WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN NATRONA COUNTY, WYOMING

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1 2011 WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN NATRONA COUNTY, WYOMING SIGNATURE AUTHORIZATION: By my signature below, I authorize my signature to be photocopied into each and all of the Annual Operating Fire Plans for the Wyoming Interagency Cooperative Fire Management Agreement,, Wyoming. I understand that my agency will be provided a copy of the agreement with a photocopied signature page when the required signatures are obtained. Fire Warden Chairman - Commissioners Fire Chief - Fire Protection District Chairman - Fire Protection District Fire Chief - Casper Mountain Fire District Chairman - Casper Mountain Fire District District Forester Wyoming State Forestry Division Forest Supervisor, Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest, Thunder Basin National Grassland, USDA 1

2 Arapahoe Complex Refuge Supervisor, USFWS Field Manager, Casper Field Office Bureau of Land Management, USDI Field Manager, Rawlins Field Office Bureau of Land Management, USDI Field Manager, Lander Field Office Bureau of Land Management, USDI Bar Nunn Fire Department Mills Fire Department Evansville Fire Department City of Casper Fire Department Salt Creek Emergency Service Revised 3/2011 2

3 2011 ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN This Plan is between the USDI Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Plains District, USDA Forest Service (USFS) Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grasslands, Wyoming State Forestry Division (WSFD),, Natrona County Fire Protection District and Casper Mountain Fire District. A. AUTHORITY: Wyoming Interagency Cooperative Fire Management Agreement, NUMBERS 07-FI , 07-F , USDI Bureau of Land Management #KAA020003, USDI National Park Service #H , USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs #AG7C and the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service # K001. B. PURPOSE To outline details of implementing the Wyoming Interagency Cooperative Fire Management Agreement and the Wyoming Interagency Fire Management Agreement. C. FIRE PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITIES & PRIORITIES: 1. Wildland Urban Interface On fires that threaten, or involve, the Wildland Urban Interface, the respective County s Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Federal Agency Management Plans shall be referred to for suppression priorities and other information that could prove beneficial to the suppression efforts. 2. Reimbursable Fire Protection Services Description of reimbursable fire protection zone: Throughout all after the initial twelve hour (12) dispatch costs incurred are reimbursable unless otherwise agreed upon by the Unit Administrator Group. All USFS assistance beyond the one (1) mile limit will be reimbursable and will only be provided upon request. The twelve hour (12) period shall start at the time a fire is first reported to an agency party to this agreement. The entire county is considered as a reimbursable fire protection zone after the maximum (12) hours of reciprocal protection. 3. Reciprocal Fire Protection Services Description of reciprocal fire protection zone: All of is considered as a reciprocal protection zone for initial fire attack. 3

4 a. Upon initial dispatch, within the reciprocal fire protection zone, each agency\county shall assume its own full cost of expenditures for a maximum of twelve (12) hours per unit, following initial attack. Costs incurred after the reciprocal fire protection period ends will be reimbursed by the protecting agency. The protecting agency will be determined as soon as possible. All fires will be reported to the protecting agency. b. Reciprocal protection is not construed as an automatic twelve (12) twelve (12) hour dispatch. Therefore, priority will be given to the release of a supporting agency when it is mutually agreed upon by the initial attack forces that the fire situation is such that the protecting agency's forces on the scene can adequately control the incident. Furthermore, within its capabilities, the protecting agency will render support to the supporting agency to include but not limited to food, water, and additional forces to expedite release of the supporting agency in advance of the maximum twelve (12) hour reciprocal fire protection. STATE LAND Initial suppression action on State Land will be taken by the County within their capability. This initial action will be reported promptly to the Wyoming State Forestry Division (see directory). Initial Attack on State Land in-holdings within the National Forest will be handled cooperatively by the USDA Forest Service and local resources with initial action reported to the State Forester as soon as possible for further instructions. 4. OFFSET OR EXCHANGE USFS Initial fire suppression action (on USFS Lands designated within the Reciprocal Fire Protection Zone) will be the responsibility of the Bureau of Land Management. 5. PROTECTION AREA MAPS Exhibit A D. SPECIAL MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Heavy equipment will not be used on any lands without authorization and approval by the Land Use Owner/Agency 1. The Board of County Commissioners of, Wyoming ("Board") will provide supporting equipment and personnel pursuant to this agreement 4

5 through its Road and Bridge Department and equipment through its Fire Suppression program. 2. Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC): Measures constraints and WSA/ACEC maps are provided as an attachment to the Annual Operating Plan. 3. Appropriate Management Response (AMR): With the right conditions, wildland fires can be managed for resource benefits. Some areas of BLM land have been designated for possible AMR (see map attached to this plan). Please contact Cody Interagency Dispatch Center before commending suppression actions on fires reported in these areas. E. WILDLAND FIRE SUPPRESSION PROCEDURES: 1. NOTIFICATION AND REPORTING All fires and initial action will be reported promptly to the protecting agency s dispatch center and further instructions agreed upon. Upon notification, if the protecting agency fails to properly recognize and claim ownership, suppression costs for the protecting agency's proportionate share will be assessed them upon discovering and proof of ownership by the supporting agency. For list of contacts for notification or requests of assistance see the directory. A fire report shall be submitted to the protecting agency within 14 days after the fire is declared out. All fires, initial action, and fires which may threaten BLM Lands will be reported immediately to CPC. Effective and continuous coordination will take place between 911 Dispatch and CPC. (Fires within one mile of BLM land are considered a threat to BLM.) For all wildland fires on or threatening Forest Service land or on private or State lands, please call: 2. INITIAL ATTACK Casper Interagency Dispatch Center (Fires within one mile of Forest Service land are considered a threat to the Forest Service.) If a party to this agreement is the first to arrive on scene, they will assume command of the incident and remain in command until: (1) they are relieved 5

6 of command by an IC from the jurisdictional agency, (2) they turn over command to a higher qualified IC, (3) Unified Command is put into place if a multi-jurisdictional fire, or (4) the fire is determined to be out. 3. ESCAPED FIRES Field personnel, involved in fire suppression action, will contact the other protecting agencies as soon as possible after a fire escapes or threatens to escape initial attack near intermingled ownership (defined as different ownership within 1 mile of the fire or it is anticipated that other ownerships may be involved) and a Unit Administrator Group will be assembled by the initial attack agency\county to represent the protecting agencies involved with that fire. A. Guidelines for assembling the Unit Administrator Group: Unit Administrator Group may be assembled under the following circumstances: - A wildland fire escapes or threatens to escape initial attack and cannot be successfully managed. - The fire is to be determined at a Type III or higher complexity level. - Control is not anticipated before the next burning period. B. The Unit Administrator Group's function is: - To participate in the development and approval of a Wildland Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA) for State and Private, or a DAR (Decision Analysis Report) from WFDSS (Wildfire Decision Support System) for Federal agencies. - To participate in development and approval of the wildland fire decision documents developed for managing a fire incident. - To recommend to the Line Officer(s), the management level (Type 1, 2, or 3) and command structure (Unified or single IC) appropriate for the incident. This recommendation will be based upon complexity, ownership, values to be protected, and qualifications of personnel. - To participate in development and approval of the wildland fire situation analysis (WFSA). - To recommend to the appropriate Line Officer(s) the level at which the Incident should be managed. 6

7 - To prepare a Delegation of Authority for Line Officer signature. - To act as the agency representative for the respective agency. - To agree on management action needed. - To agree on the organizational management actions and command structure for the incident. - To initiate a written cost share agreement within 12 hours for Line Officer(s) approval with signatures (Example - Exhibit H in the Wyoming Mini Fire Mobilization Plan) prior to end of the fire. - To agree to all expenditures whenever the suppression plan must be modified including mop-up, rehab and patrol after demobilization of the fire. (1) The Incident Commander/Unified Command will provide the Unit Administrator Group with an estimated fire cost daily. (2) The Incident Commander/Unified Command and the Unit Administrator Group will reach mutual agreement when the fire situation is such that the group can be demobilized. On fires involving lands of more than one ownership or jurisdiction, the Incident Commander/Unified Command will be recommended by the Unit Administrator Group to the Line Officers based upon complexity, ownership, values to be protected and qualifications of personnel. For list of the designated representatives for purposes of a Unit Administrator Group see the directory. 4. FIREFIGHTER QUALIFICATIONS Three levels of expertise are recognized. A. Within protecting agency s jurisdiction the qualifications for local resources utilized for fire suppression will meet local standards. B. Outside of protecting agency s jurisdiction engine dispatch will consist of a minimum of one NWCG qualified Engine Boss (ENGB) and a minimum of one NWCG qualified Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2) or Engine Operator (ENOP) per engine or meet agency policy if agency policy exceeds this. Certification will be the responsibility of the sending agency/county. 7

8 C. All county and state Unit Leader positions and above will be NWCG qualified. Certification is the responsibility of Wyoming State Forestry Division/agency. F. AVIATION PROCEDURES RETARDANT 1. Aerial retardants may be used with prior approval of the protecting agency unless otherwise specified under "Special Managements Considerations" of this plan. For list of contacts for retardant usage approval see the directory. 2. Aerial retardant will be paid for by the requesting agency/county if prior approval has not been obtained. 3. Air to air and air to ground frequencies with designated ground contacts need to be established with CPC. All agencies should utilize the standard Air to Ground naming convention adopted by the Rocky Mountain Area in Aircraft under contract with Wyoming State Forestry Division must be dispatched through CPC. CPC will coordinate aircraft dispatches with the Wyoming State Forestry Division Duty Officer. G. ENFORCEMENT RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES Fire Restrictions and/or Closures will be coordinated between the parties to this agreement to include initiating, implementing, and lifting. Reference Wyoming Interagency Fire Restriction Plan. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE, FIRE INVESTIGATIONS, AND FIRE TRESPASS FIRE INVESTIGATIONS Each agency\county is responsible for investigating and taking appropriate law enforcement action for all fires which appear to have been human-caused on lands under their jurisdiction. The initial attack Incident Commander will take all responsible precautions to preserve evidence found. BLM Investigations BLM is required to ensure trespass actions are initiated and documented to recover cost of suppression activities, land rehabilitation, and damages to the resource and improvements for all human-caused fires that ignite on BLM jurisdiction where liability can be determined. All suspected human-caused BLM fires will be investigated by a qualified NWCG Fire Investigator (INVF). 8

9 H. FUEL MANAGEMENT AND PRESCRIBED FIRE CONSIDERATIONS 1. Fuel management and prescribed fire projects will be coordinated with the parties to this agreement. 2. Wildland fire(s) resulting from escaped prescribed fires (or wildland fires managed for multiple objectives that escape) at the direction or under the supervision of one of the agencies/county to this agreement shall be the responsibility of that agency/county. All suppression costs exclusive of reciprocal periods shall be borne by the responsible agency/county. The responsible agency on federal lands shall be the jurisdictional agency. An agency/county may take appropriate suppression action when lands under its protection responsibility are involved in or threatened by the fire. Such suppression action may be taken on its own initiative or at the request of the responsible agency/county. An agency/county may take appropriate suppression action, at the request of the responsible agency/county, when lands under its protection are not involved in or threatened by the fire. The responsible agency/county shall reimburse the other agency/county for all suppression costs incurred in accordance with this clause. 3. Escaped prescribed fires ignited by individual(s) not party to this agreement will be considered as wildland fires requiring suppression action under the terms and conditions of this agreement. 4. Agencies/counties agree to share and reimburse, according to the rates established in Exhibits C, D, E and F in the Wyoming Mini Fire Mobilization Plan for resources used on prescribed fire projects, based on availability, qualifications, and need. I. REIMBURSEMENTS BY PROTECTING AGENCY 1. An itemized bill (for example see exhibit B in the Wyoming Mini Fire Mobilization Plan) for reimbursable services will be provided to the protecting agency within 60 days after the fire is declared controlled. If the total cost is not known at the time of initial billing, a partial bill, so identified, may be submitted. A final bill, so identified, will be issued within six months after the fire is declared controlled. Bills will contain the protecting agency's fire number and name, resource order number, the number of hours, costs per hour, and inclusive dates. Billing for incidents within the State of Wyoming will be submitted to the local protecting host unit. Send bill to the Identified Agency Administrator as outlined in this agreement. The lead agency will be responsible for the final fire financial packet and coordination of payments. Only original invoices will be utilized for payments. 2. In situations where a burn area encompasses land under the protection or jurisdictional responsibility of more than one agency/county, a cost share agreement will be implemented and signed before billing. 9

10 3. Nothing herein shall prohibit with coordination, any agency or county on its own initiative and without reimbursement, from going upon lands known to be protected by another agency or county to engage in suppression of wildland fires, when such fires are a threat to lands within that agency's or county's protection responsibility. 4. Salaries for Agency/County employees will be paid at the established rate in effect at the time of the fire. 5. Salaries for other than Agency/County employees will be applicable FF rate established annually for Wyoming. (Exhibit D in the Wyoming Mini Fire Mobilization Plan) 6. All agency and County equipment will be reimbursed at the rates established in Exhibits C in the Wyoming Mini Fire Mobilization Plan. 7. All supporting agencies/counties shall be subject to examination and audit for three (3) years after final payment. J. GENERAL PROCEDURES 1. This plan becomes effective on the date signed by each agency/county. It may be terminated upon 20 days written notice from one party to the other. 2. This plan will remain in effect until updated or terminated. Target date for annual update is April 15. Wyoming State Forestry Division will take the lead in getting this Plan prepared annually. 3. Casper Interagency Dispatch Center The agency/county agrees to participate in the requirements of the CPC AOP. The agency/county gives authority to the CPC to provide the services required in support of the centers charter and operating plan. For specifics, see the CPC AOP. K. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 1. Frequencies When responding or assigned to an incident the County is authorized to operate on Agency Net...radio frequencies assigned to the Agency. See Attachment A. 2. Interagency Dispatch Centers - Cody (Rattlesnake Range) - Casper - Rest of County The agency/county agrees to participate in the neighborhood dispatch system. The agency/county gives authority to the dispatch center to provide the services required in support of the centers charter and operating plan. For specifics, see the dispatch center plan. 10

11 GLOSSARY 3. Items you have already received with previous AOP s that you should attach to the Current Annual Operating Plan: Casper Dispatch Plan Cody Dispatch Plan Wyoming Interagency Fire Restriction Plan Protection Area Map Exhibits received at meeting Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC): An area of public lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or scenic values, fish and wildlife resources, or other natural system or processes, or to protect life or provide safety from natural hazards. Agency: State and federal cooperators. Appropriate Management Response (AMR): Any specific action suitable to meet fire management unit (FMU) objectives. Typically, the AMR ranges across a spectrum of tactical operations (from monitoring to intensive management actions). The AMR is developed by using fire management unit strategies and objectives identified in the fire management plan. AMR encompasses all the response actions necessary to manage a wildfire or wildland fire use event for the duration of the event. In implementing the AMR, the full spectrum of tactical options, from monitoring a fire at a distance to intensive suppression actions are available to the fire manager. Beginning with the initial response to any wildland fire, decisions will reflect the goal of using available firefighting resources to manage the fire for the most effective, most efficient and safest means available. The AMR strategies and tactics used to manage a wildland fire will be based on objectives identified in the Land/Resource Management Plan and/or Fire Management Plan. BLM: BOR: Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Reclamation County: County and local fire service entities. County and local fire service entities: County Fire Organizations, City Fire Organizations, Joint Powers Boards, or Fire Protection Districts. 11

12 Initial Attack: The control efforts taken by resources which are the first to arrive at the incident. Jurisdictional Agency: The Agency or county which has overall land and resource management and/or protection responsibility as provided by Federal or State law. Line Officer: Individual who has been delegated full authority to make decisions on all matters affecting that agency\county's participation at the incident. Prescribed Fire: The planned and/or permitted use of fire to accomplish specific land management objectives. Protecting Agency: The Agency or county responsible for providing direct wildland fire protection to a given area pursuant to the Wyoming Interagency Fire Management Agreement. Protection Area Maps: Official maps of the annual operating plans. Example: Maps showing protection area responsibilities. Reciprocal Fire Protection: A Supporting Agency will take initial attack in support of the Protecting Agency. The Protecting Agency will not be required to reimburse the Supporting Agency for costs incurred following the initial dispatch of any ground resources to the fire for the duration of the reciprocal period as defined in this plan, not to exceed 24 hours. Reimbursable Fire Protection: Fire suppression resources will be paid for by the requesting Protecting Agency per the conditions in the Wyoming Interagency Fire Management Agreement, Wyoming Interagency Cooperative Fire Management and this Annual Operating Plan. Suppression: All the work of confining and extinguishing a fire beginning with its discovery through the conclusion of the incident. Supporting Agency: An Agency or county providing fire suppression or other support and resources to the Protecting Agency. Unit administrator Group: A group consisting of two or more individuals assigned administrative responsibilities to make coordinating decisions and recommendations within the framework of the Annual Operating Plan. 12

13 Wildland Fire (Unplanned Ignition): Any non-structure fire, other than prescribed fire, that occurs in the wildland. Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS): This system assists fire managers and analysts in making strategic and tactical decisions for fire incidents. It has replaced the WFSA (Wildland Fire Situation Analysis), Wildland Fire Implementation Plan (WFIP), and Long-Term Implementation Plan (LTIP) processes with a single process that is easier to use, more intuitive, linear, scalable, and progressively responsive to changing fire complexity. The end product of WFDSS is a DAR (Decision Analysis Report). Wildland Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA): A decision making process that evaluates alternative management strategies against selected safety, environmental, social, economical, political, and resource management objectives as selection criteria. Wilderness Study Area (WSA): A roadless area which has been found to have wilderness characteristics. NATRONA COUNTY CONDENSED FIRE DIRECTORY Listed below are the Agency and County positions in order of authority for decisions within each Agency. For purpose of notification, request of assistance, approval of retardant or equipment use, and for representatives for the Unit Administrator Group use the call list which is arranged according to the order each Agency and County wants their representatives called. Each Agency and County representative will be responsible to follow the proper procedure for their Agency. BLM Lands - Zone Fire Management Officer/ Field Manager or their designated representative. State Lands - Assistant State Forester - Fire Management/District Forester/or their designated representative. National Forest Lands - District Ranger/Forest Fire Management Officer or their designated representative. BIA Lands - Fire Management Officer or their designated representative. National Park Service Lands -Fire Management Officer/Chief Ranger or their designated representative. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Lands - Manager or their designated representative. Private Lands - County Commissioner/District Fire Board/County Fire Warden or their designated representative. 13

14 CALL LIST BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Casper Fire Dispatch (For Smokebusters also) P Center Manager - Cheryl Carpenter B /7693 H C Assistant Center Manager Rob Neibauer B H C Zone District Fire Management Officer Jay Esperance B H C Cody Fire Dispatch Center Manager Cathy Hutton B H C Zone FMO - Chuck Russell H B C Fire Operations Supervisor & Acting FMO - L.J. Brown H B C Fire Operations Supervisor & Acting FMO - Dennis Strange H B C Rawlins Fire Dispatch Center Manager Mindy Lane B H C

15 Fire Management Officer - Frank Keeler B C Black Mountain Lookout Tower B MEDICINE BOW NATIONAL FOREST DOUGLAS RANGER DISTRICT SUPERVISOR S OFFICE Forest Fire Manager Officer Vern Bentley B H C Casper Fire Dispatch District Fire Management Officer Clay Westbrook or B Direct B Main H C Assistant Fire Management Officer B Klayton Shay Rogge C District Ranger Bob Sprentall B Direct H C Deputy District Ranger Misty Hays B H C UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE MORTENSON, HUTTON LAKE, AND BAMFORTH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SERVICES Refuge Manager Ann Timberman B Ext. 3 Arapahoe NWR Complex C Ann_timberman@fws.gov 15

16 Mead Klavetter B Ext. 4 Assistant Refuge Manager/Refuge Law Enforcement Officer C H WYOMING STATE FORESTRY DIVISION District Forester - Ike Muniz B C Asst. District Forester - Bryan Anderson B H C Assistant State Forester - Fire Management B Ray Weidenhaft H C Assistant Fire Management Officer Ron Graham B C H Fire Resource Forester Chris Fallbeck B C after 6/1/11 H PRIVATE LANDS NATRONA COUNTY County Fire Warden Mike Haigler B H C Deputy County Fire Warden Susan Phillips B H C Chairman of County Commissioners Rob Hendry B

17 BAR NUNN FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Chuck Anderson B H C Assistant Fire Chief B H C NATRONA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT B Fire Chief Kevin Finn B C personal C business Chairman Dennis Obert H Vice Chairman - Harold Wright H C Secretary/Treasurer - H CASPER MOUNTAIN FIRE DISTRICT Fire Chief Mike Huber B H C Asst Fire Chief- Captain-Pat Harshman B H Wildland Captain - Stan Mitchem B H Chairman- Sam Weaver H Treasurer- Dick Brehm H

18 CASPER FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief- Mark Young B C Chief of Operations Mark Harshman B H P C Assistant Chief Don Wierbilis C

19 CHANNEL NAME RX TONE TX TONE Albany County Albany CO Fire Direct R & B Fire 1 Rept Fire 1 direct Fire R&B Jelm R&B Rock River Aviation Flight Follow *NARROWBAND Air Guard Aviation IA Air to Ground (See Attached Map) East of Highway 287 WY West of Highway 287 WY BLM BLM Rawlins base Elk Mountain repeater Flat Top repeater Whiskey Peak repeater Rawlins portable repeater - Dodge Ranch BLM-Casper Casper Base (Casper Mtn) High Plains Dist. Pumpkin Butte RPT Laramie Peak BLM (PR) RPT BLM Tactical High Desert- Rawlins & Rock Springs Field Offices High Plains- Casper Field Office Wind River- Worland & Cody Field Offices High Desert Dist. -Fire High Plains Dist. -Fire Wind River Dist. Fire Carbon County Carbon CO Baggs Carbon CO Elk Mountain Carbon CO Fire Direct Carbon CO Whiskey Peak Converse County Converse CO Rural Fire Glenrock Fire Glenrock Fire TAC Natrona CO Fire Natrona CO TAC Natrona CO Parks

20 Channel Name RX TX Laramie County Laramie CO Repeater Laramie CO SO Repeater Laramie CO Fire Direct Laramie CO So Direct Med-Emergency Life Flight WY Med Center Mutual Aid Alternative for Life Flight commo FERN) Platte County Platte CO Fire Wheatland Fire/Douglas Statewide Air/Ground 1, Statewide Air/Ground 2, 6 Primary, 3 Sec Statewide Air/Ground 3 Primary, 1, 6 Sec WY State Forestry WY State Forestry TAC WY State Forestry Direct

21 2011 MBR/TBNG Programming Chnl # Site Name RX Freq RX CTCSS TX Freq TX CTCSS 1 Warren Peak Repeater Elk Mtn Repeater Rochelle Hills Repeater Black Mtn Repeater Gunny Sack Repeater Cow Creek Mtn Repeater Jelm Mtn Repeater Pole Mtn Repeater Spruce Mtn Repeater Kennaday Peak Repeater Blackhall Repeater Bridger Peak Repeater VFIRE21(old FERN) ~ ~ 14 Work 1 (Tactical) MBR -Tactical ~ ~ 21

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