A decade or two ago the unwritten rules about what could or could not be on the cover of an *Incident Action Plan (IAP) were somewhat more loose than they are today. Here is an example of a hand-drawn, customized cover for the IAP for the Gateway Fire, July 20, 1989.
In case you’re having a hard time reading the text, click on the image to see a larger version, but here is what it says:
- Smokey: “It’s worth it, though…We’ve been promised a week of R&R in GATEWAY!
- From the “OPS” helicopter: “Sorry, no drops … Got’a have a meeting! OPS OUT!”
- Caption at lower-right: “KIDS … Smokey & Woodsy are trained professional fire fighters — do not attempt this manuver [sic] at home!”
I’m thinking the Gateway Fire may have been near the very small town of Gateway, Colorado (map).
Sometimes on a large multi-day or multi-week fire a firefighter with some drawing skills and a little time on their hands would deliver to the Planning Section, unexpectedly, a very nice candidate for an IAP cover. At times they lampooned or parodied the characteristics of that particular fire. But a good Planning Section Chief or Incident Commander would draw a line at submissions that were in poor taste or that were too unprofessional.
*Incident Action Plan, definition from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s glossary: “Contains objectives reflecting the overall incident strategy and specific tactical actions and supporting information for the next operational period. The plan may be oral or written. When written, the plan may have a number of attachments, including: incident objectives, organization assignment list, division assignment, incident radio communication plan, medical plan, traffic plan, safety plan, and incident map. Formerly called shift plan.”
I saw some good ones and often they gave a humerous positive spin to a not so good situation. Now in efforts to be politicaly correct they have become not so entertaining.
You are correct that the fire was near Gateway, Colorado.
Thanks.