Cross posted to the discussion group in case there is a response
Louis,
No. It defines who has primary responsibility.
Locals are either part of the initial response or are OFTEN called in by written contract or mutual threat zone agreements or on mutual aid requests (closest resource means the CLOSEST resource). The locals may or may not stay for the duration in a campaign (extended) fire; it depends on who pays, available cover staffing ability and it can be complex.
Some background info for others on the list:
As a large fire draws from local (CDF or not) resources, you’ll hear ‘move up’ orders from surrounding areas (eventually the entire state if the event is large enough) to backfill the created vacuum (uncovered stations). The move ups will generally NOT be local agencies (from extended areas) unless their order goes out under the OES blanket (an entirely different operation now slightly more confusing because OES and CDF are intertwined now). The common term for a group of locals in a strike team configuration is a ‘Rainbow’ team because they’re a blend of different agencies, not one fire agency (though the training and experience may be exactly the same as say CDF).
Move ups may be for cover, staging (expectations of more events or needs) or single unit resources (an engine, a water tender etc.) to fill a specific need. More than not, it will be a strike team configuration because the logistics are simpler, which reduces reflex time the cost and if it REALLY hits the fan, you’ve got a compact, organized ‘package’ on the road already (further reduced reflex time).
Logistics is simpler because of ‘span of control’ requirements (the ability to effectively manage groups). No one person handles more than X number of people (5 is the usual rule, but it can vary a little). Each of those people only deals with X subordinates (again 5 is common). It pyramids down to the ground troops (one strike team leader deals with 5 engines). If an IC orders a strike team of engines, that IC talks to ONE strike team leader, not 5 engines with 2-4 people in each engine (which would be unmanageable).
LRA = local responsibility area (city, township or county etc. providing their own coverage [NOT a contract county obligation])
SRA = state responsibility area (unincorporated wildland area not LRA; state parks; non-Federal lands)
FRA = Federal Responsibility area; NPS, BLM, BIA, USFS etc.
Extended fire = beyond one burning period (one day, defined by sunset)
CDF is responsible for ALL (non-Federal) wildland areas in the state; except LRA. Counties may be a ‘contract county’. Contract counties have written contracts with CDF for the county to provide coverage of SRA lands (for a fee) in place of CDF (for a percentage of what it would cost CDF to provide basic services). When I started my career, there were nine such counties in the state (mid 70’s); when I left (2006) there were eight (CA has 58 counties).
And it’s sad to say, but the truth is that some agencies could (still) use better interagency cooperation. There are different fire management styles (‘put the fire OUT’ vs ‘management’ [grrr, bad words]) and some of the higher tiered (Federal) agencies still have severe cranial rectumitus when working with others.
On the other hand, this ‘in a nutshell’ shows you how complex it really is. Which reminds me of the quote: “It’s not that the bear dances so well, but that it dances at all”. Kinda like Microsoft on steroids, or is that where they learned it? ;p
Rick
From: Louis N. Molino, Sr.
If a fire is in the SRA does that mean only state level or above (federal) assets can be used? No locals?
Louis N. Molino, Sr.
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