Incident Prioritization, Resource Mobilization & Allocation An Overview of NW MAC Operations And Resource Allocation Strategies February 18, 2015

Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group PNWCG Mission: “PNWCG is established to further interagency coordination of wildland fire and fuels management for local, tribal, state and federal agencies to enhance firefighter safety and protect life, property, and natural resources.” February 18, USDA Forest Service-Washington Department of Natural Resources -USDOI Bureau of Land Management-Oregon Department of Forestry -USDOI Bureau of Indian Affairs-Washington State Fire Marshal -USDOI National Park Service-Oregon State Fire Marshal -USDOI Fish & Wildlife Service-Washington Fire Chiefs Association -Oregon Fire Chiefs Association

February 18, 2015 NW MAC Mission MAC provides a forum to discuss actions to be taken to ensure that an adequate number of resources are available to meet anticipated needs and to allocate those resources most efficiently during periods of shortage. NW MAC Representative is delegated authority by her/his agency administrator.

NW MAC NWCCMAC Support Decision-makers PL 4 & 5: Staffs MAC decision processes; Coordinates incident needs; Facilitates the MAC Daily Schedule; Coordinates implementation w/NWCC. Coordinates Unit & Emerging Incident needs; PL 1-3: Performs MAC Support functions. Implements MAC decisions at all PL’s. February 18, 2015

NW MAC NWCC MAC Support Unit Agency Administrator Unit FMO IC IMT Unit Dispatch Expanded Dispatch NW MAC Rep Agency Duty Officer Agency Administrator February 18, 2015

EOC National MAC Geo Area MAC Sub Geo MAC Initial Action Extended Attack/Escape Fire -Single Incident Mgt. Team -Unified Command -Area Command ISO NICC GACC INCREASING COMPLEXITY ICS MACS

INCIDENT PRIORITIZATION February 18, 2015

CategoryElementValue = 1Value = 3Value = 5Value Assigned Remarks Safety Firefighter Safety Low exposure and simple hazards. Moderate exposure with several hazardous conditions. High exposure that requires multiple mitigation strategies. Public Safety Low exposure or contact with the fire. Moderate public exposures to hazards. Trigger points established. Closures of highways and or evacuations are underway, or are likely. Communities and Structures Probability fire will impact residences or businesses within In 2 Days0 - 30%31 – 70%71 – 100% In 5 days0 - 30%31 – 70%71 – 100% Probability fire will impact community assets within In 2 Days0 - 30%31 – 70%71 – 100% In 5 days0 - 30%31 – 70%71 – 100% Probability fire will impact other structures within In 2 Days0 - 30%31 – 70%71 – 100% In 5 days0 - 30%31 – 70%71 – 100% Resource Values Impacts Impacts are acceptable A single resource value will be highly impacted or several values will be moderately impacted Likely impact to multiple values is very high Meeting Incident Objectives Difficulty Objectives are difficult to achieve or achievement of objectives imminent Objectives are moderately difficult to achieve. Objectives are easy to achieve. Timing to Meet >9days or < 2 days5-8 days2-4 days CategoryElementLowModerateHighRanking and Comments Social / Political Consideratio ns Complexity No controversy or media interest Some impacts which are generating controversy with internal and external contacts. High impacts are generating controversy with internal and external contacts. February 18, 2015

RESOURCE ALLOCATION STRATEGIES February 18, 2015

Five Allocation Strategies for Addressing chronic resource shortages— Lend-Lease Pre-positioning IMT Reserve Surge Task Force Reallocation February 18, 2015

Definition An agreement between IMT’s to allow for the use of their assigned resources on another incident for a short-term mission. Generally not to exceed one to three burning periods. Resource use validated each day. Why? Fills a critical short term operational need between incidents in close proximity. Allows Incident Commanders to share resources, increase efficiencies, and to simplify the process. Lend/Lease Fire #1Fire #2 February 18, 2015

Definition Mobilization of a resource(s) of a specific type and number, to a defined location, in anticipation of critical initial attack/extended attack. Authority to mobilize these resources rests with NWCC in concurrence with NW MAC. Why? Pre-identified resources are made available for prompt response within a sub-geographic area. Resources can be hosted at other incidents, at a local unit, or held in staging (and not at home). Resources provide the capability to enhance current initial/extended attack capability. Pre-Positioning Resources within NW Resources outside NW Pre-Position Location Fire #1 Fire #2 Fire #3 February 18, 2015

IMT Reserve NWMAC Resources within NW Resources outside NW Pre-Position Resources Preparedness Resources Reassigned Resources New Large Fire Definition A resource “package” assembled to provide an IMT with minimal capacity to achieve incident objectives. Why? Ensures some level of effectiveness for an IMT ordered to an incident. February 18, 2015

Definition The act of reassigning resources already “owned” by one incident to another, higher priority, incident. For comparison, allocation refers to the act of assigning to an incident resources that were previously unassigned. Why? Responds to the strategic management of a geographic area. Routes critical resources to the highest priority incident. NW MAC Lower Priority Fire/Mission Higher Priority Fire/Mission Resource Reallocation February 18, 2015

Surge Task Force NW MAC Critical Mission Specific Assignment Resources within NW Resources outside NW Pre-Position Location Preparedness Resources Reassigned Resources Definition Surge Task Forces are pre-identified suppression resources with overhead that can effectively and efficiently implement special mission operations in a 1 to 4 day time period. (See Handout) Why? Responds to the strategic management of a geographic area. Routes critical resources to the highest priority mission across all incidents.

February 18, 2015 Surge Task Force Request Mission task and how it is tied to incident strategy: Days needed to accomplish task Probability of Success (%) Consequence of not filling request Submitted by (IC/AC name) Date: This form is available at To ensure accomplishment of a critical mission, IC completes the STF request. NW MAC reviews/approves request and assembles the task force. STF is lend-leased to the requesting incident. STF time/tracking is maintained by NW MAC and the incident. When mission is accomplished, the STF is moved to the next critical mission or disbanded.

Redmond Mobilization Center (RAC Mob) Activated by NWCC per agreement with RAC. – Orders placed from NWCC to COIDC. – Low Level activation for self-sufficient resources needing little admin support. – High Level activation for high-use/non-self sufficient resource support. – Can be placed in stand-by mode or de-activated when not in use. February 18, 2015

Questions? See the following links for more information: Resource Allocation Strategies: NW MAC Operations Handbook: