Unit 3: Tabletop Exercises

The night division group supervisor (DIVS) is on scene when you arrive with your crew. They provide you with a quick “face to face” briefing, and then leaves to line out the other incoming resources. The specific information for your assignment is to anchor your line to a road at the top of the canyon, and then progress indirect, down into the canyon towards the “inactive” main fire in the bottom. The instructions are to “complete the hand-line, drag fire with you and plumb the hand-line with hose to support the backfire."

 I will try to find a few more engines and a hand crew to support you from your anchor point.” During your travel out to the fire line, you notice that the fire looks like it is starting to “lay down” for the evening. You arrive in the center of section (35) and  you can see the main fire down in the canyon, and you notice a “cold edge” or some light smoke coming up from the inactive edge. It is late August, and the time is 1900 hours.

• Temperature –  81 degrees

• Relative humidity – low in 20s % 

• Winds are light and variable. Environment has been under East wind conditions; fuel type is 3'-8' tall manzanita, short grass and other mixed brush under drought conditions.

This is your first shift on the fire, as well as all of your current resources. All resources have been cloned and are operating on the proper channels. Fire size is unknown at this stage.

You are the Task Force Leader and currently have:

1 Type 3 Engine (4 Personnel) 500gls, Hose: 3000' Progressive, 500' 3/4" . 2 saws, 1 Qualified Burn Boss. 

1 Type 6 Engine  (3 Personnel) 300gls, Hose: 1200' Progressive, 250' 3/4" . 1 Chainsaw, 1 EMT

1 Type 6 Engine (2 Personnel) 300gls, Hose: 1200' Progressive, 250' 3/4" . 1 Mark 26 Portable Pump

1 Type 2 Crew (18 Personnel) Full compliment of hand tools, 4 Chainsaws - No FAL 1, 2 EMT

1 Water Tender (1 Personnel) 2500gls. Closest Water Supply is 60 minute turn around.

You are a Task Force Leader from a nearby agency. At 1030 hours you receive a 911 call for assistance in a neighboring city, to assist with a growing wildland fire that’s currently 38 acres. The fire is in a great need of additional overhead to help manage all  of the incoming resources. 

Upon arrival on scene you’re met by a volunteer fire chief that seems a bit flustered. Resources continue to arrive on scene and you recognize that there isn’t much leadership or overhead to implement tactics. Finally the chief makes it to you and gives you a quick snapshot of the fire. The Chief tells you that today is over 100 degrees and it’s windy.. windy enough to make the fire run in different directions. The Chief quickly tells you that there is a house near the 3rd bend down "Sawyer road" that hasn’t been evacuated. It has 3 adults and 2 children still inside and maybe more homes - no one has been down the road and to GET MOVING! The Chief yells at a group of people nearby and tells them they are to work for you. Turns around and starts heading to meet other recently arrived resources. 

Driving down the road to the 3rd bend you notice the house that hasn’t been evacuated. It’s extremely smokey and you can’t see where the main fire is. The road to the house is not improved and there is also a bridge crossing off in the distance. The bridge is concrete and seems sturdy. As you try to look through the smoke you see that you’re about mid-slope on the mountain inside a small drainage. You also notice the road keeps going deeper in to the wilderness - All of your resources are behind you trying to keep up in the smoke.

Weather conditions and fuel types

• Time: 1230pm

• Temp: 101 Degrees

• Relative Humidity: 18%

• Winds: 5-10mph shifting

The weather is predicted to stay this way for the duration of the day shift.

Fuels: Grass component 7-24 inches with light to moderate slash and reproduction timber between 4-8 years of age.

Resources:

All Engines have at least 1 EMT/Paramedic (You have no idea what the experience level is for each engine)

1 Type I Engine (4 personnel)

1 Type I Engine (3 Personnel)

1 Type 3 Engine (3 Personnel)

1 Type 6 Engine (2 Personnel)

1 Type 6 Engine (2 Persoonel)

You are a Task Force Leader on a severity assignment to help local agencies during high fire danger. There are currently many fires going on and the area is stripped of most IA resources. You are called at 1230 on September 6 to respond to an initial attack fire with your Task Force of engines.. The information you have about the fire is that it is in ponderosa pine with grass under story and is around 2 acres in size. The 911 dispatch tells you that they believe a municipal fire department is currently on scene but it is outside of their district.

You arrive at 1330 hours and tie in with an engine captain from Lakeview Fire Department. They estimate the fire around 5 acres burning on a Southeast aspect. The fire appears to  have started mid-slope and backed down to the bottom drainage. At this time the fire behavior consists of ground fire 0-3 flame lengths and is currently contained within a wet line from the fire department. Ingress/Egress and access to the fire is very limited. 

There are currently 3 fire department engines on scene and the captain is requesting to hand over command and head back to their response area, claiming their dispatch is asking for a return ETA. They also do not have Bendix King Radios and are operating on their own radio system.

Weather conditions:

• Temperature: 84 degrees

• Relative Humidity: 28%

• Winds: Downslope 3-6mph - Ridgetop winds are variable with gusts up to 10.

Your Task Force Resources:

1 Type 4 Engine (3 Personnel) 750gls, 2000' Progressive Hose, 1 Mark 3 Pump

1 Type 4 Engine (2 Personnel) 1000gls, 1 Portable Tank, 2000' Progressive Hose, 1 Wick 375 Pump

1 Type 6 Engine (2 Personnel) 300gls, 1200' Progressive Hose, 1 Chainsaw, 1 EMT

1 Type 6 Engine (3 Personnel) 300gls, 1000' Progressive Hose, 1 Chainsaw, 1 Mini Striker Portable Pump

1 Type 6 Engine (3 Personnel) 400gls, 1200' Progressive Hose, 2 Chainsaws, 400' Toy Hose

Local Resources Available:

1 D6 High Track Dozer - 90 Minute Response

2 SEAT - Fire and Ice Capable upon request - 30 Minute turn around (Can come with an Air Attack)