Wildland Fire Crews

During the 2005 fire season, two wildland fire crews from New Hampshire were involved in fighting wildland fires in Quebec, Canada. New Hampshire also dispatched several single resources to help with wildfires as well as to assist with hurricane relief efforts. One crew went to  Idaho.

Purpose

New Hampshire makes available wildland fire fighting forces to support the national effort to suppress wildland fires to protect lives, personal property and natural resources. This national mobilization effort provides valuable training opportunities for career-oriented fire fighters. Out-of-state fire fighting assignments benefits New Hampshire by increasing the fire fighting skills, techniques and preparedness of our New Hampshire crews.

Background

The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Protection Bureau has participated in the national mobilization of wildland fire fighting crews since 1975, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Crews and single resources have been dispatched to many states over the years crisscrossing the nation. Requests for and coordination of resources (crews, overhead, engines, equipment) comes through the U.S. Forest Service. The Division staffs and maintains support functions for a mobilization center at the Manchester airport. The center facilitates the movement of crews and personnel from all New England states and New York to other points throughout the country where fire fighting help is needed.

Training and Qualifications

To be a part of the New Hampshire wildland fire crews individuals must meet the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of the full 24-hour S-130/190, L-180, and I-100 class.
2. Successfully complete the "work capacity test". The work capacity test also known as the pack test, requires walking three miles in 45 minutes with a 45 pound pack.  This test must be completed annually.

A new federal requirement for our AD people is that all must have IS-700.  This class is offered at the NH Fire Academy and can also be taken online at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp.  A copy of your certificate will need to be on file in the Concord office.  All personnel from Strike Team Leader/Unit Leader and above will also be required to have IS-800 also.

Annual Qualifications

Every qualified individual must pass the physical (work capacity test) requirements each year plus take the annual fire crew refresher. Both are generally scheduled together for convenience. Four to six days are scheduled each year for all qualified fire fighters to re-qualify and to receive updated information and/or training.

Annual qualifications are held at various locations across the State of New Hampshire. For fire fighters that have not been out-of-state on a fire crew or have not been out in the last five years are required to attend a "fire crew orientation" held on a week end in June.

New Applicant

Any new applicant must provide the agency with copies of their certificates showing completion of S-130, S-190, L-180, I-100, and FEMA class IS-700 prior to being accepted for the fire crew program.  

All new applicants must provide three letters of reference addressed either to Capt. John Dodge or Chief Brad Simpkins.  One letter shall be from that person's town Forest Fire Warden, one letter shall be from that person's district Forest Ranger, and one letter may be from a third party of the applicant's choosing.  The purpose of the letters is to show the applicant's experience & background as a wildland firefighter as well as to highlight the applicant's suitability for a multi-week out-of-state or out-of-country firefighting assignment.  

Firefighter applicants that do not reside in New Hampshire may be accepted provided that one letter of reference is from that state's wildland Fire Supervisor and two other letters from persons of the applicant's choosing are received by the May 30th deadline.  

All new applicants shall submit reference letters to the agency no later than May 30 of each calendar year.  This will constitute that person's RSVP for the S-110 class.  No new applicant who has not submitted the required three letters of reference will be allowed to continue through the S-110 process; the course is open to veteran members as an alternative to their annual WCT/RT-130 requirement.  

All new applicants shall attend the agency-sponsored S-110 fire crew orientation to be held in late June at a location to be announced.  

Any applicant may take any agency sponsored Work Capacity Test and Safety Refresher (RT-130) at any agency-posted session.  A full Work Capacity Test and RT-130 will also be delivered at the S-110 class. Firefighters must pass the Work Capacity Test at the 'arduous' level - carrying a 45-pound pack or vest over three miles in 45 minutes or less.  The test is pass/fail; for details on "PREPARING FOR THE TEST" please see the web page on 'work capacity testing'

General Information

The Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Protection Bureau, maintains a list of all qualified individuals that make themselves available to participate. When a dispatch call is received, individuals typically have 4-8 hours to assemble at the Forestry Warehouse at 5 Langdon Street, Concord. To be a member of a fire crew you must be able to make a two week to sixteen day commitment of time even though many assignments do not last that long in early spring or late fall. Individuals assigned to a fire crew will be issued personal protective equipment when they arrive at the Concord Warehouse.

2006 NH FIRE CREW PHOTOS!