Marin County Fire Department: Fire Crew - Blog http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/AllItems.aspx RSS feed for the Fire Crew - Blog list. Marin County Fire Department Kenneth Massucco, Fire Chief Todd Lando, Engineer Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:37:04 GMT Windows SharePoint Services V3 RSS Generator 5 Marin County Fire Department: Fire Crew - Blog http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/MCFD%20Image%20Gallery/MCFD_logo.gif http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/AllItems.aspx Rattlesnake Fire Staff Ride http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=42 Body:

On July 24, the Tam Fire Crew drove to the Mendocino National Forest to participate in the Rattlesnake Fire Staff Ride.  This annual event is a training event to learn from the tragic fire that burned 15 firefighters in 1953.  The area has been preserved as a training site by the United States Forest Service.  The crew downloaded maps and lesson plans from the Wildland Firefighter Leadership website http://www.fireleadership.gov to use in the training.  Discussions were focused at:

 

  • Fuel classifications from the valley floor to above the tree line found throughout the state.
  • Diurnal weather patterns and how they play out on a daily basis.
  • Localized weather patterns and how they affected the fire in 1953.  Weather was taken at every stop along the ride.
  • Proper size up and reports on conditions.  A few of our firefighters were put in the hot seat to give a report on the Rattlesnake Fire. We tied this into resource ordering for types and kind of equipment.
  • Tactics and strategy on the Rattlesnake Fire and how things may be different today.
  • Communications then and now.
  • Proper briefing of resources when they come to a fire and the importance of the Interagency Resource Pocket Guide.
  • The decision making process as a crew.  Leaders and informal leaders and how to avoid groupthink .
  • Even when we take breaks and the fire isn't doing anything, we still need to maintain LCES.

 Rattlesnake Fire Staff Ride

]]> Tim Walsh Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:07:45 GMT http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=42 San Quentin State Prison Training http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=41 Body:
The Tam Fire Crew trained inmate firefighters at the San Quentin State Prison.  The focus of the training was handline construction, handtool use, and handtool maintenance.  After the classroom portion of the class, the TFC demonstrated handline construction cutting three foot line up a grass covered slope.  After the demonstration, the inmate firefighters cut line.  After they demonstrated working knowledge, the TFC joined the San Quentin Firefighters with 24 people cutting line very quickly upslope.  The morning was fishished with the crew demonstrating how to sharpen handtools in the field.
 
Training at San Quentin
]]> Tim Walsh Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:58:21 GMT http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=41 Skywalker Ranch Vegetation Management Project http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=40 Body:

The first vegetation management project of the year was implemented at Skywalker Ranch in Lucas Valley.  This project was an extension of the project performed last year to protect the ranch from a fire burning from Lucas Valley Road.  Two fires have threatened the Ranch over the last five years and left many dead trees from intense heat.  The area is also suffering from Sudden Oak Death with numerous trees that are dead or dying.

 

The goal of the fuelbreak was to cut from the bottom of the 2007 Fire up to a stringer of grass creating a 100-150 foot space of reduced fuel.  All of the understory brush was removed as well as the dead trees.  The result was an area where a fire burning up the slope will lose some of its intensity as it burns into the area of reduced vegetation.  When the fire reaches the fuelbreak, hopefully water drops from aircraft can hold the fire in check until ground crews can make access.  The fuelbreak is approximately 700 feet up a very steep hill and ties into the Stroyer Mountain Fire Road.  Another component of the project was to brush the road from the Ranch to Nicasio for fire equipment access.

 

Anthony Beltramo Teaches Tree Falling Skills

]]> Tim Walsh Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:50:16 GMT http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=40 Camp Parks Wildland Drill http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=39 Body:
On June 24, 2009, the Tam Fire Crew participated in the Camp Parks Wildland Drill held at Camp Parks North of Dublin.  The drill is designed to allow engine companies from the Bay Area to practice wildland fire evolutions such as hoselays, mobile attack, and handline construction.  The Tam Fire Crew was on hand to teach handline construction and to perform firing operations.
 
The drill was a two day event.  During the first day, the TFC taugh handline construction to two task forces of engines and then burned 10 acres of grass.  To reduce the cost of driving back and forth, the crew spiked out at Lake Chibot.  This gave the crew a chance to set up tents, have a camp fire, and eat MRE's.
 
The next morning, the crew fired 40 acres before 9:00 a.m. and then taught handline construction to two more task forces of engines.  The TFC would like to thank the Fremont Fire Department for the invitation to the drill and the East Bay Region Parks for the camping arrangements.
 
Camp Parks Wildland Drill
]]> Tim Walsh Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:47:48 GMT http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=39 Goat Grass Burn above Terra Linda http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=38 Body:
On June 17, 2009, the Tamalpais Fire Crew along with fire engines from Marin County, Novato, Ross Valley, and Marinwood conducted a prescribed burn along the Luiz Ranch Fire Road to reduce Goat Grass.  Goat Grass is a non-native invasive grass species.  The burn was conducted in cooperation with the Marin County Open Space District.
 
The project included cutting handline and placing hose around the 5 acre plot.  Firing was started at the top of the plot and brought down the hill.  The Marin County Fire Department would like to thank all of the cooperating agency for thier help with this burn.
 
Tam Fire Crew Firing
]]> Tim Walsh Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:33:27 GMT http://www.xmrfire.org/mrn/Lists/Fire Crew Blog/DispForm.aspx?ID=38