Holy Grail Archives - Page 7 of 8

May 5: Senate hearing about wildfire management

Bill GabbertMay 4, 2015June 3, 2020Uncategorizedhearing, Holy Grail, Stephen Pyne4 Comments

(UPDATED at 11:42 a.m. MDT, May 5, 2015)

A video recording of this morning’s hearing by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources about wildfires has been posted along with the formal written statements of the five witnesses. These all went up on the website much more quickly than we have seen in the past.

The video and the written statements can be seen here.

I was only able to see portions of the statements by the witnesses, and missed the following Q&A period. One part that I found interesting was what Bob Eisele, a retired Watershed and Fire Analyst with the County of San Diego said about technology. Basically Mr. Eisele, who spoke only occasionally referring to notes, said, “We need to know where the fire is”, and “We need to know where the firefighters are”, referring to real-time tracking of the fire and firefighting resources, what I call the Holy Grail of Wildland Firefighter Safety.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tomas Tidwell predictably said, “We have the resources”, and then mentioned engines, large air tankers, and MAFFS military air tankers.

Dr. Sharon Hood, a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of Montana, made an interesting presentation about how low-severity fires can help provide ponderosa pine with defenses against bark beetle attacks, and that excluding frequent fire from
the system greatly decreases resistance from bark beetle outbreaks.

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(Originally published at 8 p.m. MDT, May 4, 2015)

On Tuesday, May 5 the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing “to receive testimony on the Federal government’s role in wildfire management, the impact of fires on communities, and potential improvements to be made in fire operations.”

It is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT, and will be viewable on a live webcast. These hearings are recorded and can usually be replayed a day or two later.

The panel of witnesses will include:

Mr. Thomas Tidwell

Chief, U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dr. Stephen Pyne

Regents’ Professor & Distinguished Sustainability Scholar

School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University
Dr. Sharon Hood

Post-Doctoral Researcher, College of Forestry & Conservation

University of Montana
Mr. Bruce Hallin

Director of Water Rights and Contracts

Salt River Project
Mr. Bob Eisele

Watershed and Fire Analyst

County of San Diego, CA – Retired

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Kelly.

DHS to help stimulate development of wearable technology for first responders

Bill GabbertMarch 12, 2015UncategorizedHoly Grail1 Comment

On Tuesday the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced its first business accelerator program, EMERGE!, aimed at entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas that address the unique needs of the Homeland Security community and whose wearable technology could be adapted for first responder operations.

The accelerator program seeks innovative solutions that help the “responder of the future” save lives and carry out their mission, particularly in the area of wearable technologies, such as body-worn electronics, advanced sensors, and integrated voice and data communications embedded in a responder’s gear.

“First responders can benefit from these new emerging technologies, to not only ensure their personal safety, but to better save the lives of those they serve,” said DHS Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Technology Dr. Robert Griffin, a former firefighter and emergency manager. “There may be innovators who have ideas for the latest scientific advancements that can make a difference in helping these first responders.”

The EMERGE! Accelerator program will help innovators to develop and launch their ideas into investable companies by providing early market validation, mentoring and access to private investment. This program will accelerate the development of selected commercial wearable technologies and provide a path to introduce those technologies to a variety of markets, including Government sector partners.

This accelerator program is one part of S&T’s overall strategy to reinvigorate federal government research and development. Through prize competitions, open dialogues, and accelerator programs, S&T is hoping to attract innovators, keeping pace with the speed of technological advancement.

S&T’s EMERGE! Accelerator program was developed in partnership with the United States Air Force Academy, DHS Center of Innovation, and the Center for Innovative Technology.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Eric.

Overwhelming force in fighting wars and wildfires

Bill GabbertFebruary 15, 2015February 15, 2015UncategorizedHoly Grail10 Comments

Tasmania fire trucks — Feb. 10, 2009. Tasmanian fire apparatus sent across the sea to help their mainland brothers and sisters. Photo: Brad Marsellos

We have written several times about how the use of overwhelming force on new fires can sometimes keep a small fire from becoming a megafire. We called it “Dr.” Gabbert’s prescription and defined it like this:

Rapid initial attack with overwhelming force using both ground and air resources, arriving within the first 10 to 30 minutes when possible.

The strategy has also been used successfully in fighting wars. During the 1991 campaign into Kuwait to evict Saddam Hussein’s invading forces, General Norman Schwarzkopf who was in charge of the overall effort worked with Air Force Colonel John A. Warden, head of the Directorate of Warfighting Concepts in the Pentagon, to develop the plans. Their strategy utilized overwhelming force including five weeks of aerial attacks before committing ground troops.

Below is an excerpt from The Art of the Strategist: 10 Essential Principles for Leading your company to Victory by William Cohen:

For the first time in history, a ground campaign was preceded by an extensive air campaign developed on Warden’s new model. The campaign, implemented by [Lieutenant General Chuck] Horner’s hand picked chief planner, then Brigadier General Buster Glossom, resulted in a decisive defeat for Hussein, and without a doubt, saved thousands of allied casualties.

During the aggressive 100-hour assault, the United States deployed about 540,000 personnel, of which 148 were killed in action or died of their wounds, according to the Defense Department.

The Holy Grail of Firefighter Safety

Another interesting feature of the Kuwait war that has a parallel to wildland firefighting was reported by the New York Times:

General Schwarzkopf supported the decision [by President George Bush and General Colin Powell to stop the fighting after 100 hours], though it later emerged that amid the confusion on the battlefield not even he knew the precise location of some of the attacking American units.

Often on a wildland fire, the Division Supervisors, Operations Section Chiefs, Planning Section Chiefs, and Incident Commanders do not know the precise location of some of the firefighters and/or the exact location of the fire front.

This has led to fatalities.

Since October 25, 2013 we have been writing about what we call the Holy Grail of Firefighter Safety — a system that could track firefighters AND the location of the fire in real time. We envision that the data could be monitored by a Safety Officer, Operations Section Chief, or Division Supervisor to ensure that firefighters are safe relative to the location of the fire. It is our position that in the last 10 years the lives of 24 firefighters could have been saved by a system like this. On the 2006 Esperanza Fire and the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, the supervisors of the firefighters that were killed thought their personnel were in a different location than where they met their demise. If we go back further, for example to the 2005 Cramer Fire and others over the last couple of decades, we could probably add to the list.

Articles on Wildfire Today tagged Holy Grail of Firefighter Safety.

Wildfire briefing, October 15, 2014

Bill GabbertOctober 15, 2014August 25, 2019UncategorizedAustralia, Boles Fire, Canada, Holy Grail, Rim Fire, Victoria

Half of the Holy Grail of Firefighter Safety demonstrated at the Happy Camp Fire

The Holy Grail of Firefighter Safety is to have key members of the Operations and Planning Sections knowing two things about a fire in real time:

The location of the fire, and
The location of firefighters.

Half of that was provided on the Happy Camp Fire, when true video and infrared video were streamed in real time down to the Incident Command Post from an Air Attack aircraft over the incident. At times the Planning Section Chief controlled the camera, looking at sections of the fire that were key to his situation awareness, mapping responsibilities, decision making and planning.

Below is an excerpt from an article at Fire Aviation.

A suite of video sensors normally used on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was installed on an Air Attack aircraft working on the 134,056-acre Happy Camp Fire in northern California. The instruments provide normal and infrared video, making it possible for the Air Tactical Group Supervisor and personnel at the Incident Command Post to see in real time through smoke to determine where the priorities should be and where aircraft should be assigned to drop water or retardant.

Read the rest here.

Cleanup after the Boles fire has started

The government has started a massive cleanup in the northern California town of Weed, following the Boles Fire that destroyed 157 residences and 8 commercial structures last month.

Victoria, Australia rolls out new fire trucks

The rollout of Victoria’s new ground-based $82.1 million forest firefighting fleet has begun for the upcoming fire season.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the 306 new firefighting vehicles to be rolled out over a six-year period were specifically designed to provide greater protection to fire crews and would deliver increased water carrying capacity of 630 litres (166 gallons), up from 400 litres (105 gallons) previously.

The new vehicles, based on the Mercedes Benz G Wagon, are fitted with equipment designed for Department of Environment and Primary Industries’ (DEPI) firefighting and planned burning needs, including cabin fire curtains for improved crew safety; and, the highest level of falling object protection for a vehicle of this size.

Attorney argue over evidence in Rim Fire arson case

The attorney representing the person charged with starting the 257,000-acre Rim Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park is arguing that prosecutors aren’t providing all of the evidence they have collected against her client. The fire became the third largest in California recorded history, destroyed 11 homes, and cost $125 million to suppress. In August a Federal Grand Jury indicted 32-year-old Keith Matthew Emerald for starting the fire, charging him with two felonies, “Timber set afire” and “False statement to a government agency”, plus two misdemeanors, “Fire left unattended and unextinguished” and “Violating a fire restriction order”.

Read the story of how Mr. Emerald became a suspect.

Busy wildfire season in Canada’s national parks

From GuelphMercury.com:

The number of wildfires in Canada’s national parks was close to average last summer, but the size of some of those fires made it an unusually hot season.

“We’ve had a more active than normal wildfire season,” said Jeff Weir, Parks Canada’s national fire manager. “A small number of those fires have been quite challenging.”

The agency reported 85 wildfires in the spring and summer of this year. That’s slightly higher than the average of 82.

The amount of forest burned was almost 3,000 square kilometres — an area about half the size of Prince Edward Island.

“That’s higher than normal,” Weir said.

There were several large fires in Wood Buffalo National Park, which straddles the boundary between northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Together with a large fire in Banff National Park, the fires accounted for 1,300 square kilometres of forest burned.

New $24.6 million GPS radio system to make Victoria’s firefighters safer

Bill GabbertJuly 28, 2014July 28, 2014UncategorizedHoly Grail

The following information was provided by the office of the Premier of Victoria, Australia last year.

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Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith today announced work has begun to install 6,000 new communications radios in firefighting vehicles, aircraft, incident control centres, fire towers and work centres throughout Victoria.Mr Smith said the $24.6 million project would see the current 19 year-old radio fleet replaced with a state-of-the-art system to better protect emergency services personnel and Victorian communities.

“This program will see vital new communications radios, which are digital-capable, installed in firefighting vehicles and aircraft throughout Victoria,” Mr Smith said.

“New handheld radios will also be provided for use by operational staff.

“Communications are a crucial part of effective bushfire response. Upgrading communications infrastructure enhances the capability of our emergency services to protect communities and firefighting personnel from bushfire.”

Mr Smith said the radio replacement project would be led by the Department of Primary Industries and Environment (DEPI).

“Each radio unit will be equipped with a GPS tracking system enabling incident managers to track the location of vehicles and firefighters in real time – improving fire ground operations, logistics and firefighter safety,” Mr Smith said.

“The new radios are also compatible with CFA systems along with those of the SES and our neighbouring states, which will simplify communications between the firefighting agencies when they are working together on the fireground.”

Two thousand radios are expected to be installed during the next six months, with the remainder scheduled for installation ahead of the 2014/15 fire season.

Mr Smith said the replacement of the radios addressed, in part, recommendation 22 from the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission. The recommendation calls for standardisation of information and communications systems within DEPI and the Country Fire Authority (CFA).

“I’m proud of the progress the Coalition Government has made in preparing the state for bushfires. There has been a lot of hard work done in response to the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, including projects such as this,” Mr Smith said.

“We’re committed to reducing the risk of bushfires and making Victorians safer. ”

Mr Smith said the Coalition Government had budgeted to spend $338.7 million on land and fire management in the 2013-14 financial year. This includes an extra $9 million to expand the planned burning program.

The Coalition Government’s planned burning program hit a 30 year high this year with 253,000 hectares of planned burning undertaken.

A Telstra consortium has been awarded the radio replacement contract.

The consortium consists of Telstra, Tait Communications (NZ)) and AA Radio Communications (Australia).

About the new radios:

DEPI manages the Network Emergency Organisations (NEO) radio terminal fleet comprising DEPI, Parks Victoria, VicForests and Melbourne Water.
After a public expression of interest and selective tender process, a consortium comprising Telstra, Tait Communications (a New Zealand design and manufacturing company) and AA Radio Communications (a local radio installation and service provider) won the contract
The new radios are compatible with the existing DEPI / CFA communications infrastructure, the State Mobile Radio Trunked Network and DEPI / CFA Incident Channel Networks and fire ground communications.
Interoperability with SES and bordering states’ communications systems has been incorporated.
The new radios allow for an easy transition to the new digital P25 emergency service standards and planned digital future for Victorian communications networks.
Global Positioning System (GPS) displays enable users of in-vehicle and hand held radio units to use multiple mapping formats to provide enhanced interoperability.
Where a network exists, the GPS information is sent back to the DEPI tracking system and displayed on FireMap for vehicle tracking, allowing commanders to see the location of resources.
Enhanced battery life, increasing reliability when long operations shifts are required.

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Thanks and a hat tip go out to Cameron.

Cell phone company offers vehicle tracking service

Bill GabbertJuly 28, 2014August 25, 2019UncategorizedHoly Grail2 Comments

We have been advocating what we call the Holy Grail of Firefighter Safety — a system that can provide two things in real time:

The location of a wildfire, and,
The location of ground-based firefighting resources, including engines, water tenders, overhead personnel, dozers, and dismounted (walking) firefighters.

We are convinced that the lives of 24 firefighters could have been saved in the last eight years if a system like this had been available which can provide a “common operational picture” (COP), a standard process in the military.

Many companies offer solutions to provide the location of personnel and equipment. To illustrate how mainstream these services have become, below is a video that describes a vehicle tracking service from a cell phone company which can collect location data via cell phone networks or through satellites, so presumably it would work in very remote locations. This may or may not be feasible for tracking wildland fire vehicles, and apparently it is not for individuals, but it is an example of some of the technology that is available right now. Off the shelf. This afternoon. The U.S. Forest Service has begun a 2-year study to make a recommendation on how to proceed toward either acquiring, or doing nothing about obtaining Holy Grail capability.

The wildland fire agencies will be negligent if they do not provide this in the near future.