BY MICHAEL S. TERWILLIGER
The Rodeo Fire in Arizona burned more than 430 structures this summer, and the Hayman Fire in Colorado more than 130 structures—the fires keep coming and the houses keep burning. My overhead team just came off a little 9,000-acre fire in eastern California that required us to protect more than 200 structures for two days. By the time you read this, the fire season will be over, and I imagine the total of structures lost to wildfires in the United States will number in the thousands. It appears that the residents in our country are dead set on their homes looking natural, so they shouldn’t complain when their homes “burn natural.” With all these wildfires burning, the wildfire suppression agencies are overwhelmed. So, who steps in to help? The municipal fire department with its chrome plug buggies of structural fire fame.
 (1) A firefighter in the wildland fire ensemble. (Photos by author.) |
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Departments all over the country step out of their comfort zone and send municipal engines to work on wildfires burning in and around homes. At the 9,000-acre fire I mentioned above, 45 municipal engines were involved. As an incident commander of an overhead team that deals with major wildfires, I see these departments step up every time, but we still have a weakness in the system.
Although there is no unwillingness to dive in and do the job, there is a lack of knowledge or willingness to convert a municipal pumper into an urban interface fire apparatus at a moment’s notice. Many departments have learned how to do this and have found that many of the tools are useful on all types of fires. Either way, it is the nature of firefighters to want to do the job correctly and safely, so here are some tips to help you survive and operate in the urban interface with that “plug buggy,” more commonly known as a Type I engine.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
Many municipal departments send their firefighters to wildfires with municipal PPE commonly known as turnouts or bunkers. They are cumbersome and heavy, and firefighters overheat in them. Worse, members may remove the coat and fight the fire in a T-shirt. Bunkers might work for the day-to-day small fires, but structural fire PPE does not work for long-term assignments. De-partments that respond to wildfires, especially if they must travel long distances to major fires to defend structures, need to make the wildfire PPE ensemble available to their employees. The ensemble components are listed below.
Outer Layer
This is generally a pants-and-shirt combination made of fire-resistive material such as treated cotton or NomexT. It should come from a reputable supplier and be rated for wildfire operations (see photo 1). These shirt and pants should fit very well and have sleeves and cuffs long enough to cover the wrists and ankles with arms fully extended. Double layering is very important to protect the firefighter from radiant heat. To achieve this, the sleeves of the shirt from the wrist to shoulder should have a cotton liner sewn in, and the firefighter must wear a short-sleeve 100-percent cotton T-shirt underneath. The T-shirt should not have logos embossed on the material, since they will melt and possibly brand the logos on the wearer under the severe heat. Fire-resistive pants must be worn under the fire pants. The pants should be belted with a noncombustible belt. I consider gloves part of the outer layer. They should be single-layer leather gloves with a wrist gauntlet that slides under the sleeves of the fire shirt. Double-layer structure gloves do not work for extended periods (see photo 2).
Boots
Firefighters will spend many hours on their feet in rough terrain and in burned material. The only boot that will work is leather with a minimum six-inch top. It should have a sole designed for rough terrain, and the boot must be secured with laces to the top. Do not use steel toes. When they get hot, it can take a lifetime to get them off! Rubber turnout boots are not appropriate in this scenario. Additionally, the leather boots with the zipper on the side for quick removal do not work because they can’t be laced tightly, and blisters will result. There are many brands of appropriate boots available.
 (2) The gloves should have a gauntlet that fits well under the sleeve of the fire shirt to ensure the skin is protected. |
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 (3) The helmet should have a shroud attached that will wrap around the face and seal completely. |
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Helmet
My department uses a helmet that is perfect for all types of fires; it is built to withstand the demands of structural firefighting but is light enough to be worn for many days on wildfires. This helmet is popular with many major California fire departments. Although the traditional leather helmet looks cool and probably works well at structure fires, it will not be your friend as the day turns into night simply because of its weight. The ability to place a goggle assembly on the helmet is essential. Goggles are a must when operating in high-wind situations at wildfires, to protect eyes and allow a firefighter to function effectively in this environment. Shields do not work. Another option is the ability to hang a shroud off the back of the helmet (see photo 3). This should be of a fire-resistive material similar to that of the pants and shirt and attached to the back of the helmet under the brim. It is double-layered, so it works for structural fires, too. It must be long enough to wrap around the entire head and close around the front of the face, covering all of the face that is not covered by the goggles. This shroud prevents burning debris from getting into the collar and protects the face from radiant heat and embers. If a shroud is not available, a NomexT hood can be pulled up and the face hole can be turned to the side during burnover situations to protect the face’s skin.
Web Gear/Backpack
All firefighters need web gear with various tools attached, available through fire service distributors. Be sure it is fire-resistive and not sold as recreational backpacking gear. Avoid the military surplus gear, and ensure that the gear is supported with shoulder straps at a minimum. Federal agencies use web gear that transfers much of the weight to the hips to minimize fatigue for extended periods of use.
The first item that should be on this web gear is a fire shelter. It should be located on the belt so the firefighter can reach it at all times. The web gear should include two one-quart canteens on each hip. Additional items include a handheld radio harness, first-aid kit, weather kit, hose clamp, knife, and various tools of the trade. The web gear should incorporate a backpack pouch clip in case you must walk into a fire and need to carry support supplies.
I realize your fire engines are stuffed to the brim with goodies now, so get red gear bags in which to store the wildfire gear. Volunteers should carry the wildland gear with them just as they do structure gear. It should be on the rig in paid departments if it is likely you will be called to a wildfire incident. Either way, it has to be readily available to work.
ENGINES AND EQUIPMENT
Municipal engines have a very specific mission and carry the appropriate tools to complete these related tasks. Likewise, if you are sending an engine to a wildfire, you must equip your staff with the appropriate wildfire fighting tools. An urban legend says, “Since engines perform structural firefighting on urban interface fires, they must therefore be equipped as structural engines.” This is simply not the case! This is a wildfire, and wildfire activities determine all operations. Structural firefighting tactics do not apply to wildfires. Simply stated, you are there to fight a wildfire, not a structure fire, so you must have the tools to do so. Think about this: If you put out the wildfire, what happens to the homes? They quit catching on fire. We must also realize we are sending engines into a wildfire environment that may place on the vehicle demands it normally does not have to meet. The engine should be very roadworthy, and all components, including tires, should be first class and reliable.
Another tip: You may be allowed to attack the fire, and you may be assigned for many days with the engine in the condition in which you brought it. When the resources are demobilized after the incident, the equipment is inspected for safety. If you send an unsafe engine, you may have difficulty getting it released until it is repaired. Let’s look at what your Type I engine should have on it before it goes out the door to a wildfire.
Hose/Appliances
Your engine should carry a minimum of 500 feet of single-jacketed 11/2-inch wildfire hose in 100-foot lengths. Double-jacketed hose is too heavy to drag around homes all day long and very hard to reload quickly and move to the next home.
 4) The 11/2-inch hose can be carried in a hose pack for easy transportation and deployment. It is effective on structure fires, too. |
You should have two 11/2-inch combination nozzles attached to 11/2-inch ball shutoffs and a variety of straight-stream tips, which work well in high-wind situations. Keep your hose in packs or rolls that allow you to carry the hose some distance and deploy it easily. A single donut roll on a hose pack (see photo 4) is the best I have found. Additionally, you should carry 200 feet of one-inch, single-jacketed hose and two 11/2-inch by one-inch water thiefs. This allows you to place some laterals in your hoselay if needed. You will need two one-inch nozzles for those laterals, too. I carry the 11/2-inch hose year-round on my engines. It is an extra 500 feet of hose for various tasks we deal with during our normal assignment. It works great for overhaul on larger structure fires and is effective in hallways should your double-jacketed hose fail or run short. You should have one wildland hose clamp for each firefighter on the engine and one 11/2-inch to one-inch reducer.
Foam is a major player in fire control. Your engines should be equipped to deliver Class A foam, with either a built-in or external foam system. Either way, a foam nozzle should be part of your equipment. Once again, foam is an excellent structural firefighting tool and minimizes the time spent in overhaul. We use it at all of our fires, regardless of the type. Foam nozzles are around $100; they can be purchased through various fire service supply providers and offer an affordable solution to foam application.
Fusees should also be carried. These are traffic flares used by law enforcement as warning devices. They are also very good at lighting backfires. Carry and use them only if your personnel are trained in the art of backfiring or burning out unburned fuel. We carry them for that purpose and as a traffic warning tool. There are two types of flares. One has a plastic cap that has the friction igniter. It is a standard road flare but is difficult to keep ignited. The other is a flare specifically designed for firing operations; the friction striker cap is paper and is held on with tape. It will not extinguish easily and will burn underwater for some time. It is advisable to use the latter for fire department applications.
Hand Tools
Some hand tools used in wildfire operations are also very effective at structure fires. You should have a McLeod and a Pulaski tool and a shovel. The McLeod is a raking and scraping tool for cutting line. It is very good for overhaul and pulling wallboard. The Pulaski is an ax and grubbing tool that is also very effective in pulling walls and floors for overhaul. A long-handle, round-point shovel is an excellent tool for cutting line and tossing dirt. Shovels are always good for overhaul as well.
Power Tools
 (5) The various tools that should be carried to support a wildfire operation with a Type I engine. |
Chainsaws made specifically for ventilation work are also very effective for removing brush around homes. Be sure to carry a pair of saw chaps and the extra chain you will need when you ruin the other one in the dirt. In-clude a saw repair kit as well. Carry gas and oil in one container for the saw and eye protection for the operator. Always carry a pair of sawyer chaps to protect chins and thighs from the cutting edge (see photo 5).
Handheld lights are important, and headlamps are a must. They should attach to your helmet and operate off AA batteries. AA batteries are commonly available at fires because they are also used for handheld radios and fit into a clamshell battery pack. Headlamps are much lighter than C or D cell lights. After all, we do our best work on wildfires at night, when the weather allows for a less active fire.
Communications
The engine should have a radio capable of communicating with the jurisdiction to which you are going. Too often, engines arrive and do not have communication capabilities. An engine unable to communicate cannot be assigned. I demand bulletproof communications before an engine is allowed on the line. Additionally, the engine should have at least two handheld radios that cover all of the frequencies the requesting jurisdiction uses. Handheld radios must be field-programmable so the firefighters can program all frequencies they need when they arrive. In many large fires, a communications unit is set up that can clone your programmable radios, or the staff can check out radios to be used for the duration of the event and return them when done. Regardless of the plan, do not compromise the safety of your personnel by ignoring communications.
Subsistence/Comforts
Each engine responding should plan on supplying the crew food and water for a minimum of 24 hours. I suggest a case of rations supplied by the military system (MRE) and at least one case of bottled drinking water that can be purchased at the supermarket. Many local agency firefighters expect to be fed while at major fires. Keep in mind that initial attack resources assigned at 1400 hours in the afternoon may not see support in this area until 1800 hours the next night if all goes well. It is wise to be self-sufficient to ensure that your personnel are well-fed and cared for.
Depending on the assignment location and duration, the engine should have sleeping bags and pads for each firefighter. Many times, responders will stay for many days and be sent to a sleeping area while off-shift. Before there is an organized incident base with a supply section, you want to provide adequate rest for your employees. There is no place on these engines for banana loungers or lawn chairs. They take up valuable space, look ridiculous, and send the message that the engine company is unprepared mentally for the tasks at hand.
I also suggest tents. They provide privacy, shelter from weather, and some form of security for belongings. Always consider how easily the tent assembles. Think about time frames and how tired you are when it is time to sleep. That is not the time to be reading assembly instructions. I have a tent that sets up in less than one minute; I will not part with it.
Personnel
Personnel assigned to engines responding to wildfires need to have minimum fire line safety training. They should be able to recognize fire behavior situations; understand the effect of fuels, weather, and topography on wildfire; and understand how to use the tools available to them in this arena. More importantly, all personnel should have a working knowledge of the 10 Standard Orders, the 18 Situations That Shout Watch Out, and LCES (Lookouts, Communica-tions, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones). It is imperative they have the tools thy need to operate safely in a wildfire environment.
I emphasize again my comments from above: You are not sending your engine to a structure fire. You are sending it to a wildfire that has a perimeter in and around homes. Members must be well-versed in the strategy and tactics employed on wildfires and the related safety system; otherwise, they will become part of the problem.
Keep in mind that it will be assumed that they are prepared for the assignments they are about to receive. No special training will be given at a fire. They must be prepared to perform on arrival.
Personnel assigned need to be committed to stay. A good standard is 72 hours at a minimum. In the municipal systems, we rarely spend extended time on fires—six to eight hours is quite rare. Wildfires burn for weeks. The engines may be assigned for extended periods. The changeout of personnel is difficult; if personnel go, they should be ready to stay a minimum of three days before requesting relief. Along with this comes self-reliance. Firefighters should take adequate clothing and personal hygiene items for this extended stay. There are no plans to offer personal supplies at wildfires; all firefighters are expected to be self-sufficient in this regard. I also highly recommend a good supply of disinfecting wipes for various hygiene purposes.
You can equip your engines in some fashion to do the job to which they are assigned. Allowing your engine companies to follow these simple guidelines will do two things. First and foremost, they will be safer while doing the tasks assigned. Secondly, they will do a good job and hopefully minimize the damage the fire is doing. You might even get good reports back through the system.
MICHAEL S. TERWILLIGER is chief of the Truckee Fire (CA) District. He began his career in 1972 with the California Department of Forestry, where he served for 24 years in the following assignments: division chief of operations (South) in the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Ranger Unit and operations section chief and planning section chief on a Type I team from 1988 to 1996. He is a certified fire behavior analyst. Terwilliger is incident commander for Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators Team, which operates along the eastern California/Nevada border. He also instructs operations section chiefs, division group supervisors, and strike team leaders.
