I'm retired from the U.S. Forest Service and had 108 fire assignments in my career. This system works very well. It is amazing to be on a high priority fire and watch the infrastructure to support the incoming resources get built. Hand washing stations, showers, food services able to feed thousands of people, commissary, tool sharpening, supplies, command unit office space, sleeping areas for thousands, vehicle repair, the communications unit, command radio networks built in steep topography, map drawing and printing, public information officers . . . At one time in Yellowstone in 1988 our crew strike team consisting of 3 military crews from Fort Lewis, Washington with Forest Service crew bosses camped in a KOA campground in Island Park. The southeast portion of the fire became very active. We worked one day shift of 14 hours and found our little camp had been set up for 2,000 people, who were in place by the next morning. It's amazing to see an operation built in so little time with the training, qualifications, job classifications, command system working to organize the effort with everyone knowing what their job is and how to build the infrastructure and organization in their piece of it is and how to get it done.
I forgot to praise the dispatchers in the local dispatch centers. When you get an outstanding dispatcher they understand what you are facing just by the radio traffic. They understand your challenges and often anticipate your needs, which is hard to do when you are one of the first resources on scene. Their worth? Absolutely priceless.
I'm retired from the U.S. Forest Service and had 108 fire assignments in my career. This system works very well. It is amazing to be on a high priority fire and watch the infrastructure to support the incoming resources get built. Hand washing stations, showers, food services able to feed thousands of people, commissary, tool sharpening, supplies, command unit office space, sleeping areas for thousands, vehicle repair, the communications unit, command radio networks built in steep topography, map drawing and printing, public information officers . . . At one time in Yellowstone in 1988 our crew strike team consisting of 3 military crews from Fort Lewis, Washington with Forest Service crew bosses camped in a KOA campground in Island Park. The southeast portion of the fire became very active. We worked one day shift of 14 hours and found our little camp had been set up for 2,000 people, who were in place by the next morning. It's amazing to see an operation built in so little time with the training, qualifications, job classifications, command system working to organize the effort with everyone knowing what their job is and how to build the infrastructure and organization in their piece of it is and how to get it done.
I forgot to praise the dispatchers in the local dispatch centers. When you get an outstanding dispatcher they understand what you are facing just by the radio traffic. They understand your challenges and often anticipate your needs, which is hard to do when you are one of the first resources on scene. Their worth? Absolutely priceless.
Supporting the Boots on the Ground....Tonto National Forest IA Dispatcher