Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Klaene on January 11, 2010 at 11:15am

WUI is probably our main fire concern here. We are surrounded by teh Lincoln National Forest. I maintain 2 type 6 brush trucks, 1 1900 gal short tanker (albeit 2wd) all my engines are 4wd with WUI capability-- (short wheel base, 1" hose, foam and gel , self protection monitors, pump and roll and numerous hand tools) We also maintain a trailer with a 4000 gal tip tank and extra foam and gel. training is per NWCG ; S-130/190 for all plus s-215 and S-290 for most everyone. Only a few are arduous red carded. Those that go through the pack test have to have a doctor's physical before taking teh test . Only about 3 folks go through this as it is not required for in county Initial Attack. Spring time is pretty well dedicated to WUI operations for us--preparations and trainings. This usually ends in August after the monsoon rains come.

Permalink Reply by FIRESCUVOL on January 11, 2010 at 1:22pm

I have gone back and forth with certification to fight wildland fires but have always had to deal with the interface fires ,wether as a structure FF or as a wildland FF. As a structure/allrisk volunteer I dont need all of the certs that are required by the feds to get on the payroll but I usualy try to keep them up to date anyhow. I have worked Hellitak and engine boss on fires for the state and feds.Worked for contractors and have called in retardent as a captain with my voll. dept.
In our dept. we use springtime grass burns to live train for fireseason. Often times the burns are in timber and brushy areas and amongsts homes so they are pretty realistic, and we are able to burn up the flashy fuels (grass-twigs-leaves) around these homes . We also respond with the forrest service on any call that is in close proximity to a residence ( they do the same for us) and do some crosstraining and preplanning with them.

Permalink Reply by Ted C Hall on January 13, 2010 at 6:18pm

We work state and fedgov land too to our ease and west borders are some of each...

Our equipment includes two type three wildfire engines and two type 6 units that double between wildfire and EMS/Rescue.

I'm a noob with the department, just got trained as an engineer on the structure engines and working on the type 3 & 6 so I'll be ready when the spring comes...

Our district is mostly 10 acre parcels and up... with a few spots of urban development. Our regular training is directed toward our biggest worries, EMS/Rescue ops and wildfire... but the woodlands/urban interface is part of everything we do...

We just completed some state funded training on attacking structural fires, using a University of Montana burn trailer training unit.

Last fall most of us got to go on a planned burn of a structure, with some interesting and unplanned involvement of more of the tinder dry structure than the trainers were ready for... Had to send in a safety team to get one primary team back out when the fire got behind them. We do controlled burns for district residents when asked, which gives us very good practice for wildland work.

Quite a few of the old timers are certified in both Wildland and Urban/Structure. I'm about half way toward my EMS-Basic and training as an Engineer on all our rigs. Later this spring I'll be working toward my certification...

Our community is pretty proud that we managed to build a brand new station (replacing a 50 year old structure that was ready to fall in) maintain 8 engines (two type 1, two type 3 and two type 6, a Tender and a 2500 HD, 6 pass, rescue truck) and NOT increase the tax levy on district residents by a penny

Permalink Reply by Adam Gillis on January 13, 2010 at 7:24pm

my department is in a small town we have many farms nd a small urban area is our coverage area. we have one engine rescue, an engine tanker, and one brush truck, our brush season is in march arpril and may.

Permalink Reply by Lani on January 26, 2010 at 12:59am

We cross-train in Urban Interface, as we too are very forested and has some very heavily populated areas and a "resort" area. Every station in our district has a brush truck, we have one 4x4 engine, and a 6x6 that is currently OOS (hopefully back up soon, Wildland season is right around the corner!).

Permalink Reply by ian wilcox on April 17, 2011 at 1:21pm

we don't have a bush truck as of yet,there is talk of setting up a trailer that can be pulled behind a pickup with a 3000 gal portable tank and a couple of mark 3 pumps and accompanying hoses and tools,all of our firefighters went through the s100(wildland firefighting training)we are up for a recert this spring,also looking at doing wildland urban interface as well as our small town is surrounded by forest/brush,also in our fire protection area we have a fair amount of forest area that is our responsibility

Permalink Reply by Marcus Ferrier on April 21, 2011 at 10:04am

My dept. is well trained in grassland and brush fires. living in south central nebraska my dept does not have alot of forest fires but more brush and corn fields. we have three trucks that are used for brush fires. we have a dodge that is able to fight fires without getting out of the truck. we have an old forestry truck with a walk around deck so if we have to go in to the woods we can work off the truck so we don't put fire fighter at harm and then we have a stander grass rig.