Texas Heat!

[Larry Caldwell]

what a cheap shot

Nah, the cheap shot would be pointing out that Gubbanor Perry gutted $34 million out of the state forest service in the last budget, including the wildfire protection program.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

"Feds take control of Bastrop wildfire, then turn away volunteers"

Firefighting-trained volunteers from all over the state converged on Bastrop and Smithville on Tuesday to aid worn out firefighters battling the Bastrop County Complex Fire - - only to be turned away as federal offifials arrived at the scene and took command.

Complete story here:

Volunteers upset after being sent back home | The Gonzales Cannon

It sounds like it was the Texas authorities who turned them away, which was the correct action. The incident commander has to maintain control of the response, and they don't need a bunch of amateur yahoos running around creating problems. If the volunteers were NIMS (National Incident Management System) certified, they would have known how to offer their services, and known that they would have to be a part of the chain of command.

There are online courses listed at FEMA | Federal Emergency Management Agency Many of them are applicable to volunteer organizations like churches, food banks, etc.

Specific to Texas, check out https://www.preparingtexas.org/ViewCourse.aspx?courseid=402f88cb-2f13-4627-82ab-8fe44fb10502 and https://www.preparingtexas.org/ViewCourse.aspx?courseid=a903a479-726c-4a11-a8c6-b03cc7eeb56f

Anyone trained in NIMS knows FEMA doesn't "take command." Command rests with the Incident Commander until relinquished, and the Incident Commander is normally the first on scene.

 

[charlz]

InciWeb the Incident Information System: Current Incidents is a good place to get fire info. Here is the Bastrop fire: InciWeb the Incident Information System: Bastrop County Complex

 

[blueriver]

and they don't need a bunch of amateur yahoos running around creating problems. .

There are many, many, many highly trained volunteers thru out the US... in this bad situation no firefighter should be turned away.

Call one of them a yahoo to his face.

 

[RobertN]

Yes, but you do not self respond to a fire, with no apparatus.

That would be like me driving my personal vehicle from here in N Calif, to one of those big fires that happen in S Calif. I have the gear, but no engine. And no support.

That is why we have strike teams. In my area, the strike teams are made up of Battalion Chiefs and engine companies from the local fire districts, including volunteers. For any given week, certain engines and crews are on call for strike teams.

While these guys intentions were good, they should have been on engines, and informed the state fire service and local commands before they headed out.

There are many, many, many highly trained volunteers thru out the US... in this bad situation no firefighter should be turned away.

Call one of them a yahoo to his face.

 

[Western]

Not to throw "fuel on the fire" , but you kind of have to know the Texas area mindset, we are kind of an independent "get ""r"" done" sort, so when something major happens like these fires, anyone that can, tries to help.

At the Palo Pinto fire and I'm sure down in Bastrop, folks that can't physically help, or are in evac mode are/where supplying cold drinking water, meals and cots where needed for the firefighters. I am sure most of them "get in the way" at times. DPS and SO usually do a great job with crowd control and send folks the right direction.

Not much you can do when mother nature is in charge.

 

[bindian]

Not to throw "fuel on the fire" , but you kind of have to know the Texas area mindset, we are kind of an independent "get ""r"" done" sort, so when something major happens like these fires, anyone that can, tries to help.

At the Palo Pinto fire and I'm sure down in Bastrop, folks that can't physically help, or are in evac mode are/where supplying cold drinking water, meals and cots where needed for the firefighters. I am sure most of them "get in the way" at times. DPS and SO usually do a great job with crowd control and send folks the right direction.

Not much you can do when mother nature is in charge.

Dennis,
Your so right. It's being a Texan with our independent spirit. Over here in the Montgomery and Waller County line fire, they are using individuals with tractors to cut fire lanes. I would definitely be there with the Big RED Beast if I hadn't had knee surgery yesterday morning. So saying if you don't have a vehicle that squirts, go home, is a ridiculous thing to tell aTexan. We don't like waiting for help. We help ourselves.
hugs, Brandi

 

[txdon]

We don't know if they were NIMS certified, we do know they were trained firefighters - However there is no state minimum standard training for Texas firefighter volunteers. I guess they figured the Bastrop fire trucks can work longer hours than the firefighters can stay awake so to help their fellow Texans they came to give them a break to get some rest. That is all.

But Perry did call the Feds. FEMA is now paying for it so they can make the rules.

 

[RobertN]

Western, Brandi, I understand the sentiment. Fortunately, that level of get involved is seen in other parts of the US too. We see people get involved like that here. It is a great part of the spirit of the US. My family, and others in our Scout Troop jump in and help too.

But, the Fire Service has standard procedures for responding to a fire. Driving 2-6 hours in a personal vehicle, and asking to be put on an assignment is not one of them. That is how people get hurt or killed; there are reasons for those SOP's, for paid and volunteer firefighters.

Those SOPS's include staying in the chain of command, so appropriate resources can be sent where needed, and can return home safely to their loved ones.

 

[bindian]

We don't know if they were NIMS certified, we do know they were trained firefighters - However there is no state minimum standard training for Texas firefighter volunteers. I guess they figured the Bastrop fire trucks can work longer hours than the firefighters can stay awake so to help their fellow Texans they came to give them a break to get some rest. That is all.

But Perry did call the Feds. FEMA is now paying for it so they can make the rules.

Don,
Isn't that what firefighters do when they go to a funeral? Other department' firefighters man the absent fire fighter's equipment?

Have you talked to Mike lately? We would like an update on his house and his FIL's house.
hugs, Brandi