###### Sample Tactical Decision Games (TDGS)

*for the*

*Rattlesnake Fire Staff Ride*

## Rattlesnake Fire TDGS #1a -- (Operational Level)

To be handed out enroute to Stand 1.

To be conducted after arriving at Forest Boundary Parking Area.

It is July 9^th^ at 14:30. You are working on the Mendocino National
Forest and are out on fire prevention patrol today. You have two years
of fire experience, but are very familiar with this area. You are by
yourself and just returning from a small arson fire, the Chrome Fire,
which is manned by a CDF crew and several USFS firefighters. It is
assumed that fire will shortly be under control. As you turn onto this
road, Alder Springs Road, you notice a wisp of smoke that appears to be
coming from the mouth of Powderhouse Canyon near Oleta Point.

The conditions are as follows:

-   Temperature: Current - 85º

> Forecast - 91º high / 58º low tonight

-   RH: Current - 24%

> Forecast - 20% low / 55% high tonight

-   Wind: Current - Upslope @ 3-5 mph

> Forecast - South to West @ 5 -10 mph

-   There are hardly any clouds in the sky -- just some scattered
    cumulus. There has not been any lightning in the area for over 30
    days.

-   Fuels are much as you see them now -- heavy chaparral. Normal
    seasonal curing has occurred. Fire season is just starting in this
    area. Powderhouse Canyon has not burned in 40+ years.

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-   You need to call this fire into the Mendocino Dispatch office in
    Willows. Assume you have full radio contact. What is your report on
    conditions?

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**[Rattlesnake Fire TDGS #1b -- (Tactical Level)]{.underline}**

To be handed out at Stand 1.

To be conducted at Stand 1.

It is again July 9^th^ and the time is now 14:40. You are still the Fire
Prevention Patrol person. You have made contact and called in your
report on conditions to the dispatch office in Willows. Help is on the
way, but it will be 30 minutes before the first incoming resources
arrive.

1.  You are all by yourself- just you and your shovel. What will you do?

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2.  What information will you be prepared to give the incoming
    resources?

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**[Rattlesnake Fire TDGS #2 -- (Tactical Level)]{.underline}**

To be handed out at Stand 1.

To be conducted at Stand 2, preferably with good view of canyon and
flanks.

It is July 9^th^ and the time is now 15:15. You are an Engine Captain on
the Mendocino National Forest. You have 500 gallons of water, some hose
and handtools, and 4 additional crewmembers. Each crewmember has a year
or two of fire experience. You arrive at Oleta Point and tie in with the
Fire Prevention Patrol. After a quick briefing and size-up, you want to
take action before the fire gets any bigger. The current conditions are
as follows:

-   Temperature: 87º

-   RH: 23%

-   Wind: South to West @ 5-7 mph

-   Fuels: Heavy chamise and manzanita

-   Slope: Steep, especially the cutbank off the road.

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-   What are your orders to your crew and the Fire Prevention Patrol
    Person?

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**[Rattlesnake Fire TDGS #3 -- (Operational Level)]{.underline}**

To be handed out at Stand 2.

To be conducted at Stand 3.

It is now 16:00. You are the Duty Officer on the district. You have
considerable fire experience, and are told to assume command of the fire
until the Forest Fire Management Officer arrives on scene. When that
individual arrives, it is understood that they will become the new
Incident Commander and you will be the Ops Chief. Although a CDF
handcrew has arrived, initial attack efforts have failed. You currently
have an engine crew, a handcrew, and a prevention patrol person on the
fire.

You now need to regroup and come up with a plan of action. You know that
Powderhouse Turn has an excellent view of the whole fire area, and tell
your resources to meet you there. Current conditions are as follows:

-   Temperature : 88º

-   RH: 22%

-   Wind: South to West @ 5-7 mph

-   Take note of the fuels & slope between Stand 3 & 4.

-   Fire is currently moving upslope to the west along both sides of
    Oleta Ridge. It is moving toward Rattlesnake Ridge, almost ½ mile
    from the Point of Origin.

1.  What are your immediate instructions to your resources?

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2.  Prepare your briefing to the incoming IC. What will you recommend?

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**[Rattlesnake Fire TDGS #4a -- (Strategic Level)]{.underline}**

To be handed out at Stand 3.

To be conducted at Stand 4.

You are the Forest Fire Management Officer. You are the most experienced
person on the fire and firefighters are confident in your ability to
lead control efforts on brushfires. However, a decade earlier, you were
the Incident Commander on a fire where several firefighters were killed
in a fire entrapment. The investigation report from that fire placed
partial blame for the tragedy with you and your Ops Chief.

You have met up with the Duty Officer at the Powderhouse Turn shortly
after 16:30. He briefs you on the current fire conditions and
suppression efforts thus far. You now assume command of the Rattlesnake
Fire and make the Duty Officer your Ops Chief.

-   Having fully briefed you, the Duty Officer is waiting your orders.
    What instructions do you give this individual who is now your Ops
    Chief?

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**[Rattlesnake Fire TDGS #4b -- (Tactical Level)]{.underline}**

To be handed out at Stand 4.

To be conducted at Stand 4.

It's now 19:40. You are the Ops Chief. Suppression actions are taking
place with moderate to good success on all parts of the fire. The
conditions at 19:00 were as follows:

Temperature: 83º

RH: 25%

Winds : Southeast to East @ 6-12 mph and you have been noticing periods
of calm or no wind

At 20:05, spot fires begin to occur just over the Alder Springs Road
near an abandoned old car. At 20:15 another spot fire is discovered
farther down from the first spot fires. While you and the IC are
discussing tactics to suppress the spots, a squad that is part of a 20
person crew from your district approaches you. They are looking for a
new assignment. At this time, the second spot fire is less than an acre
in size.

1.  What are your instructions to the squad?

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At 21:15 you realize that the spot fire is too much work for the first
squad. The main fire has begun to lay down. The rest of the crew is in
your vicinity.

2.  What are your instructions to the rest of the crew?

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**[Rattlesnake Fire TDGS #5 -- (Discussion)]{.underline}**

To be handed out at Stand 4.

To be conducted at Stand 5.

You are you and it is now.

-   Describe one learning point from this event will you pass on to
    those you work with?

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**Optional**

**[Rattlesnake Fire TDGS #6 -- (Crisis Reaction)]{.underline}**

To be handed out at Stand 5.

To be conducted at Stand 5 and at the Fatality Marker, with exercise
ending at Stand 2 or 3.

#### At Stand 5 - the Missionary Spot Fire

You are now one of the 24 firefighters assigned to the Missionary Spot
Fire. You have just sat down to lunch when you hear someone yelling from
above your position. You hear Lafferty yelling for you to "get out of
there, get out now!!!!" You look to the west and see a glow coming out
of the bottom of the canyon near Powderhouse Turn.

-   You have a decision to make. We know the outcome of the historical
    events, but which way would you head for safety? Why?

#### At the Fatality Marker

Cecil Hitchcock traveled 1540 feet before the blowup caught him 300 feet
below Alder Springs Road. He traveled this distance in approximately 26
minutes. Hitchcock crossed the bottom of Powderhouse Canyon and was
caught when his legs became tangled in wild grapevines. As you can see,
the terrain was steep and brushy; factor in the fatigue and fear of what
may become of you.

You may wish to travel the same route he did on that night; picture the
brush in your path. Travel those 300 feet to the Alder Springs Rd. You
may somewhat get a feel for what Hitchcock was faced with. If separated,
meet with the rest of your group at Stand 2 or 3.

-   Could he have survived had he reached the Alder Springs Road??

-   How much more time might he have needed?