By Liv Stecker
Fighting fire has grown more complex as human civilization continues to spread outward into the fringes of the wilderness, and homes and businesses spring up in the forests and fields. Surrounded by fuels that at one point in history would burn continuously and uninterrupted, firefighters are challenged to save residences, crops, industries and livelihoods from the natural onslaught of fire in the wild lands. Over time, national and local agencies have developed strategies for fire fighting that vary from state to state and region to region. Different fuel types call for different responses, techniques and resources. In Washington State alone, many different types of fire fuel areas are located in close proximity to one another. From heavy timber and long burning fuels, to flashy grass, sage and quick burning foliage, resources across the state are required to prepare to respond to all kinds of fires.
As a response to the complex and tragic firestorm of 1991 in Spokane, the Washington State Fire Marshall developed a state mobilization plan to respond to incidents across the state that overwhelm local resources. The State Fire Marshall, which “is organized as a bureau within the Washington State Patrol”, according to the agency webpage, manages a roster of available resources across the state through regional resource coordinators. Fire engines of various sizes, water tenders (large capacity water trucks), and individuals with specific qualifications can be made available from fire districts and departments across the state for ordering to an incident.
In Washington, private ownership covers almost 60% of the landscape. The remaining 40% of publicly owned lands are managed by state and federal agencies that include the Department of Natural Resources, The United States Forest Service, The Bureau of Land Management, The Bureau of Indian Affairs, The National Park Service, Washington State Parks, and many city and county agencies. Most private land in Washington State falls under a fire protection agreement with the Department of Natural Resources and is often incorporated in local county fire districts for frontline fire protection. Many city and county fire departments in Washington State, especially on the east side, are staffed exclusively by volunteers. Response times to fire emergencies can be anywhere from a few minutes to more than an hour, and even longer for DNR resources that are sprinkled throughout the state.
In light flashy fuels like agricultural fields, wheat stubble, sagebrush and grass, a wind-driven fire can travel several miles per hour. On July 30th, local residents shooting firearms on a very hot and windy day started an accidental fire in the sagebrush near Wilson Creek, several miles from Odessa. After calling 911, local firefighters were on scene within minutes. The fire had already sprawled out to more than 300 acres and was running hard, being fed by strong winds into the wheat stubble and tall grass fields that stretch on for miles.
Even with help from all of the surrounding fire districts, the fire chief from Grant County Fire District 12 knew that under these conditions, his resources were overwhelmed as the fire jumped the county line into Lincoln County. He called for state mobilization which was approved by the State Fire Marshall late that afternoon. Immediately, available fire resources from around the state were ordered by the Resource Coordinator, including a strike team (5-7 pieces of equipment) from the Tri-county area.
The team assembled: a water tender from Stevens County Fire District 3, a type 6 engine, also called a brush truck, from joint districts Stevens 8 & Ferry 3. Stevens County district 7 kicked in a wildland engine, and they were joined by three engines from Spokane County. This strike team was one of five that were called in to fight the fire that local Grant County and Lincoln County departments were still battling. As the forces trickled in over the course of Saturday evening, the fire chief briefed the incoming Incident Management Team that was ordered to help keep the incident organized.
Exhausted, covered in soot and with a voice raspy from breathing smoke for hours, the chief lined out the terrain and the obstacles faced by the incoming resources. Late into the night, as the crews settled in for a few hours sleep before engaging the battle, the incident commander and other overhead worked up a plan of attack, drawing up maps, coordinating the resources at hand and setting goals. After a briefing at 6:00 AM, the Management Team and State Mobilization resources took over the fire fight and the exhausted local firefighters went home for some rest. One strike team was held back to cover a night shift so that the fire wouldn’t be unattended overnight.
Firefighters from Arden, Colville, Northport, Kettle Falls, Orient and other locations in the Tri-county area jumped into the fray on a fire that had grown to over 16,000 acres since it began on Saturday morning. Late Sunday morning, winds picked up and the fire pushed against the lines that firefighters were scratching into the dry, dusty fields. Fire supervisors ordered in air support to help stomp out the flare up and a Single Engine Air Tanker flew in, dumping water on the hot spot.
Fires in grass and sage grow quickly and often go out just as fast, depending on weather and terrain. Firefighters on the Black Rock Road Fire were able to use existing roads, lighting burn out fires along the edges that would creep back into the active burn, consuming fuels and leaving the wildfire nothing to burn. By Sunday night, the fire that had created a massive smoke column visible as far away as Spokane was now only throwing up a collection of dust devils, swirling through the ashes of wheat fields and sage. Firefighters “mopped up” the burn area throughout Sunday afternoon and all day Monday, making sure there were not hot spots clinging to embers that could be thrown across the line into unburned fuels by a dust devil or the wind storm predicted for Tuesday morning.
After a full shift on Sunday and Monday, the State Mobilization resources were sent home or “demobed” (demobilized) from the assignment and the local fire districts resumed responsibility for their fire protection area.
Resources that are ordered for strike teams in a State Mobilization are paid for their time on the fire. The fire department or district that sends a vehicle is compensated at a daily rate for the engine or tender, and qualified volunteer firefighters are paid at an hourly rate determined by the Department of Natural Resources. It’s a chance for local districts to generate some income, as well as individual firefighters, which can help offset the personal expense of volunteering time with the department. Fire districts are able to sign up apparatus and personnel for State Mobilization fire assignments based upon the availability of equipment and more importantly, qualified people to operate it.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter and participating in State Mobilization assignments, check with the fire department or county fire district closest to you. Individuals with specific qualifications including engine boss, EMT, Strike Team Leader and more are always in need on fire assignments and at most volunteer departments.
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