Unit 2

Personnel Qualifications and Responsibilities

Unit Objectives

Become familiar with:

Prescribed and wildland fire organizational structures.

Qualifications and responsibilities.

Initial training and certification, annual re-certification requirements.

Helitorch Positions

Burn Boss/Firing Boss

Helitorch Mixing Crew

Helitorch Parking Tender

Helitorch Mixmaster

Helitorch Manager

Helitorch Organization Chart –Prescribed Fire

Helitorch Organization Chart –Wildland Fire

Pilot - Qualifications 

Pilot must have completed helitorch ground school (this power-point training).

Pilot must have an endorsement for helitorch operations on their current pilot qualification card.

Helicopter must be carded for helitorch operations.

Pilot Qualification Card

Pilot - Responsibilities

Basic knowledge of wildland and prescribed fire operations.

Communicates and coordinates with Burn Boss/Firing Boss and Parking Tender.

Knows aircraft limitation section of flight manual.

Knowledge of procedures for helitorch installation and operations.

Maintains desired flight profile to meet burn unit objectives.

Pilot is responsible for all helicopter operations and flight safety.

Burn Boss - Qualifications

Prescribed Fire Burn Boss. 

Received helicopter safety training. 

Knowledgeable of ICS organization concepts and is familiar with aerial ignition operations. 

Knowledge of weather & fire behavior.

Burn Boss - Responsibilities

Coordinates development of firing plan and has overall responsibility for firing operations.

Performs the initial briefing and covers assignments.

Briefs pilot and personnel on the plan and firing sequence.

Observes helitorch operations and adjusts firing patterns by communicating with pilot.

Firing Boss - Qualifications

Qualified as Firing Boss.

Received helicopter safety training.

Knowledgeable of ICS organization concepts and is familiar with aerial ignition operations. 

Firing Boss - Responsibilities

As requested by Burn Boss, directs the aerial firing operation.

Instructs pilot as to the plan and firing sequence.

Observes helitorch operations and adjusts firing patterns by communicating with pilot and Burn Boss.

Helitorch Manager - Qualifications

Helicopter Manager 

Exclusive-use

CWN

Project

HTMM qualified

Aerial ignition annual re-certification

Minimum HEB2(T)

Helitorch Manager - Responsibilities

Provides technical assistance to Burn Boss/Firing Boss.

Assigns qualified personnel and monitors all helitorch operations.

Assures all required equipment is on site, tested and operational.

Provides technical assistance on helibase location and operation.

Briefs pilots and helitorch base personnel.

Identifies hazards and safety considerations at operational briefing.

Aviation Safety Plan and Go/No Go checklist is approved/posted & followed.

Establish communications between helitorch base, dispatch and firing personnel.

Utilizing only one helitorch helicopter the HTMG may also serve as the Helicopter Manager.

Helitorch Mixmaster –Qualifications

Helicopter Crewmember

Helitorch Parking Tender 

Helitorch Mixmaster 

Aerial ignition annual re-certification 

Helitorch Mixmaster –Responsibilities

Reports to the Helitorch Manager.

Attends briefings.

Supervise mixing/filling operation and manages time frames to maintain availability of gel. 

Assure bonding procedures are followed.

Places equipment and assures it is operational.

Conduct drills and assure coordination prior to operation.

Oversees hookup of helitorch to helicopter and preflight tests of helitorch with pilot.

Perform maintenance and cleaning of all helitorch equipment daily.

Supervise helitorch fire protection.

Helitorch Parking Tender –Qualifications

Helicopter Crewmember

Helitorch Parking Tender 

Aerial ignition annual re-certification 

Helitorch Parking Tender –Responsibilities

Reports to the Helitorch Manager.

Attends briefings.

Directs all movements of personnel and equipment around the helicopter.

Checks hookup of helitorch to helicopter.

Must have a radio equipped headset and hardhat or ALSE approved flight helmet with a remote transmit switch during takeoffs and landings during helitorch operations at the landing pad.

Has fire protection/crash rescue responsibility for the primary helitorch helipad. 

Ensures electrical switches are “on” prior to takeoff and “off” after landing and inspects helitorch.

Ensures all personnel/equipment are clear of safety circle during takeoff/landing.

Maintains communications with helicopter while within the helitorch base.

Mixing Crew - Qualifications

Must attend B-3 (basic aviation safety training) and/or S-271 (helicopter crewmember training).

Helitorch operations instruction – can be on the job training.

Mixing Crew – Responsibilities

Report to Mixmaster.

Attend briefings.

Assist Mixmaster with operations of mixing systems.

Assists with the filling of the helitorch.

Assists with fire protection.

Helitorch Base Radio Operator - Qualifications

Air Base Radio Operator

For complex burns or on multiple aircraft helibase use qualified aircraft base radio operator (ABRO).

Helitorch Base Radio Operator - Responsibilities

Reports to Helitorch Manager.

Attends briefings.

Primary contact for helitorch base to relay information to Helitorch Manager from Burn Boss, Firing Boss, and Dispatch.

Maintain communication with appropriate aircraft.

Maintain a flight following and helitorch use log.

Helitorch Fire Protection Personnel - Responsibilities

Reports to HTMM.

Attend briefings.

Familiar with crash/rescue operations.

Familiar with fire extinguisher operation. 

Charge hoses and attend nozzles during operations (when applicable).

Training Requirements

Initial training will consist of the following topics:

Organization and communication.

Special safety procedures and concerns.

Dealing with hazardous materials.

Equipment testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

Briefing and checklist requirements.

Operational procedures and requirements.

To complete initial training students participate in a live fire operation.

Position Task Sheet

Helitorch Parking Tender must complete one assignment successfully prior to being certified.

Helitorch Mixmaster must complete three assignments successfully, plus an additional assignment for each specific equipment model prior to being certified.

Helitorch Manager must complete one assignment successfully prior to being certified.

Re-certification

 Each helitorch module member shall review the applicable sections of the Interagency Aerial Ignition Guide, as well as agency-specific guidance and direction.

The following positions must go through sections 1-6 in chapter 2 of the Aerial Ignition Training Guide annually.

Helitorch Parking Tender

Helitorch Mixmaster

Helitorch Manager

Certification Authority

Certification is the responsibility of the applicable Regional / State Aviation Manager or designee.  

Currency Requirements

Must perform in the position at least once every three years to maintain currency and remain eligible for re-certification training.

If individual does not meet the currency requirement, they must repeat the completion of the initial certification and training.

Review 

Parking Tender

Pilot

Mixing Crew

Mixmaster

Burn Boss

Firing Boss

Helitorch Manager

Air Base Radio Operator

Fire Protection Personnel

Unit Objectives

Become familiar with:

Prescribed and wildland fire organizational structure.

Qualifications and responsibilities.

Initial training and certification, annual re-certification requirements.

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