Fall Wildfire Season will soon be here in Virginia. And So You Want To Be A Firefighter!

As we are preparing for our Fall Wildfire Season which traditionally beging October 15th Many wildfires continue to burn from California to Minnesotta to Texas.

A few 911 call transcripts from Bastrop TX are posted below and are very interesting.

Minnesota

Pagami Wildfire: 61% Containment!

Firefighters continue to make progress on the Pagami Creek wildfire. Current estimates have the fire at about 61% contained.

A wildfire that has consumed more than 93,000 acres of Minnesota wilderness was 61 percent contained

Arizona

PLEASANT VALLEY, Ariz. - The burned acreage numbers are continuing to grow on a lightning-caused northern Arizona wildfire.

Tonto National Forest officials say the so-called Tanner fire is 30 percent contained as of Thursday night after charring 6,000 acres near Young.

The fire started Aug. 20 near the peak of Armer Mountain in the Sierra Anchas.

Texas

www.kvue.com

Bastrop, TX--New numbers were released Tuesday on the Bastrop wildfire. It is 98 percent contained and cost an estimated $250 million. It is the most expensive in Texas history.

Also, for the first time, the 911 calls from that fire were released. Here's a transcript of some of the calls made by homeowners and emergency responders:

DISPATCHER: Bastrop County 911. Do you need fire, police or an ambulance?
CALLER: I've got an electrical power line down and I'm afraid it's going to spark another fire right in the area of the other one.

RESPONDER: Be advised I need deputies on 1441. We have smoke running across the road. We need to shut down 1441.

CALLER: That fire down on county road is pretty much on it's way right to our house.
CALLER: I'm standing here now and it's 100 yards away if that.
DISPATCHER: Okay, all right. I will let them know.

RESPONDER: I have done all I can do.
RESPONDER: You need to get out of the smoke. Reid, back away from the house.

RESPONDER: Josh we are abandoning this house. It's too bad. We are getting out. It sounds like a freight train coming in here.

RESPONDER: We have fires on Kelly and KC with houses burning.
RESPONDER: Chief, I don't have any more units, you are going to have to get me some more units from out of town. We don't have people. I'm protecting every house I got over here.

CALLER: It's a big fire. please send someone.
DISPATCHER: I'm going right now okay. Hold on one second and let me talk to them right quick OK?
CALLER: OK. OK. Go get in the car. Go get in the car. I am afraid. It is a big fire. My husband is still in the house, I don't know why. We have two kids, I want to get my kids.
DISPATCHER: Calm down. Take a deep breath, everything is going to be OK. I'm sending the fire department to you right now. Grab your kids, grab your husband and then leave. OK?

Fire investigators confirmed what one caller said. The Bastrop wildfire started when branches and trees fell on power lines, causing them to spark. The fire killed two people and destroyed nearly 1,600 homes.

So You Want To Be A Wildfire Fighter!

Here is some information that might help specific to VIRGINIA.

 

Become a WildlandFirefighter

What Does It Take To Become A Wildland Firefighter and Is It For You?

Is Firefighting for You?

You think it’s a wild adventure; it’s exciting and a big adrenaline rush. Maybe someone you know has been a firefighter. Maybe it’s become your dream. While firefighting can be all of these things, it is also dangerous and must be taken seriously. It’s not an easy task – it involves continuous training and experience. But most of all, it takes a great deal of perseverance, patience, persistence, dedication and good old-fashioned hard work to become a wildland firefighter.

Duties and Rewards

Several state and federal agencies in Virginia hire part-time wildland firefighters to assist in fire suppression duties. These firefighters must be trained and qualified in a number of tasks, as well as be able to pass physical fitness guidelines. As an entry level firefighter, you will be part of a larger organization with various command staff personnel directing and supervising your work. Wildland firefighting is often long hours of hard, dirty work in extreme fire environments. But, saving our valuable natural resources; protecting homes and public safety, and working in a cohesive team effort is extremely rewarding.

Deployments

In addition to working within the Commonwealth, there may be opportunities to travel to other states. In times of large natural disasters, other states request assistance. These disasters could include wildfires, hurricanes and winter snow/ice storms. Several years ago, many firefighters from Virginia assisted with the Columbia shuttle disaster recovery efforts. Sometimes, these deployments include staying in large fire camps of a few thousand people. They may have portable showers, medical facilities and dining halls with great food. Or, you might be “spiked-out” on the mountain for an extended stay with none of the fire camp amenities. Here in Virginia, personnel are provided motel rooms if away from home. More often, you are close enough to travel back to the comforts of your own home after a short deployment on the fireline. Typically, a firefighter is on the fireline for up to 16 hours in an operational period on larger fires, but smaller fires may require only a few hours of suppression work.

“Tools” of the Firefighter

Firefighters use many “tools” to aid them in their firefighting efforts. These tools may include variations of familiar hand tools, such as a rake or shovel. Other tools have been developed over time, such as the Pulaski – a combination of an axe and a hoe. Various designs of portable water pumps have been utilized for years in wildland suppression. Larger equipment, such as bulldozers, helicopters and even airplanes for dropping water or chemical fire retardant, is also used in fighting wildland fires. Another “tool” is flame-retardant clothing that firefighters wear for their safety. Your basic training will include what these tools are used for and how to safely and properly use them. Support personnel often use computer models to predict the spread and intensity of the fire. There are many “tools,” whether large and complex or small and simple, that the Virginia firefighter is exposed to on a wildland fire.

Requirements

The following are the current minimum requirements for becoming a wildland firefighter with the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF):

Level 1 (VFF1- Beginner Level)

• Complete “Ground Cover Fire Training” (8 hrs minimum)
• Complete Fire Shelter Training and Deployment
• Moderate Fitness Test (2-mile walk with 25 lb.-pack in 30 minutes or less)
• Recommendation of VDOF

Level 2 (VFF2)

• Complete Firefighter Courses (S-130/S-190/I-100/L-180)
• Fire Shelter Training and Deployment
• Minimum 5 wildland fire responses
• Moderate Fitness Test
• Recommendation of VDOF

Level 3 (VFF3)

• Qualified as VFF2
• Qualified as NWCG Crew Boss (same as Federal CRWB level below)
• Arduous Fitness Test (3-mile walk with 45 lb. pack in 45 minutes or less)
• Recommendation of VDOF

The following are the current minimum requirements for becoming a wildland firefighter with the USDA Forest Service or any other federal agency:

Level 1 (FFT2 - Beginner Level)

• Complete Wildland Firefighter Courses(S-130/S-190/I-100/L-180)
• Complete Fire Shelter Training and Deployment
• Pass Arduous Fitness Test (3-mile walk with 45 lb. pack in 45 minutes or less)

Level 2 (FFT1)

• Qualified as FFT2
• Complete Advanced Firefighter Courses (S-131 & S-133)
• Successful Completion of FFT1 Taskbook on Wildland Fires
• Arduous Fitness Test

Level 3 (CRWB)

• Qualified as FFT1
• Complete S-230 & S-215 Courses
• Successful Completion of CRWB Taskbook on Wildland Fires
• Arduous Fitness Test

Contact Information

Western Region Office, Salem: 540.387.5461
Alleghany, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Highland, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties

Central Region Office, Charlottesville: 434.977.5193
Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Clarke, Culpeper, Cumberland, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Goochland, Greene, Halifax, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Nelson, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince William, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Warren counties

Eastern Region Office, Providence Forge: 804.966.2209
Accomack, Brunswick, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King & Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland and York counties

For More Information

For more information about becoming a wildland firefighter, please contact your local Virginia Department of Forestry office or visit the agency website at www.dof.virginia.gov.

For information about federal firefighting, contact:

George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, Roanoke, VA: 540.265.5220

Shenandoah National Park, Luray, VA: 540.999.3500 #3442

US Fish & Wildlife Service, Suffolk, VA: 757.986.3480

Folks from all accross the country travel to many different states to fight wildfires and each "home unit" has their own specific requirments to becomming a wildland firefighter. Please check with your local State or Federal agency responsible for wildfire response for local requirments. Once you are "qualified nationally" in your home state you will be qualified to travel to all other states to respond to wildfires under the approval and direction of the agency that Red Carded you.

Currently, large fires are burning in eight states:

We are all to sadly getting use to seeing wildfires devistate parts of the south, the mid west and the west, BUT Minnesota?

California

Texas

And now MINNESOTA ...

Quite a sight to see 2 CL-215's working togther.

U.S. Wildfire season on near-record pace

Large fires burning in Minnesota, Idaho, Montana and Texas

Several large new fires burning California, Idaho and Minnesota have pushed the total acreage during this year’s wildfire season to 7.7 million acres nationwide, about 1.5 million acres above the 10-year average and close to the record season of 2006, when 8.8 million acres had burned by this time of year.

By comparison, last year’s total at this point in the fire season was 2.7 million acres; in 2009, it was 5.5 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Currently, large fires are burning in eight states: California (3), Idaho (11), Minnesota (1), Montana (8), Oklahoma (3), Oregon (6), Texas (11) and Washington (2). Visit Inciweb for updates on all fires burning currently.

The biggest single fire in the country is burning on the Superior National Forest in Minnesota, where the Pagami Creek Fire has burned across a footprint of about 94,000 acres since it started about a month ago. The fire was started by lightning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, about 14 miles east of Ely. It’s about 11 percent contained with 565 firefighters on scene.

  

Minnesota    DULUTH, Minn. – Wildfire 8% Contained as of today (Sunday)  Gusty south winds materialized as expected in the area of the Pagami Creek fire Saturday, but the massive wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness didn’t spread as officials feared it might.

“The fire this afternoon heated up a little along the edges of it, but we aren’t seeing much for any fire spread,” said Doug Anderson, public information officer for the firefighting effort, late on Saturday afternoon.

“On the north side, where it’s heating up a little bit, they’re hitting it now with our water-scooper aircraft just to keep it cool and keep it from spreading.

The following was taken from the Star Local News in Texas. It is a very good article deling with PREVENTION.

Wildfire Prevention and Education is one of the keys to help when wildfire conditions become high, and is something we all can do! You dont need any special training or tools just an awarness to the conditions, a willingness to follow the rules, regulations and suggestions from the experts and a big dose of common sence!

Texas     

Caution urged to help prevent wildfires

By Dan Eakin, deakin@acnpapers.com   Star Local News

Published: Saturday, September 17, 2011 2:11 PM CDT

So far, the wildfires in Texas have been many miles from McKinney.

But that doesn't mean the city shouldn't stay prepared for a sudden change in fortune.

McKinney Fire Marshal John Nickles is reminding all McKinney-area residents that wildfires could become a problem here, urging them to use extreme caution to help prevent wildfires.

Although there has been some rain in the area in the past week, drought conditions continue and a fire can still quickly spread out of control.

Nickles said there are many ways that a wildfire can be started, including seemingly harmless activities such as outdoor grilling, building campfires, pulling a trailer with a chain that could drag and cause a spark and improperly disposing of smoking materials out of car windows.

McKinney has an ordinance that prohibits outdoor burning within the city limits.

"While prohibiting open burning, this ordinance does include provisions for recreational fires," Nickles explained, "fires intended for cooking, warming or ceremonial purposes. It's important for people to think about what can cause a dangerous fire and to avoid those activities."

He said about 90 percent of wildfires in Texas are caused by people.

"The unsafe burning of leaves, brush, household trash and other debris is the top cause of wildfires in Texas," he said.

As of this past July, any worker planning to do any welding, metal cutting or other work that could potentially start a fire must get a hot work permit from the fire marshal's office, located at 2200 Taylor Burk Drive. The city will continue to require the free permits as long as the Collin County outdoor burn ban is in effect.

The McKinney Fire Marshal's Office issued a release Friday stating, "As Texas faces the most destructive wildfire season in state history, the danger rises significantly for urban and suburban areas across Texas.

"The record-breaking drought has killed vegetation such as grass, trees and shrubs, providing fuel for fires in and near cities. Gusty winds and extended record high temperatures increase the threat of wildfires."

Several wildfires have been reported in Texas within the past few weeks, including ones west of Fort Worth and southeast of Dallas.

The most devastating wildfire in the state has been in Bastrop County, in the hill country of South Texas. The wildfires there have destroyed 1,500 homes and are still burning.

In addition to homes being burned, both domestic and wild animals perished in the Bastrop County fires. Also, thousands of tall pine trees were burned in Bastrop State Park.

Bastrop County is known as "the land of the lost pines" because there are many miles between the tall pines of East Texas and those in Bastrop County."

Nickles hopes that by being extremely cautious, McKinney area residents can help make certain that such tragic fires do not occur in the city.

Remember Smokey Bear is counting on you for your help. ONLY YOU CAN !!!!

List of Texas Wildfires

The listed wildfires below are those that are the significant ones currently burning in Texas. Click on the fire's name and you will be linked to more information about that fire, via the Inciweb portal.

Please remember that many of these wildfires are caused not on purpose but accidentaly or because someone was not aware of just how dangerous "normal" activities can be during this drought. If we can prevent a single fire from starting that will be one less that firefighters will have to worry about and one less fire that might destroy someones home or take another life. PLEASE remember what Smokey Bear has taught us .... ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE  and ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFITRES.

THANKS

 

Incident	Acres
Texas Fires 2011	3,669,800
101 Ranch	7,252
Lutherhill	2,700
Peters Chapel	2,036
Big Oak	70
Levita	60
Crab Prairie	1,008
Delhi	6,000
Picket Run	1,100
504	503
Moonglow	75
Dam	523
Bastrop County Complex	34,068
Riley Road	21,619
Boot Walker	1,048
Bear Creek #536	40,057
Moore Fire #540	1,556
Old Magnolia	3,341
Diana	850
841 Arbor	3,000
502	6,500
Halsboro Complex	958
C#491	3,000
Spicewood	6,500
#543	187
532	111
Toad Road	388
Cedar Ridge	958
Hopewell	1,181
S839 Concord Robbins	4,689
Kennedy Road	150
Clarksville (562)	958
Jackson Ranch	650
Bundy Ross	600
Cedar Truck Complex	400
Bailey	23,000
507	1,400
495	4,500
Rick Ranch	1,100
Concord Robbins	4,000
505	400
Nuding	4,800
Barrel Creek	1,436
Double T	300
Hootsville	900
Clemanis	500
C#491	3,000
3457 Road	400
Mathews	700
Big Draw	600
Hornets Tank	5,500
Horseshoe Bend	525
Lutherhill	400
Ja Ranch	1,200
West Road	103
Coryell Complex	1,635
Legacy	4,319
Coster	1,000
Juniper Hill	41
The Rib	127
Jackson Ranch	650