2008 Clear/Nez Preamble

2010 Clear/Nez Preamble

We had a slow start in the prescribed burning program with no spring burn window on the Nez Perce Forest, due to almost constant moisture and green up. The summer was cooler and wetter than normal. Parts of the zone received over 6 inches of rain in the month of June. The above normal precipitation trend occurred for most of the field season. Burning windows were very limited this year. The Clearwater Forest was able to burn in late August and the Nez Perce Forest got one good window to burn in early October, which is very unusual. The burn windows allowed the Zone to produce about 2,500 acres of prescribed fire to meet targets in 2010.

Smoke Management: Smoke management coordination continues to be a significant part of managing fire, particularly prescribed fire and wildland fire management for benefit. The coordination between local partners, Montana/Idaho Airshed Group, Nez Perce Tribe, Montana DEQ, Missoula County, and Idaho DEQ (both agricultural and wildland smoke coordinators) and all the burners on the Zone requires extensive communication throughout the year as well as constant communication during the burning season.

2010 Kudos’: We had a productive and safe fire season, with very limited fire activity on the Zone. We still supplied firefighting resources to other parts of the country and met our target of $750,000 in fire personnel time on Wildland incidents across the country. We worked hard to accomplish late summer/ fall prescribed fire program in a safe and cost efficient manner. We took advantage of all opportunities to accomplish a significant amount of pre-commercial thinning in the wildland urban interface by working in an integrated fashion with people on both Forests. The zone fire mangers again took initiative and quickly organized and implemented a zone wide fuels strategy, completing approximately 700 acres of slashing/piling and thinning in a two to three week time period. Fire prevention and education programs on the zone accomplished a great deal of good work with the school and afterschool programs, summer youth program, community events, and mitigation work with the counties. The Palouse Ranger District fire personal were very innovative and utilized different types of equipment for mulching and thinning in the WUI. They also worked hard on Bio-mass treatments to add additional tools to the tool box in the fuels arena.

Zone Personnel Changes Included

At the Smokejumper Base:

At Grangeville Air Center:

Changes

Wendy Green – Hired as Aerial Observer vice Russ Jones

At Grangeville Dispatch:

Changes

Jim Brogan – Retired

Kristina Cox – Hired as IDL dispatcher on West Zone

Vicky Smith – Hired as IDL dispatcher on East Zone

Meg Fluharty – Detailed as IA dispatcher

John Link – Apprentice completed dispatch time

Ryan Gregg – Apprentice from R-6 completed dispatch time

Amber Beeson – Left front desk job for greener pastures!

On the Palouse District:

Changes

Renee Kuehner – Accepted a lateral GS-7 on the Panhandle IHC

Alan Carlson – Accepted a lateral GS-7 to the Fuels Technician

Graydon Galloway – Accepted the GS-7 Crew Leader Position

Jon Jameson – Detailed to the GS-6 Asst Crew Leader Position (120 day)

Lisa Spinelli – Accepted a lateral GS-9 Fuels position on the St. Joe, IPNF

Alan Carlson – Detailed to the district Fuels Specialist Position (120 day)

On the North Fork District:

Changes

Wesley Duncan – Promoted to GS-7 Station Foreman at Kelly Creek

Craig Roach – Promotion to GS-6 Assistant Foreman at Kelly Creek

Theodore Peterson – Promotion to GS-6 Assistant Foreman at Canyon

Tyrel Lester – Promotion to GS-5 Senior Firefighter at Kelly Creek

Mike Hanson – Promotion to GS-5 Senior Firefighter at Canyon

On the Lochsa District:

Changes

Paul Leusch – Accepted Position to Fuels AFMO (Sequoia NF)

Forrest Vogel – Hired as GS-5 Senior Firefighter (From North Fork RD)

Brandon Spencer – Season long detail to Gallatin NF

Terra Rintelen – Season long detail to Sacramento IHC

On the Powell Ranger District:

Changes

Warren Shrum – Converted from Apprentice to GS-5 Squad Leader

Cody Phillips – Hired from Gallatin NF

Adam Stark – Hired as GS-6 Asst. Crew Leader (from Coronado NF)

On the Salmon River Ranger District:

Changes

Steve Munson – Retired from AFMO position

Andy Lane – Transferred to timber management

Susan Jenkins – Transferred to Tongass NF in Alaska

Josh Warden – Promoted to AFMO Operations

Shane Doyle – Accepted PSE senior FF on the Lewis Clark IHC

On the Clearwater Ranger District:

Changes

Jim Wimer – Hired as and Engine Boss

Dick Dutcher – Assistant Engine Boss

James Roberts – Accepted position on the PAF

Mike Burri – Hired as lead firefighter

Ryan Romero – Hired as lead firefighter

Zach Stewart – Hired as lead firefighter

Dan Fogleman – Hired as Squad Leader on Helicopter Module

Jeremy Beeson – Hired as Assistant Helicopter Manager (in ’09)

Shannon Milligan – Hired as Senior Firefighter on Helicopter Module

Meg Fluharty – Detailed into the Prevention Position (120 days)

On the Moose Creek Ranger District:

Changes

Micah Scudder – resigned GS-5 Firefighter position

Matt Ross – Hired as GS-5 Senior Firefighter

Mike Ward – Reassigned to planning

Rob Miramontez – temporary promotion to ADFMO

John Link – Completed Apprenticeship program.

On the Red River Ranger District:

Changes

Adam Goicoa –Detailed as DFMO to Mendocino NF

Chris Lundgren – Detailed as AFMO Operations at Red River RD

Tom Rielly – Detailed into Assistant Module Leader at Elk City

Tim Delph – Detailed as Crew Leader on the Huron Manistee NF

Ian Valley – Detailed ad Crew Leader on the Huron Manistee NF

Dustin Behler – Accepted GS-6 Module Leader at Red River

Drew Dingman – Accepted GS-5 Asst. Module Leader at Dixie

Jim Wimer – Transferred to Clearwater RD as GS-7 Engine Foreman

CAUSE STATISTICS

Nez Perce

Clearwater

LIGHTNING FIRES

Nez Perce

Clearwater

PERSON CAUSED FIRES

Nez Perce

Clearwater

2010 Musselshell Helitack

Annual Report

2010 ANNUAL MUSSELSHELL HELITACK REPORT

To be completed annually at each FS Exclusive Use Helitack Base.

Your Name:

Phone Number:

DATA

1. Base Name

2. Make and Model of Aircraft

3. Tail Number

4. Days on MAP Days on Extension Total Days on Contract

(MAP = Mandatory Availability Period)

5. Number of persons on Crew

6. Number of Initial Attacks for season

7. Percentage of time bucket/tank was used on initial attack fires

8. Number of Large Fires

9. Total Fire Flight Hours

10. Total Non-Fire Flight Hours

11. Total Flight Hours

12. Availability Cost

13. Total Contract Cost

(Includes availability, flight costs, fuel truck mileage, RON, extended standby, etc).

14. Total Number of passengers transported

(Including Helitack Personnel)

15. Total Pounds of Internal Cargo

16. Total Pounds of External Cargo

17. Total Gallons of Water/Retardant dropped

AERIAL IGNITION

1. Is your Crew Aerial Ignition Certified? Y N

2. Type (and #’s) of Aerial Ignition Equipment: Helitorch PSD PSD

3. Hours flown on Aerial Ignition

4. Acres accomplished with aerial ignition

5. Number of spheres used Gallons of gelled fuel used

OTHER

1. Number of Person days on Fires.

(Example: 6 person crew on fire for 10 days = 60 person days)

2. Flight hours for Non-Federal agencies. Fire Other

3. Provide an example of a Fire Suppression Effort that resulted in a significant resource or dollar savings, e.g. successful structure protection, decreased exposure to firefighters, multiple use of a helicopter on a wildfire, reduced number of shifts on a fire, etc. or any notable event that occurred with your helicopter and crew that you would like to report

One notable, non-fire event that happened with our helicopter and crew this season was the removal of a 1942 Caterpillar D2 Bulldozer weighing 9,600 lbs and approximately 12,200 lbs of salvage dimension lumber from the Seminole Ranch, which was a private ranch inholding that was recently acquired by the Forest Service located within the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area. The dozer and lumber were located approximately 25 air miles from the nearest road, and were removed in two trips using a Chinook Helicopter, which came from LaGrande, Oregon, and was the closest available heavy lift aircraft to the project area. Funds for this project became available late in the fiscal year, and thru a collaborative effort between the Forest Aviation Officer, the Wilderness Rangers, the Musselshell and Grangeville Helitack Modules, the Grangeville Smokejumpers, the Moose Creek Ranger District Fire Crew, Grangeville Dispatch Center, Hillcrest Aircraft Co. helicopter N767H, and Columbia Helicopters Exclusive Use Chinook Helicopter N246CH, the project was completed within the short time frame that the funds were available, safely and under budget. Our helicopter was used to transport Columbia Helicopters Rigging Crew from the lift sites after their aircraft completed the heavy-lift mission. Additionally, approximately 37,000 lbs of other cargo was removed by fixed wing aircraft from the Moose Creek Airstrip, after being transported from Seminole Ranch to Moose Creek by non-mechanized methods over the summer.

GAC Helicopter Annual Report

The Grangeville Helicopter Module for the Clearwater/Nez Perce Fire Zone provided initial attack, passenger/cargo transport, extended attack fire support, water bucket work, prescribed fire support and natural resource management support on the fire zone and nationally.

The two type III Bell 206 L4 contracts, one for 100 days and the second for 80 days, were procured with Hillcrest Aviation Company from Lewiston, Idaho. One type III helicopter was based in Grangeville, Idaho at the Grangeville Air Center for 100 days.

The Grangeville type III Exclusive Use contract helicopter N662H, flew a total of 92.8 + hours. This total is approximately 90 hours below the average flight time for the contract period. The total fire flight hours were 77.7 hours and the total non–fire (project) flight hours were 15.1 hours. A total of 13 initial attack fire missions were flown and 14 fires were supported. Helicopter 662H transported 28,088 pounds of internal cargo, 45,030 pounds of external cargo, 261 passengers and dropped 25,944 gallons of water.

Module members provided suppression and prescribed fire support for R-3, R-4 and R - 8 throughout the year.

Shannon Milligan accepted a PSE 13/13 GS-05 Senior Firefighter On the module, VICE James Roberts.

2010 GRANGEVILLE AIR CENTER

ATGS ANNUAL REPORT

GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Air Tactical Group Supervisor:Tom Bates, GrangevilleAirCenter
• Aircraft availability (N519WA):June 15 to September 22
• Days available status: 100
• Total flight hours:81.3
• Total missions flown:37
• Initial Attack:16
• Extended Attack:15
• Detection:1
• Personnel Transport1
• Moves; hail & airport closure4

Hours flown per jurisdiction in 2009:

• Clear/Nez Zone:17.1
• ID Dept Lands (IDL)3.0
• MT,DNR:38.3
• Tri-Region Coop (R4 &R6)8.9
• Flathead NF10.4
• BIA, (Crow Agency)5.6
• Total:83.3

Cont.

Previous years total flight hours:

2003118.1

200473.8

2005122.7

2006325.6

2007222.7

2008204.6

AERIAL SUPERVISION

The Regional Air Tactical platform came on June 15, at the Grangeville Air Center. The aircraft flew for 27 hours in the first 80 days of the contract. September provided a bit more activity with 55 flight hours in the last three weeks of the contract. Ponderosa again provided excellent service with an outstanding pilot and no unavailability due to maintenance. Robin Embry, ATGS (T) spent 10 days on assignment in September and completed her final evaluation.

Prior to fire season I was a unit instructor for M-410 Facilitative Instructor, S-230 Crew boss, S-339 Div/Group Supervisor, Smokejumper Spotter Refresher and the Regional Aerial Supervision refresher. I refreshed with the Grangeville Smokejumper this spring and jumped one fire in R-6.

We had one new Aerial Observer this season Wendy Greene, along with Marion (Pogo) West, who staffed the detection aircraft. Backcountry Aviation was a new vendor on the Exclusive Use contract this season. The new pilots were very service oriented and learned the Zone quickly.

Airstrip work continues. Wilson Bar and Shearer both had tree removal projects late this summer. Opportunities for assistance with airstrip maintenance are being explored with the National Smokejumper Association, the Recreational Aviation Foundation, and the Idaho Aviation Association chapters.

Tom Bates

Clear/Nez ATGS, Fixed-wing Coordinator

Smokejumper

2010 Annual Report

Program Mission

The Grangeville Smokejumper Program is committed to providing a professional, efficient, and safety oriented workforce which is capable of meeting Fire and Land Management needs nationally. Program emphasis is on the deployment of well trained initial attack personnel to incidents in need of quick response, critical overhead needs, and incidents that are difficult to access due to terrain. A secondary program emphasis is to maximize the skills and capabilities of our employees in order to help alleviate the broad range of resource shortages both locally and nationally.

Our Goals:

• Provide well trained, professional firefighters with the leadership skills necessary to make safe and cost effective decisions at all levels.
• Continually seek to improve Safety in High Risk Environments.
• Adapt and Integrate the Smokejumper Program with evolving Fire Management Goals.

• Personnel development to ensure future management expertise and qualifications retention.

• Instill professionalism in all our employees- fostering a Safe, Positive, and Diverse working environment.

Grangeville Smokejumper Unit Capabilities

The Grangeville smokejumper program possesses a diverse and unique skill set that is available for utilization by land managers nationwide. The unit’s qualifications span from OSC2 to ICT5 in the operational area, with most jumpers possessing at least one, if not several, single resource qualifications. We also have a range of non-operational qualifications including: RXB2, SOFL, FOBS, FEMO, and Line EMT.

During the peak of the fire season, the Grangeville program makes an effort to staff each plane load of jumpers with an ICT3 and enough experience and qualifications to manage emerging type 3 incidents. Our goal is to ensure we have the qualifications on board to assist in any fire related incident from suppression to monitoring.

In addition to staffing fires with personnel, Grangeville has the capability to support wildfire incidents logistically through paracargo or remote airstrip landings. Due to the high payload and speed offered by smokejumper aircraft, large food/water orders, pump kits, and firing supplies can be assembled at the base and delivered to incidents anywhere in the Northwest.

The relatively inexpensive flight time of smokejumper aircraft make the cost per unit delivered cheaper than rotary wing delivery and considerably faster than packing with stock.

The program takes an active role in prescribed fire efforts throughout the US.

Grangeville jumpers provided several prescribed fire qualifications including FIRBs and RXB2s to projects in Regions 1, Region 3, Region 8, and Region 9. We have also participated in numerous hazardous fuels reduction projects in Region 1. Individuals are available to fill these commitments from September through May.

Our Program also offers a wide range of non-fire related skills and services to land managers upon request. Jumpers within the program have been utilized as tree climbers, timber cruisers, trail workers, and just plain manual laborers. We have participated in pollen collection, cone collection, and scion collection for Timber Stand Improvement Programs within the Forest Service, and climbing for the Asian Long-Horned Beetle eradication programs (USDA).