Title: Minimum Impact Strategies and Tactics
1Minimum Impact Strategies and Tactics
Managing Resources During Unplanned Ignitions
Workshop (Fire Resource Advisors) Ogden, Utah -
January 2009 Prepared by Suzanne Cable Moose
Creek Ranger District - Nez Perce National Forest
2Todays Discussion Includes
- Compilation of existing MIST information thanks
to - resources available on www.Wilderness.net
- Provided by the Arthur Carhart National
Wilderness Training Center
3Todays Discussion Includes
- Hints/suggestions for MIST success some art to
go along with the science - Some discussion of Wilderness specific issues
- Where to go for more information resources
4 Whats in an acronym?
- Minimum Impact Suppression Techniques or Tactics
(MIST) - Minimum Impact Management Tactics (MIMT)
- Minimum Impact Strategies and Tactics
- Same objective, changing name
- Key is Minimum Impact
5What does MIST mean?
- A few definitions from various sources
- To minimize fire suppression impacts on the land
while ensuring the actions taken are safe, timely
and effective - The intent of MIST is to suppress a wildfire with
the least impact to the land
6What does MIST mean?
- MIST is not intended to represent a separate or
distinct classification of firefighting tactics
but rather a mind set of how to suppress a
wildfire while minimizing the long-term effects
of the supression action - Ten years from now, which will be most
noticeable the effects of the fire or the
effects of the firefighter?
7What does MIST mean?
- My definition
- Techniques that will allow you to meet your fire
management objective while using Resource (or
Wilderness) appropriate methods resulting in the
minimum impact necessary
8Resource Benefits of MIST
- Less water quality degradation
- Less habitat destruction aquatic and terrestrial
- Less vegetation impacts
- Less introduction of exotic species
- Less soil compaction
- Less erosion
- Less visual impact stumps, fire line, retardant
stains
9Wilderness Considerations
- 1964 Wilderness Act, Wilderness values
- natural condition
- preservation of their Wilderness character
- untrammeled
- primeval character and influence
- managed so as to preserve its natural conditions
- generally appears to be affected by the forces of
nature - with the impact of mans work substantially
unnoticeable
10- Forest Service Manual
- 2324.23 Fire Management Activities. Conduct
all fire management activities within wilderness
in a manner compatible with overall wilderness
management objectives. Give preference to using
methods and equipment that cause the least - Alternation of the wilderness landscape.
- Disturbance to the land surface.
- Disturbance to visitor solitude.
- Reduction of visibility during periods of visitor
use. - Adverse effect on other air quality related
values.
11- 2324.23 Fire Management Activities. continued
- Locate fire camps, helispots, and other temporary
facilities or improvements outside of the
wilderness boundary whenever feasible. -
- Rehabilitate disturbed areas within wilderness to
as natural an appearance as possible.
12What helps MIST succeed?
- Skilled firefighters with the
- right tools,
- good leadership, and
- a willing attitude
13What helps MIST succeed?
- Try to put yourself in the firefighters place
see if from their perspective
14What helps MIST succeed?
- Be a good READ build your credibility, gain
experience on the line, maintain your FFT2
qualifications (if possible)
15When does MIST apply?
- Anytime and anywhere people or tools touch the
ground or are dropped from the air! - It includes all human activities
16What Size Fires Need MIST?
- Type IV small incidents through Type I teams
- Get help if you need it other resource
specialists, READ trainees
17Whats the role of the READ related to MIST?
- Represent your line officer by making sure that
your Resource is protected while a fire event is
being managed - Work with the IC and others fire personnel to
implement
18Whats the role of the READ related to MIST?
- Ask questions and provide options/advice
- Be there and be involved!
- Participate in the AAR
19Wilderness Specific Considerations
- Think long term dont disregard prohibitions on
motorized equipment and mechanical transport, but
see the big picture - When moto/mech is approved, provide specific
definition of what is authorized - Use when needed, but only when needed (chainsaws
for fire suppression vs. firewood at spike camp) - Helicopter for emergency medi-evac vs.
convenience for crew transport - Pumps for practice
- Tracking for INFRA Wild of intrusions
- Lack of skills or tools does not justify
moto/mech
20READ Tool Kit for MIST Success
- The Science Part
- Weather forecasts
- Fire history maps
- Forest fire behavior characteristics
- Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (Wilderness)
- Local requirements for MIST (in writing, signed)
- Plus all the other things in your READ kit
prepared in advance
21READ Tool Kit for MIST Success
- The People Part (or Art)
- A good relationship with your FMO, your Line
Officer, other specialists on your Forest - A patient, but persistent attitude
- Creative thinking
- The ability to think long term
- The ability to help make it happen
22MIST Tactics
- Without compromising firefighter or public
safety, MIST should be used for all fire
activities, including - Line construction or other containment actions
(including escape routes safety zones) - Crew and equipment transport, including heli-spot
construction - Structure Protection and fuel reduction
- Spike and coyote camps
- Mop-up
- Rehab work
23Firefighter and Public Safety
- It is a myth that MIST inherently compromises
safety - MIST and safety are compatible with skilled
firefighters - Support and commit to safety, but dont allow
safety to become an excuse for not using MIST - Know when the safety card is being played to
prevent the use of MIST tactics
24Firefighter and Public Safety
- How to know when its safe?
- Ultimately, its not your call one tactic does
not fit all - But you can
- Offer options
- Help crews obtain the skills they need
- Help fill gaps in skills for next time
25Line ConstructionHand Line
26or Machine Line
27Fire Line
- Work with the IC and others to
- Use natural and existing barriers rather than
line (rocks, roads, trails, rivers) - Locate line in minimal fuels
- Use only the width and depth necessary to halt
fire spread - Limb or fall only when necessary for safety and
to prevent fire spread
28Fire Line
- Consider widening minimal line by burning fuels
between the line and the fire (burn out) - Roll logs rather than buck, or reroute around
logs - Scrape fuels from the base of snags
- When building line, locate away from snags where
possible - Consider explosives
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31As Fuels Increase
- Look for use of natural barriers
- May need more intensive fireline
- Consider use of more intensive burn-out tactics
32Burn-outTactics
Burning out can be effective, but requires a
high degree of expertise
33Burn out can look like this
34Or possibly like this
35Burn Out Tactics
- When applied from natural barriers, burn out may
reduce the need to build handline - Burn out can be effective around private
in-holdings and during structure protection - Fire behavior may depend on the time of day
some MIST tactics may be more successful at
night/morning rather than during the day
36Crew and Equipment Transport
37Transport Considerations
- How will crews and equipment get there
- Need for speed
- Location
- Look for options
- Driving to road access
- Hiking on and off trail
- Rappelling
- Smokejumpers
- What are the impacts of each option?
- Long term vs. short term
38Helicopter Operations
- During planning consider the objectives
- If primarily for crew support
- Use paracargo?
- Use longline?
- Or can you use stock?
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40Helicopter Operations
- If primarily used for crew shuttles
- Use natural openings
- Avoid construction in high use areas
- Are there other sites within reasonable walking
distance? - Provide specific instructions for construction
41Heli-spots
Good heli-spots are found not made
42- Insert slides of Cedar Fire
43Heli-spot Construction
- Flush cut stumps
- Limit bucking and limbing
- Use directional falling so trees will be
crisscrossed in a more naturally appearing
arrangement - Think rehab from the start
- BE THERE!
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46Structure Protection
47Structure Protection
- MIST considerations
- Have plans in place and equipment cached
- Consult with Heritage specialists on historic
structures - How to not damage structures while protecting
them? - How to best use water?
- Keep track of what is installed and where for
efficient removal
48Structure protection may look like this
49 50 51 52- Try to use water when possible to minimize damage
to buildings - Only wrap whats needed
53- Be prepared for living with protection in place
54Structure Protection
- When vegetation removal is needed, provide clear
direction for - Low stumping
- Slash dispersal
- Type of tools used (W motorized?)
- Consider trade-offs for each unique structure
between use of water, pumps, vegetation removal,
wrapping
55Precautions Around Water
- Avoid use of retardants and other chemicals near
live streams - (W or at all?)
- Provide spill prevention and containment measures
for all pumps and fuel containers - Use longer draft hoses
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57 58Spike Camp Management
59Crew activities
Eating Sleeping Sanitation Socializing
60Camp Management
- Evaluate coyote camp impacts vs. travel
- Get a camp manager
- Provide specific instructions for camp management
and monitor results - Use existing and impact resistant sites
61Camp Management
- Be involved in site selection
- Be there before the crew shows up
- Flag travel routes from camp to other areas to
minimize user trails - Designate areas for washing, keep pollutants out
of surface water
62- Avoid clearing and trenching and no bough beds
63- Locate latrines at least 200 from water and at
least 8 deep - Use a trench (shallow) or communal pit (deep)
thats filled in and rehabbed
64- Plan ahead and prepare for toilet options
- Have equipment already on your unit and ready for
use
65- Properly store wildlife (bear) attractants
- Plan for garbage removal
66- Provide instructions for campfires and firewood
cutting
67- Look for creative solutions
68Mop Up
69Mop Up Considerations
- Mop-up standards are negotiated
- Strive for the minimum necessary to secure the
line from escape - The standard is a balance between resource values
and mitigation for safety - Minimizing mop-up impacts requires longer
patrolling
70Mop Up Techniques
- Use cold trailing
- Use water rather than tools
- Minimize soil disturbance
- Cool, remove or burn fuels
- Allow fuels to burn out
- Fire line around problems rather than fall
71Tree Removal
- During mop-up
- Identify hazards with flagging or glow sticks
- Extinguish burning trees with water or dirt
- Prohibit sport felling or practice felling
- Consider blasting
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73Weeds
- Prevent introduction or spread of weeds
- Locate helibases and camps in weed-free areas,
when possible - If camps have weeds, flag off areas and establish
travel routes through weed-free areas - Power wash all equipment used on the fire
(including hose) going in and out - Minimize disturbance areas, including hand line
74Rehabilitation
75Fire Management Impacts Rehab
- The objective is to mitigate or eliminate
resource damage to as natural a condition as
possible - Use locally appropriate methods think long term
consider precipitation, elevation, slope,
aspect, etc. - The standards applied can significantly affect
the cost of a fire include costs on the fires
code
76Rehab of Fire Line
- Fill in berms and provide drainage, if necessary
- Scatter bone piles
- Flush cut stumps or hand fuzz
- Naturalize
- Be prepared to demonstrate what you mean
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84- Provide instructions for flush cutting and stump
scoring
85Hand Fuzzing
86Heli-spot Rehab
- Fuzz stumps and log ends
- Reposition downed logs for distribution across
the site - Use targeted, explosive blasts to create
microhabitat depressions - Pull flagging
- Rehab access trails
87Pulling trees into the cleared landing pad with a
hand-operated grip hoist
88The Landing Pad
Before
After
89Targeted, explosive blasts to create microhabitat
depressions
Rehab after the blast
After the blast
90- Structure protection
- Remove staples from buildings
- Pump sites rehab site impacts
- Hose lays rehab trails along hoses
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92- Spike Camps
- Cover latrine
- Pick up all litter and naturalize
- ICP, Staging Areas and Drop Points
- Rehab as locally appropriate
- Pick up all litter and naturalize
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103How to make MIST work
- Theres more than one way to do almost
everything! - Ask the questions and provide options
- Is this necessary to meet objectives?
- If so, whats the best way to do it with the
least impact?
Firefighters under stress often do what theyve
done before and may not think of better ways to
do a task try to help them find a better way
104How to go from words to actions
- Not only offer suggestions for how, but be
prepared and able to explain why - Be there and everywhere get help if you need it
(READ trainees and technical specialists) - Be prepared to get dirty
105How to go from words to actions
- Know your line officer and stay within their
limits - Help firefighters be successful by doing whats
necessary to make it work - Helicopters vs. Stock Support
- Toilets for proper camps sanitation
- W Cross cut saw training equipment
106Proactive ways help MIST happen
- Check out your areas standard Delegation of
Authority letter is MIST in there? - Provide MIST training to your local ICs and crews
before the season begins - Share the burden challenge
- Remind them that MIST is their responsibility
- Challenge crews to do good work
- Remind ICs that they are responsible for the
actions of their subordinates and that they will
be held accountable for both successes and
failures
107Crossing the Line How is Wilderness Different?
- Your success will be measured not only by your
management of the fire, but also by the impacts
you leave behind. - Following a fire, the effects of the fire may
be evident but the impacts of any management
actions should not be. - You become a Wilderness Manager
108Proactive ways help MIST happen
- Set up an annual meeting with other resource
specialists to review resource concerns (get info
in advance with a signature when appropriate) - Help identify tool and skills gaps and work with
your Fire organization to build the skills and
get the tools - Get on the agenda for Guard School and talk about
MIST fire line tactics are best learned before
firefighters are on the incident - Work with your fire shop to prepare a resource
map (values at risk) for your area
109Final suggestions
- Dont assume that experienced firefighters know
about MIST and will automatically do the right
thing (Smokejumpers and Hot Shots included) - Be especially alert with ICs from different
regions or agencies - Name request specific ICs that you know
understand MIST or your resource
110Final suggestions
- W some will ask for moto/mech approval just
because they can (and make the Line officer say
no) - Keep track of what people and equipment are where
to aid in rehab and monitoring - Start the rehab plan on day one
- On big fires, use all the resources you have
available get help from other specialists, use
their knowledge!
111Other suggestions?or lessons learned?
112Resources
- www.Wilderness.net Toolboxes, Fire Management
- There you will find
- Handbooks/pocketguides
- Guidelines/briefing papers
- Powerpoint presentations
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