Are You Ready for Initial Attack?

This week we will see cooler temperatures until Wednesday, then we should transition back to high pressure over Southern California with the potential for offshore flow, north east winds and low relative humidity. With the offshore winds comes heightened concerns for wildfires in the mountain regions.

So this beckons the question are your ready for initial and extended attack fires? With the complex urban interface environment remember that the first arriving officer is responsible for a clear and concise size up: fuel type, topography, rate of spread, structure threat, weather conditions, road access and the need for additional resources, strike teams and air craft. Don't forget to order the extra command staff for large scale fires early and make sure you have adequate air support.

I have seen to often fire officers under estimate rate of spread and forget about the importance of wind and terrain. Don't be caught on the short end of the stick. Have your command card ready to go on the seat next to you. We are entering the time of year for the bigger and faster wind driven fires in Southern California.

I hope to see all of you in the field next week. I am preparing for a public safety picnic and getting my PPE ready for those great images.