National Logistics Meeting Boise, Idaho March 2011 Jennifer Letz, USFS Meghan Oswalt, USFS Deanna Crawford, USFS Intro to Sustainable Fire Camps

Topics  Introductions  What is Sustainability?  Fire and Sustainability  Logistics & Sustainable ICPs  Importance of Logistics  How?  Fire Season 2011  How can we help?

Jennifer Letz  Sustainable Operations Specialist for the Deschutes & Ochoco NFs, Bend, OR  MA in Sustainable Management  Worked in / around fire since 1996  R6 Fire & Aviation  Chair of Western Collective Greening Fire Team

Deanna Crawford  Incident Business Specialist, Nez Perce, Clearwater, and Idaho Panhandle Forests in Grangeville, ID  Resource Unit Leader on Northern Rockies Type 1 Team  Degrees in Art and Criminology  Member of Western Collective Greening Fire Team

Meghan Oswalt  Assistant Sustainability Coordinator for the Aerial Fire Depot Missoula, MT  BS in Computer Science  Currently working on a MS in Environmental Studies and MS in Computer Science  R1 Fire and Aviation  Active participant of Western Collective Greening Fire Team

What is Sustainability? My definition is… EE E  A discipline balancing the needs of the Environment, social Equity, and Economic issues in the decision-making process. E “The 3 Es.”

Economics Social Equity Environment Economics Social Equity Environment Cone of Sustainability

How Do We Think Sustainably?  Whole Systems Thinking  Look at the big picture  Consider the near & far reaching effects of your decisions  What upstream changes can create win- win solutions?

Greening vs. Sustainability GreeningSustainability Detail focused Whole systems focus TacticalStrategic Ecological The 3 Es Focus on addressing symptoms Focus on addressing root cause

Fire Operations & Sustainability  Facilities & Water  Transportation & Fleet  Green Purchasing  National Fire Caches  ICPs  Contracts  Appropriate Response to Fire In 2009, the USFS Washington Office of Fire & Aviation Management designated 7 areas to integrate sustainable practices:

Greening Fire Team  Team under the Forest Service Western Collective for Sustainable Operations  Agency initiative to organize and promote sustainable operations in the Forest Service and beyond  Board of Directors comprised of Deputy Regional Foresters of 6 Western regions  Created in 2009 Greening Fire USDA Forest Service

Greening Fire Team  Research, recommend, and assist with implementing sustainable improvements at fire camps and beyond  Firefighter safety top priority  Current projects include:  Waste reduction  Recycling  Alternatives to bottled water  Outreach and education

Why Fire Camp?  Multiple opportunities to integrate sustainable operations  Historical reliance on disposable items has led to increase in spending and waste of resources and energy  Unique challenges due to various unknowns  Increasing demand for spending reductions  Crossroads of the fire community – chance to influence behaviors of 1000s of folk from multiple agencies, states, private industry, etc.

Logistics, Sustainability, & ICPs  Every camp denizen has a role to play… Agency Administrator Aviation Cache Contractors Firefighters IC Information Planning Purchasing / Buying Team Operations Safety … but Logistics is the “hub” of camp activity.

Day in the Life - Logistics  Average day may include making decisions about:  Food  Potable Water  Shelter  Power  Transport Fuel  Equipment Fuel  Caterer Fuel  Supplies  Waste management  Sanitation  Transportation  Security  Phones  IT connectivity  Radios  Showers  Laundry  Night shift  Spike Camps  Satellite Camps  Demob PHEW!

Working Towards Sustainable ICPs  Ultimately, a fire camp operating more sustainably will be:  Less expensive to run  Safer for staff  More efficient  Less wasteful of resources

How? -CHOOSE -COLLABORATE -COMMUNICATE

Choose: ICP Flow of Materials ICP Fuel Water Food Supplies Recycling / Donation Waste / Grey Water Emissions Cache / Host Unit

Collaborate: Sphere of Influence Camp Crew Team Members Firefighters Host Unit Contractors Branch Members You! Buying Team NIFC Ask…

Communicate  Connect the Dots – lack of communication is biggest hurdle to successful sustainable operations at camp  IAP  Shift Briefings  DETAILED signs  Inform branch staff  DETAILED purchase requests  One-on-one interaction

Moving Forward: Fire Season 2011  What are you already doing to improve sustainability at camp?  What can you do this season to improve sustainable operations?  How can we help you?

Thanks for Listening New address: