Pacific Northwest Interagency Hotshots

1. Pacific Northwest Interagency Hotshots Pacific Northwest Interagency Hotshot Crews

2. Objectives… • Overview of National IHC program • Organization • Authority • Mission • PNW IHC program • What we are currently working on • Requirements and Qualifications • Common equipment, gear, and why ???

3. National IHC Program • USFS roots to post-war 1940’s in So. Cal. • “Hotshot” came from the crew’s being assigned to the “hot” portions of the fire. • Currently 109 IHCs in the country, in all G.A.s • NFP hiring in 2001 created around 20 new crews • R-5 RIHC program from NFP • 4 Federal land management agencies • 11 BLM, 2 NPS, 7 BIA, 85 USFS • 1 Sate sponsored crew, and 1 state/fed • 1 City, and 1 County sponsored crew

4. National IHC Program (cont.) • National IHC Steering Committee • NIHCSC chartered under the assoc. National Fire Directors • IHCOG (05/89) to SIHCO in 2009 • Signed by 4 National Fire Directors • http://www.nifc.gov/policies/IHC/index.htm • IHC MISSION STATEMENT (from the SIHCO) • The primary mission of the IHCs is to provide a safe, professional, mobile and highly skilled hand crew for all phases of fire management and incident operations.

5. Pacific Northwest IHCs • PNW first crew in 1960 and 4 by 1966 10 by 1980’s BLM in 1996, NFP in 2001, AK/USFS in 2008 • First National IHC workshop hosted by PNW in Portland, 1988 Release of the National IHC Operations Guide • Last National Workshop in 2001 in Reno Revised IHCOG and new NFP IHCs

6. Pacific Northwest IHCs(cont.) • 13 Pacific Northwest West IHCs • 1 USFS/AK State crew in Alaska • 2 USFS crews in Washington • 1 BLM crew in Oregon • 1 BIA crew in Oregon • 8 USFS crews in Oregon

7. 12 crews in OR/WA

8. PNW IHC Program Group • Current chair for the group: • Neil Austin, Winema IHC • Current co-chair: • Jeff Dimke, Entiat IHC • Current PNW rep to NIHCSC: • Eric Miller, Wolf Creek IHC

9. Current Efforts • New group Charter & Code • Defined advisory roles and term limits • Established a steering committee • Defined “ambassador” concept… • Revised, and renewed commitment to Code • IHC -EMT Scope of Practice • IHC-EMTs attended IMS conference in April • Starting affiliation under Dr Jui of OHSU • Covers our EMT’s when on the line

10. Current Efforts (cont.) • PNWIHC Inventory / replacement form • PNWIHC and NWCC cooperation • Continued work on Improving Incident Communication • Initial identification of issues in fall of 2007 • Trying to close the “gap” • PNWIHC engage with outside meetings/groups • Began using “feedback” form with PNW teams in 2008 • Additional element added to DofA in 2008 fire season regarding use of feedback • Incident Communication workshop in spring of 2009 • AAR in fall of 2009

11. Current Efforts (cont.) • Charter revision accomplished to increase capacity • Front-loading PNW IMT’s with IHC info • Continuing/Building relationships in PNW, by representation at group meetings • Beginning efforts to incorporate all resources (engines, T2 crews, national shared resources) into united effort • 2010 AAR planned in November

12. IHC Requirements… • 18-22 crewmembers • Permanent supervision • Minimum of 7 permanent/career positions • At minimum 80% experienced crewmembers • Mobilization time under 2 hours • No geographic restrictions • Have assigned vehicles and all equipment needs • Logistically self-sufficient with agency purchase authority • Able to break down into a min. of 3 squads for IA or other… • 40 hours operational training prior to availability (PNW 80) • Arrive with ability to self-support for 24 hour min.

13. IHC Program Emphasis • IHCs can be used to meet management objectives other than their primary mission of wildland fire operations. Utilization of IHCs will be initiated with strict compliance to accepted interagency and agency specific safety standards. Responsibility for compliance with these standards and the safe operation of an mc ultimately lies with the IHC superintendent. • The priority for use of IHCs is as follows: • Wildland Fire Incident Operations • IHCs are staffed, conditioned. equipped and qualified to meet a variety of strategic and tactical wildland fire assignments. The organizational structure allows IHCs to form into small modules or squads and accomplish independent incident assignments. IHCs may be prepositioned for initial attack or perform ready reserve duties as required by national planning level requirements. • All Hazard Incident Operations • Within the limits of their experience and qualifications, IHCs are capable of providing a disciplined, self contained and adaptable work force to meet the needs of incident managers in a variety of situations and during all hazard assignments. • Resource Management Objectives • When not committed to fire assignments. IHCs can provide a workforce to accomplish a variety of resource management objectives while maintaining availability for incident mobilization. • Training Cadres • IHCs can provide a high quality cadre for fire management training at local, geographic area and national levels.

15. IHC information… • We are funded as a National Shared Resource • We spend, on average, 90-120 days on assignment per year • In the PNW we are required to have at least a 110 day availability period • We drive, fly commercial, fly contract, and fly charter aircraft • Often we are deployed in early, emerging incident situations • We can be on small incidents, or unattached at the end of a Pay period • We often get assigned to remote, inaccessible locations

16. IHC information… • We learn from our experiences, are concerned with providing an efficient/productive service/product, and are committed to the safety of our crews. • The PNW IHCs realize, and admit to the past instances of inappropriate behavior in regards to incident replacement and are committed to mending our relationships with Incident Business Managers and providing professional crews that interact with honesty and integrity.

17. PNW Interagency HotshotsThank you for your time • Questions? • Comments?