# Presentation: 009625

## Annual Facility Representative ConferenceFR Lessons Learned “Wild Land Fires”Presented ByMichael J. ChildersNevada Site OfficeMay 16, 2007

## The Department of Energy complex includes thousands of acres of what is commonly referred to as wild lands.

_**FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires**_

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

- In these areas, due to the often dry weather conditions, wild land fires are a natural process that play an important role in the health of arid ecosystems.

## 
While they may be a natural phenomenon, such fires can cause catastrophic damage to Federal facilities and surrounding communities.

The Department has experienced several large wild land fires over the last several years which have threatened the safety and viability of Department personnel, facilities, and equipment.

These fires occurred at the Nevada Test Site, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Hanford Site, and Idaho National Laboratory and burned well over 200,000 acres (312 sq. mi.) of Department land, resulting in fire-related costs totaling almost $130 million at Los Alamos alone.

- While they may be a natural phenomenon, such fires can cause catastrophic damage to Federal facilities and surrounding communities.
- The Department has experienced several large wild land fires over the last several years which have threatened the safety and viability of Department personnel, facilities, and equipment.
- These fires occurred at the Nevada Test Site, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Hanford Site, and Idaho National Laboratory and burned well over 200,000 acres (312 sq. mi.) of Department land, resulting in fire-related costs totaling almost $130 million at Los Alamos alone.

_**FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires**_

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

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## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

- Lessons Learned at the NTS
- _Early Detection, Suppression and Asset Protection_
- Wild land fires often occur in rugged terrain only accessible by All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s)
- Prior to 2005, only two (2) were available and were primarily used for scouting and extraction of injured firefighters
- After 2005 the number of ATVs was increased to six (6) and were equipped with “homemade” fire suppression systems.
- NTS Craft personnel were trained on Incident Command and Wild Land fire Safety in order to support fire fighting activities.
- A vegetation abatement program was initiated in order to reduce the potential fire hazard near facilities on the NTS.

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

- Lessons Learned at the NTS
- _Research Local Sources and Identify Available Technologies_
- USAF assets had cameras with zoom capabilities
- Helicopter support near the NTS had water hauling/dumping capabilities
- The Site contractor initiated a program to install additional cameras throughout the NTS
- The Site contactor also installed a Command, Control, Coordination, and Communication Visualization and Analysis System (C4VAS) to provide a more effective picture of activities occurring on the NTS

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

##      FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires                  Lessons Learned at the NTSThe following camera locations were selected for location and access to current infrastructure to allow video control to the OCC:

- Spotted Range
- Desert Rock Air Field
- Skull Mountain
- Monastery Peak
- Motorola Peak

- Doe Point
- Echo Point
- Mobile Camera System

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

**Camera Locations on the NTS**

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

- Lessons Learned at the NTS
- _Understand Communication Limitations and Develop Contingencies_
- Remote areas have limited radio/cell coverage
- Additional communication equipment was acquired to resolve this                                   problem

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

- Lessons Learned at the NTS
- Address External Responder Issues
- Security Issues
- Specificity within existing MOU’s
- MOU’s were revised between the NSO and BLM to include a well defined cost sharing agreement
- MOU’s were revised between the NSO and USAF to develop an optimized to manage fires that occur on the NTS and NTTR

## FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires

- Lessons Learned at the NTS
- _Identify Weather Forecasting Assets_
- Partnership between NTS Fire & Rescue assets and Air Research Laboratory/Special Operations and Research Division (ARL/SORD) was strengthened.
- ARL/SORD meteorologists  provide alerts on weather conditions
- ARL/SORD staff members have been trained on wild land fire safety and incident command principles

## FR Should Be Knowledgeable of Their Facilities experience or potential for wild land fires, and

Know when weather condition lend themselves to wild land fires
Know the availability of resources to manage/fight wild land fires
Recognize that resources other than firefighting may be needed on the fire line
Bulldozers
Backhoes
Water masters
(water masters with side spray nozzles provide additional capabilities to wet down an area at risk such as around facilities, roads and power lines)

- Know when weather condition lend themselves to wild land fires
- Know the availability of resources to manage/fight wild land fires
- Recognize that resources other than firefighting may be needed on the fire line
- Bulldozers
- Backhoes
- Water masters
- (water masters with side spray nozzles provide additional capabilities to wet down an area at risk such as around facilities, roads and power lines)

_**FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires**_

## FR’s are the eyes and ears within the facility for Site Office Manager,      

During wild land fire seasons understanding the environmental conditions for your facility will enhance the site office’s oversight effectiveness.

**During wild land fire seasons understanding the environmental conditions for your facility will enhance the site office’s oversight effectiveness.**

_**FR Lessons Learned Wild Land Fires**_