Click here for photos of some of the conference highlights
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September 27, 2002 |
“Welcome, Conference
Outline, Introductions and Keynote Address.”
With:
Justin Dombrowski, City of Boulder
Opening comments including a short discussion of September 11th and wildland fire problem needs are made by Steve Trunk. Incident Commander Justin Dombrowski makes a few statements about the conference.
Keynote address is given by Jim Hubbard. Hubbard’s keynote focuses on the 2002 Colorado wildfire season, the three fires of major concern and future risk and management.
“Spotlight on Community Planning”
Discussion of planning and zoning issues for new and existing wildland/urban interface communities.
With: Chuck Vale, Routt County; Steve Douglas, Pueblo County; Boyd Lebeda, Colorado State Forest Service
Chuck Vale discusses wildfire community planning and the Big Routt County Fire, including expectations and some “be prepared to’s." He also runs through some of the “who’s” of a wildland fire (who pays, who calls for evacuation, etc) and a short discussion of air support.
Steve Douglas discusses traditional planning activities and planning with the wildland/urban interface in mind. He also discusses (both uniform and wildland) fire codes, code adoption and revision and annual fire operations plans. Douglas highlights wildland mitigation projects (including the 2002 Mountain Pine Beetle Project) as well as the Beulah Mountain Fire Mitigation Council.
Boyd Lebeda discusses new developments, plan requirements, and outcomes of planning,
“Fire Modeling and Tech
Tools in the 21st Century”
With: Janice Coen, Rich Wagoner, Bob Harriss, Olga Wilhelmi, Tim Spangler, Vicki Johnson, Rose Lundeen and Hans Friedli, National Center for Atmospheric Research; Liz Page, National Weather Service; Brian Muller, University of Colorado at Denver
Richard Wagoner discusses the importance of weather data, the current situation with weather information, specific problem areas and wildland fire research and development collaborators.
Janice Coen discusses wildland fire modeling including factors influencing behavior, a hierarchy of fire models, possible applications of models and future directions of models.
Liz Page discusses fire behavior training, the COMET (Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training) Program, COMET fire weather training, NWS subject matter experts, and contributors from the land management community. She also focuses on the evolution to web based training, focus and sections of the website and applications of materials.
Brian Muller discusses assessing and evaluating wildfire risks, education and planning tools
Dick Spiess discusses wildfire and structure ignition including redefining the issues, “Why do homes burn down”, redefining the problem and lowering potential ignitability before a fire approaches a home.
The realities of effects on
communities and on firefighter and public safety.
With:
Bill Travis, Department of Geography Center for the American West; Arnie Lavelett, El Paso County
Sheriff’s Department
Bill Travis discusses interface development and prospects for social change including how wildland fire is similar to and dis-similar from other hazards, the hazard response cycle and social/behavioral research.
Arnie Lavelett discusses issues in development and expansion into forests and ranch lands and growth specific to El Paso County.
Bret Lacey discusses education, communication and engaging and interacting with the public.
Perspectives on homeowner and community responsibility.
With: Michele Steinberg, National Fire Protection Association; Scott Woods, Colorado State Forest Service
Michele Steinberg discusses Firewise including what is Firewise, why Firewise, Firewise workshops, and Firewise objectives. Steinberg also discusses the Firewise communities recognition program including program objectives, standards, benefits, support and state involvement.
Scott Woods discusses how to define Firewise, what people must understand in order to take action, response to low, moderate and severe fires and “Are You Firewise?”
The effect of short-term and long-term atmospherics on fuels, firefighter safety, and risk.
With: Mike Baker, National Weather Service; Kelly Close, Poudre Fire Authority; Mike Frary, Bureau of Land Management
Mike Baker gives an introduction to the S-290 Weather Course including how weather compares with the other components, critical fire weather elements, influences on wildland fire, where you get an idea of the type of weather to anticipate, where you might learn more about weather, El Nino and the official forecast put out by the climate prediction center.
Mike Frary discusses fuel moisture, fire danger and fire behavior.
Kelly Close discusses trigger points, climatological trigger points, engagement and “disengagement”, the fire environment and the rules of disengagement using examples from the Hayman, Big Elk and Missionary Ridge Fires.
A wildfire is threatening your community – are you ready? Do you have a County Fire Plan, understand roles and responsibilities of each player in local jurisdictions?
With: Fred Wegener, Park County; T. Wright Dickinson, Moffat County; Tom Dalessandri, Garfield County; Bernie Post, Colorado State Forest Service
Fred Wegener, T. Wright Dickinson, Tom Dalessandri, and Bernie Post all discuss the Moffat County Wildland Fire and Fuel Management Plan. This includes Moffat County fire statistics from the spring of 2000 to September 2002 and communities at risk meetings. Fire management is also discussed including Phase I, II and III planning and implementation. Fire narratives are presented for the Coal Seam Fire, High Meadow Fire, Snaking Gulch Fire, Black Mountain Fire, Topaz Mountain Fire and Hayman Fire.
“Fast Response Teams”
Type III Incident Management
Teams, the Sierra Front Team concept, Colorado needs, pros and cons.
With:
Brian Ayers, Colorado State Forest Service
Brian Ayers discusses support in an emergency situation.
Tim McSherry discusses the Type III Incident Management Team started in Jefferson County including the history, purpose, goals and structure of the team. He also discusses the team’s 2002 callouts including a narrative of the call out to the Hayman Fire. This includes what to improve on next time, learning experiences and what went well.
Bill Wallis discusses the need to take another look at Type III’s, their purpose and the Rocky Mountain Coordination.
Mike Berg focuses on the key objective of the Type III team, who makes up a Type III, and team considerations (including preparation and during the fire.)
Tools for encouraging
personal responsibility.
With:
Judith Downing, US Forest Service
Judith Downing takes an in-depth look at National Fire Prevention Education Teams including some history, what they can be used for, funding and team training. She discusses what the teams are, who comprise the teams, the training they receive, what they do, team mobilization, benefits, and the future of teams.
Ron Hodgson discusses fire prevention needs, the three main components of and guidelines for prevention and what education prevents.
“Tactics – A key to
Success in Urban/Interface Fire”
A basic discussion of what
you need in the way of equipment, gear, water handling/supply, training, triage
and more.
With:
Mike Rieser, Bureau of Land Management
This is a panel discussion focusing on the readiness of your department, communication, life safety, resources, and community.
“Media Mania – Firestorms of a Different Kind” – How to deal effectively with the public information implications of a fire. Perspective of information officers, the media, and the public.
With: Paul Day, KCNC News4; Lynn Barclay, Bureau of Land Management; Dave Steinke, US Forest Service; Debbie Frazier, Rocky Mountain News
Debbie Frazier discusses fire as an opportunity and tips about the media.
Paul Day discusses his personal experiences with the Colorado wildfires this year, a story from the Hayman Fire and some problems encountered.
Lynn Barclay discusses fire from the point of view of an information officer attached to a team. Barclay also discusses some of the problems this year and what local agencies can do to help information officers.
Dave Steinke also discusses some issues he has experienced with the media.
“Smart Buildings, Smart
Communities”
Update on design, land use
considerations for a survivable home and community.
With:
Nan Johnson, City of Boulder
Nan Johnson and Eric Phillips discuss how planning can help with issues, whether Firewise efforts are helping with mitigation, and whether better site design can help with mitigation. They also include a discussion of tools and Boulder County’s Fire Mitigation.
“It Could Happen to You”
When a small incident gets
big. Role of agency administrator, delegations of authority,
multi-jurisdictions, MAC groups. What
local officials need to do, understand and prepare for.
With:
Jim Krugman, US Forest Service; Steve Hart, Colorado State Forest
Service; Mark Stiles, Bureau of Land Management
Scott Wells discusses a wildfire starting small and getting big. He discusses communication issues, interaction with evacuees, providing security for homes while roadblocks are in place, being prepared for transition, unified command and PIO meetings and the Emergency Preparedness Network.
Mark Stiles runs through a narrative of a fire that started small and got big – the Missionary Ridge Fire. He also discusses how different fire sizes affect agency administrators and the growth of an incident, what can go wrong, what went right and community support. He also discusses what he would have liked to have done differently and costs and finances.
Steve Hart also discusses the role of the agency administrator including creating and dealing with issues, EOC support function, and tips to remember.
Jim Krugman discusses MAC groups and Area Command including who makes up a MAC group, how a MAC group is activated and what a MAC group does. The function, responsibilities and organization of Area Command is also discussed including the four primary area command positions.
“Air Ops in the
Interface”
A trend toward increased reliance on heavy air tankers, single engine air tankers, and helicopters on interface fires, special considerations arise for safety, appropriate utilization, cost and availability.
With: JP Greene, State of Florida; Tom Landon, US Forest Service; Bernie Post, Colorado State Forest Service
Tom Landon discusses safety considerations, aerial hazards, congested/populated areas, communications, incidents that let you call a TFR 91.137, prices on aircraft and the pros and cons of fixed wing air tankers and helicopters.
Bernie Post discusses aircraft being for short distances and some funding issues.
JP Greene discusses Florida
operations, the characteristics of interface air operations, and interface
aviation risk management.
“Wildfire
Qualifications and You”
Qualifications, red cards,
academies, career paths, task books.
With:
Steve Ellis, Bureau of Land Management
Steve Ellis, Kim Bang, and Deb Epps discuss the performance based qualification system including people’s expectations and questions, the most commonly asked questions, the five key players (home unit, trainee, trainer, evaluator and training specialist), each players responsibilities and evaluation records.
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September
28, 2002 |
“Keynote Address: Safety
in the Interface”
Discussion of safety issues when structural firefighting and wildland firefighting meet in the interface.
Dennis Tomlin opens with his personal thanks to all the speakers.
Dick Mangan discusses fires in
2002, both in Colorado and around the nation, wildland/urban interface fires
throughout history, deadly fires since 1990, and fire and death in the interface
(the Oakland Hills Fire in 1991 and problems) and interface residents.
He also discusses the mission of those at the conference, ignorance of
nature and its ways, responsibility of the mitigation of hazardous conditions
including the shared responsibilities and those of local officials,
developers/builders, homeowners, fire officials and fire fighters.
He also discusses natural vs. fire safe and homeowner safety before and
during a wildfire, triage and hazards for firefighters.
“Living on the Edge”
Building successful
neighborhood relationships between public land managers and homeowners in
wildfire country.
With: Bequi Livingston, US Forest Service
Bequi Livingston discusses lessons learned in the wildland/urban interface including the definition of the wildland/urban interface, how we got to the WUI, where we go from here and how we get there. Discussion includes the 2002 Southwestern Area Fire Season, Top 20 WUI communities, wildland/urban interface fires in 2002, fire history, why it could happen to you, and fire suppression tactics Livingston also speaks about prescribed fire in the WUI, fuels management projects and alternatives and lessons learned. Livingston also discusses communication, education (including different audiences), interagency cooperation, public involvement and special considerations
“Grant Writing – The
Buck Starts Here”
Grant availability,
processes, and successes.
With:
Rich Homann, Colorado State Forest Service
Rich Homann discusses Grants 101. How grant providers think, the many sources that provide grant money, the questions you need to answer when writing a grant proposal and the types of monies and grants available.
Barry Cress provides some grant writing tips.
“Are You Fit to Fight?”
Fitness requirements for
firefighter safety.
With: Kevin Jensen, Department of Interior, NIFC
Kevin Jensen discusses the
Federal Interagency Wildland Firefighter Medical Qualification Standard
including preparation of the program, team members, the basis for the program,
goals, objectives and standards and, the qualification process.
“Recover and
Reconstruction – Would We Do It Differently?”
Things we thought we knew
and things we learned as a community – post Los Alamos.
With: Kelly Carpenter, City of Los Alamos
Kelly Carpenter discusses the Los Alamos Fire, issues with suppression efforts and post-fire development. Also, lessons learned during recovery and reconstruction.
“North Fork Project”
From major fires to getting
money to putting a plan to work.
Chris White, Anchor Point,
LLC
Chris White and Paige Whiteside
discuss the purpose of hazard-risk analysis, wildfire hazard analysis,
evaluating the hazard, wildfire hazard rating and the 4 main goals of individual
structure and infrastructure surveys. Compile
Hazard-Risk Classification is also discussed including the WHINFOE model
(Wildfire Hazard Information Extraction Model), data items on individual
structures (construction, landscaping, etc) and individual structure level water
and access.
“Keynote Address:
Emergency Response in a New Era”
Experiences in New York after 9/11.
With: Pete Bakersky, FEMA
Pete Bakersky discusses the
Search and Rescue program developed after the Mexico City earthquake, including
task force’s main responsibilities during the search and rescue efforts
post-9/11.
“It’s a Small World
After All”
Wildland and interface
considerations in Russia, Europe, Indonesia and Australia.
With:
Andy Parker, Bureau of Land Management
Paul Gleason discusses the (re)introduction of fire into the Swiss National Park including the federal law of Swiss National Park, landscape characterization and fuel models. He also discusses recent fires, weather data and fire management plan.
Andy Parker discusses his projects in Russia and issues related to fire there.
Steve Pedigo discusses international assignments including Borneo and Malaysia and lessons to be learned from these international assignments.
With:
Liz Page, National Weather Service
Liz Page discusses the motivation for rehabilitation including flood risk over burn scars (example, Buffalo Creek Flood – 1996), the effects of fire on a watershed and the vegetation in a watershed, the effects of decreased vegetation, and effects of soil changes. Page also discusses classifying fire intensity (low, moderate, high), fire intensity and soil structure, and runoff and erosion. Page speaks about rainfall amount vs. rainfall intensity, applications to flash flood forecasting and lessons learned from the Buffalo Creek Flood including public awareness and effects.
Randy Wilkerson discusses the rehabilitation efforts in the wake of the 2002 fire season including the Hayman Fire Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation(BAER), the BAER process, values at risk, burn severity, erosion potential, and hydrologic processes. He also discusses the Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Plan including aerial mulching, roads, and what’s next.
“To Burn or
Not to Burn”
With:
Fred Patten, US Forest Service
Fred Patten discusses pre-European settlement conditions of the forest, today’s typical forest conditions, commercial thinning and prescribed burning, planning factors to use when considering prescribed fire, and some pros and cons of prescribed fire
Coleen Campbell discusses Colorado’s Smoke Management Program including regulatory changes for wildland fire, legislated changes, changes supported by the AQCC or other stakeholders, refinements as a result of smoke incidents, the smoke risk rating and future goals.
Vaughn Jones discusses where burns take place and why to use prescribed burns.
“National Fire Plan”
How is it working for
Colorado?
With:
Mike daLuz, US Forest Service
Mike daLuz takes a look at the 2002 fire season including significance and impacts on communities, response, concerns, preparedness, rehabilitation/restoration, fuels management, and community assistance. He also discusses Colorado’s successes and challenges, lessons, forecast and competing budgets.
Marc Mullenix discusses having a plan, mitigation, Boulder’s Walker Ranch Fire and the steps that were taken before and during that fire.
“Whether It’s Weather
– Meteorology 101”
Possibly the single biggest
factor influencing fire behavior.
With: Tim Mathewson, Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center
Tim Mathewson discusses fire
weather, the physics and relationships to fire behavior.
His discussion includes low vs. high pressure, actual temperature, lapse
rates, stability and the importance of stability to firefighters, wind systems,
and wind activity.
“Evacuate!”
With:
Don Griffith, Larimer County
Larry Stern, Larry Donner, and Don Griffith discuss authority including responsibility for evacuations, the 911 emergency callback system, key elements of emergency notification, benefits of telephone notification, target notification and evacuation experiences. They also discussed a grass fire in west Boulder and the issues when calling for an evacuation including what to do during the evacuation.
Considerations for
homeowners and businesses in fire country.
Who do you talk to, what questions should you ask?
With:
Nan Johnson, City of Boulder
Nan Johnson discusses hazard, risk and risk assessment and how to change the attitudes of homeowners and planners to one of prevention.
Steve Niccolai discusses the insurance perspective including industry concerns and insurance company responses as well as the developers perspective including the many stakeholders in development and multiple costs of development.
“When the Chips are
Down”
What do we do with slash and
other materials resulting from fuel reduction efforts?
Bio-mass, new products, new markets.
With:
Bob Dettmann, US Forest Service
Ruth Ann Steele discusses the SW Four Corners Sustainable Forest Program.
Bob Yost discusses commercial grinding and mulching.
Dr. Kurt Mackes discusses Small Diameter Wood Harvesting and U&M Research at CSU including what the barriers are to implementing forest restoration thinning and fuel hazard reduction and what research is currently being done at CSU to help remove these barriers.
Stephan Reinhold discusses harvesting systems and future research.
“Traditions and the 21st
Century – Fire Use by Native American Tribes”
With:
Silas Whitman, Nez Perce Tribe
Silas Whitman discusses fire use by Native American Tribes, what must be addressed, going in and fixing the environment and issues related to fire use.