Fire Season 2012

Fire Season 2012 is shaping up to be an above average year in many locations across the U.S.

Florida last year had a 32% increase in fires and is on tract to experience the same condition except for the Pan Handle which is in a little better shape.

Southwestern Idaho Wildfire experts are predicting an above average fire season due to lack of a large snow pack in the grass lands, and are encouraging people to take precaution to protect their homes.


Central/Southern California are also bracing for an elevated risk of wildfire between May and August, also adding to that situation is the fact that Cal Fire has reduced their seasonal firefighters from 3100 to 1700 due to budget cuts over the last couple of year.

Weather specialists are calling for warmer than normal temperatures across three quarters of the United States from June through August. Forecasters are saying that the heat and the dryness across the West will make wildfire season worse this year.


Visit NWSA website at http://www.nwsa.us or email us at info@nwsa.us

What is SAM?????

Most of you probably received an email from your contracting officers if you are on a VIPR agreement about the transition to SAM from CCR, and other programs currently use. 

SAM is a program administered by the GSA, and it is taking nine systems and consolidating them into a single program in an effort to stop duplications of information within the old system.  It will also supposedly reduce the need for multiple username and passwords.

The "Web of Complicity will be significantly simplified" with this new transition.

You can view a video about this process here


You can also access a Quick guide here

What is the timeline for this transition:

CCR's last business day is May 23, 2012, and it will no longer accept new registrations or updates however, the CCR search will remain active until all transitions are completed over Memorial Day Weekend, and to be completed by May 29, 2012.

The purpose is to consolidate, save costs to taxpayers, and make contracting with the government easier.

Visit NWSA website at http://www.nwsa.us or email us at info@nwsa.us

Heat to Continue for the Summer

Weather Forecasters predict that 3/4 of the United States will continue to experience higher than normal temperatures through August.  So all of us in the fire industry need to preach safety, safety, safety.  Many firefighters have not been utilized during the past three seasons due to below average fire events in many parts of the United States, therefore it is particularly important that they keep a heads up!!!

Some of things that you can do with your folks are to go over any Safety Bulletins that come out, accident reviews, anything to keep their minds on safety first!  The mission of the agencies are to       put the fire out with the resources they have in a safe, cost efficient manner.

We know that the USFS is work on trying to build a strategy for succession planning to help folks get fire experience but during this time we have lost alot of the agency personnel that have a history working with fire. Make sure your Crew Bosses, Squad Bosses and Firefighters understand situational awareness and make sound decision on the line.

Some places to get safety topics for your Crew meetings are:

USFS Fire Safety Page 

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center


Be safe out there!!!


Visit NWSA website at http://www.nwsa.us or email us at info@nwsa.us

Region 6 Private Resources

 In a report recently received from the USFS records show that there are 1899 private resources available in Region 6 that includes 171 Type 2 Region Crews, 24 National Crews, 411 Engines, 298 Tenders, 326 dozers, 60 Potable Water Units,  73 Faller modules and many other specialized resources.

There are up to 10,000 trained firefighters available to perform wildland fire suppression functions from the private sector.

Contracting in Region 6 has been highly successful and in place since 1993 formally.  There are over 100 Certified instructors through the Memorandum of Understanding with PNWCG that provide training to these private firefighters as wells as agency personnel.  One of the best agreements in the business is the inter-agency crew agreement in Region 6 that is managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry and is a true Best Value RFP.  The first agreement written by Oregon Department of Forestry was in 1986 for hand crews.

The evolution of the industry in that Region has played a significant role in how resources are currently contracted.

Visit NWSA website at http://www.nwsa.us or email us at info@nwsa.us

PNW May 2012 Fireweather Forecast

We are providing you with the latest link to the May 10, 2012 Fire Weather report for the Pacific Northwest which seems to indicate that there is potential for average/above average fire activity.

We are leaving an La Nina and go to a El Nino which also has historically given us more lightening events when it occurs. Also the John Day Basin in Oregon is at 17% of normal snow pack.

 May 2012 PNW Fire Weather

We in the industry need to be sure our folks are ready to safely fight fire, given that alot of them have not been on assignment in 2 years.  So lets keep them safe and get everyone home!

Visit NWSA website at http://www.nwsa.us or email us at info@nwsa.us.