1 powerpoint, 1 revision on assignment, 2 discussion questions, 4 student response

HM500: Crisis and Emergency Management

Unit 2 Discussion Question

Part 1: Topic: Out of Control Grass Fire

You are the director of emergency services for your community. The temperature outside is over 100 degrees, the humidity is only 17%, and the Santa Ana winds have begun to blow. At 10:15 a.m., a grass fire is reported and the local fire department is responding. As these first units arrive on scene they realize that the fire is out of control, and that homes are being threatened. 

The on-scene commander quickly calls for additional fire units and for the police to begin evacuating homes that are being threatened. By 1:30 p.m., the fire has grown 10 times its original size and continues out of control; several houses are in immediate danger, and all local resources are now exhausted. 

What steps would you take and when would you call for mutual aid? Additionally, at what point would you request federal assistance? Discuss the options available to you as the director of emergency services. Provide a thorough explanation of your choices.

Part 2: Respond to Student #1

Unit 2 Discussion - Out of Control Grass Fire

 

Kathryn Ostrom posted May 14, 2021 12:28 PM

 Hello Professor and Class, 

Due to the fire growing 10 times its original size, my first step would be calling for neighboring fire departments to assist in controlling the fire and helping to evacuate residence. It is important to asses which direction the wind is blowing to determine the direction the fire will continue to go until it is put out. If this did not at least slow the fire, this is when I would request federal assistance. "Federal responsibility for wildfire suppression is intended to protect lives, property, and resources on federal lands" (Hoover, 2019). Due to the fire continuing to grow and local response not being able to control it, to ensure lives are protected it would be important to call for federal assistance. They would be able to help with controlling the fire, evacuation of residence, and additional resources for individuals who have had to leave their homes. 

Thank you, 

Kathryn Ostrom 

Hoover, K. (2019, July 11). Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery.                     Congressional Research Service.                                                                                               https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/IF10732.pdf

Part 2: Respond to Student #2

Unit 2 Discussion

 

Matthew Burdette posted May 14, 2021 11:25 PM

 There are a few steps that I would take when deciding to call for mutual aid. After assessing the situation, I would identify the resources and agencies available to me. I can do this by reviewing my state’s Mission Ready Package or MRP. FEMA (2017) explained the MRP as “a specific mechanism that uses NIMS resource typing criteria to describe expected mission parameters and select the resources” (p. 12). This document would provide me with the information such as a mission statement, a description of any conditions that could affect the situation, a description of logistics such as types of resources, space, and money to finish the mission, and estimated costs (FEMA, 2017).

After addressing the immediate needs of fighting the fire, itself, and getting people out of harm’s way, I would establish shelters to care for displaced residents and business owners. In California’s back country, there are many resorts, campgrounds, and recreational sites that would potentially need to be alerted and evacuated. Sources of mutual aid might include the California Department of Natural Resources, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the Red Cross, municipal fire departments, and local and county EMA offices. Federal mutual assistance at this point might come from the U.S. Department of the Interior for assistance in any national park areas, and of course, the National Weather Association.

Since the Santa Ana winds are a factor in this scenario, placing fire crews in front of the fire to contain it are going to be a priority for issuing early alerts and completing any foreseen evacuations in the fire’s path. The major plan of attack would be a ground defense. According to Fovell (2002), “The winds create turbulence and establish vertical wind shear (in which winds exhibit substantial change in speed and/or direction with height), both posing aviation hazards.” Fighting the fire by aircraft would be extremely risky. I would then be able to call in available ground crews and make the required inventories of the resources as required by NIMS resource typing.  “An Incident Commander makes initial and ongoing assessments of resource requirements and requests additional resources as needed with specific guidance on exact reporting location (e.g., U.S. National Grid, latitude and longitude)” (FEMA, 2017, p. 13).

I would engage in other processes such as mobilizing and demobilizing resources, developing performance standards and metrics, developing plans for health and safety, establishing rules of engagement, and completing necessary reports and documentation (FEMA, 2017).

At any step, the Incident Commander could contact the governor to request federal assistance. The governor would then request the President of the United States to review the situation and assign federal assistance. For a fire of this scale, the governor might request federal funds to rebuild any homes or businesses that were lost.

References

Fovell, R. (2002). The Santa Ana Winds, Robert Fovell’s home page.  http://people.atmos.ucla.edu/fovell/ASother/mm5/SantaAna/winds.html

 

National incident management system guideline for mutual aid, (2017, November). FEMA. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_nims_mutual_aid_guideline_20171105.pdf