These comments were not organized in any particular fashion

Document Author

Erik Litzenbert

These comments were not organized in any particular fashion. They were written down when heard from the participants. As little paraphrasing as possible has been done to the original comments (but my hands could only move so fast). Scenarios were provided in order to jog your memory; many of the same comments were heard during multiple scenarios but only included in one to save my writing hand. Sorry if this offends anyone. It’s all for the sake of learning and getting better.

In attendance:

SFCSO – Greg Solano

SFCFD – Milt Moomaw, Kimmet Holland, Jane McSweeney, Sten Johnson, Jim Lovell,

Mike Neely, Reed Shelton, Hank Blackwell, Bill McSweeney, John Wheeler, Stan Holden

SFFD – Ed Rael, Wayne Mueller, Carlos Nava, Chris Rivera, Randy Neumann, Gerald

Mendez, Mark Marquez, Shelley Rossbach, Erik Litzenberg, Porfirio Chavarria

RECC – David Archuleta, Daniel Segura, Jeanete R Sandoval, Jovannah Sandoval,

Becky Martinez

NMSF – Steve Mullis

USFS – Tom Johnston, Lawrence Garcia, Nando Lucero, David Isackson, Pat Velasco

SF OEM – Martin Vigil

Redfish Group – Josh Thorp, Owen Densmore, Stephen Guerin

Scenario 1:

Basic description – structure fire extending into wildland urban interface (WUI)

Summary of actions – Initially response as to structure fire, requested second alarm,

aggressive initial search changed to defensive, Wildland Level 1 activation.

Comments

Easy to be overwhelmed early

Activate Wildland Level 1, putting it on “standby” will just confuse things

Law enforcement should be requested early to facilitate movement of people

If evacuation is probable we need a pre-plan. Is there a plan…probably not

There’s a fine line between single agency response and multi-agency needs

Once focus was gained it was clearer what needed to be done

It would be helpful for RECC to be involved from the beginning for organization

Scenario 2:

Basic description – Brush Level response in WUI.

Summary of actions – Initial page, once on scene quickly asked for regional tone, then

quickly upgraded to Wildland Level 1 and subsequently Wildland Level 2 response. E602 self dispatched and was used as resource by IC. Sheriff dispatched to assist with evacuations and perimeter control.

Comments:

Easy to be overwhelmed by growing response, span of control the key

Air resources were ordered, but not confirmed to NMSF. All air resources

requested by SFCFD will be double checked by Santa Fe Zone through NMSF before ordering per Ops Plan

Scenario paused and group refocused

Scenario 3:

Basic description – Scenario 2 continued after pause and refocus

Summary of actions – ICP clearly established, NIMS terminology used to reorganize

with A,B,D Divisions, Ops Section Chief added, Staging Area manager added, SF OEM activated, eventually IC was turned over to ICT3 from NMSF, air resources ordered and fire attack more aggressively, Type 3 IMT 45 minutes out.

Comments:

The span of control was much better

Communications began once the reorganization took effect

Thins seemed busier but more organized

Command should have been handed to ICT3 earlier

Smooth transition to Type 3 IMT would occur due to solid organization

ICT3 helped, a Type 3 IMT would help even more

Air resources were worked well once the connection with NMSF was made

RECC would need to work closely with Santa Fe Zone if this were real

Everyone should know the Ops Plan

ICP and Staging were clearly established

The more established command structure worked well

Visual props such as IMT vests were helpful to keeping organized

Scenario 4:

Basic description – Fire in the forest coming into Santa Fe City and County.

Summary of actions – IC established, engaged available resources, asked for additional

air resources, secured communications, activated Wildland Level 2 response, requested Santa Fe City and County duty officers to report to ICP, requested Type 3 IMT, requested evacuations, met with duty officers to organize, initiated coordinated attack using NIMS.

Comments:

Report from IC was great

Groups brought together for briefings well

Relatively well organized, with City and County comprising separate divisions

Staging was secured

IC communicated well to incoming and utilized resources

ICS/NIMS/visual props essential for scene management

Emergency management brings a lot of federal and state resources, activate early

Remember the Farber, it helps with unified command

Remember the capabilities and limitations of RECC and Santa Fe Zone

Priority has always got to be safety, us then the public

Communication of strategies and tactics is essential

Whether to engage or disengage had got to be dictated by safety and values at risk

Staging is good for accountability

Know your own capabilities and those of your crews, communicate problems

IC can only be in one place, set up the system to spread your umbrella of control

RECC wants to work with Santa Fe Zone to make seamless communications

Air resource comments:

USFS tries not to fly buckets over people

A ground contact is essential

Air Attack is like an air traffic controller once established

In WUI, rotor wings are rare, fixed wing more likely (SEAT)

Evacuation comments:

SF Rodeo Grounds is automatic reporting location

Red Cross will be at Rodeo for registration

Animals can be brought, there will be vets, food, water

VOAD, Salvation Amy, Food Depot, amateur radio will be activated

All of this can take weight off the IC/IMT