from www.eskimo.com/~joelm/fire/dnrengine.html - last updated 24 December ?1997
Washington State Department of Natural Resources Engine Operations - by Joel McNamara
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for wildland fire protection on 2.5 million acres of public land, and more than 10 million acres of private land in Washington state. Because very little of this land is true wilderness, and roads of varying quality provide access, the DNR relies heavily on engine operations during fire season. In 1997, 114 initial attack engines were deployed throughout the state. According to Chuck Frame, a regional DNR fire manager, "the DNR is really one very large engine company."
Washington Topography and Climate
Before taking a detailed look at DNR engine operations, it's helpful to understand a little about the local topography and climate. Both have an impact on the types of engines the DNR uses and how they are marshaled.
Washington is divided into two distinct fire zones. The less populated "Eastside" is east of the Cascade Mountains and extends into the Columbia River Basin. Ponderosa and lodgepole pine forests and sage and grasses make up the primary fuel types. The area is dry, with high temperatures, low humidity, and frequent lightning in the summer. The terrain ranges from flat plains to mountainous. This zone gets most of state's fires, especially during multiple-year droughts or episodes of strong, down slope winds.
The "Westside" is the region west of the Cascade Mountains extending out to the coast. This is the wet side of the state and contains the largest population densities with more urban concentrations. Higher precipitation amounts produce Douglas fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce forests. Prevailing winds are from the south/southwest. East winds are associated with high potential fire activity, with wind driven fires usually occurring in the Fall, but possible any time of the year.
Washington's economy has been booming in recent years, and both sides of the state are experiencing increased population growth, with large scale development in urban interface zones. There are also unnatural accumulations of fuel due to fire exclusion, particularly in Eastside ponderosa pine forests. These factors, combined with unburned timber from storms and dry winter conditions brought on by El Nino, present the DNR with potentially significant challenges in future fire seasons.
DNR Engines
The DNR divides the state up into seven regions, with smaller districts within a region. Regions and districts are allocated engines, the number and type determined by geographic boundaries and historical fire activity. There are two primary types of engines in the current fleet.
Type 6 engines are called the A1S model, and are based on 11,000 to 12,000 pound gross vehicle weight (GVW) flat bed trucks. Powered by fuel injected, V8 engines, these 4x4 Ford and Chevrolet trucks are at home either on or off-road. The engines have 240 gallon fiberglass tanks, and are outfitted with Wajax-Pacific B2-11 pumps.
Type 5 engines, known as the H5S, are two wheel drive, 6 cylinder, diesel powered Internationals. With a 25,000 pound GVW, these engines have a Wajax-Pacific BB-4 pump and carry 620 gallons of water. While not as nimble as the A1S, the larger rigs are capable of operating on unpaved roads and limited off-road terrain.
In terms of numbers, there is about a 50/50 mix of Type 5s and 6s in the DNR fleet of 114 engines. Most of the A1S engines are located on the Eastside, where 4 wheel drive is useful due to the terrain and lack of roads. Conversely, the Westside has most of the H5S engines, because of a greater number of established roads.
Although not considered engines, the fleet also has about 60 pickup trucks that can be used for patrol purposes (outfitted with 50 to 150 gallon tanks and BE pumps), and fifteen 2,000 gallon water tenders.
The DNR's approach to buying and maintaining its engines is designed to be highly cost effective. Instead of purchasing commercially manufactured engines, the agency makes their own. A fully equipped shop at the DNR's Olympia Compound, has welding, metal work, painting, body work, mechanical repair, and testing facilities.
Acquiring new engines starts with buying fleet quantity chassis and cabs that meet the agency's specifications. Decks, tanks, pumps, and foam proportioners are installed at the shop, then everything is wired, plumbed, and tested. Aside from saving between $6,000 to $10,000 per engine, the finished products show a high level of quality. The shop employees' work reflects old-world, pride of craftsmanship.
In addition to routine maintenance and repair, the agency also has an innovative "rehab" program. Engines are "rehabbed" every ten years. This means the deck, boxes, pump, tank, foam unit, and plumbing are pulled from the old engine, refurbished, then placed on a new chassis and cab. The result is an engine that looks factory new. As engines approach ten years in age, they are prioritized as to their need of refurbishing. Because of scheduled preventive maintenance, typically only 60 to 70% of eligible engines need to go through rehab after ten years. The 11 person shop can rehab about 20 engines each year. Mark Olander, the Assistant Equipment Fund Manager, says that with the program, an engine that's gone through rehab, is anywhere from 50 to 60% the cost of a new engine. With the average engine going through two to three, 10 year rehab cycles, this gives the agency significant long term savings.
Engine Equipment
The DNR has a fire equipment committee that develops standards for the type of equipment carried on its engines. Minimum equipment lists are used to ensure engines are well stocked to effectively and safely deal with initial attack, mop-up, and non-fire operations. Typical equipment includes:
� The amount of hose carried varies from engine to engine, but a typical load on an H5S consists of 800 feet of 1�", 1000 feet of 1", and 250 feet of �" toy hose. Hose is kept rolled, although some crews are using starting to use hose packs. An additional 100 to 300 feet of 1" is kept on top for engine protection. Engines with live reel lines are common on the Eastside, but are rare west of the Cascades.
� The DNR uses � turn fittings on its hose. Although incompatible with Federal agency NST fittings, both DNR and local Forest Service rigs carry adapters so each other's hose can be used during interagency fires.
� Progressive hose lays are typically used during initial attack, with take-offs or gated Ys used in each 100 foot section of the first 300 feet of hose. A collection of nozzles and fittings are kept in a canvas initial attack bag, which is carried by the crew person doing the hose lay.
� DNR fire fighting doctrine stresses the use of foam during initial attack. Engines are equipped with a Flow Mix 500 foam proportioner, two, five gallon jugs of foam concentrate, and several foam nozzles.
� Each rig has a portable pump. Typically a Wajax-Pacific Mk 3, although some engines carry Homelite volume pumps. The portable pump is used to refill the tank or in case the primary pump fails, act as a back-up supply with a hard suction line inserted down the tank's top refill outlet. Gravity socks are also carried for supply, as well as 2 to 3 bladder bags for attack and mop-up.
� Pulaskis, shovels, adze hoes, combi-tools, Swede axes, and single-bit axes fill an engine's hand tool boxes. McLeods are encountered mostly on the Eastside.
� Stihl 029s are the chainsaw of choice on most engines. Accessories include Kevlar chaps, goggles, tools, fuel, and bar oil.
� Firing devices consist of two drip torches and at least a dozen fusses. Because of the wetter climate, drip torches are favored over fusses on the Westside.
� While hydrant wrenches and adapters may be carried, DNR engine crews don't engage in structural fire fighting, unless it's exterior protection of a building. SCBAs and bunker gear are left to local fire departments.
Engine Crews
The DNR has 500 permanent employees with red-card endorsements to fight fires. The agency considers itself the largest volunteer fire department in the state. While there are a relatively small number of dedicated fire management jobs, foresters, biologists, receptionists and others leave their normal jobs and head for the fireline when dispatched. Engines are the domain of seasonal crews though, with around 300 firefighters hired each summer. Like other agencies, most are college students that serve for several years, with a few semi-permanent people that return season after season.
Engines are staffed mostly by two person crews (the DNR used to field three person crews, but legislative budget cuts reduced their numbers). The engine leader is typically the driver/operator, while the crew member performs initial attack duties. When an engine is dispatched out of region, particularly to a project fire, a third crew member goes along. This is often a permanent DNR employee who has expressed an interest in serving on a crew. Seasonal crews are managed by permanent staff, usually a forester with extensive fire experience. Fire season typically runs from June 15 to October 1.
New crew members get their red cards and become Firefighter IIs after attending a week long interagency "Guard School." While the rookies are being trained, crew members with previous experience may be sent to Engine Leader Academy for a week, to prepare them for commanding an engine. Topics covered include defensive driving, pump maintenance, hydraulics, and initial attack tactics. In addition, each region also has a week long training program for both new and experienced crews.
While crew physical requirements within districts have varied, the DNR hasn't had a standardized physical test for its firefighters. This may change in 1998, if the agency formally adopts the "3 miles in 45 minutes/45 pound pack" test. The test was used at the beginning of the 1997 season as an unofficial measure of fitness for both engine crews and red-carded, permanent employees.
A typical day for an engine crew runs from 0930 to 1800, with two days off each week. It starts with morning PT and includes project work (trail maintenance, thinning, assisting with timber sales, etc.), equipment maintenance, and drills. Interagency training with the Forest Service and local fire departments varies from district to district, depending mostly on relationships built by the engine leader and district crew manager.
When responding to a fire, engines are dispatched from regional DNR communications centers. An engine's primary area of operation is first within its home district, and then within the region. Depending on the size of the reported fire, one or two engines are initially sent to investigate and if necessary, begin an initial attack. Engine leaders are given a fair amount of autonomy within their home areas, and as incident commanders, can call in additional engines, hand crews, dozers, and helicopters.
Engines can be sent anywhere in the state depending on the need. Project fires are the most common out of area dispatch and large lightning busts on the Eastside will usually get one or two 5 engine strike teams from the Westside sent over to help. DNR engines also can be dispatched outside the state. A number of engines worked in Oregon during the 1996 season. While crews can be dispatched to large fires for up to 21 days, the agency tries to limit maximum commitments to between 10 and 14 days.
During fire season, engines are parked either at the engine leader's residence, district garage, or at local fire department facilities. The goal is to have engines strategically placed to quickly respond to district fires reported off-hours. Off season, engines are winterized and garaged, with a few kept in reserve for use by permanent staff during winter and spring fires.
John Viada, the DNR's Emergency Operations Administrator, says the DNR relies on a "closest forces available" strategy. The unofficial goal is to have agency engines on scene within thirty five minutes of a reported fire. From an interagency standpoint, there is co-operation between the Forest Service and DNR, with engines from both agencies dispatched on a case-by-case basis to non-project fires.
The DNR has a good working relationship with local fire districts. There are numerous joint contracts, where the agency provides wildland fire fighting support to districts, and the districts provide trained personnel and equipment to the DNR during large fires. The agency also supplies fire districts with training and surplus Federal vehicles to be used for fire fighting through the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program.
DNR Funding Sources
The DNR relies on a variety of funding sources to keep its engines staffed and running. The agency has undergone a series of legislative budget cuts over the past few years. This has impacted the fire program, including decreased money for prevention activities and cutting the number of crew on engines from three to two.
The agency's situation is unique, in that most of the land it protects is owned and managed by others. A Forest Protection Assessment of 22 cents per acre (or $14 per parcel on land under 50 acres) is levied on private and state forest land holders to provide DNR fire protection. This accounts for approximately 87 percent of the agency's fire management funding. The remaining 13% comes from Federal and state general funds. In all, this adds up to around $17 million for the current biennium.
Funding for fire suppression comes out of the state general fund and land owner contingency funds. Westside land owners are taxed 9.4 cents per acre or .94 cents per parcel. Eastside property owners are taxed 4.1 cents per acre or 40 cents per parcel. In all, approximately $7 million is set aside for suppression activities for the current biennium. In the event of a severe fire season, the agency has been successful in getting additional funds from the legislature to ensure suppression needs are met.
Money for vehicles is separate, and comes from a non-budgeted, non-appropriated fund. This revolving capital fund is similar to an internal leasing agreement, with engines and other equipment actually owned by the fund. With a planned replacement program as part of the fund, the agency has found this to be an effective and efficient way of maintaining the long term integrity of over 13,000 vehicles.
For more information on the DNR, use a Web browser to go to: http://www.wa.gov/dnr/
Joel McNamara is a volunteer firefighter/EMT for King County Fire District 45. Last season he was a DNR engine leader. His e-mail address is: joelm@eskimo.com
Copyright 1997, Joel McNamara