Initial Facilitator Information---NOT TO BE SHARED WITH STUDENTS

**Title**: **Backfire Timing / Bulldog Fire**

**Author(s):** Joe Brinkley McCall Smokejumpers

> Val Linch Fulton IHC
>
> Dave Niemi Alpine IHC

**Target Audience:**

Division Group Supervisors

**Training Objective:**

Given the following scenario, the players should determine the
feasibility of a backfire assignment and develop their subsequent plan
of action. Players should verbally communicate their decisions to the
appropriate individuals.

**Resources Referenced:**

-   **1 Division Group Supervisor "Bravo" (Player Role)**

-   1 Operation Section Chief Type 2

-   1 Safety Officer Type 2

-   2 Type 1 Handcrews (Fulton, Alpine)

-   2 Type 2 Contract Crews (Grayback, Skookum)

-   3 Type 6 Engines (BNF E461, E462, E463)

-   1 Type 4 Engine (BNF E401)

-   1 3,000 gal. Water Tender

-   1 "Bulldog" Air Attack

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**[SCENARIO INFORMATION TO BE SHARED WITH STUDENTS]{.underline}**

**Facilitator Briefing To Student(s):**

You are Division Supervisor "Bravo" on the Bulldog Fire.

Weather:

The Henry Mountains, a normally dry mountain range, are in the fifth
year of a severe drought. From June 1 through July 7, only .10" of rain
fell in Hanksville and surrounding areas. This is less than half the
normal amount for this time period. This dry weather pattern continued
over the fire area. The fire received no measurable rainfall during July
8-12 period. A strong ridge of high pressure dominated the weather
pattern across the Great Basin and Four Corners. This high-pressure
ridge was not only responsible for the very dry airmass, but also the
culprit in producing all time record high temperatures during the fire.
Climate records in Hanksville dating back to the early 1900's were tied
or broken several times during the fire. The all-time record high
temperature ever recorded at Hanksville was tied at 114 degrees.

The wind patterns were from a westerly direction on the10th and
continued through the 12^th^. Red Flag conditions were observed on parts
of the fire on the 12^th^. Eye-level winds of 20-30 mph occurred on
Copper Ridge with gusts in excess of 30 mph during the morning hours of
the 13th.

Relative humidity for the period of July 10-12 was very low. Afternoon
minimums were observed in the 5-10% range with very poor nighttime
recoveries of 15-25%.

Fuels:

Drought...a protracted severe drought has been persisting throughout all
of Utah for nearly six years. Record high temperatures (114 degrees at
Hanksville on July 11^th^) contributed to excessive dry fuels.

1000 Hour TLFM: 3-7% (context: kiln dried lumber is 15-19%)

1 Hour TLFM: as low as 1%

10 Hour TLFM: as low as 2%

100 Hour TLFM: as low as 3%

Of critical importance is the live fuel moisture content recorded around
the area:

Juniper: 60-80%

Comparable live fuel moisture in the oak brush, pinion trees and other
fuels showed plants in near winter dormancy.

Topography:

The Henry Mountain range encompasses approximately 200,000 acres. The
area included the full range of slopes and aspects ranging from 6,000 to
11,000 feet.

Fire Behavior:

In general terms, from July 8^th^ through the evening of July 12^th^ the
fire behavior was pretty much in the "third dimension," with blow-ups,
plume dominated fire/s, reverse slope/cross slope and major up-slope
runs, short and long range spotting, extreme burning conditions at
night, fuel driven down slope runs against diurnal winds during the day,
active crown fire and very large fire whirls. The only extreme fire
behavior condition not observed was a horizontal roll vortex.

**Previous Shift: (July 12^th^ Day Operational Period)**

Initial Strategy - put all resources on Benson Road to prep and burn
out. Upon arrival on scene it was discovered that fire has crossed the
Benson Road at Stanton Pass. Fire has become well established in Cass
Creek drainage and was moving up Mt. Hillers. There was no chance of
catching the slopover; strategy was reevaluated. The new strategy was to
locate and protect structures within fire perimeter. Division Bravo was
assigned Cat Ranch and Star Springs subdivision. Crews begin prepping
structures by reducing fuels adjacent to structures, and wrapping with
structure protection wrap.

**July 13^th^ 1200 Day Operational Period:**

Fire made significant runs during the night of the 12^th^ from Mt.
Hillers to Big Ridge and came within 2 miles of Cat Ranch and the
structures in Star Springs.

Strategy - Finish structure preparation at Cat Ranch and Star Springs
subdivision. Set up fold-a-tank with Mark III pump, hoselay and
sprinklers around Cat Ranch; use 3,000 gal. water tender to fill tank.
Division Supervisor Bravo, OSC2, SOF2, and Alpine IHC Superintendent are
scouting the two-track road leaving Cat Ranch to the southwest to
initiate a backfire at 1300. **After scouting, it is agreed that with
favorable upslope winds and the main fire backing down Big Ridge that
conditions are "perfect" to conduct a burn along the road between the
fire edge and ranch to slow fire's progress. The area to be lit is
approximately two miles from Cat Ranch and encompasses 4,000-6,000
acres.** It was also found that the two-track was a 4WD road with
limited access in moving vehicles in and out of the area.

After briefing Skookum Type 2 Handcrew, and all engines that morning you
assign them to Star Springs subdivision to finish structure and burnout
preparations. The resources are comfortable with the assignment, LCES is
in place and you are comfortable without oversight for the time being at
Star Springs because of the sparse fuel loading at Star Springs and the
extreme elevation difference between Mt. Hillers and the subdivision.

Take 5 minutes to decide your course of action and prepare any
communication contacts you think are necessary.

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**[ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR FACILITATOR ONLY]{.underline}**

> **Facilitator "Murphy's Law" Suggestions:**
>
> The "Murphy's Law" suggestions listed below can be added as "What ifs"
> at any time during the scenario to raise the stress level of the
> leader. You can also use one of your own:
>
> It is important that the three "What ifs" are incorporated within five
> minutes once the facilitator starts with the first one.

-   The lead lighters that are interior, get several hundred yards ahead
    of the lighters and holders on the road.

-   The IHC Superintendent informs Division that the drip-torches being
    used to burn off the road run out and need to be re-fueled.

-   Air attack has a mechanical problem and needs to go back to the
    airport in Hanksville.

-   The wind changes from burning up-slope toward Mt. Hillers to
    down-slope. The fire crosses the road in two separate areas: one
    between the lead lighters and lighters on the road, and secondly,
    between the lighters on the road and the holders in the back.

> These two can be incorporated simultaneously once the player has
> "closed the loop" with the first four "What ifs."

-   One of the lead lighters cannot be accounted for.

-   Air Attack arrives on scene and wants an update.

> These can be incorporated simultaneously once they have mitigated the
> above "What ifs."

-   With extreme fire behavior witnessed, both the Cat Ranch and Star
    Springs subdivision are being threatened.

-   Crewmembers at Star Springs are concerned because the fire has made
    a significant run toward them. They also want oversight if a burn is
    to be conducted.

**Facilitator's Notes:**

The focus of this TDGS is on offensive versus defensive strategy
selection. The facilitator needs to spend some time familiarizing
themselves with the topography and the scale of the division. The area
to be burned is 4,000-6,000 acres and this is a "perfect opportunity" to
take an offensive strategy instead of staying defensive.

For this seminar it is important to keep the Division Supervisor limited
on the amount of resources that he/she could use to perform the burnout.
This was designed to have one crew (IHC) conducting the burn with
oversight from the Division Supervisor and Operations Section Chief. The
road used to initiate the burn is only wide enough for 4WD vehicles and
limited personnel. Remember that this Division is miles long and it
takes several hours to drive from Cat Ranch to Star Springs subdivision.

The Division Supervisor has a large amount of firing equipment available
to them: 15 drip torches (full), 30 gal. fuel (already mixed), 6 very
pistols, 2'000 hotshot flares, 30 stubby rounds, and 25 2" hand toss
grenades.

This simulation can evolve into many things. The purpose is to continue
the development of your leaders by practicing intuitive instead of
analytical decision-making. During the AAR items for discussion may also
include:

-   How well was the commander's intent communicated to the assigned
    resources?

-   Did the Division Supervisor delegate responsibility and use good
    decision-making skills?

-   When a lead lighter was unaccounted for, how was it mitigated?

-   How did the Division Supervisor handle the situation at Star Springs
    when the crewmembers became concerned at the fire making a
    significant run toward them?

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**After Action Review:**

Conduct an AAR with focus on the training objective. Use the AAR format
found in the Incident Response Pocket Guide to facilitate the AAR. There
are four basic questions in the AAR.

1.  What was planned?

2.  What actually happened?

3.  Why did it happen?

4.  What can we do next time?

TDGS shouldn't have a single solution, keep the focus of the AAR on what
was done and why.

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