary communications system, consisting of satellite radio/telephones is utilized for long‐distance communications. In 2009 an agreement was reached between the TFS and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the DPS to dispatch for the TFS in those locals across the state where we didn’t have full time communications facilities and to serve as a backup for the TFS dispatch centers. Radio Identification Format In 2010 the TFS implemented a statewide radio unit numbering format. (Appendix C) Statewide positions: 1 – 99: Headquarters Staff 100‐199: Incident Response 200‐299: Mitigation/Prevention 300‐399: Law Enforcement 400‐499: Facilities/Maintenance 500‐599: Predictive Services 600‐699: Forest Resource Development 700‐799: Planning and Preparedness 800‐899: Reserved for future use 900‐999: Reserved for future use Branch/Region/Task Force positions: These use a four‐digit format which identifies the geographic HQ locale, kind and type of resource, and specific unit or individual. 1st Digit = Branch or (in East Branch) Region or Task Force 2nd Digit = Region or (in East Branch) District 3rd Digit = Kind of Resource 4th Digit = Specific Unit or Individual

6‐5 October 2010

First‐Digit Legend 1 = Branch 1 – Northwest Texas 2 = Branch 2 – West Texas 3 = Branch 3 – North Texas 4 = Branch 4 – Central Texas 4 = Branch 4B – South Central Texas 5 = Branch 5 – South Texas 6 = Region 6 – Northeast Texas – Branch 6 7 = Region 7 – Central East Texas – Branch 6 8 = Region 8 – Southeast Texas – Branch 6 9 = Task Forces

Channel Plan The TFS uses common radio channels for day‐to‐day and large‐scale operations. The statewide travel channel is referred to as “Compact.” There are currently six TFS tactical channels (Tac 7 – 12) but (at the time of this writing) these are being consolidated into three tactical channels (Tac A, B, C and referred to at “Alpha,” “Bravo,” and “Charlie.”) Additional interoperable tactical channels have been added to TFS radios which will provide an adequate number of channels for most incidents/events and enhance the ability to communicate with other agencies. (Appendix C) Recommended use of these channels is as follows:

• Travel inside your assigned territory Use the day‐to‐day channel assigned to your territory, unless traveling as a group with other disciplines/agencies, in which case it may be necessary to determine an interoperable channel common to all parties in the group.

• Travel outside your assigned territory

Use “COMPACT” unless traveling as a group with other disciplines/agencies, in which case it may be necessary to determine an interoperable channel common to all parties in the group.

• Dispatch

One critical contact to maintain is with a dispatch point. It may be necessary to monitor this for an incident dispatch and to send/receive situational awareness including weather and fire behavior information. Especially in East Texas, the dispatch channel is also commonly used for air‐detection. It will be necessary to keep radio traffic brief as this channel is shared and used for monitoring. Size‐up and situational awareness communications normally use a Dispatch or Command channel.

• Command

It may be necessary to designate a command channel which is different from a tactical channel. All supervisors on the incident should have access to this command channel. It should be utilized to pass information to and from command staff and free up tactical channels.

• Tactical

o Single TFS Command: Use TFS Tac Alpha (formerly Tac 7) for internal ground communications. If the incident escalates and additional internal tactical channels are required, add Tac Bravo (formerly Tac 8) and Tac Charlie (formerly Tac 9). If simultaneous incidents/events are close enough to each other to cause interference if both are operating on Tac Alpha, the first incident/event should use Alpha and the next incident/event should use Bravo.

o Unified Command:

It is imperative to establish and maintain good communications with partners in a unified command. Interoperable frequencies have been established statewide and nationwide which are designed for communicating across disciplines (i.e., fire, law enforcement, EMS, etc.) and among various agencies (i.e., TFS, local fire departments, TxDoT, etc.). It will be necessary to determine what channels they can operate on for interoperable communications. If they can operate on VHF high band and they have interoperable frequencies programmed in their radios, then common “command” and “tactical” channels can be determined and utilized. The use of “Texas Fire 1,” for

6‐6 October 2010

example, has been the workhorse channel for the fire service in Texas for unified command, tactical and even air‐to‐ground communications.

There may be times in which the unified command resources don’t have the same frequency band as the TFS or they don’t have interoperable channels programmed and cannot program them in the field. In such cases, it may be necessary to have a joint ICP in which radio traffic can be received from the different radio systems and information shared face‐to‐face and relayed as necessary. An alternative is to utilize extra radios and swap them with the various Unified Commanders.

• Air‐to‐Ground

The TFS has two dedicated air‐to‐ground channels. AIR PRI is the primary air‐to‐ground frequency and TEXAS AIR 2 is the secondary. In some cases, another interoperable or tactical frequency may be designated for this. In the East Branch, TFS contract aircraft are seasonally used for aerial fire detection in lieu of lookout towers. There are times when these detection aircraft guide personnel into fire locations and also provide aerial reconnaissance. There are standard TFS dispatch/air detection channels for this. These are titled Conroe, Henderson, LaGrange, Linden, and Woodville. There is a national AIR GUARD channel that is to be used only in cases of emergency communications with the aircraft when conventional air‐to‐ground channels cannot make contact. (Appendix C)

Interoperable Communications In 2003, the State of Texas adopted a core set of in‐state wideband interoperable channels which allowed communications among/across fire, law enforcement and emergency medical disciplines. In 2004, this was revised to include nationwide narrowband interoperable channels. TFS radios have these nationwide channels programmed into them. Currently, it is a federal requirement to have interoperable communications within one hour of a command being established on an incident involving multiple disciplines/agencies. Some of the interoperable channels (all that begin with the word “Texas” i.e. “Texas Fire 1”) will be deleted on 01/01/2013 when “wideband” frequencies will no longer be allowed by the FCC. At that time the narrowband channels will be utilized exclusively. (Appendix C)

Incident Rehabilitation Fire suppression activities can cause damage to improved property and natural resources. The most common impacts from fire suppression activities include soil disturbance with subsequent erosion potential from firebreak construction and damage to fencing. Once the fire has been contained and/or controlled, the TFS IC is responsible for assessing the suppression impacts and implementing any rehabilitation that is needed. The rehabilitation should be coordinated with the landowner if possible. If the landowner is not present, the IC should attempt to contact and inform the landowner of the fire suppression activities. For additional information on BMP practices refer to Appendix C.

Incident Close‐out Initial attack resources are responsible for transitioning the fire back to the local authority before leaving the scene.

6‐7 October 2010

Fire Reports The TFS I.C. is responsible for submitting an official fire report in the TFS fire reporting system. The fire report shall be submitted within 48 hours of the fire being controlled. All fields are required and the I.C. will ensure all data is complete and accurate. A sample TFS fire report can be found in Appendix C and instructions for completion are in the “Help” section at http://tfsfrp.tamu.edu/tfsreporting/ For all fires larger than 100 acres in timber or 300 acres in other fuels, information for an ICS‐209 Incident Status Summary must be submitted to TICC by the incident dispatcher.

After Action Reviews AAR’s should be conducted in a manner and surroundings that promote open and honest discussion among the participants. The AAR should be conducted as soon after the incident as possible by the personnel involved on the incident. The goal of an AAR is that all incident participants contribute to the discussion and leave with an understanding of what happened and why it happened. The AAR should also build the desire of the participants to improve their proficiency for future assignments. The AAR is an excellent tool for:

• incorporating the action’s or day’s events into the learning cycle • providing a forum for determining the root causes of performance successes and failures • providing a forum for developing strategies to reduce future reoccurrence if a failure does occur • providing practice for team communication and for conflict resolution between team members • providing a place to establish, emphasize, and reinforce a safety driven agency culture

Guidelines for the AAR The AAR should detail the actions of the responders during the assignment. Technical, operational, and human elements of group performance should be discussed as appropriate. Both good and sub‐standard performance should be addressed and analyzed. The content of each AAR may vary widely, depending upon the events. In general, an AAR answers these questions:

• What was planned? • What really happened? • Why did it happen? • What can we do better next time?

Some days are more exciting than others, and the AAR should reflect this reality. The fire supervisor will need to focus the AAR to make it effective. Some watch outs to keep in mind during AARs:

• Don’t over‐analyze the day’s events. Short of a catastrophic problem that really needs to be torn down and examined, discuss only the most important factors and move along. In some cases, you may need to guide or limit the discussion so that it does not get too deep or convoluted.

• Don’t allow the AAR to bog down with trivia or unnecessary details that do not relate to the unit’s actions and events. If nothing happened, don’t feel obligated to extract a 30‐minute AAR from it.

• In order to maximize the AAR, the conversation must have a certain level of candor and allow individual emotions to surface. Remember, this is not the time to reprimand; nor is it time for personal disputes to dominate. Only issues that are related to the team's performance should be addressed.

• As a learning tool the AAR should be conducted as soon as possible to be effective. More information, guides and tools for conducting AAR’s are available online at:

6‐8 October 2010

http://tfsfrp.tamu.edu/tfsreporting/

6‐9 October 2010

http://www.fireleadership.gov/toolbox/after_action_review/index.html

http://www.fireleadership.gov/toolbox/after_action_review/index.html

7. Regional/Branch Operational Fire Plan Template

Regional/Branch Inventory The regional inventory is included to provide a reference for the physical, administrative and political characteristics of the region that relate to fire business.

Administrative and Political Boundaries • Agencies

o TFS o USFS o DEM o NPS o USFWS o Other

• Counties

Population and Demographics • Cities • Communities • Land Ownership Characteristics • Agriculture

o Grazing o Crops o Forest

Fire History This section should contain a written description of the history and nature of wildland fire occurrence in the region, including fire analysis (by cause) using Fire Reporting Database

Fire Resources • Firefighter Qualifications (include complete list of all agency and cooperator qualifications) • Equipment (include complete list of all agency and cooperator equipment)

Physical Characteristics • Major Fuel Types • Fuel Types of Concern • Topography • WUI Concerns (SWRA )

Cooperator Contacts • City/County • Agency (state and federal) • Medical • National Weather Service • Law Enforcement • Fire Departments

7‐1 October 2010

7‐2 October 2010

Incident Response Planning This section should outline each regions operational consideration for each local preparedness level. Considerations will also be outlined for dispatch levels or the combination of dispatch and local preparedness level. These considerations will include but are not limited to:

• Staffing • Restrictions • Prevention • Notifications

Logistics This section should information on that could be used for TFS or other personnel when setting up support for an incident. Issues for consideration should include:

• Land use agreements – facilities, airports, helibases, etc. • Restaurants, hotels • Equipment maintenance shops, parts stores • Laundry facilities • Special logistical considerations

Appendix A

Equipment Checklist

Truck Model:_______________ Make:________________ Unit#:________________ Tractor Model:______________ Make:________________ Month_____ Year______

Daily Inspection During Fire Danger Truck Tractor

1. Fuel Level 1. Fuel Level 2. Oil Level 2. Oil Level 3. Radiator coolant level 3. Radiator coolant level 4. Tire inflation (visual/kick) 4. Hydraulic fluid level 5. Visual check for leaks, loose components 5. Lubricate linkage & plow (after each use) 6. Clean inside cab 6. Pre-cleaner (air intake bowl/filter) 7. Lights, horn, turn signals 7. TOPS unit (inspect) 8. Fire extinguisher 8. Drain water from fuel tank 9. Drain water from air brake reservoir 9. Remove excess debris 10. Operate engine 5-8 min. 10. Operate engine 5-8 min * Replace any broken tools and replace backfire fluid as needed. Daily inspection Dates: initial date as completed: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 /

Weekly Inspection Truck Tractor 1. Hoses 1. Hoses 2. Drive Belt 2. Drive Belt(s) 3. Battery (water level and connections) 3. Battery (water level and connections) 4. Brake fluid level (where applicable) 4. Lubrication and track adjustment 5. Tire pressure (according to tire rating) 5. Check steering-clutch adjust 6. Lug nuts (check with wrench) (where applicable) 7. Operate radio 6. Operate radio 8. Transmission fluid level 7. Air conditioner filter (clean after use) 9. Hydraulic fluid level 8. Hydraulic fluid level 10. Apply (5,6,9) to trailers where applicable. Weekly inspection Date: initial date as completed 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 /

1. List maintenance problems on back. ______________________ Employee doing inspection

Appendix 2

This form is for accidents not involving another vehicle, and when the Texas Forest Service Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form is not appropriate. This form is also used for other equipment damage. Use this form when damage exceeds $100.00. Complete only the items directly pertaining to your equipment. Operator___________________________________ Administrative Unit ________________ Employee Title______________________________ Vehicle Number ___________________ Vehicle Make_______________________________ License Number ___________________ Equipment Type_____________________________ TFS Inventory or Serial #________________ Date Damage Occurred _______________________ Estimated Repair Cost __________________ Accident/Damage Location:________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Description of damage and cause of accident: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Make a small detailed drawing of what happened: Date of report_____________ Operator’s Signature____________________________________ Improper use or Treatment? Yes __ No __ Supervisor Signature__________________________ DISTRIBUTE: Original to TFS Safety Council Chairman, copy to employee file 06/17/02 TFS HR-31

Texas Forest Service PRELIMINARY REPORT OF INJURY

NAME OF INJURED: DATE OF THIS REPORT:

ADDRESS: HOME TELEPHONE:

CITY, STATE, ZIP: COUNTY:

DOES EMPLOYEE SPEAK ENGLISH? RACE: ETHNICITY:

MARITAL STATUS: SPOUSE'S NAME: NUMBER OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN?

DOCTOR'S NAME: (Seen for this Injury)

DOCTOR'S ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIP: TELEPHONE:

DATE OF INJURY: TIME OF INJURY: DATE LOST TIME BEGAN:

NATURE OF INJURY: (Cut, bruise, sprain, etc)

PART OF BODY INJURED/EXPOSED:

HOW AND WHY ACCIDENT/INJURY OCCURED:

(Detail)

WAS EMPLOYEE WEARING SAFETY EQUIPMENT NO

AT THE TIME OF INJURY? (Safety belt, seat belt, etc.) YES /

CAUSE OF INJURY: (Fall, tool, machine, etc.)

WORK SITE LOCATION OF INJURY: (Stairs, dock, etc.)

WAS EMPLOYEE PERFORMING REGULAR DUTIES?

ADDRESS WHERE INJURY OR EXPOSURE

OCCURED INCLUDING COUNTY: (Be specific)

LIST WITNESSES: RETURN TO WORK DATE: (Or expected)

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: DATE REPORTED:

SIGNATURE OF INJURED EMPLOYEE: DATE:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: (Printed)

REGIONAL FOREST/DEPT. HEAD NAME: (Printed)

SIGNATURE OF SUPERVISOR: DATE:

SIGNATURE OF REGIONAL FORESTER

OR DEPT. HEAD: DATE:

WILDLAND ENGINE INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS

Engine crew should use the instructions below to perform daily or post‐fire engine inspections. The inspection that is performed after a fire requires a more in‐depth look at major engine components. Manufacturer’s recommendations should be followed with regard to fluid specifications/levels and service intervals. Many of the statements below refer to “check” or “inspect.” When irregularities are found, document the information in the “REMARKS” area of the inspection; ensure that the problem is corrected before putting the vehicle into service.

CAB AND CHASSIS As a safety precaution, remove keys from the ignition while working under or around the vehicle. Approach – Check the overall appearance of vehicle stance (not leaning). Check for signs of dripping fluids around

major fire engine components. Hood – Check the hood latches, springs, and hinges. Oil – With the engine on level ground, check oil level; add if needed. Power Steering Fluid ‐ Check fluid level; add if needed. Fuel Filter ‐ Ensure there are no leaks. Fuel/Water Separator ‐ Ensure there are no leaks. Automatic Transmission Fluid – With the engine on level ground, ensure that the transmission fluid level meets

manufacturer’s recommendations. Ensure fluid is the right consistency. Check the fluid's color and smell. Manual Transmissions: Occasionally check fluid level‐‐pull plug and check with finger. Transfer case: Occasionally check fluid level‐‐pull plug and check with finger. Differential: Occasionally check fluid level‐‐pull plug and check with finger.

Hydraulic Brake Fluid ‐ Check fluid level; add if needed. Fan and Fan Belts – Ensure that the fan moves freely, has no cracks, and blades are tight. Check belts for wear,

frays, tension, or cracks. Replace as necessary. Driver Side Front Tire, Rim, Hub and Suspension – Check tread depth, wear patterns, tire damage and tire

pressure. Ensure that tires are of same size, type, etc. Ensure lug nuts are present and tight. Inspect rims for damage and proper mounting. Check for leaks and proper operation of manual hubs. Check for missing leaf springs or cracks in leafs. Inspect shock and mounting hardware. Inspect tie rods for damage (bends or looseness).

Front Bumper – Ensure that brush guard, license plate, and skid plate are present and secured properly and engine number is displayed.

Coolant – Check fluid level; add if needed. Check coolant color. Radiators ‐ Check that radiator is clean and free of debris. Air Filters (including air conditioner, cabin, and ember separators) – Carefully inspect filters, mounting brackets,

inlet hose connections, and fittings. Inspect gasket and sealing surface areas. Replace service element, if needed. Ensure that ember separators are clear of particulates. Check air filter restriction gauge.

Hoses – Check for signs of wear, cracks or leaks; replace as necessary. Check hose clamps for tightness. Check for signs of dripping fluids around major engine components.

Passenger Side Front Tire, Rim, Hub and Suspension – Refer to Driver Side Front Tire, Rim, Hub and Suspension.

Fuel Tank and Brackets – Ensure that the fuel tank is full and securely mounted. Look inside the tank to ensure that gauge is reading correctly (if applicable). Ensure that the fuel tank is not leaking.

Passenger Side Door(s) – Check the latch, lock, handhold, mirrors and hinges. Passenger Side General Condition – Ensure that the fire engine is clean and orderly in appearance. Ensure that

agency emblems, decals, equipment numbers are present and in good condition. Ensure that cabinet latches, hinges, and locks are in good working condition.

Passenger Side Undercarriage – Check for loose bolts, hanging wires, leaks, and broken parts. Ensure that the undercarriage is free of debris. Inspect steering components, drive train, body mounts, and cross members for functionality and damage. Check the package mounting brackets and bolts.

Exhaust – Check all brackets and look for signs of leaks. Passenger Side Rear Tire, Rim, Hub and Suspension – Refer to Driver Side Front Tire, Rim, Hub and Suspension. Vehicle Rear – Ensure that the bumper and license plate are securely fastened and cabinets are in working order.

Check that the spare tire is present and properly inflated. Ensure that mud flaps are present and in good condition. Ensure engine number is displayed.

Top Deck – Ensure that the hose reel and boxes are in working order, bolts are tight on all hose reel components, and non‐skid surface is in good condition.

Rear Undercarriage – Refer to Passenger Side Undercarriage. Driver Side General Condition – Refer to Passenger Side General Condition. Driver Side Rear Tire, Rim, Hub and Suspension – Refer to Driver Side Front Tire, Rim, Hub and Suspension. Driver Side Undercarriage – Refer to Passenger Side Undercarriage. Air Tanks – Check for moisture and bleed. Inspect mounting brackets. Check for leaks in air lines. Batteries – Ensure that batteries are secure, connections are tight, and cell caps are in place. Ensure that battery

connections are not excessively corroded. Ensure that the battery box and cover are secure. Know locations of fuse boxes and electric junction boxes.

Driver Side Door(s) – Refer to Passenger Side Door(s). Wheel Chocks – Ensure that wheel chocks are available and easily accessible. Hydraulic Oil (if applicable) – Check fluid level; add if needed.

INSIDE CAB Start Engine – Start engine. Allow engine to reach operating temperature and leave running for electrical checks.

Ensure that “water in fuel” light goes off after engine starts. If it doesn’t, drain water from fuel at the separator.

Lights and Signals – Check headlights, brake lights, running lights, emergency lights, turn signals, backup lights, work lights, panel lights, license plate lights, off‐road lights, cabinet lights, dome and dash lights, and hazards. Replace bulbs as necessary.

Mirrors and Glass – Check for cleanliness, cracks, chips, and damaged brackets or mounts. Ensure that mirrors are properly adjusted.

Gauges and Switches – Ensure that all gauges are operational. Document any non‐functioning gauges; ensure that the problem is fixed before putting the vehicle into service.

2‐Way Radio – Perform a radio check to ensure that the radio receives and transmits. Ensure that the radio is securely mounted and speakers are functional.

Wipers and Washers – Check condition, reservoir level, and operation. Replace wipers and fill reservoir as necessary.

Clutch and Gear Shifter – Ensure gear shifter moves freely with clutch in. Ensure that the clutch has free play. If automatic transmission, ensure that shifter lever locks in place.

Jack and Lug Wrench – Ensure that the properly-sized jack and lug wrench are present and compatible with the vehicle.

Seat Belts – Ensure that seat belts are clean, secure, accessible, and operational—no signs of wear and tear. Ensure there are enough belts to accommodate all engine personnel.

Heater and Air Conditioner – Check fan, defroster, vents, and controls. Vehicle Use Book – Ensure that the vehicle use book is current, neat and accessible. Check for credit card, receipts,

proper charge codes, and weight ticket. Ensure that a copy of the self-insurance documentation is included in the log book.

Accident Forms – Ensure that the engine contains the following forms: A&M System Motor Vehicle Accident Report, TFS Preliminary Report of Injury, CA-1, CA-16, and ICS-213.

Fire Extinguisher – Ensure that the fire extinguisher is securely mounted, pins are in place, inspection is current and tagged, reflective marker is attached, and unit is charged.

First Aid Kit(s) – Ensure that the first aid kit(s) is maintained, updated, and clearly marked. Reflector Set – Ensure that the reflector set is available and operational. Horn and Backup Alarm – Check electric horn. Check air horn mounting brackets. Ensure that air horn and backup

alarm are operational. Normal Unit Strength (NUS) – The NUS should reflect the standards established in the Interagency Standards for

Fire and Fire Aviation Operations. This inventory is found in Appendix A of this document. Check for missing ordamaged items; replace if necessary. Ensure that the NUS is documented and kept current.

BRAKES Parking Brake - Check for proper operation. Ensure vehicle does not move when brake is set. Slack Adjusters – Inspect brake assembly for excessive play. Check for broken, loose, or missing parts. Brake Canister – Ensure that the brake canister is properly mounted and free of dents and air leaks. Brake Lines – Listen for air leaks. Inspect brake lines for rub marks.

Air/Disc Brakes - Perform an air brake check in accordance with Department of Transportation (CDL) standards. Perform a disc brake check.

PUMP PACKAGE

Water Tank, Foam Tank and Baffles – Ensure that the water and foam tanks are full. Ensure that sight and electronic gauges are working properly.

Pump Mounting Bolts – Check for loose or missing bolts. Pump On/Off-Start Switch – Ensure that the pump on/off-start switch is secure and operational. Ensure that the

push-to-start switch is secure and operational. Oil Pressure Override Switch – Check overall condition, ensure switch is firmly secured and wires are not exposed. Oil – Ensure that crankcase oil is at a proper level; if low, fill to manufacturer’s specifications. Plugs and Throttle –Ensure that the glow plugs have cycled and the light goes off. Ensure that pump engine warms

up to operating temperature (3-5 minutes). Valves – Ensure that valves work smoothly and are not leaking. Check valves for loose handles and bolts. Ensure

that valve caps are in place to prevent dirt from damaging the valve. Use dry lube to lubricate valve handles. Coolant – Ensure that coolant is at a proper level and overflow container is in place. Water Pressure Safety Shutdown Switch – Ensure that the switch functions properly. Fuel Filter – Inspect fuel filter and bracket. Water Inlet Strainer – Check for leaks. Clean out strainer weekly.

Air Filter(s) – Ensure that the air filter(s) is in place and clean; change as needed. If a pre‐filter is being used, make sure it is clean . Inspect filter housing for damage. When reinstalling, check for proper seal between air intake and filter.

Primer – Ensure that the primer functions properly and all discharge valves are closed. Gauges – Ensure that all gauges are functioning properly; replace bad gauges. Ensure that panel lights are

operational. Live Reels – Ensure that live reels work properly. Grease hose reel swivels periodically. Operate the nozzle to

ensure water flows. Check for leaks. Ensure that the hose reel rewind functions properly and that mounting hardware is secure.

Foam Proportioner – Ensure that foam proportioner is operational. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines for unit operation. Refill with foam if needed.

Pump Exhaust – Check for signs of leaks. Gear Box – Ensure that the gear case oil is at a proper level; if low, fill to manufacturer’s specifications.

WILDLAND ENGINE INSPECTION CHECKLISTTEXAS FOREST SERVICE

Rear Undercarriage Valves

DATEMILEAGEHOURSCAB AND CHASSIS INSIDE CABApproach Start EngineHood Lights & SignalsOil Mirrors & GlassPower Steering Fluid Gauges & SwitchesFuel Filter 2‐Way RadioFuel/Water Separator Wipers & WashersAutomatic Transmission Fluid Clutch & Gear ShifterHydraulic Brake Fluid Jack & Lug WrenchFan & Fan Belts Seat BeltsDriver Side Front Tire, Rim, Hub & Suspension Heater & Air ConditionerFront Bumper Vehicle Use BookCoolant Accident FormsRadiator Fire ExtinguisherAir Filters First Aid Kit(s)Hoses Reflector SetPassenger Side Front Tire, Rim, Hud & Suspension Horn & Backup AlarmFuel Tank & Brackets NUSPassenger Side Door(s) PUMP PACKAGEPassenger Side General Condition Water Tank, Foam Tank & BafflesPassenger Side Undercarriage Pump Mounting BoltsExhaust Pump On/Off‐Start SwitchPassenger Side Rear Tire, Rim, Hub & Suspension Oil Pressure Override SwitchVehicle Rear OilTop Deck Spark Plugs & ThrottleRear Undercarriage ValvesDriver Side General Condition CoolantDriver Side Rear Tire, Rim, Hub & Suspension Water Pressure Safety Shutdown SwitchDriver Side Undercarriage Fuel FilterAir Tanks Water Inlet StrainerBatteries Air FilterDriver Side Door(s) PrimerWheel Chocks GaugesHydraulic Oil (if applicable) Live ReelsBRAKES Foam ProportionerParking Brake Pump ExhaustSlack Adjusters Gear BoxBrake Canisters INSPECTED BY:Brake LinesAir/Disc BrakesREMARKS

WINTERIZATION INSTRUCTIONS Winterization of the fire engine and pump package is the process of preventing damage due to freezing temperatures. A field or short-term winterization should be performed any time the fire engine plumbing is exposed to freezing temperatures. During short periods of exposure to freezing conditions, a full winterization need not be completed; however, some precautions need to be taken to prevent damage to the pump and plumbing. A full winterization should be performed for periods of prolonged exposure or at the end of the fire season. This winterization process is performed in addition to what was done during the annual wildland engine maintenance service. When doing a full winterization on the pump package, drain all pumps, valves, plumbing, foam unit and water tank. Blow out the system with compressed air and add a small amount of RV antifreeze to the pump head, foam unit, and low spots in the plumbing system. Copies of the Field or Short-Term Winterization and Full Winterization Checklists can be found below.

TEXAS FOREST SERVICE FIELD OR SHORT‐TERM WINTERIZATION CHECKLIST

PUMP PACKAGE Check

Box HOSE REELS Check

Box OTHER Check

Box Close “Tank–to‐Pump” Valve Drain Hose Open All Other Valves Remove Nozzles Drain Pump Drain Reels Drain and Remove Strainer Inspect Gaskets Drain Plumbing Disconnect Pressure Gauge Remove Caps DATE: COMPLETED BY: REMARKS:

TEXAS FOREST SERVICE FULL WINTERIZATION CHECKLIST

(Lube, oil and filter as per local policy and manufacturer’s recommendation)

PUMP PACKAGE Check

Box FOAM UNIT Check

Box HOSE REEL Check

Box Open all valves Follow manufacturer’s

recommendation Remove nozzles

Disconnect pressure gauge

Drain hose

Drain pump AT THE MINIMUM: Drain reels Drain and remove strainer Flush with water Blow out lines Drain plumbing Run RV antifreeze through

the lines Wash motor Check pump package mounting brackets

Remove caps TANK Check

Box WILDLAND ENGINE Check

Box BOXES Check

Box Drain and flush Test antifreeze (‐40) Clean fuel cans and drip

torches Remove plugs Post antifreeze degree

reading on left headlight Lock boxes and cabinets

Antifreeze in wiper fluid Fire extinguisher serviced and stored

Battery master off Remove perishables OTHER Check

Box Add fuel additive Winterize portable pumps

and chainsaws Bag all parts and store on the front seat

DATE: COMPLETED BY:

REMARKS:

NUS ENGINES APPENDIX #

The following chart shows the Normal Unit Stocking (NUS) minimum levels required for agency engines. The TFS column is recommended for in-state assignments.

Category Item Description NFES # Type TFS Type

3, 4, & 5 6 3,4, & 5 6

Fire Tools & Equip

McLeod 0296 1 1 1 Combination Tool 1180 1 1 2 2 Shovel 0171 3 2 3 2 Pulaski 0146 3 2 3 2 Backpack Pump 1149 3 2 3 2 Fusees (case) 0105 1 ½ 1 1 Foam, concentrate, Class A (5-gallon) 1145 1 1 2 1 Chainsaw (and chaps) 1 1 1 1 Chainsaw Tool Kit 0342 1 1 1 1 Drip Torch 0241 2 1 2 2 Portable Pump * * 1 1

Medical First Aid Kit, 10-person 1143 1 1 1 1 Burn Kit 1 1 1 1 Body Fluids Barrier Kit 0640 1 1 1 1

General Supplies

Flashlight, general service 0069 1 1 1 1 Chock Blocks 1 1 1 1 Tow Chain or Cable 1856 1 1 1 1 Jack, hydraulic (comply w/GVW) 1 1 1 1 Lug Wrench 1 1 1 1 Pliers, fence 1 1 2 2 Food (48-hour supply) 1842 1 1 1 1 Rags 3309 * * 1 1 Rope/Cord (feet) 50 50 50 50 Sheeting, plastic, 10’ x 20’ 1287 1 1 1 1 Tape, duct 0071 1 1 1 1 Tape, filament (roll) 0222 2 2 2 2 Water (gallon/person) minimum 2 2 3 3 Bolt Cutters 1 1 1 1 Toilet Paper (roll) 0142 * * 2 2 Cooler or Ice Chest 0557 * * 1 1 Hand Primer, Mark III 0145 * * * * Hose Clamp 0046 2 1 2 2 Gaskets (set) 1 1 1 1 Pail, collapsible 0141 1 1 1 1 Hose Reel Crank * * 1 1


Safety

Fire Extinguisher (5 lb) 2143 1 1 1 1 Flagging, Pink (roll) 0566 * * 2 2 Flagging, Yellow w/Black Stripes (roll) 0267 * * 2 2 Fuel Safety Can (Type 2 OSHA, metal, 5-gallon) 1291 * * * * Reflector Set * * 1 1

Vehicle & Pump Support

General Took Kit (5180-00-177-7033/GSA) 1 1 1 1 Oil, automotive, quart 4 2 4 2 Oil, penetrating, can 1 1 1 1 Oil, automatic transmission, quart 1 1 11 1 Brake Fluid, pint 1 1 1 1 Filter, gas 1 1 1 1 Fan Belts 1 1 1 1 Spark Plugs 1 1 1 1 Hose, air compressor w/adapters 1 0 1 * Fuses (set) 1 1 1 1 Tire Pressure Gauge 1 1 1 1 Jumper Cables 1 1 1 1 Battery Terminal Cleaner * * 1 1 Tape, electrical, plastic 0619 1 1 1 1 Tape, Teflon 1 1 1 1

Personal Gear (Extra Supply)

File, mill, bastard 0060 * * 2 2 Head Lamp 0713 1 1 1 1 Hard Hat 0109 1 1 1 1 Goggles 1024 2 2 2 2 Gloves * * 3 3 First Aid Kit, individual 0067 1 1 1 1 Fire Shirt * * 1 1 Fire Shelter w/case & liner 0169 2 1 2 1 Packsack 0744 2 1 2 1 Batteries, headlamp (pkg) 0030 6 4 6 4 Ear Plugs (pair) 1027 3 3 3 3

Radio Portable 1 1 2 1 Mobile 1 1 1 1 Batteries (for portable radio) 2 2 4 4

Hose

Booster (feet/reel) 1220 100 100 100 100 Suction (length, 8’ or 10’) 2 2 2 2 1” NPSH (feet) 0966 300 300 300 300 1 ½” NH (feet) 0967 300 300 300 300 ¾” NH, garden (feet) 1016 300 300 300 300 1 ½” NH, engine protection (feet) 20 20 20 20 1 ½” NH, refill (feet) 15 15 15 15


Nozzle

Forester, 1” NPSH 0024 3 2 3 2 Adjustable, 1” NPSH 0138 4 2 4 2 Adjustable, 1 ½” NH 0137 5 3 5 3 Adjustable, ¾” NH 0136 4 2 4 2 Foam, ¾” NH 0627 1 1 2 2 Foam 1 ½” NH 0628 1 1 1 1 Mopup Wand 0720 2 1 2 1 Tip, Mopup Wand 0735 4 2 4 2 Tip, Forester, Nozzle, fog 0903 * * * * Tip, Forester Nozzle, straight stream 0638 * * * *

Wye 1” NPSH, Two-Way, Gated 0259 2 1 2 2 1 ½” NH, Two-Way, Gated 0231 4 2 4 2 ¾” NH w/Ball Valve, Gated 0739 6 4 6 4

Adapter

1” NPSH-F to 1” HN-M 0003 * * * * 1” NH-F to 1” NPSH-M 0004 1 1 1 1 1 ½” NPSH-F to 1 ½” NH-M 0007 1 1 1 1 1 ½” NH-F to 1 ½” NPSH-M 0006 * * * *

Increaser ¾” NH-F to 1” NPSH-M 2235 1 1 1 1 1” NPSH-F to 1 ½” NH-M 0416 2 1 2 1

Coupling

1” NPSH, Double Female 0710 1 1 1 1 1” NPSH, Double Male 0916 1 1 1 1 1 ½” NH, Double Female 0857 2 2 2 2 1 ½” NH, Double Male 0856 1 1 1 1

Reducer/ Adapter

1” NPSH-F to ¾” NH-M 0733 3 3 3 3 1 ½” NH-F to 1 NPSH-M 0010 6 4 6 4 2” NPSH-F to 1 ½” NH-M 0417 * * * * 2 ½” NPSH-F to 1 ½” NH-M 2229 * * * *

Reducer 1 ½” NH-F to 1” NH-M 0009 1 1 1 1 2 ½” NH-F to 1 ½” NH-M 2230 1 1 1 1

Tee 1” NPSH-F x 1” NPSH-M x 1” NPSH-M, w/cap 2240 2 2 2 2 1 ½” NH-F x 1 ½” NH-M x 1” NPSH-M w/cap 0731 2 2 2 2 1 ½” NH-F x 1 ½” NH-M x 1” NPSH-M w/valve 0230 2 2 2 2

Valve

1 ½” NH-F, Automatic Check and Bleeder 0228 1 1 1 1 ¾” NH, Shut Off 0738 5 5 5 5 1” Shut Off 1201 1 1 1 1 1 ½” Shut Off 1207 1 1 1 1 Foot, w/strainer 1 1 2 2


Injector 1” NPSH x 1/12” NH, Jet Refill 7429 * * * *

Wrench

Hydrant, adjustable, 8” 0688 1 1 1 1 Spanner, 5”, 1” to 1 ½” hose size 0234 4 1 4 2 Spanner, 11”, 1 ½” to 2 ½” hose size 0235 2 2 2 2 Pipe, 14” 0934 1 1 1 1 Pipe, 20” 1 1 1 1

Engine

Fireline Handbook 0065 1 1 1 1 GPS Unit 1 1 1 1 Belt Weather Kit 1050 1 1 1 1 Binoculars 1 1 1 1 Map Case w/ maps 1 1 1 1 Inventory List 1 1 3 3 Current Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations

1 1 1 1

* No minimums – carried by engines as an option, within weight limitations NPS – Additional or differing items recommended by NPS

Fire Tools & Equip1

Flapper (NPS) * * 1 * Council Rake (NPS) 1807 * * 2 2 Leaf blower * * * * Shovel 0171 2 1 2 1 Extra Quart, 2 cycle mix 2 1 2 1 Portable Pump 1 * 1 *

General Supplies

Chock Blocks 1 1 1 1 Tape, filament (roll) 0222 2 1 2 2 Bolt Cutters * * * 1 Hose Clamp 0046 2 2 2 2

Safety Reflector Set 1 1 1 1

Vehicle & Pump Support

Oil, automotive, quart 2 1 2 1 Power steering Fluid 1 1 1 1 Antifreeze (seasonal) * * 1 1 Filter, air for engine and pump * * 1 1 Filter, oil w/ wrench * * 1 1

Personal Gear (Extra Supply)

File, mill, bastard 0060 * * 1 1 Fire Shelter w/case & liner 0925/0975 1 1 1 1 Packsack 0744 2 1 2 1

Radio Batteries (for portable radio) 2 2 4 4 Hose 2 ½” Refill Hose, Water tender * * 1 1

Nozzle Adjustable, 1 ½” NH 0137 3 3 3 3 Wyes ¾” NH w/Ball Valve, Gated 0739 6 2 6 4

Coupling 1” NPSH, Double Male 0916 2 1 2 1 1” NH, Double Male 0856 2 2 2 2


Reducer / Adapter

1” NPSH-F to ¾” NH-M 0733 3 2 3 2 1 ½” NH-F to 1 NPSH-M 0010 6 3 6 3

Tee 1” NPSH-F x 1” NPSH-M x 1” NPSH-M, w/cap 2240 2 * 2 *

Valve 1 ½” NH-F, Automatic Check and Bleeder 0228 1 * 1 * ¾” NH, Shut Off 0738 4 2 4 2

Wrench Pipe, 20” 1 * 1 *

Engine Accident Forms (Vehicle & Personnel) 1 1 3 3 Compass 1 1 1 1

1 A minimum of eight tools for type 3, 4, 5 engines and a minimum of five tools for type 6 engines is required. The listed numbers of tools in each box are required to be on the engine. Beyond that, the tools listed as optional or additional required tools can make up the rest of the minimum number required for engines. * No minimums – carried by engines as an option, within weight limitations

Appendix B

Alpha-NumericDisplay

TAlpha-Numeric

Display Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

COMPACT 159.285 0 159.285 0 W TFS Travel/Southern CompactLINDEN 159.375 110.9 159.375 110.9 N Linden Dispatch

CLARKSVL 159.225 162.2 151.160 162.2 N Clarksville RptSUL SPRS 159.360 118.8 151.190 118.8 N Sulpher Springs RptDANGRFLD 159.225 186.2 151.160 186.2 N Daingerfield Rpt

PINE MIL 159.225 114.8 151.160 114.8 N Pine Mills RptMARSHAL 159.360 110.9 151.190 110.9 N Marshall Rpt

HENDERSN 159.420 123.0 159.420 123.0 N Henderson DispatchCHANDLER 159.360 127.3 151.190 127.3 N Chandler Rpt

CANTON 159.405 100.0 151.310 100.0 N Canton RptDEADWOOD 159.360 151.4 151.190 151.4 N Deadwood Rpt

NECHES 159.360 141.3 151.190 141.3 N Neches RptFAIRFLD 159.405 162.2 151.310 162.2 N Fairfield Rpt

TABERNCL 159.360 162.2 151.190 162.2 N Tabernacle RptMT ENTER 159.360 173.8 151.190 173.8 N Mt. Enterprise RptWOODVL D 159.375 94.8 159.375 94.8 N Woodville DispatchSAN AUG 159.360 88.5 151.190 88.5 N San Augustine SouthLUFKIN 159.405 136.5 151.310 136.5 N Lufkin RptJASPER 159.405 173.8 151.310 173.8 N Jasper Rpt

WOODVL R 159.405 141.3 151.310 141.3 N Woodville RptBEAUMONT 159.405 88.5 151.310 88.5 N Beaumont RptLIVINGST 159.405 127.3 151.310 127.3 N Livingston Rpt

CONROE D 159.420 100.0 159.420 100.0 N Conroe DispatchCHITA 159.225 88.5 151.160 88.5 N Chita Rpt

HUNTSVLE 159.225 131.8 151.160 131.8 N Huntsville RptCONROE R 159.225 118.8 151.160 118.8 N Conroe RptKIRBYVLE 159.225 141.3 151.160 141.3 N Kirbyville Rpt

FLYNN 159.225 D205 151.190 D205 N Flynn RptGRAPLAND 159.360 203.5 151.190 203.5 N Grapeland RptAMARILLO 159.405 225.7 151.310 123.0 N Amarillo RptCHILDRES 159.405 225.7 151.2125 97.4 N Childress Rpt MIDLAND 159.405 225.7 151.2125 162.2 N Midland RptABILENE 159.330 225.7 151.385 173.8 N Abilene Rpt

GRANBURY 159.420 225.7 151.160 94.8 N Granbury RptWITT 159.420 225.7 151.160 127.3 N Witt Rpt

GREENVL 159.225 225.7 151.160 151.4 N Greenville RptFT DAVIS 159.405 225.7 151.310 131.8 N Fort Davis RptSAN ANGL 159.330 225.7 151.385 110.9 N San Angelo Rpt

WACO 159.225 225.7 151.160 210.7 N Waco RptFREDRICK 159.330 127.3 151.2125 127.3 N Fredricksburg RptBASTROP 159.330 186.2 151.310 186.2 N Bastrop Rpt

LAGRANGE 159.330 186.2 151.310 179.9 N LaGrange RptFREER 159.3825 110.9 151.2125 110.9 N Freer Rpt

TFS Motorola Astro Mobile Radio Programming Format

Comments


DAlpha-Numeric

Display Receive Tone(NAC) Transmit Tone

(NAC) Band Assignment

DPS BASE A DPS BASE ADPS BASE B DPS BASE BDPS BASE C DPS BASE CDPS BASE D DPS BASE DDPS MOB 1 DPS MOBILE 1DPS MOB 2 DPS MOBILE 2DPS RPT 01 DPS RPT 01DPS RPT 02 DPS RPT 02DPS RPT 03 DPS RPT 03DPS RPT 04 DPS RPT 04DPS RPT 05 DPS RPT 05DPS RPT 06 DPS RPT 06DPS RPT 07 DPS RPT 07DPS RPT 08 DPS RPT 08DPS RPT 09 DPS RPT 09DPS RPT 10 DPS RPT 10DPS RPT 11 DPS RPT 11DPS RPT 12 DPS RPT 12DPS RPT 13 DPS RPT 13DPS RPT 14 DPS RPT 14DPS RPT 15 DPS RPT 15DPS RPT 16 DPS RPT 16DPS RPT 17 DPS RPT 17DPS RPT 18 DPS RPT 18DPS RPT 19 DPS RPT 19DPS RPT 20 DPS RPT 20DPS RPT 21 DPS RPT 21 (Sierra)DPS RPT 22 DPS RPT 22 (Gail)DPS RPT 23 DPS RPT 23 (Glass Mtn.)DPS RPT 24 DPS RPT 24 (McDonald)DPS RPT 25 DPS RPT 25 (Chinati)DPS RPT 26 DPS RPT 26 (Loraine)DPS RPT 27 DPS RPT 27 (Wheeler)DPS RPT 28 DPS RPT 28 (Richmond)

Comments


IAlpha-Numeric


COMPACT 159.285 0 159.285 0 W TFS Travel/Southern CompactTEXFIRE1 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 W Texas Fire 1TEXFIRE2 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 W Texas Fire 2TEXFIRE3 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 W Texas Fire 3AIRGRND1 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 W Air to Ground PRITEX AIR2 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 W Texas Air 2

AIRGUARD 168.625 0 168.625 110.9 N National Air GuardTEX MED 1 155.340 127.3 155.340 127.3 W Texas Med 1TEX LAW 1 154.950 0 154.950 0 W Texas Law 1TEX LAW 2 155.370 0 154.950 127.3 W Texas Law 2TEX LAW 3 155.475 127.3 155.475 127.3 W Texas Law 3VCALL10 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 N V-CALL 10VTAC11 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 N VTAC 11VTAC12 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 N VTAC 12VTAC13 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 N VTAC 13VTAC14 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 N VTAC 14VFIRE22 154.265 156.7 154.265 156.7 N VFIRE22VFIRE23 154.295 156.7 154.295 156.7 N VFIRE23VFIRE24 154.2725 156.7 154.2725 156.7 N VFIRE24VFIRE25 154.2875 156.7 154.2875 156.7 N VFIRE25VFIRE26 154.3025 156.7 154.3025 156.7 N VFIRE26VMED28 155.3400 156.7 155.3400 156.7 N VMED28VMED29 155.3475 156.7 155.3475 156.7 N VMED29VLAW31 155.4700 156.7 155.4700 156.7 N VLAW31VLAW32 155.4825 156.7 155.4825 156.7 N VLAW32US PROJ 164.825 0 164.825 0 W USDA Project FireUSDA FS 169.900 0 169.900 0 W USDA-FS

USDI FWS 164.625 0 164.625 0 W USDI-FWSUSDI NPS 166.900 0 166.900 0 W USDI-NPS

Comments


LAlpha-Numeric


COMPACT 159.285 0 159.285 0 W TFS Travel/Southern CompactN (Local TFS Dispatch or Rptr.)N (Local TFS Repeater)N (Local TFS Repeater)

TFS TAC 7 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 N Tactical-7TFS TAC 8 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 N Tactical-8TFS TAC 9 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 N Tactical-9TFS TAC 10 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 N Tactical-10TFS TAC 11 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 N Tactical-11TFS TAC 12 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 N Tactical-12-CallTEXFIRE1 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 W Texas Fire 1TEXFIRE2 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 W Texas Fire 2TEXFIRE3 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 W Texas Fire 3AIRGRND1 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 W Air to Ground PRITEX AIR2 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 W Texas Air 2VFIRE22 154.265 156.7 154.265 156.7 N VFIRE22VFIRE23 154.295 156.7 154.295 156.7 N VFIRE23VFIRE24 154.2725 156.7 154.2725 156.7 N VFIRE24VFIRE25 154.2875 156.7 154.2875 156.7 N VFIRE25VFIRE26 154.3025 156.7 154.3025 156.7 N VFIRE26BASE A1 Base A1BASE A2 Base A2BASE B1 Base B1BASE B2 Base B2MOBILE A Mobile AMOBILE B Mobile BTEX LAW 1 154.950 0 154.950 0 W Texas Law 1

(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)(Local Public Safety Agency)

As needed, continue to addadditional public safetychannels to this Zone. They can be selected to scan or not.

These will be consolidated into three TFS tactical channels which will be called "Alpha," "Bravo," and "Charlie"

Comments


WAlpha-Numeric


162.400 162.400 0 0 0 W NOAA162.425 162.425 0 0 0 W NOAA162.450 162.450 0 0 0 W NOAA162.475 162.475 0 0 0 W NOAA162.500 162.500 0 0 0 W NOAA162.525 162.525 0 0 0 W NOAA162.550 162.550 0 0 0 W NOAA

Comments

1 LCLChannel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 n Dispatch-Air-Det03 n District Comm.04 n Relay05 n Relay06 n Relay07 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground PRI17 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A2

2 EAST BRANCH (NORTH)Channel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 n VTAC 103 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 n VTAC 204 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 n V-CALL05 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 n VTAC 306 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 n VTAC 407 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground PRI17 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A218 159.375 110.9 159.375 110.9 n Linden Dispatch19 159.225 162.2 151.160 162.2 n Clarksville Rpt20 159.360 118.8 151.190 118.8 n Sulpher Springs Rpt21 159.225 186.2 151.160 186.2 n Daingerfield Rpt22 159.225 114.8 151.160 114.8 n Pine Mills Rpt23 159.360 110.9 151.190 110.9 n Marshall Rpt24 159.420 123.0 159.420 123.0 n Henderson Dispatch25 159.360 127.3 151.190 127.3 n Chandler Rpt26 159.405 100.0 151.310 100.0 n Canton Rpt27 159.360 151.4 151.190 151.4 n Deadwood Rpt28 159.360 141.3 151.190 141.3 n Neches Rpt29 159.405 162.2 151.310 162.2 n Fairfield Rpt30 159.360 162.2 151.190 162.2 n Tabernacle Rpt31 159.360 173.8 151.190 173.8 n Mt. Enterprise Rpt

MOBILE RADIO CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT FY2010Texas Forest Service ----------------------

32 DPS A133 DPS A234 DPS B135 DPS 11A36 DPS 14B37 DPS 15B38 DPS 16A39 DPS 17B40 DPS 20

3 EAST BRANCH (SOUTH)Channel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 n VTAC 103 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 n VTAC 204 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 n V-CALL05 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 n VTAC 306 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 n VTAC 407 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground PRI17 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A218 159.375 94.8 159.375 94.8 n Woodville Dispatch19 159.360 88.5 151.190 88.5 n San Augustine South20 159.405 136.5 151.310 136.5 n Lufkin Rpt21 159.405 173.8 151.310 173.8 n Jasper Rpt22 159.225 141.3 151.160 141.3 n Kirbyville Rpt23 159.405 141.3 151.310 141.3 n Woodville Rpt24 159.405 88.5 151.310 88.5 n Beaumont Rpt25 159.405 127.3 151.310 127.3 n Livingston Rpt26 159.420 100.0 159.420 100.0 n Livingston Dispatch27 159.225 88.5 151.160 88.5 n Chita Rpt28 159.225 131.8 151.160 131.8 n Huntsville Rpt29 159.225 118.8 151.160 118.8 n Conroe Rpt30 159.225 D205 151.190 D205 n Flynn Rpt31 159.360 203.5 151.190 203.5 n Grapeland Rpt32 DPS A233 DPS B134 DPS B235 DPS 11A36 DPS 12A37 DPS 14B38 DPS 16A39 DPS 19B

4 NORTH BRANCHChannel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 n VTAC 103 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 n VTAC 204 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 n V-CALL05 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 n VTAC 306 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 n VTAC 407 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground PRI17 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A218 159.420 225.7 151.160 94.8 n Granbury Rpt19 159.420 225.7 151.160 127.3 n Witt Rpt20 159.225 225.7 151.160 151.4 n Greenville Rpt21 159.225 225.7 151.160 210.7 n Waco Rpt22 DPS A123 DPS A224 DPS B125 DPS B226 DPS 11A27 DPS 12B28 DPS 13B29 DPS 14B30 DPS 15A31 DPS 15B32 DPS 16A33 DPS 17A34 DPS 17B35 DPS 18B36 DPS 19B37 DPS 2038 DPS 21

6 NORTHWEST BRANCHChannel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 n VTAC 103 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 n VTAC 204 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 n V-CALL05 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 n VTAC 306 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 n VTAC 407 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground PRI17 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A218 159.405 225.7 151.310 123.0 n Amarillo Rpt19 159.405 225.7 151.2125 97.4 n Childress Rpt 20 159.330 225.7 151.385 173.8 n Abilene Rpt21 DPS A122 DPS A223 DPS B124 DPS 0025 DPS 226 DPS 627 DPS 11A28 DPS 11B29 DPS 12A30 DPS 12B31 DPS 13A32 DPS 14B33 DPS 15A34 DPS 16A35 DPS 17B36 DPS 18 A37 DPS 19 A

5 CENTRAL BRANCHChannel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 n VTAC 103 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 n VTAC 204 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 n V-CALL05 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 n VTAC 306 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 n VTAC 407 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground PRI17 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A230 159.330 186.2 151.310 186.2 n Bastrop Rpt31 159.330 186.2 151.310 179.9 n LaGrange Rpt32 DPS A133 DPS A234 DPS B135 DPS B236 DPS 0037 DPS 11A38 DPS 13A39 DPS 14B40 DPS 15A41 DPS 16A42 DPS 17B43 DPS 18A44 DPS 19B45 DPS 2046 DPS 21

7 WEST BRANCHChannel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 n VTAC 103 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 n VTAC 204 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 n V-CALL05 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 n VTAC 306 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 n VTAC 407 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground PRI17 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A218 159.405 225.7 151.2125 162.2 n Midland Rpt19 159.405 225.7 151.310 131.8 n Fort Davis Rpt20 159.330 225.7 151.385 110.9 n San Angelo Rpt21 DPS A122 DPS A223 DPS B124 DPS B225 DPS 126 DPS 327 DPS 428 DPS 529 DPS 630 DPS 11A31 DPS 11B32 DPS 12A33 DPS 12B34 DPS 13A35 DPS 13B36 DPS 14B37 DPS 15B38 DPS 16B39 DPS 19B

8 SOUTH BRANCHChannel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 n VTAC 103 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 n VTAC 204 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 n V-CALL05 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 n VTAC 306 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 n VTAC 407 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground PRI17 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A218 159.330 127.3 151.2125 127.3 n Fredricksburg Rpt19 159.3825 110.9 151.2125 110.9 n Freer Rpt20 DPS A121 DPS A222 DPS B123 DPS B224 DPS 625 DPS 11B26 DPS 12A27 DPS 14A28 DPS 15A29 DPS 15B30 DPS 16A31 DPS 17A32 DPS 18A33 DPS 18B34 DPS 19B35 DPS 21

9 ICSChannel Receive Tone Transmit Tone Band Assignment

01 159.285 0 159.285 0 w Statewide/Compact02 159.300 127.3 159.300 127.3 n Air to Ground Pri03 151.385 127.3 151.385 127.3 n TEX A204 159.240 127.3 159.240 127.3 n Command Tactical05 159.360 127.3 151.190 127.3 n Local Assign (Chandler)06 Local Assign07 159.435 114.8 159.435 114.8 n Tactical-708 151.475 114.8 151.475 114.8 n Tactical-809 159.315 114.8 159.315 114.8 n Tactical-910 159.435 127.3 159.435 127.3 n Tactical-1011 151.475 127.3 151.475 127.3 n Tactical-1112 159.315 127.3 159.315 127.3 n Tactical-12-Call13 154.280 0 154.280 127.3 n TEX F114 154.265 0 154.265 127.3 n TEX F215 154.295 0 154.295 127.3 n TEX F316 168.625 0 168.625 110.9 n USFS Air Guard17 155.340 127.3 155.340 127.3 n TEX M118 154.950 154.950 n TEX L119 155.370 154.950 127.3 n TEX L220 155.475 127.3 155.475 127.3 n TEX L321 164.825 0 164,825 0 n USDA-Proj. Fire22 169.900 0 169.900 0 n USDA-FS23 164.625 0 164.625 0 n USDI-FWS24 166.900 0 166.900 0 n USDI-NPS25 151.1375 156.7 151.1375 156.7 n VTAC 126 154.4525 156.7 154.4525 156.7 n VTAC 227 155.5725 156.7 155.7525 156.7 n V-CALL28 158.7375 156.7 158.7375 156.7 n VTAC 329 159.4725 156.7 159.4725 156.7 n VTAC 4

10 Weather1 162.400 0 0 0 NOAA2 162.425 0 0 0 NOAA3 162.450 0 0 0 NOAA4 162.475 0 0 0 NOAA5 162.500 0 0 0 NOAA6 162.525 0 0 0 NOAA7 162.550 0 0 0 NOAA

BENDIX-KING DPH PORTABLE OPERATION

TOP CONTROLS

• LO/HI SWITCH – Changes power output from 2 watts to 5 watts. Keep this in the “LO” position to conserve batteries. If you need to reach someone more than a mile from you or the receiver cannot understand you, switch to “HI.”

• SCAN SWITCH – Turns the scan feature on and off;

“” • PRI SWITCH – Turns the priority scan feature on or off;

• CHANNEL KNOB – Changes the channels in a group;

• CG-SQ KNOB – Switches the radio from code guard mode (tone) to manual squelch adjust.

When the knob is turned counterclockwise to the “clicked” position it uses automatic squelch and the tone decode is activated. When the knob is adjusted clockwise it is effectively in the “Monitor” mode and the squelch setting can be manually set, however, receive tones will be inactive.

• OFF-VOL KNOB – When the knob is turned counterclockwise to the “clicked” position the radio is

off. When the knob is turned clockwise the radio is turned on and the volume can be adjusted.

• LIGHTS – When the yellow light is on, the radio is receiving. When the red light is on, the radio is transmitting. If you push the transmit button and the red light flashes or doesn’t come on, or if the yellow light flashes while not transmitting, the battery(ies) needs changing. The display shows “LO BATT.”

CHANGING GROUPS

To display the GROUP Name, Press and Hold the “#” button.

Momentarily press the “#” button; Press the number of the desired Group; Press “ENT”

Kenwood Model TK-790 Mobile Radio Usage Guide

Kenwood TK-790

1. POWER BUTTON – Turns radio off and on. The radio is tied directly to the battery for use when the vehicle is turned off. Turn the radio off when not in use to avoid draining the vehicle’s battery.

2. ARROW BUTTONS – Changes the channel Group the radio is in 3. VOLUME KNOB – (Knob to the left side) Adjusts the radio volume 4. CHANNEL KNOB – (Knob to the right side) Changes the radio’s channel 5. MON BUTON – Removes the tone on the receive side of the radio. Only use this if you are not receiving traffic. 6. SCN BUTTON – Turns scan feature on and off 7. D/A BUTTON – Delete/Add button used to set up your scan list. 8. SQ BUTTON – Allows for the adjustment of squelch 9. ORANGE BUTTON – Brings the radio back to Group 1, Channel 2.

SETTING UP SCAN

1. Make sure the scan function is turned off by pressing the “SCN” button (SCN is not showing in the display). 2. Rotate the channel selector to the desired channel. 3. Push the “D/A” Button to add a channel (if the channel is selected there will be a triangle in the display). 4. Removing a channel follows the same procedure (if the channel is not in scan, there will be no triangle in the

display)

ADJUSTING SQUELCH

1. Push the “MON” BUTTON 2. Push the “SQ” BUTTON to activate the manual squelch setting. 3. Adjust the CHANNEL KNOB to the left until you hear static, then turn right until you don’t 4. Push the “SQ” BUTTON to turn this feature off. 5. Push the “MON” BUTTON to turn this feature off.

CHANNEL RECALL

If traffic is received on a non-priority channel while scanning and it is desired to talk back on this channel, move the channel knob one click and then back and you will be on the last channel that traffic was received on. NOTE, this must be done prior to the radio receiving another signal as this procedure locks in on the last channel the radio receives.

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d to

hel

p de

fine

the

follo

win

g: 1

st D

igit :

"B

ranc

h" o

r "R

egio

n" (E

ast T

exas

) or "

Task

For

ce";

2nd

Dig

it: "R

egio

n"

or "D

istri

ct" (

Eas

t Tex

as) o

r "Ta

sk F

orce

Num

ber"

or A

dmin

istra

tion;

3r

d D

igit:

Kin

d/Ty

pe o

f equ

ipm

ent o

r Adm

inis

tratio

n; 4

th D

igit:

Spe

cific

nu

mbe

r of t

he p

erso

n or

equ

ipm

ent;

i. e.

329

0 =

Nor

th B

ranc

h, G

reen

ville

Reg

ion,

firs

t Doz

er in

seq

uenc

e;

7100

= E

ast B

ranc

h, E

ast C

entra

l Reg

ion,

Pal

estin

e D

istri

ct, D

istri

ct

Fore

ster

;

SPEC

IAL

NO

TE

Com

mun

icat

ions

Spe

cial

ist

Car

go T

raile

rs14

0 - 1

4913

0 - 1

39

Texa

s Fo

rest

Ser

vice

Rad

io N

umbe

ring

Con

vent

ion

2010

Ver

.7b

Trai

ning

Res

erve

d IR

D B

lock

Ass

ignm

ents

120

- 129

Adm

inis

trativ

e

Rad

io C

omm

unic

atio

ns S

peci

alis

tS

tate

wid

e13

2(E

XAM

PLE

) Car

go T

raile

r - IR

DS

tate

wid

e14

0(E

xam

ple)

Offi

ce A

ssoc

iate

Sed

an (A

BI)

IRD

151

Nor

thw

est B

ranc

h1

Res

erve

d1

1000

Ass

t. C

hief

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

110

01Le

s R

oger

sB

ranc

h S

taff

(Fut

ure

Dev

.)1

1002

-19

Bra

nch

Equ

ipm

ent

110

20-2

9

Reg

ions

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

Spe

cial

ists

Spec

ialty

Veh

icle

sE

ngin

eTy

pe 3

Car

goTr

aile

r E

ngin

eTy

pe 5

Eng

ine

Type

6Tr

ansp

ort

Mai

ntai

ner

Doz

er

Trac

tor/P

low

Amar

illo1

- 111

0111

03-0

511

06-1

911

20-2

911

30-3

911

40-4

911

50-5

911

60-6

911

70-7

911

80-8

911

90-9

9C

hild

ress

(Fie

ld O

ffice

of A

mar

illo)

1 - 1

1102

Lubb

ock

1 - 2

1201

1202

-05

1206

-19

1220

-29

1230

-39

1240

-49

1250

-59

1260

-69

1270

-79

1280

-89

1290

-99

Wic

hita

Fal

ls1

- 313

0113

02-0

513

06-1

913

20-2

913

30-3

913

40-4

913

50-5

913

60-6

913

70-7

913

80-8

913

90-9

9A

bile

ne1

- 414

0114

02-0

514

06-1

914

20-2

914

30-3

914

40-4

914

50-5

914

60-6

914

70-7

914

80-8

914

90-9

9

Wes

t Bra

nch

2R

eser

ved

220

00A

sst.

Chi

ef R

egio

nal F

ire C

oord

inat

or2

2001

Bra

nch

Sta

ff (F

utur

e D

evel

opm

ent)

220

02-1

9B

ranc

h E

quip

men

t2

2020

-29

Reg

ions

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

Spe

cial

ists

Spec

ialty

Veh

icle

sE

ngin

eTy

pe 3

Car

goTr

aile

r E

ngin

eTy

pe 5

Eng

ine

Type

6Tr

ansp

ort

Mai

ntai

ner

Doz

er

Trac

tor/P

low

El P

aso

2 - 1

2101

2102

-05

2106

-19

2120

-29

2130

-39

2140

-49

2150

-59

2160

-69

2170

-79

2180

-89

2190

-99

San

Ang

elo

2 - 2

2201

2202

-05

2206

-19

2220

-29

2230

-39

2240

-49

2250

-59

2260

-69

2270

-79

2280

-89

2290

-99

into

add

ition

al c

ateg

orie

s as

war

rant

ed.

Mid

land

/Ft.

Sto

ckto

n2

- 323

0123

02-0

523

06-1

923

20-2

923

30-3

923

40-4

923

50-5

923

60-6

923

70-7

923

80-8

923

90-9

9

Nor

th B

ranc

h3

Res

erve

d3

3000

Ass

t. C

hief

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

330

01B

ranc

h S

taff

(Fut

ure

Dev

elop

men

t)3

3002

-19

Bra

nch

Equ

ipm

ent

330

20-2

9

Reg

ions

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

Spe

cial

ists

Spec

ialty

Veh

icle

sE

ngin

eTy

pe 3

Car

goTr

aile

r E

ngin

eTy

pe 5

Eng

ine

Type

6Tr

ansp

ort

Mai

ntai

ner

Doz

er

Trac

tor/P

low

Gra

nbur

y3

- 131

0131

02-0

531

06-1

931

20-2

931

30-3

931

40-4

931

50-5

931

60-6

931

70-7

931

80-8

931

90-9

9G

reen

ville

3 - 2

3201

3202

-05

3206

-19

3220

-29

3230

-39

3240

-49

3250

-59

3260

-69

3270

-79

3280

-89

3290

-99

McG

rego

r (W

aco)

3 - 3

3301

3302

-05

3306

-19

3320

-29

3330

-39

3340

-49

3350

-59

3360

-69

3370

-79

3380

-89

3390

-99

Kille

en3

- 434

0134

02-0

534

06-1

934

20-2

934

30-3

934

40-4

934

50-5

934

60-6

934

70-7

934

80-8

934

90-9

9

Cen

tral

Bra

nch

4AR

eser

ved

4A40

00A

sst.

Chi

ef R

egio

nal F

ire C

oord

inat

or4A

4001

Bob

Sch

eel

Bra

nch

Sta

ff (F

utur

e D

evel

opm

ent)

4A40

03-1

0B

ranc

h E

quip

men

t4A

4020

-24

Reg

ions

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

S pec

ialis

tsSp

ecia

ltyV

ehic

les

Eng

ine

Type

3C

argo

Trai

ler

Eng

ine

Type

5E

ngin

eTy

pe 6

Tran

spor

tM

aint

aine

rD

ozer

Tr

acto

r/Plo

wLa

Gra

nge

4 - 1

4101

4102

-05

4106

-19

4120

-29

4130

-39

4140

-49

4150

-59

4160

-69

4170

-79

4180

-89

4190

-99

Col

lege

Sta

tion

4 - 2

4201

4202

-05

4206

-19

4220

-29

4230

-39

4240

-49

4250

-59

4260

-69

4270

-79

4280

-89

4290

-99

Vict

oria

4 - 3

4301

4302

-05

4306

-19

4320

-29

4330

-39

4340

-49

4350

-59

4360

-69

4370

-79

4380

-89

4390

-99

Sout

h C

entr

al B

ranc

h4B

Ass

t. C

hief

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

4B40

02S

teve

Pol

lock

Bra

nch

Sta

ff (F

utur

e D

evel

opm

ent)

4B40

11-1

9B

ranc

h E

quip

men

t4B

4025

-29

qp

Reg

ions

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

Spe

cial

ists

Spec

ialty

Veh

icle

sE

ngin

eTy

pe 3

Car

goTr

aile

r E

ngin

eTy

pe 5

Eng

ine

Type

6Tr

ansp

ort

Mai

ntai

ner

Doz

er

Trac

tor/P

low

Hou

ston

4 - 5

4501

4502

-05

4506

-19

4520

-29

4530

-39

4540

-49

4550

-59

4560

-69

4570

-79

4580

-89

4590

-99

Sout

h B

ranc

h5

Res

erve

d5

5000

Ass

t. C

hief

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

550

01M

arty

Mar

tinez

Bra

nch

Sta

ff (F

utur

e D

evel

opm

ent)

550

02-1

9B

ranc

h E

quip

men

t5

5020

-29

Reg

ions

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

Spe

cial

ists

Spec

ialty

Veh

icle

sE

ngin

eTy

pe 3

Car

goTr

aile

r E

ngin

eTy

pe 5

Eng

ine

Type

6Tr

ansp

ort

Mai

ntai

ner

Doz

er

Trac

tor/P

low

Uva

lde

5 - 1

5101

5102

-05

5106

-19

5120

-29

5130

-39

5140

-49

5150

-59

5160

-69

5170

-79

5180

-89

5190

-99

Fred

eric

ksbu

rg5

- 252

0152

02-0

552

06-1

952

20-2

952

30-3

952

40-4

952

50-5

952

60-6

952

70-7

952

80-8

952

90-9

9Be

eville

5 - 3

5301

5302

-05

5306

-19

5320

-29

5330

-39

5340

-49

5350

-59

5360

-69

5370

-79

5380

-89

5390

-99

Edi

nbur

g5

- 454

0154

02-0

554

06-1

954

20-2

954

30-3

954

40-4

954

50-5

954

60-6

954

70-7

954

80-8

954

90-9

9

East

Bra

nch,

Nor

thea

st R

egio

n6

Reg

iona

l For

este

r6

6000

Lin

Ris

ner

Ass

t. C

hief

RFC

(Eas

t Bra

nch)

6, 7

, 860

01D

avid

Abe

rnat

hyR

egio

nal F

ire C

oord

inat

or6

6002

Bra

nch/

Reg

ion

Sta

ff (F

utur

e D

ev.)

660

03-1

9R

egio

nal E

quip

men

t6

6020

-29

Dis

tric

tsD

istri

ctFo

rest

erD

o N

otU

se

Dis

trict

Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

Spec

ialis

tsSp

ecia

ltyV

ehic

les

Eng

ine

Type

3C

argo

Trai

ler

Eng

ine

Type

5E

ngin

eTy

pe 6

Tran

spor

tM

aint

aine

rD

ozer

Tr

acto

r/Plo

w

New

Bos

ton

6 - 1

6100

6101

6102

6103

-05

6106

-19

6120

-29

6130

-39

6140

-49

6150

-59

6160

-69

6170

-79

6180

-89

6190

-99

Nat

han

Car

roll

Lind

en6

- 262

0062

0162

0262

03-0

562

06-1

962

20-2

962

30-3

962

40-4

962

50-5

962

60-6

962

70-7

962

80-8

962

90-9

9P

ittsb

urg

6 - 3

6300

6301

6302

6303

-05

6306

-19

6320

-29

6330

-39

6340

-49

6350

-59

6360

-69

6370

-79

6380

-89

6390

-99

Gilm

er6

- 464

0064

0164

0264

03-0

564

06-1

964

20-2

964

30-3

964

40-4

964

50-5

964

60-6

964

70-7

964

80-8

964

90-9

9M

arsh

all

6 - 5

6500

6501

6502

6503

-05

6506

-19

6520

-29

6530

-39

6540

-49

6550

-59

6560

-69

6570

-79

6580

-89

6590

-99

Hen

ders

on6

- 666

0066

0166

0266

03-0

566

06-2

066

20-2

966

30-3

966

40-4

966

50-5

966

60-6

966

70-7

966

80-8

966

90-9

9C

arth

age

6 - 7

6700

6701

6702

6703

-05

6706

-21

6720

-29

6730

-39

6740

-49

6750

-59

6760

-69

6770

-79

6780

-89

6790

-99

East

Bra

nch,

Eas

t Cen

tral

Reg

ion

7R

egio

nal F

ores

ter

770

00W

es M

oore

head

Do

Not

Use

770

01R

egio

nal F

ire C

oord

inat

or7

7002

Bra

nch/

Reg

ion

Sta

ff (F

utur

e D

ev.)

770

03-1

9R

egio

nal E

quip

men

t7

7020

-29

Dis

tric

tsD

istri

ctFo

rest

erD

o N

otU

se

Dis

trict

Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

Spec

ialis

tsSp

ecia

ltyV

ehic

les

Eng

ine

Type

3C

argo

Trai

ler

Eng

ine

Type

5E

ngin

eTy

pe 6

Tran

spor

tM

aint

aine

rD

ozer

Tr

acto

r/Plo

w

Pale

stin

e7

- 171

0071

0171

0271

03-0

571

06-1

971

20-2

971

30-3

971

40-4

971

50-5

971

60-6

971

70-7

971

80-8

971

90-9

9Ja

ckso

nville

7 - 2

7200

7201

7202

7203

-05

7206

-19

7220

-29

7230

-39

7240

-49

7250

-59

7260

-69

7270

-79

7280

-89

7290

-99

Nac

ogdo

ches

7 - 3

7300

7301

7302

7303

-05

7306

-19

7320

-29

7330

-39

7340

-49

7350

-59

7360

-69

7370

-79

7380

-89

7390

-99

San

Aug

ustin

e7

- 474

0074

0174

0274

03-0

574

06-1

974

20-2

974

30-3

974

40-4

974

50-5

974

60-6

974

70-7

974

80-8

974

90-9

9C

rock

ett

7 - 5

7500

7501

7502

7503

-05

7506

-19

7520

-29

7530

-39

7540

-49

7550

-59

7560

-69

7570

-79

7580

-89

7590

-99

Hud

son

7 - 6

7600

7601

7602

7603

-05

7606

-20

7620

-29

7630

-39

7640

-49

7650

-59

7660

-69

7670

-79

7680

-89

7690

-99

East

Bra

nch,

Sou

thea

st R

egio

nR

egio

nal F

ores

ter

880

00Jo

el H

ambr

ight

Do

Not

Use

880

01R

egio

nalF

ireC

oord

inat

or8

8002

Ala

n P

ruitt

Ric

kyH

olbr

ook

Reg

iona

l Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

880

02B

ranc

h/R

egio

n S

taff

(Fut

ure

Dev

.)8

8003

-19

Reg

iona

l Equ

ipm

ent

880

20-2

9

Dis

tric

tsD

istri

ctFo

rest

erD

o N

otU

se

Dis

trict

Fire

Coo

rdin

ator

Res

erve

dS

taff

Dev

.R

esou

rce

Spec

ialis

tsSp

ecia

ltyV

ehic

les

Eng

ine

Type

3C

argo

Trai

ler

Eng

ine

Type

5E

ngin

eTy

pe 6

Tran

spor

tM

aint

aine

rD

ozer

Tr

acto

r/Plo

w

Hun

tsvi

lle8

- 181

0081

0181

0281

03-0

581

06-1

981

20-2

981

30-3

981

40-4

981

50-5

981

60-6

981

70-7

981

80-8

981

90-9

9Li

ving

ston

8 - 2

8200

8201

8202

8203

-05

8206

-19

8220

-29

8230

-39

8240

-49

8250

-59

8260

-69

8270

-79

8280

-89

8290

-99

Jasp

er8

- 383

0083

0183

0283

03-0

583

06-1

983

20-2

983

30-3

983

40-4

983

50-5

983

60-6

983

70-7

983

80-8

983

90-9

9C

onro

e8

- 484

0084

0184

0284

03-0

584

06-1

984

20-2

984

30-3

984

40-4

984

50-5

984

60-6

984

70-7

984

80-8

984

90-9

9O

live

8 - 5

8500

8501

8502

8503

-05

8506

-19

8520

-29

8530

-39

8540

-49

8550

-59

8560

-69

8570

-79

8580

-89

8590

-99

Task

For

ces

Task

For

ceC

oord

inat

orR

eser

ved

Sta

ff D

ev.

Res

ourc

eS

peci

alis

tsSp

ecia

ltyV

ehic

les

Eng

ine

Type

3C

argo

Trai

ler

Eng

ine

Type

5E

ngin

eTy

pe 6

Tran

spor

tM

aint

aine

rD

ozer

Tr

acto

r/Plo

wA

bile

ne9

- 191

0191

02-0

591

06-1

991

20-2

991

30-3

991

40-4

991

50-5

991

60-6

991

70-7

991

80-8

991

90-9

9M

idla

nd9

- 292

0192

02-0

592

06-1

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50-5

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60-6

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20-2

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40-4

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50-5

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60-6

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80-8

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Fireline Construction BMPs and Rehabilitation Measures

The first and foremost concern in wildfire suppression should always be SAFETY, followed by preventing damage to people and property, and lastly implementing BMPs and rehabilitation measures that prevent erosion and sedimentation from occurring. Potential problems identified from wildfire suppression efforts should be corrected as soon as possible and when practical. This may be done during mop up operations or soon thereafter. General Fireline BMPs

• Use existing natural firebreaks whenever possible • Construct firelines only as deep and wide as necessary • Avoid constructing firelines through sensitive areas • Avoid tying firelines directly into streams • Go around SMZs when possible • Stabilize firelines after fire is under control

Fireline Construction BMPs

• Blade lines instead of plowing on steep slopes and erodible soils • Don’t blade or plow too deep (≤ 4 inches) • Break your line

o Flat blade short sections o Lift plow/blade in bare areas o Create uphill turns in line to help with drainage o Pay attention to the discharge area – make sure it is stable. o Be careful about discharging runoff onto adjoining property

Plowed firelines can create a gully that funnels runoff and sediment into streams

Plowed fireline with turnouts installed downslope and at edge of SMZ. Fireline is tied in to stream with a lightly bladed or hand raked line. Note that turnouts do not discharge water onto adjacent landowner’s property.

Fireline Rehabilitation

• Rehabilitate firelines during mop up operations if possible • Focus on problem areas • Install water control structures • Clean out stream crossings • Make sure firelines don’t tie into streams • Refer landowners to seeding charts in Texas BMP bluebook

Water Control Structures

Waterbar – a berm of dirt used to divert water off the fireline to provide drainage and minimize erosion.

• 30-45 degree angle (should not function as a dam) • 1-2 feet in height (pull dirt pushed out of fireline back in to build WB) • Uphill end tied into bank • Outflow end must be open • Avoid constructing in SMZs

A – Bank tie-in point, cut 1 – 2 feet into the roadbed B – Cross drain berm height is 1 – 2 feet above roadbed

C – Drain outlet cut 1 – 3 feet into roadbed

D – Angle drain 30 – 45 degrees downgrade with road centerline

E – Approximately 2 feet in height

F – Depth 1 – 2 feet

G – 3 - 4 feet

Properly constructed waterbar and outlet to disperse water.

Waterbar Spacing Factors

• Slope o The steeper the slope, the more waterbars will be needed o Slope can be calculated using a clinometer, topographic map, or through

ocular estimation o Slope = (Rise/Run) * 100%

• Soil Type o 3 major soil types

Sand – Coarse particles, best drainage, high erodibility – more WB Silt – Medium sized particles, drainage, erodibility Clay – Fine particles, poor drainage, low erodibility – less WB

• Distance (Run) o Even relatively flat slopes will need water control structures if they cover

long distances

Waterbar Spacing Chart – Texas BMP Handbook, p. 35

Grade of Road

(Percent)

Distance between Waterbars

(Feet)

2 250

5 135

10 80

15 60

20 45

30 35

“Eye level Method”

Turnout / Wing Ditch – diversion ditch constructed to move and disperse water away from the fireline into adjacent undisturbed areas

• 30-45 degree angle, then follow natural contour • Have a slight uphill hook • Open into a flat spreader • Should not disperse into streams

Turnout dispersing water

Turnout / Wing Ditch Spacing

Grade of Road (Percent) Distance between Wing Ditches (Feet)

2 - 5 200

5 -10 100

10+ 75

Page: 1 of 5

TFS On-line Fire Report (TFS Fire Reporting Web Application) Please fill in the form below to submit a fire report. Most of the fields are required, so enter as much information as you have available. Important notes:

• All times must be entered in military time (24 hr. format) and cannot be 00:00.

Contact Information:

TFS office:

Contact person: Position on fire:

Contact phone: Date prepared:

Contact email: Dispatch zone:

Prepared by: County:

Fire Information:

Fire number: Fire name:

Start date/time: Day of week:

Fire location (lat): N Fire location (lon): W

DMS (lat): DMS (lon):

DDM (lat): DDM (lon):

Wildland Fire-Specific Information:

Acres Burned:

Ownership type Owner name Acres

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Total acres:

If you need to enter more than five entries, please attach additional sheets of paper.

Fire Behavior:

Flame lengths: Overall fire behavior:

Fuel model Acres

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Total acres:


Page: 2 of 5

Detection:

Date/time: Detected by:

Suppression Times:

1st TFS crew unit #: Duration:

Dispatched: Contained:

Arrived: Controlled:

Equipment Failures:

Were there any equipment failures? None Tractor Truck Pumping module Plow Radio Other

Main cause/Subcause:

Main cause:

Subcause:

Violation type:

Violation evidence: Yes No

Violations:

Date: Witness #1

Violator’s name: Name:

Telephone:

Address:

Address (line 1): Witness #2

Address (line 2): Name:

City/State/Zip:

Address:

Age: Sex: Race:

Description of evidence:

Burn ban in effect?: Yes No

Page: 3 of 5

Property Values (estimated numbers and/or value of property saved or lost):

Saved Lost

No. Total value No. Total value Description

$ $ House - brick ($60-65/sq ft); frame ($55-60/sq ft)

$ $ Barn/outbldg - ($25-30/sq ft)

$ $ Other bldg - (highly variable)

$ $ Vehicle - (based on model, age, etc.)

$ $ Other equip - (based on model, age, etc.)

$ $ Fence - ($2/linear ft)

$ $ Hay - sq ba ($8/bale); rnd ba ($85/bale)

$ $ Plantation - (avg $1,200/acre)

$ $ Natural forest - (avg $1,000/acre)

$ $ Cutover - (avg $200/acre)

$ $ Openland - (avg $500/acre)

$

$ Other

$ $ Totals

Instructions: Always give best estimate available to you when evaluating any property. If no information is available, calculate using approximate values shown on right for structures. For plantations, natural forest, or openland, estimate probable acreage which would have been lost in 1 hour's time if the TFS had not responded

General:

# Near misses: # Injuries: # Entrapments: # Fatalities:

Comments:

Page: 4 of 5

General Information & Resources (GR):

General Information:

Initial attack made by:

Was it successful? Yes No

Mutual aid incident? Yes No TFS IAIC:

Type III fire:

Type II fire:

Type I fire:

Ext Atk IC: Agency:

State/Fed/Comp/Contractor:

Unit ID Resource Agency Pers Crew dispatch Crew arrival Crew release

*1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Total resources: Total personnel:

* The first record is populated with data from the Suppression Times area of the Wildland Fire section above. If you need to enter more than five entries, please attach additional sheets of paper.

VFD/Coop:

Fire department Personnel

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Total personnel:


Type of truck responding HP range Total equip hrs (all units) # Fire trucks

Fire engine 200-300 hp (1/2 to 1 ton)

Fire engine 300+ hp

Equipment van/Suburban NA

Total resources:

Other costs/descriptions: (e.g., supplies used on fire, flats, etc.; do not include personnel cost)

$

$

$

Page: 5 of 5

Suppression Aircraft:

Suppression Agency Tail number/ID Gallons dropped

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Number of aircraft: Total gallons dropped:


Non-suppression Aircraft:

Non-suppression Agency Tail number/ID

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Number of aircraft:


state operations plan

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