Fire as Our Ally
Dave Murcia, Naturalist
Scott County Conservation Board
Director
563.328.3286
jmurcia@scottcountyiowa.com
Qualifications
Positions
• Firefighter Type
2 (FFT2)
• Prescribed Fire
Crewmember
(RXCW)
• Firefighter Type
1 (FFT1) Trainee
• Burn Boss Type
3 (RXB3) Trainee
• Faller A Trainee
Training
• First Aid/CPR
4 hrs.
• I-100 Orientation to Incident Command System (ICS) 2 hrs.
• S-131 Firefighter Type 1
8 hrs.
• S-390 Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations
24 hrs.
• ATV Riders Safety Course
8 hrs.
• BHV Learn to BEHAVE Plus
8 hrs.
• Firefighter Refresher
8 hrs.
• Principles of Flagging Workshop (IDOT requirement)
4 hrs.
• S-212 Wildfire Powersaws
• S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
24 hrs.
32 hrs.
• S-110, 130, 190, Basic Wildland Fire
40 hrs.
Supportive Training
• Refuge Management Training Academy USFWS
120 hrs.
• Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) USGS
• Habitat Management Planning USFWS
17 hrs.
12 hrs.
Role of Fire
Ecosystems have evolved, adapted, and
flourished with specific fire regimes since the
beginning of time. There are some species
that literally depend on fire.
What is Prescribed (RX) Fire?
• The application of fire in a controlled &
planned method, under defined weather
conditions to meet land or ecological
management goals.
Why Burn? Resource
• Habitat improvement
– Stimulate natives
• Warm vs. cool season
• Abiotic vs. Biotic
factors
– Invasives, succession
– Reduce hazards
– Remove litter
• Wildlife improvement
– Habitat
– Diversity, T&E
Why Burn? Management
• Wildland Urban Interface
(WUI)
– Reduce hazards
– Reduce fuel, litter
• Ecological
– Succession vs. treatment
• Educate
• Training
– Additional personnel
– Maintain qualifications
Fire Behavior
• Direct Effects
– Frequency
– Intensity
– Topography
– Weather
• Moisture
• Wind
– Fuel loads/models
• Dead vs. alive
• Fuel ladders
• Indirect Effects
– Grazing
– Clear cutting
– Age class of
vegetation
• Mature overgrown
• Young understory
– Development
• Urban Interface
Recommended Training
• NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) standards
• Burn Boss 3 (RxB3): non-complex, low risk prescribed fire
(completed required coursework)
• Burn Boss 1 (RxB1), Burn Boss 2 (RxB2): complex
prescribed fires (completed coursework & Burn Boss task
book)
Recommended Training
• Complex fires should also
included squad bosses who
have completed:
– Fire Fighter Type 1 training
OR
– S130, Basic Wildland
Firefighting
– S190, Intro to Wildland Fire
Behavior
– S131, Advanced Firefighter
Training
– S290, Intermediate Wildland
Fire Behavior
Recommended Training
• Attend refresher courses and/or perform on yearly
fire assignment
• “Red Card” positions must maintain qualifications:
– Completing S130/S190 once
– Pass moderate level pack test
• (25 lbs./2 miles/30 mins./yr.)
– Attend a yearly refresher
Iowa DNR and NWCG Fire Training
2012
• Training Coordinator
Ryan Schlater, Fire Specialist (515.233.1161)
(Ryan.Schlater@dnr.iowa.gov)
• Register at:
http://www.iowadnr.com/Environment/Forestry/FirePrograms
.aspx
• Check out:
http://www.nationalfiretraining.net/ea/zone_training.html for
other training going on in the Big Rivers Forest Fire Compact
area!
Class/Fee Dates Location/Details
Self Study Courses:
Intro to ICS
ICS for Single Resource & Initial Attack
NIMS an Introduction
National Response Framework, an Introduction
S-190 Intro to Fire Behavior
S-130/L-180 Firefighter Training/Human Factors on the Fireline
S-260 Interagency Incident Business
S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
SmoC Smoke Management & Air Quality for Land Managers
Field Days for S-130/S-190/L-180
RT-130 Annual Fireline Refresher
WCT Pack Tests
DNR 8 Hour Classes
IDNR-VFD Wildland Fire Operations
IDNR-VFD Wildland Fire Engine Operations & Tactics
IDNR- Prescribed Fire
Midwest Wildfire Training
Academy
June 2013- Jefferson City, Missouri
Recommended Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
– Nomex- shirt/pants
– High top leather boots
– Leather gloves
– Fire rated hardhat
– Eye/ear protection
– Fire shelter/fussees (or alternate ignition source)
– Underclothing of natural fiber
• Underwear, T-shirts, socks
Recommended Equipment
• Tools
– Drip torch(es)
– 2-Way radios
– Cell phone
– Flappers
– Rakes
– Backpack pumps
– Weather kit
– First Aid kit
– Drinking water
• Additional items
– Chainsaw
– Fire weather radio
– Mobile water
pumper
– ATV
– Roadway signage
• Road signs
• Flagger signs
Equipment/Property Programs
• Federal Excess Personal • Volunteer Fire
Property (FEPP)
Assistance (VFA)
– Fire Departments
– Permanent equipment
and vehicle loans by:
• USDA Forest Service
• General services
Administration (GSA)
• State Forester
–
–
–
–
Rural VFDs
50/50 cost share grants
Max of $3500/yr
Purchase of
equipment/training
Gail Kantak, IADNR, Fire Supervisor
515/233-1161
Gail.Kantak@dnr.iowa.gov
Burn Plans
• Recommended
– Objectives & Goals
• S.M.A.R.T.
–
–
–
–
–
Specific
Measurable
Achieveable
Related/Relevant
Trackable
– Prescription
• Weather
• Fire behavior
• Smoke management
– Ignition & holding plan
• Map
• Go-No-Go List
– Contingency plan
– Site information
(w/map)
– Burn site specific info
– Site preparation
– Organization
• Personnel
• Equipment
– Mop up
– Post burn evaluation
Maps
Objectives & Goals
Attribute
Number
Iowa FMU Attribute
Weighting %
1
WUI Willdland Urban Interface
1.0
2
General Protection-Short Term Recovery
.60
3
Social Areas of Special Concern/ Infrastructure
.90
4
Sensitive Species/Sensitive Communities
.85
5
Threatened and Endangered Species
.85
6
Commercial TimberLands
.75
7
Natural Areas of Concern
.45
8
Cultural/ Historic/ Archeological Resources
.51
9
Trust Timber
.90
10
Wilderness Areas and Roadless Areas
.30
Partnerships in Education
•
•
•
•
NWCG - Rx/Wildland
USFWS
NRCS
IA DNR
– Smokey Bear Program
– Fire Prevention Materials
• County Conservation
Boards
– School/Public Programs
– Training , technical
assistance
• PSCW
– Community Awareness
– Landowner assistance
• City Departments
– Park & Rec
– Public Works
• Permits, landowner
assistance
• Riverbend Wildland
Stewards/Natural Area
Guardians (NAGS)
– Landowner assistance
• Volunteer burn crews
“There are some who can live without wild things,
and some who cannot.” – Aldo Leopold