Alaska Fire Service Ready, Set, Know: Division of Fire and Aviation Providing Wildland Fire Management and Aviation Oversight for America’s Last Frontier

Mission BLM Alaska Fire Service Wildland Fire Suppression on America’s Last Frontier The BLM Alaska Fire Service (AFS) provides: Wildland fire suppression services for DOI and Native Corporation lands in Alaska Assistance to those entities with other fire management activities Guidance and interpretation of fire policy for BLM Alaska Leadership and management of the BLM Alaska aviation program

What Makes AFS Unique? We provide fire management services for all DOI and Native lands that are assigned by the 620 DM-2 Fire and aviation are stand alone divisions of the state office unlike in the Lower-48 where they are part of the state office.

Important Dates July 1, Congress authorized the establishment of the Alaska Fire Control Service (AFCS) under the General Land Office Smokejumpers based in Alaska Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) provided cost-free wildland fire protection on land conveyed to Native Villages and Corporations March 17, Executive Order 3077 recognized the economic and operational benefits through the continuation of the suppression responsibilities of BLM for all Native lands conveyed under ANSCA and DOI-managed lands including Native Allotments Five new Interagency Fire Management Plans implemented with percent lands designated Limited Management Option Surpassed the 1957 record for the number of acres burned in a single season million acres burned statewide; 4.5 million acres in AFS protection. On July 17, 2004 there were 2,711 personnel involved in fire fighting; a record number. National Weather Service issued 108 Red Flag warnings and 50 Fire Weather Watches; 17,000 lightning strikes were recorded in a 24 hour period million acres burned statewide-3.9 million acres were in AFS protection, 3 million acres burned in August. New AFS barracks on Fort Wainwright opened. Type 1 Team completed two assignments in support of Hurricane Katrina Recovery Effort.

AFS Facts AFS Protection Area Million Acres AFS Budget Fiscal Year Million Personnel – 2012 (Peak Season) Permanent Full Time Career Seasonal Temporary Fires Total Fires Total Acres Burned ,288 AFS National Cache Inventory over $10 Million Crews Processed Crews to the Lower 48 Statewide Aviation – Ten Year Average (98-08) Total Flight Time ,316 Hours Total Passengers Moved ,198 Total Cargo Moved ,088,210 Pounds

Fire Numbers Alaska 5-10 Year Averages:

BLM Fire Program AFS staff that relates specifically to the BLM – Deputy Director of Fire and Aviation (AFS Manager & Associate) – Fuels Specialist – Fire Ecologist – Planner – Fire Program Analyst – Hazardous Materials Coordinator – Public Affairs Officer – State Aviation Officer Roles – National Response Framework ESF#4 Operational Lead for Alaska – FEMA Point of Contact for Alaska fire disaster declarations – BLM Representative on the Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group – BLM Representative on the Alaska Multi-Agency Coordination Group – Fulfills ANCSA section 21(e) direction (wildland fire protection to Alaska Natives) – Fulfills BLM obligations directed DOI Department Manual 620 – Interagency Coordination – BLM-Alaska flight following, flight service procurement and emergency response coordination – SAFECOM implementation, aircraft contract administration, aircraft procurement and aviation policy guidance

BLM Fire Program Example of Alaska Products: – BLM Land Use Plan Amendment for Wildland Fire and Fuels 2005 – BLM Fire Management Plan 2005 – BLM-AFS Continuity of Operations Plan (updated annually) – DOI Fairbanks Disaster Plan (updated quarterly) – Public information and outreach – State Aviation Plan – BLM Alaska Fire Trespass Operating Plan National BLM Fire Program Participation – Fire Leadership Team – Fire Plan Analysis (FPA) – Fire Program Decision Support System (FPDSS / UIA) – Fire Operations Group member – Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS)

BLM State Aviation The BLM State Aviation Office is located at AFS and provides the aircraft used in wildland fire fighting efforts to include: CL-215 medium water scooping aircraft are being used to assist in wildland fire fighting efforts. Dornier 228 and CASA 212 provide AFS with a versatile smokejumper aircraft. Light helicopters (such as the AS350 B3) and medium helicopters (including the Bell 205, 212 and 212HP), have delivered firefighter and supplies and performed bucket work to aid firefighters on the ground. Aerial firing missions, using Plastic Spherical Dispensers (commonly called “ping-pong”) continue to play a important role in fire suppression and prescribed fire in Alaska.

BLM Smokejumpers A Smokejumper base was established in Alaska in A rapid response is the key to suppressing fires while they are small. Alaska smokejumpers are the primary initial attack force used on fires in the Alaska Fire Service Protection Area. They jump with enough gear and equipment to last three days. All smokejumper parachute training and equipment construction are done in-house. Smokejumpers:68 Smokejumper aircraft:CASA 212 Dornier 228

Fire Specialists Alaska Fire Service employs 22 Fire Specialists (15 in Fire Ops and 7 in the Zones) during the field season which typically runs from the first of April to the end of September. Stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Fire Specialists are the primary pool of highly trained personnel experienced in fire suppression, aviation operations, and hazardous fuel reduction for use in Alaska and the Lower 48. Fire Specialists primarily respond to extended attack fires within Alaska, and during high fire activity Initial Attack fires also. Typical fire assignments are in Operations, Plans, Logistics, and Air Operations. They are experts at remote logistics to supply fires and projects in the Alaska Environment. Common assignments include Incident Commander, Strike Team Leader, Crew Representative, Staging Area Manager, Helicopter Manager, Air Tactical Group Supervisor, and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss and Firing Boss.

Interagency Hotshot Crews In 1974, the Bureau of Land management established the first Hotshot Crew in Alaska, stationed in Kenai. In 1976 a second crew was established, also stationed in Kenai. The Crews were named Chena and Midnight Sun in The crew numbers were increased to 20, to meet national standards in The two AFS hotshot crews are staffed with one Superintendent, one Assistant Superintendent, 3 Squad Leaders, 2 Lead Crewmembers and 15 crewmembers. Normal configuration in the field includes 4 saw teams; 2 persons each. Hotshot crews Commonly work back to back 14-day assignments, and are detailed to BLM units in the Lower-48 when fire season in Alaska begins to wind down, or as national priorities dictate.

North Star Crew The North Star Fire Crew is designed to achieve the following goals: Provide entry level positions into the Alaska Fire Service for individuals with limited or no fire experience, provide an experienced pool of potential recruits for the Hotshot crews. Provide AFS with an additional quick response hand crew, and provide Alaska natural resource agencies a crew for project work. The overhead on the North Star crew typically are AFS employees with several years of experience on Alaska Hotshot crews, AK smokejumper experience, or both. The crews consist of 16 members under the supervision of 1 crew boss and 3 squad bosses.

EFF Crews Wildland fire suppression requires large labor forces on short notice, which may only be needed for a brief period of time. Native villages throughout Alaska constitute an under utilized but relatively stable workforce due to the scarceness of local employment opportunities. The Alaska Fire Service in conjunction with the Alaska Division of Forestry currently sponsor Emergency Fire Fighter (EFF)crews in nearly 50 communities across the state. In 2006, 55 EFF Crews were mobilized for wildland fire outside Alaska. In 2012, 51 crews were mobilized. The standard crew size for an EFF crew is 16 members. This includes one crew boss and three squad bosses. EFF crews are 19 members plus one crew representative for a total of 20 when mobilized to the lower-48.

AFS - Cache The Alaska Fire Service Cache is one of 15 National Interagency Support Caches (NISC) in the United States. The cache, located at the Alaska Fire Service, has a base inventory of over 10 million dollars and provides supply support to incidents within Alaska and other geographical areas as needed. This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owned cache supports many types of emergency situations in addition to wildland fire, such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. Planned events such as a prescribed fire are also supported.

AICC The Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC) is one of 11 Geographic Area Coordination Centers located throughout the United States. The AICC is the primary logistical support center within Alaska, mobilizing resources such as aircraft, personnel, equipment, and crews to fight wildland fires and support disaster relief efforts. If a wildland fire or disaster grows to the point where local personnel and equipment are not enough, the responsible agency contacts the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC) for help. The GACC will locate and dispatch additional firefighters and support personnel throughout the geographic area. AICC operates on an interagency basis – cooperators include the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

Fire Management Zones Alaska Wildland Fire Organization

Fire Management Options Critical The highest priority for suppression actions. Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and other areas where an immediate threat to human life, primary residences and designated National Historic Landmarks. Full High priority but below critical. Is for cultural and paleontological sites, administrative sites and cabins, and high-value natural resources. Modified Intended to balance acres burned with suppression costs and to accomplish land and resource management objectives when conditions are favorable. Limited The lowest priority for fire-related resource assignments. Is designed for broad, landscape-scale areas where fire best performs its ecological role.

Fire Management Zones Galena, Tanana and Upper Yukon Zones These 3 zones provide fire suppression services for the northern part of Alaska. The Zones train and manage the EFF program including crews and individuals. The zones work closely with native, state and federal organizations on fire-related projects. Military Zone The Military Zone provides fire suppression services for the BLM and US Army Alaska on co-managed public lands that have been withdrawn for military purposes and fuels management planning and project implementation in support of the U.S. Army Alaska’s mission. The zone provides Fire Management over site to DOI partners and Native Alaskan corporation lands within Division of Forestry protection areas from Fairbanks to Northway. Southern Zone The South Zone coordinates Fire, Aviation, and Fuels management services with partner agency for all DOI agencies and Native Alaska Corporation lands within Division of Forestry protection areas throughout South East, South Central, and the Kenai Peninsula within Alaska. The zone provides aviation and dispatch services to support BLM Alaska's resource needs throughout the state. The Southern Zone Dispatch assists in the planning, contracting, execution, and flight following of all contracted flights in the southern half of the state including Resource and Cadastral survey staffs.

Technology AFS has an Information Technology Division and provides up to date computer services and Geographical Information System (GIS) on fires. The AFS Branch of Technical Systems GIS provides on incident (Type I and Type II) GIS infrastructure setup and support. Hardware and staff are available to support 2 simultaneous incidents. The IT branch provides on incident (Type I and Type II) computer infrastructure setup and support. Hardware and staff are available to support 3 simultaneous incidents. The Information Technology staff manages and maintains the Alaska Lightning Detection Network (ALDN)sensors. The Communications Section sets up the radio services at the various zone stations and maintains the services when the stations are open and in operation. AFS is unique in that we have utilized a DOI radio maintenance team since 1990 and have participated in a statewide interoperable radio infrastructure for the last 5 years.

Alaska Fire Service Home The AFS Facility is located at 1541 Gaffney Road on the U.S. Army’s Fort Wainwright. Located on 55 acres within the fort, the facility houses the headquarters, fire operations, training facilities, dining hall and barracks. The facility was opened in 1981; prior to that AFS was at the current BLM Fairbanks District Office located on University Road. To visit the facility, present your DOI Access card at the Fort Wainwright main gate on Gaffney Road. Airport Way becomes Gaffney Road inside the installation. You should also have the following items if asked: a current vehicle registration, drivers’ license and proof of insurance. Enter through the security gate and continue for 3 miles. The AFS headquarters building is on the right.

Dining Hall and Barracks AFS boasts the furthest north BLM dining hall and barracks facility. The dining hall typically opens in mid-March and closes in late August. An average of 28,000 meals are served to firefighters, staff, and guests over the period each year. The barracks facility opened in 2005 and provides sleeping quarters for up to 400 personnel. The staff coordinates with local vendors when necessary to accommodate overflow.

AFS 2015 AFS is maneuvering to meet future mission requirements by: Reorganizing to align assets with future funding Maintaining Best Business Practices despite flat funding Increasing reliance on Lower 48 resources Analyzing Global Warming Impacts Increasing Public Awareness through programs like FIREWISE to help communities better prepare against catastrophic wildland fires

Conclusion The BLM Alaska Fire Service: Long, proud, important history Highly complex organization Demanding and critical mission Requires a myriad of skills and resources Serves Alaskans and the Nation

Web Resources For more information on the BLM Alaska Fire Service visit:

Questions? BLM Alaska Fire Service Providing Wildland Fire Management and Aviation Oversight for America’s Last Frontier 1541 Gaffney Road, Ft Wainwright, AK (907)