GAO report on Station Fire

A new GAO report on the Station Fire has been released and talks about the following issues;

1.  Why aviation resources were not utilized sooner?
2.  Why were their own resources (USFS) used when contract resources sat by closer to the fire?

During the past two years we in the contract community have seen this issue more and more in all areas not just aviation.

We have seen many Agency Only resource orders come out and resources from clear across the county being dispatched while contract resources right next to the fire have sat.

We have heard the following arguments related to that:

1.   We are more expensive that the agency resources?
       Response:   If you look at the 2009 Standard Cost Worksheet in the Mob Guide will see that contract resources show as more expensive BUT the costs shown for contract resources at all inclusive costs while the costs of agency resources are Direct Costs only.  So the cost to the taxpayer for agency resources is not clearly stated on that worksheet for all in direct costs.   We are currently working on a worksheet that will show our "Direct Costs" only and see if they are comparable to the agency "Direct Costs" only as we are unable to get  In Direct Costs from the agency.   Also we are pay when needed resources vs the fire resources of the agency are paid over a 180 day period irregardless of utilization.
Therefore it would be in the taxpayers interest to utilize contract resources rather that build up agency resources as that would help create jobs in rural communities, and help the local economies where they are located while saving the taxpayer dollars by paying for services when needed.

2.   They need to help their folks keep up their currency.
       Response:   While we believe this is true it is also true for the contract community as we have had very little work the last 3 years in a row, and our folks are also in need of assignments.  We are held to a higher standard in a lot of areas than the agency. All of our instructors must maintain currency in order to teach classes while that is not always true to the training within the agency.  Our folks can also not move up in position without documented task assignments while that is not always the case for the agency.

There have been many reports, some solicited by the agency themselves, that have  shown the above statements to be true, some of those report are:

A Comparison of the Costs of Forest Serviceand Contract Fire Crews in the PacificNorthwest

Comparing costs of Agency and Contract Fire Crews 2007 

Analysis of Agency Vs Contractor Costs for Firefighters 2004


Other media reports recently:

KWWL Story


We look to provide the agencies with a cost effective professional resources that is paid and utilized on a call when needed basis.  We believe this is a great value to both the agencies and the taxpayer.



Find out more about the National Wildfire Suppression Association by visiting us at:


http:// www.nwsa.us