04-27A Wildland Operations SOP PDF

Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) Response To Wildland Fires Effective Date: 01/01/2012 Procedure Number 04-27A Revised Date: 01/01/2023 Number of Pages 05 1....

Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) Response To Wildland Fires Effective Date: 01/01/2012 Procedure Number 04-27A Revised Date: 01/01/2023 Number of Pages 05 1. Overview This guideline identifies operational considerations for mitigation of wildland fires within the City. This guideline is not meant to be all encompassing but provides an appropriate guide for tactical considerations in open land areas and Urban Interface areas of the City. 2. Definitions Urban Interface: Any area where structures or other human development meet or coexist with natural vegetation areas. Defensible Space: The area immediately around a structure that is considered a buffer zone between the fire front and the structure itself. This will be the area of operations for SLCFD. Fireline: Any manmade or natural barrier to fire spread (roads, wet line/foam line etc.) Structural Triage: The systematic sorting of structures threatened by wildfire into one of three categories: “stand alone”, “savable but needs improvement” or “unsaveable”. This will allow for the most effective commitment of resources. Anchor Point: An advantageous location, usually a barrier to fire spread (road, trail, parking lot, gravel area, etc.), from which to start a fire attack or build fireline. Red Flag Warning: A weather statement issued by the National Weather Service to indicate imminent critical fire weather approaching. Minimum forecasted conditions are: Winds sustained above 15 mph, Relative Humidity below 25%, Minimum Temperatures above 75 degrees. L.C.E.S.: Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, Safety Zones. a. Post lookouts in potentially hazardous situations or in areas where ICs and crew members have limited vantage points of the scene b. Maintain communications with supervisor, crew members, and adjoining forces at all times. Ensure all members understand strategy, tactics, and safety considerations prior to engaging the fire. c. Establish escape routes. Make sure everyone understands their location. d. Establish safety zones large enough for all users and that are survivable without a shelter. All personnel must be made aware of the zone location. 3. Guideline Incident Priorities: Life Safety (firefighters and public) Incident stabilization Property conservation Natural resource protection (watershed) Response: The following units shall be dispatched in the report of a grass/brush fire: Closest Widland Company (which consists of two (2) Type VI engines or one (1) Type III Engine and the closest one (1) Type 1 Engine not part of the wildland company). The following units shall be dispatched to the report of a wildland fire threatening structure(s): 04-27A Wildland Operations SOP L81, Page 1 of 5  3 Engines 1 Truck 2 Type VI engines OR 1 Type III engine o Type VI engines shall be staffed by a minimum of two (2) firefighters o Type III engines shall be staffed by a minimum of three (3) firefighters 1 Ambulance 1 B/C Upon declaration of a working wildland incident, the following units shall be added to the response: 1 Utility/Air Vehicle 1 Water Tender 1 B/C 1 Support Engine (refer to Operations Guideline 04-03F for details) Command and Support personnel (refer to Policy 04-10 and SOP 04-10A for details) Wasatch Front Fire Management Officer (FMO), the Salt Lake County Fire Warden, and UFA Wildland duty officer shall be notified of all working wildland fires. A field fire report shall be completed by IC, SLCFD Wildland duty officer, Wasatch Front FMO, or the UFA Wildland duty officer and submitted to the Northern Utah Interagency Fire Council (NUIFC). The following units shall be added to the response upon declaration of second and subsequent alarms: 2 Type VI engines OR 1 Type III engine o Type VI engines shall be staffed by a minimum of two (2) firefighters o Type III engines shall be staffed by a minimum of three (3) firefighters 1 Type I engine SLCFD Wildland duty officer (if not already assigned to the response) Personal Protective Equipment: The minimum level of protection for all personnel actively involved in wildland firefighting operations shall be: Department-approved wildland shirt or brush jacket Nomex pants (house uniform or department-approved brush pants) Lightweight or structural helmet with shroud and eye protection Leather gloves 8” leather wildland boots (optional) “Hot Shield” respirator mask (optional)* Web gear with fire shelter and water bottles* (optional within 200’ of a paved roadway) * This equipment is found on each Type VI engine (with two (2) extra sets) and Type III engine (with four (4) extra sets) and shall be worn anytime a member is operating more than 200’ from a paved roadway or at the Company Officer’s discretion. Size-up, Risk Assessment, Arrival Report The officer in charge of the first-arriving apparatus shall assume the role of Incident Commander (IC). This officer shall perform a size-up, risk assessment, and then transmit an arrival report to include the following information, at minimum: Unit designation Description of incident situation (i.e. fuel, size of fire, flame length, rate of spread, etc.) Description of actions being taken Obvious safety concerns, if any Declaration of initial strategy Resource determination 04-27A Wildland Operations SOP L81, Page 2 of 5  Assumption, Identification, and Location of Command Example: “Fire, Company 9 arrived. We have a small grass fire in the field south of I-80. It is less than an acre with a slow rate of spread. We will be making access off the frontage road for a mobile attack. This will be a direct fire attack. Send two additional Type VI engines. Make working wildfire notifications. Engine 6091 will have I-80 Command.” Command shall be retained by an officer in an unencumbered position to manage and account for all resources while on scene until a higher-ranking officer arrives and assumes command. Initial Action Plan Emphasis shall be placed on using geographic “divisions” rather than task-based “groups.” Duties within each division shall include: fire attack and control, assess information, water supply, LCES, and fire behavior. Note, unlike structural firefighting, offensive and defensive strategies can be used simultaneously. Direct (offensive) Attack A direct attack is most appropriate on small fires or larger fires ranging in low to medium intensity. Working very near the edge of the fire, as required in a direct attack, can expose firefighters to intense heat and smoke. Firefighters must always know the planned escape routes, have proper protective equipment, stay alert for changes in fire conditions, and receive weather updates. Direct attack includes: Flank Attack, Pincer Attack, and Frontal Attack Pump and roll Attack shall be conducted by a single firefighter driving and a single firefighter walking alongside a Type VI or Type III engine, with the nozzle engaged in walking-speed fire attack. At no time shall an individual person operate a vehicle and nozzle simultaneously. Indirect (defensive) Attack Indirect attack sacrifices a certain amount of vegetation or other exposed values. It is used when the intensity of the fire makes direct attack unsafe or when the fire develops long fingers. In an indirect attack, fire suppression forces are withdrawn to roads, trails, and other natural fuel breaks. The fuel between these barriers and the fire are burned out while these barriers are strengthened with the application of water and/or foam. Structure Defense Consider evacuation of homes and neighborhoods. Coordinate evacuation efforts with SLCPD and Salt Lake City Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Resources defending structures must be mobile, resourceful, and self-reliant. Complete structure triage using the following categories: “stand alone,” “needs protection,” or “written off.” For structures in the “stand alone” or “needs protection” categories, consider hardening the structures as time permits. Firefighters may be able to modify or diminish the fire as it burns by the structure. Firefighters may be able to use hose lines to knock down that part of the fire front which is approaching the structure. If the situation becomes untenable, firefighters should abandon their hose lines and retreat to a safety zone. After the main fire passes, crews must quickly check the most vulnerable points of the structure for fires. Engine crews should stay mobile to save as much property as possible, especially when resources are limited, and a fire front is moving through a development. To do this, crews may have to use hit-and-run tactics. Hit-and-run tactics involve making an initial knockdown on the fire and then, without taking time 04-27A Wildland Operations SOP L81, Page 3 of 5  to conduct a thorough overhaul, moving to the next involved structure. Crews should return as soon as fire conditions allow to complete extinguishment and salvage. Aircraft Operations Following a request to NUIFC and approval from the FMO, aircraft can be dispatched to a wildland fire incident. Air tankers, helicopters, and small fixed-wing aircraft can be used effectively during fire incidents in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Aircraft can drop water, foam, or retardants to knock down hot spots threatening crews and/or structures. However, these resources must be used wisely and coordinated with ground units so as not to result in wasted or counterproductive efforts. Communications with air assets shall by conducted only by trained personnel to ensure the safety of ground crews during drops. Incident Commander Responsibility: develops an Incident Action Plan (IAP) and allocates resources to meet incident priorities and tactical benchmarks. Identifies and communicates special hazards to all personnel. IC maintains PAR via the department’s Command Worksheet and ensures all personnel operate in a safe and effective manner throughout the duration of the incident. Addendum: Wildland Duty Officer Responsibilities Position Qualifications: The position of wildland Duty Officer shall be one of the on-duty, bid-holding Captains at one of the designated Wildland Type VI stations. The Wildland Duty Officer position shall be filled daily during the wildland fire season (approx. May 1 – October 1) each year. Minimum qualifications shall include: a current Red Card, completion of S-215 “Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urbane Interface,” and S-290 “Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior.” In the absence of a qualified on-duty Captain, the Operations Battalion Chief shall designate an alternate officer from one of the Wildland Type VI stations to fill this role as an ancillary duty for the shift/set. The daily designee shall be noted on the daily staffing report with appropriate contact information. Incoming First-Shift Responsibilities: the wildland duty officer shall conduct the following on the first shift of each set Using TeleStaff, identify the number of red-carded personnel on duty at Wildland Type VI stations. Identify which stations have a full, red-carded complement (all four (4) members) and record staffing level in the Wildland Duty Office JotForm, found on Firehome. Contact each Wildland Type VI station captain daily throughout the set and identify the status of Type VI/Type III apparatus and emergent equipment needs. Share any needs with Operations Battalion Chiefs. Determine the status of the water tender apparatus Determine status and transport options of portable water dip tanks (“pumpkins”) Access National Weather Service webpage (www.weather.gov) and identify daily weather for Salt Lake City and Utah Fire Weather Zone 478. Identify daily forecast to include Red Flag warnings, Fire Weather Watches, and any impending wind events. Make forecast notations on Wildland Duty Officer JotForm, found on Firehome. Communicate fire-related forecasts to the following via phone or email: o Operations Battalion Chiefs o Wildland Type VI station captains o SLC911 (ensure any Red Flag Warning announcements are made over the air and SLC911 has the contact information for the current Wildland Duty Officer). Tactical Responsibilities: in the event of any significant wildfire incident within Salt Lake City, the following contacts shall be made as appropriate to the incident conditions Wildfire incident notification: 04-27A Wildland Operations SOP L81, Page 4 of 5  o UFA on-duty wildland duty officer (P: 385-202-0030) o Wasatch Front Fire Management Officer (P: 801-554-8984) o Salt Lake County Fire Warden (P: 801-618-9400) o Wildfire incident occurring in Salt Lake City’s watershed area: Salt Lake City Public Utilities Watershed Management (P: 801-483-6705) Wildfire incident in/abutting National Forest Service lands: Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Salt Lake City Ranger District (P: 801-733-2660) If any/all of the above contacts cannot be reached, contact the northern Utah Interagency Fire Center (NUIFC) (P: 801-495-7600) Access and monitor daily situational awareness of any significant fire activity along the Wasatch Front and beyond for smoke impact locally and potential deployments (www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf) Incident Support and Operations Prepare to monitor and respond to any wildfire event within Salt Lake City and serve as a resource officer for the IC. Assistant with tactical guidance and fire behavior recognition. Prepare to serve as a liaison with the UFA, State of Utah, and/or any other entities or jurisdictions during major wildfire incidents. Ensure compliance with all SLCFD wildland SOGs and all nationally accepted safety practices during wildfire incidents. Prepare to assist on-duty Operations Battalion Chiefs with any mutual and automatic-aid requests for wildfire incidents outside Salt Lake City and to ensure that only qualified, red-carded units are deployed. Assign and communicate with backup wildland duty officer. Prepare to assist SLCFD PIO with any wildfire-related subject matter. Assist with coordination of any wildland training activities within Salt Lake City and/or with outside agencies. Resources Daily Fire Weather Forecasts: www.weather.gov National Incident Situation Report: www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf Wildland Duty Officer JotForm (found on Firehome) Telestaff, for red-card qualifications Wasatch Front Fire Management Officer (FMO) (P: 801-554-8984) Salt Lake County Fire Warden, State of Utah DNR (P: 801-619-9400) UFA wildland duty officer (P: 385-202-0030) Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Salt Lake Ranger District (P: 801-733-2660) Salt Lake City Public Utilities Watershed Management (P: 801-483-6705) Northern Utah Interagency Fire Center (NUIFC) (P: 801-495-7600) 04-27A Wildland Operations SOP L81, Page 5 of 5