Fire Origins
Remember. Learn. Share.

On Protection of Towns from Fire — Benjamin Franklin, 1735

On Making Official History Honest — Kent Robert Greenfield, 1954

LCES—a Key to Safety in the Wildland Fire Environment — Paul Gleason, 1991

Attitude Check — Bill Fish, 1995

TriData Phase IV, “Developing a Cooperative Approach to Wildfire Protection” — Charles Perrow, 1998

Lessons From Thirtymile: Transition Fires And Fire Orders — Jerry Williams, 2001

Loop Fire Disaster Brief — November, 1966

1967 Task Force Report

• Preface
• Introduction
• Downhill Line Operations and “Chimneys”
• Communications
• Improve Scouting at All Critical Points
• Organization
• Protective Shelters
• Fire Protective Clothing
• Pre-Attack Planning and Construction
• Fuelbreak System
• Fire Behavior and Fire Research
• Appendix

2005 Fire Prevention and Safety grant application

• Synopsis and Budget
• Risk Assessment
• Evaluation
• Implementation Plan
• Justification

REPORT OF
THE FIRE SAFETY REVIEW TEAM

MARCH 1967

A PLAN TO FURTHER REDUCE
THE CHANCES OF MEN BEING BURNED WHILE FIGHTING FIRES

IMPROVE SCOUTING AT ALL CRITICAL POINTS

The Loop Fire Analysis Group recommended improving intelligence by helicopter or on-the-ground scouting, or both, at all critical points in the fire area, and particularly where two crews are working toward each other.  The Fire Task Force of 1957 reported that scouting was not done, not thorough and too dependent on air scouting.

It is imperative that adequate scouting be accomplished in heavy timber, broken up topography, ledges, chimneys, or other critical situations; i.e., “Know what your fire is doing at all times, observe personally, use scouts.”

Great strides have been made the past ten years in the use of helicopters and the infrared fire mapping for strategic scouting.  The Fire Boss, Plans Chief and Line Boss have used these tools to good advantage and have had adequate information in planning the overall fire strategy.  The use of helicopters has decreased the use of Line Scouts and consequently the Sector and Crew Boss have less knowledge of their zone of responsibility.  On many sectors of brush fires in California, the only practical means of tactical line scouting is by helicopter.  The detailed tactical line scouting by helicopter or on-the-ground scouting to provide the Sector Boss and Crew Boss with detailed local information needs improvement.

The Forest Service Manual describes the fire-job for a line scout and under what conditions it should be used.  The fire organization chart for two division fires and larger does not list this position in the line organization.

Under actual practice, usually the line scout duties and responsibilities are not assigned and become the responsibility of the Sector or Crew Boss.  On critical sectors the Sector or Crew Boss cannot do the advance scouting for his unit without detriment to his other responsibilities.  A position on the fire organization chart may be a reminder that this position needs to be filled on critical sectors.

Recommendations:

1. Better utilization of helicopters for tactical scouting purposes with direct communications with local line organization (Sector and Crew Boss).

2. Include the line scout position in the line organization chart for two division fires and larger.  This may be a reminder that adequate scouting is needed in sectors with heavy timber, broken up topography, ledges, chimneys, or other critical situations.

WASHINGTON OFFICE COMMENTS:

The recommendations are approved.  On a large fire, keen competition generates for available helicopter time from retardant dropping, personnel transport, strategic scouting, tactical scouting, equipment and supply transport.  We must do a timely and thorough job of on-the-ground scouting to provide information to Sector and Crew Bosses.  When the helicopter is the best way to do this, it should be made available to get the job done.

ACTION GUIDES:

<<< continue reading—1967 Task Force Report, Protective Shelters >>>