Northeast Forest Fire Protection Compact ~  NFFPC

Incident Management Team working the LAST INCH FIRE 
Coeur D'Alene, Idaho - Idaho Panhandle National Forest
more photos ... http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/photographs/4571/

Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC) personnel building an
Incident Action Plan

Incident Commander Rich Schenk (Connecticut) and Liaison Officer Dave Celino (Massachusetts)

New Brunswick's Safety Officer René Cimon (foreground) and OPs Chief Bruno Pelletier 

Plans Section:  'Map Guru' Jerry Petruzalek (GIS) and Joe Mints (Maine) 

Meet the 8 Firefighters on the IMT from New Brunswick

Air Operations



Fire Behavior





Update: MassDCR Firefighters assigned to NFFPC's IMT2 Crew on the LAST INCH FIRE, Idaho Panhandle and on the TEPEE SPRINGS FIRE, Idaho

IMT2 / Last Inch Fire:  The team is doing very well in a situation that is currently quite challenging for all fire managers here in the northwest.  There are over 85 ongoing large fires in the northwest with new starts being detected every day. http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4571/

Resources are at a premium and competition for resources is aggressive.  An impending cold front passage on Saturday will bring low humidities and winds up to 35mph and has all fire managers on edge.  

The Last Inch Fire is currently 702 acres as of today.  We currently have 111 total resources on the fire, including (2) Virginia Hand Crews, 1 helicopter, a Heli-Rappeller crew from Alberta Canada, several engines and 3 Dozers. 

NFFPC's IMT2 team being briefed by outgoing 

Yukon Team and Clearwater-Potlach Timber Association 

with Idaho state Agency Administrators and US Forest Service. 

NATIONAL SYNOPSIS

The western fire season remains busy.  84 fires with nearly 1.9 million acres are currently burning.   Fifty-eight fire line management personnel from Alberta and Ontario, Canada are assigned to support large fires in the Northern Rockies Area.  Sixty-eight fire line management personnel from Australia and New Zealand are assigned to support large fires in the Northwest Area.

4 Massachusetts Firefighters on the

NE Compact Incident Management Team IMT2  

Patty Correia,        District 8 (Leominster SF)  Fire Warden  

Assignment:  Situation Unit Leader  

Trevor Augustino,  District 11 (Chicopee SP)   Fire Warden   

Assignment:  Public Info Officer

Dave Celino, Chief Fire Warden (Massachusetts)  

Assignment:             Liaison Officer  

Karyn Cote,          District 1 (Shawme-Crowell SF) Seasonal FF1  

Assignment: Radio Operator

The Northeast Forest Fire Compact Incident Management Team (IMT2), Incident Commander Rich Schenk (CT), was requested by the State of Idaho for assistance to manage one of the over 20 large fires ongoing throughout central and northern Idaho.  The Compact IMT officially took command of the fire on 8/25/15 at 0600 from a base camp located in a very remote logging camp.  The team roster is 17 strong and made up of staff from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and New Brunswick, Canada.   The team is providing critical management of all aspects of the fire, including suppression operations, logistics, information sharing, planning, and finance.  To date the organization has held the fire in check, however slowly increasing fire activity is beginning to challenge holding resources in extremely steep and rugged slopes.  The fire is one of many fires, some unstaffed, in north central Idaho where resources are critically scarce.  The team will be on assignment for the standard 14 days, exclusive of travel. 

Dave Celino, Chief Fire Warden

Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry

Massachusetts DCR

                                          *****************************************

the 5th MassDCR Single Resource Firefighter is assigned to the Tepee Springs Fire, Idaho 

Tom Muise,  District 14 (Hopkinton SF)  Fire Warden

Assignment: Communications Unit Leader COML2

Incident:  Tepee Springs Fire,  Idaho   

Cause:          Lightning

Location:   Located in the area of Tepee Springs and Hazard Creek. 20 miles south of Rigging Idaho on east side of Highway 95.  22 miles Northwest of McCall and

north of Goose Lake.  

Origin Date:  Wednesday August 12th, @ 07:30 AM

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4506/

AUGUST 21st UPDATE

                                          National Synopsis: 

The wildland fire community lost three U.S. Forest Service firefighters from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on Wednesday near Twisp, WA. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of these fallen firefighters.

http://www.twispriverfirememorial.blogspot.com

Wildfires in Washington made significant runs over the last two days as strong winds whipped through the state.  Many residents in Washington, as well as other western states, remain evacuated as firefighters work to contain large fires across the West. Yesterday, eight new large fires were reported in four western states and Arkansas.

·         Over 100 large fires for  over  1..3 million acres currently burning.  29,500+ personnel  assigned to large fires.

·         The National Multi Agency Coordinating group (NMAC)  is mobilizing 200 military firefighters for crews.

·         Five wildland fire suppression crews from Ontario, Canada and one Convair 580 airtanker group from both Saskatchewan and Alberta are supporting fire suppression efforts in the Northern Rockies.

      There are two mobilizations ongoing from Massachusetts to wildfire  response.

                -Oregon Crew Assignment (ongoing)                                         

                -(4) Single Resources to Idaho. (NEW)

NEW Mass DCR Resources Mobilized:

Tom Muise,  District 14 (Hopkinton)  Fire Warden
  Assignment: Communications Unit Leader  COML2
Incident:         Teepee Springs Fire,  Idaho

Northeast Fire Compact Incident Management Team IMT2
(3) MA DCR Fire staff on team
Patty Correia,        District 8   Fire Warden:    Situation Unit Leader
Trevor Augustino, District 11 Fire Warden:    Public Information Officer
Dave Celino,         Chief Fire Warden:  Liaison Officer  
Incident:          Last Inch Fire, Idaho
Location:          12 Miles East of Clarkia, ID
Size:          460
% contained:    15

The NORTHEAST FOREST FIRE COMPACT Incident Management Team (IMT2), Incident Commander Rich Schenk (CT), has been requested by the State of Idaho for assistance to manage one of the 17 large fires ongoing throughout central and northern Idaho.  

There are currently over 390,000 acres actively burning in the state with some fires not staffed due to lack of resources.  

The Compact Team is sending a roster of 17 made up of staff from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and New Brunswick, Canada.   The team will manage all aspects of the fire, including suppression operations, logistics, information sharing, planning, and finance.   

Massachusetts is a founding member of the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission, known as the Northeast Compact, which was founded in 1949 as a result of large devastating fires that ravaged many New England communities during that time period. It is the oldest such International Fire Compact in the country. The team will be on assignment for the standard 14 days, exclusive of travel. 

MASSACHUSETTS CREW  Update:  Stouts Creek Fire, OR 
and Route Complex Fire, CA // MassDCR and Municipal Firefighters

Nationally, there are currently 62 large fires actively burnig for over 737,000 acres.  There are currently over 26,000+ personnel on assignment in support of national mobilization efforts.

There are two mobilizations ongoing from Massachusetts to both wildfire response in California and Oregon.

Massachusetts Wildfire Crew (MAS#1) Type 2 1A Hand Crew
20 Person Hand Crew:    9 DCR, 1DFW, 10 Municipal Firefighters
Crew Boss:            Chris Renshaw, CT State
                              Greg Whittier, DCR Fire (Trainee)

Morning Safety, Tactics, Info Briefing

Assignment:          The Stouts Creek Fire
Location:               11 Miles East of Canyonville, OR
Siza:                      24,471 Acres
Containment:         Currently at 70%
Total Personnel:    1,144
Incident Information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4426/   
https://www.facebook.com/StoutsFire                        
The Crew is assigned to Division H on the east and southeast side of the fire, which remains moderately active.  Burnout Operations to remove fuel along control lines to achieve containment have been slowly progressing on a daily basis.  Mass Crew will be assisting today with firing operations and providing a critical holding resource for the operation.  Fire activity has picked up in the last 2 days with higher temperatures and lower humidity levels.  The crew has had an excellent safety record thus far. Two crew members are being treated for reactions to poison oak.  By all accounts from the overhead team, the Massachusetts Crew has performed excellently since arriving on the fire.  The crew remains on standby for initial attack to any new fire starts in the area.

Massachusetts Wildfire Single Resource Response 

Karyn Cote - Radio Operator (RADO)
DCR Seasonal Firefighter I from District 1, Barnstable County  

Karyn is mobilized as a single resource to the Route Complex Fire in Northern California.

She is working in the overhead team as a communication's radio operator, a critical position on large fires where the size of the incident demands well organized communications and dispatching for the hundreds of resources assigned to the incident.

Karyn is on a night shift and managing radio communications for both ground and a number of aviation assets.  Due to her excellent work, she has been requested for an additional 7 days on her assignment, which DCR Fire has granted.

The Route Complex Fire has currently burned 28,861 acres, is 30% contained and has 907 personnel working on the fire.

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/5/    https://www.facebook.com/search/str/route%20complex%20fire/keywords_top

Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation

Out of State Wildland Fire Mobilization Briefing

Friday August 14, 2015

There are currently two mobilizations ongoing from Massachusetts to both California and Oregon.  

Massachusetts Wildfire Crew- MAS#1- Type2 IA Hand Crew

20 Person Hand crew:  9 DCR, 1 DFW, 10 Municipal Firefighters

Crew Boss:          Chris Renshaw, CT State

                              Greg Whittier, DCR Fire, (Trainee)

                                                                                                                                        

Assignment:                      The Stouts Creek Fire

Location:                            11 Miles East of Canyonville, OR

Size:                                    23,388 Acres

Containment:                     Currently at 60% contained

Total Personnel:                1693

Incident Information:         http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4426/

The Crew is assigned to Division H on the east side and remaining active part of the fire.  Fire activity has moderated over the last few days with cooler temperatures and higher than average relative humidity.  The weather  has allowed crews to aggressively attack and establish solid containment line around the perimeter and suppress all heat along the edge.  By all accounts from the overhead team, the Massachusetts crew has performed excellent since arriving on the fire.  They report that morale is high and everyone is healthy.  The crew has been put on standby for initial attack to any new fire starts in the area.

                                       




Karyn Cote - Radio Operator (RADO)- Single Resource

DCR Seasonal Firefighter 1 from District 1, Barnstable County

Karyn was mobilized as a single resource to the Route Complex of Fires in Northern California on August 4th for a 2 week assignment.  She is working in the overhead team as a communications radio operator, a critical position on large fires where the size of the incident demands well organized communications and dispatching for the hundreds of resources assigned to the incident.  The Route Complex is currently, 26,471 acres, only 20% contained, and has 948 personnel working on the fire. http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4447/

STOUTS CREEK FIRE, OR - update
MAS#1 has been assigned to this fire.  For more maps, photos, incident information and updates:   http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4426/ 

 

The Mass Wildfire Crew has arrived in Redmond, OREGON.

The MAS#1 crew has been assigned to the Stouts Creek Fire, a 22,000 acre fire approximately 11 miles east of Canyonville, OREGON and 1 mile south of Milo, OREGON. 

The fire is in a unified command between both Oregon State Forestry and the US Forest Service and is listed at 40% containment. 

Morale is high and the crew is ready to get to work after two days of travel.  

Monitor details, maps, photos and other information pertaining to the incident at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4426/

The Stouts Creek Fire was reported on Thursday July 30, 2015 burning approximately 11 miles east of Canyonville near the community of Milo on forestlands protected by the Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA).

Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1 (Incident Commander Buckman) and the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal Green Team were deployed and assumed joint command of this fire on Friday, July 31.  This unified command was subsequently expanded to include the U.S. Forest Service. 

On Saturday, August 8, the State Fire Marshal's Green Team was demobilized after determining that protection benchmarks were met. 

Mitigation and various defensible space activities were completed, and a structure protection plan is in place for both the assigned wild land resources and county fire agencies with two structure task forces from Douglas County available if needed. 

DCR Sends Crew of 20 Wildland Firefighters to Help

                           Battle Blazes in Oregon

Massachusetts Wildfire Crew mobilizes to Oregon today with other eastern crews to Redmond, Oregon Air Center for assignment to one of 29 active large fires burning in the Northwest 

BOSTON – August 8, 2015, Today, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced that it is sending a crew of 20 wildland firefighters to Oregon to help battle fires that have raged over nearly 263,000 acres across Oregon, Washington and California in the last week. The crew is made up of 10 DCR state firefighters and 10 municipal fire fighters from various towns around the state. The 20 firefighters departed from Erving State Forest in Erving, Massachusetts. They will join with crews from New York and the Mid Atlantic states at a mobilization center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania before departing for Oregon. 

 “We are happy to answer the call of Oregon and send these extraordinary public servants to assist in their time of need,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts is proud of our history of national and international cooperation in battling wildfires that know no borders. On behalf of the entire Commonwealth, I offer my prayers for those impacted and for the safe travel and return of our firefighters.”

The deployment is in response to a request DCR Commissioner Sanchez received from the U.S. Forest Service and the Northeastern Interagency Coordination Center in Camden, NH. 

“Massachusetts is the home of some of the most talented and well qualified firefighters in our country,” said EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton. “With little notice, these state and municipal firefighters are answering the call of Oregon and I am confident they will put their extensive training to use in battling these wildfires.” 

On this assignment, the crews will be initially prepositioned at Redmond Air Center and Smoke Jumper Base in Redmond, Oregon for assignment to one of the 29 fire currently burning out of control in both states.  The crew, which is also referred to as a “Type 2 initial attack hand crew,” will engage in direct fire suppression, working on the fire line up to 14 days – building fire breaks, securing fire perimeters, containing fires, and protecting structures.

“We are extremely proud of the DCR and municipal firefighters who have been called upon to help our friends and partners in Oregon,” said DCR Commissioner Carol Sanchez. “These are extremely well-trained and dedicated firefighters whose skills are much needed, and whose help, we know, is enormously appreciated.”

Partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission, DCR’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control has been sending crews since 1985 to fight fires in areas of the western and Rocky Mountain States, Alaska, Florida, Virginia and Quebec.  

All firefighters are federally certified for the work, having passed a 40-hour federal wildland firefighting class and physical fitness test. Through the mutual aid agreement of the compact, the requesting state or province pays all expenses of the out-of-state crews, including salary, transportation, lodging, and food.

Massachusetts sent a 20-person crew in 2014 to assist with containment of several lightning caused fires in and around Leavenworth, Washington.

The responding Massachusetts firefighters are as follows:

STATE DCR Firefighters:		Municipal/Private firefighters:
Whittier, Gregory	Deerfield	Belanger, Jeffrey	Deerfield
Armstrong, Robert	Conway	Belote, Alex	Kingston
Jennell, Benjamim	W. Newbury	Branscombe, John	N. Brookfield
Hallinan, Jonathan	Peabody	Forgea, Bruce	Windsor
Digirolomo, Rebecca	Worcester	Hanecak, Jesse	Whately
Hoffman, Ryan	Billerica	Kalweit, Christel	Sandwich
Liard, Roy	Wakefield	Korby, Charles	Montague
Luongo, David	Sandwich	Nolette, George	N. Brookfield
Nutter-Upham, Cassie	Nashua, NH	Ward, Ezra	Montague
Robbins, Keith	Westhampton	Renshaw, Christopher	Tolland, CT

Press Release Contacts:  Kevin O’Shea - (617) 626-4967 or kevin.o’shea@state.ma.us

SMOKEY BEAR to be 71 on August 9th ... some pictures from his 70th birthday celebration held at Fenway Park

With help from Massachusetts DCR, US Forest Service Eastern Region 9, Wally the Green Monster, the Boston Red Sox and Smokey's many fans from the Red Sox Nation ....