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Northern California

  • Coast Guard (Northern California)
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    Coast Guard
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    MH65D (AS365), 3 Aircraft assigned, 1 staffed 24/7

    Notes:
    Perform @7000'/90 F varies. Emergency missions accepted/declined without delay, but will require follow-up with CALOES mission tasking number.
    Ordering Procedure:

    Sector Humboldt Bay Command Center, 707-839-6113

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    McKinleyville, CA - Humboldt Bay
    Map Location Number:
    14
  • Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Air Operations
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Air Operations
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    2-Bell UH-1H (Fire Copter 1 and Fire Copter 2)

    Notes:

    Willing to release 1 helicopter for extended operations. Rescue Crew Configuration: Pilot, Hoist Operator (Paramedic), and Rescuer (Paramedic).

    Ordering Procedure:

    Contact: Dispatch @ (916) 228-3035, AC Mike Lozano @ (916) 616-2409, CAPT Grant Russell @ (916) 628-3254, or Chief Pilot Montie Vanlandingham @ (916) 628-3097. Agency considers rescue operations as a priority mission. Available for EMS transport (ALS Certified), SAR, and Wild Land Fire Operations. AFF Capable.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Map Location Number:
    13
  • Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    Bell Long Ranger 206L; 1-C30P/Bell 206B

    Notes:
    Also River, Ocean, and Cliff trained besides basic Long Line.
    Ordering Procedure:

    <p>
    Contact Chief Pilot/Detective Sergeant Rob Latapie at 209-404-2668 or 209-652-9472. Or Unit Commander Lt. Mike Parker at 209-652-8526. Or Sheriff's Department Communications at 209-552-3914.</p>

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Modesto, CA
    Map Location Number:
    12
  • California Highway Patrol (Northern)
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    California Highway Patrol
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    Airbus AS350 B3

    Notes:

    Rescue is a priority, but agency will not let the helicopter be on standby for a fire rescue/medivac. Helicopters are not available when on law enforcement missions. The helicopter could be working on incident and have a delayed response. Some helicopters will not respond to mountainous terrain at night if pilot has not seen the area in daylight.

    Ordering Procedure:

    #23- Direct: 760 -240-8004/ After Hours: 760- 255-8760.
    #24- CHP Com. Center: 916-861-1299
    Air Ops. Office: 530-823-4535
    #25- Office 559-488-4121/ Dispatch 559-441-5400
    #26- Direct: 805-239-3553 / After Hours: 805-593-3344
    #27- CHP Com. Center: 530-242-3210 (24 hrs./day)/
    Air crew: 530-225-2040
    #28- Indio Dispatch 760-772-8989
    Unit request assistance when there is a medical emergency though 911 system.
    #24, 27, & 28 They can be ordered through the normal ordering process Forest/ Units have in place. No mechanism for agency payment.
    #24 & 28 – North Ops Resources #23, 25 & 26 CA Highway Patrol. #24 Can cross Nevada border for critical incidents. #26 Long-line short-haul: 1,660lb/FLIR/PA #27 Can cross Oregon border for critical rescue missions. Pilot-Sgt. Steve Young (Phone #: 503-225-2040)

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Auburn, CA; Redding, CA
    Map Location Number:
    10, 11
  • California National Guard
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    National Guard
    FM Radio Programmable:
    No
    Make & Model:

    11- Blackhawk (UH-60) @ Mather; 8- UH60 @ Los Alamitos; 10- CH47F @ Stockton

    Notes:

    Perform @ 7000'/90 F varies. These 11 helicopters are in deployment rotation and available on a case-by-case basis. Can take up to 24 hours to mobilize depending on the request.

    Ordering Procedure:

    Hired through request for assistance to the National Interagency Coordination Center or CAL FIRE can hire though request for assistance through the Governor’s Office (CAL EMA). GACC or 911 dispatch centers should coordinate requests for military, Coast Guard, and National Guard resources through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at phone #: 800-851-3051.
    Direct contact: Lt. Colonel Lou Carmona, (o) 916-854-1403 or (c) 916-439-3545.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Stockton, CA
    Map Location Number:
    9
  • Sonoma County Sheriff
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    Sonoma County Sheriff
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    Bell 407

    Notes:
    None
    Ordering Procedure:

    This aircraft is dispatched through Redcom (Sonoma Co. Fire Dispatch) 707-576-1371.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Sonoma, CA
    Map Location Number:
    8
  • CalFire (Northern)
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    CalFire
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    11 Bell 205 (UH-1H) Restricted Super Huey

    Notes:

    Cal Fire has helicopter bases throughout CA and is available for emergency use determined by location and need. Rescue is a priority, but the agency will not let the helicopter sit on standby on a fire for rescue/medivac only. The helicopter could be working on incident and have a delayed response.

    Ordering Procedure:

    911 dispatch centers should coordinate requests through appropriate CA GACC.
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 : North Ops Resources. They can be ordered through the normal ordering process Forest/ Units place to the GACC and GACC place with corresponding unit.
    6, and 8: Order through normal ordering process. Forest/units place to GACC, GACC will place to San Andres ECC.
    For Northern CA, contact ONC GACC (24 hour #): 530-226-2800. Southern CA, contact OSC GACC (24 hour #): 951-276-6725. Day missions only.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Bieber, CA; Kneeland, CA; Vina, CA; Howard Forest, CA; Boggs Mountain, CA; Columbia, CA; Alma, CA
    Map Location Number:
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
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NWCG Latest Announcements

2024 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2024
Contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee 

As we approach the 2024 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30 to July 6, we dedicate this time to thoughtfully reviewing and recognizing the events of the 2018 Mendocino Complex. As such, this year’s theme of “Learning From the Mendocino Complex” embodies a longstanding hallmark of WOR, honoring through learning.

Throughout the week, our energy will be directed toward fostering generative conversations in briefing rooms and at tailgates.

References:

6 Minutes for Safety - 2024 Week of Remembrance

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Updated NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Date: June 24, 2024
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee 

The June 2024 update of the NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236, is now available to meet the current needs for incident management typing.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment should be used to evaluate firefighter safety issues, assess risk, and identify the appropriate incident management organization based on incident complexity. Assessing risk, determining incident complexity, and identifying an appropriate incident management organization is a subjective process based on examining a combination of indicators or factors, which can change over time.

References:

NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Operations Branch Director (OPBD) Next Gen PTB Available

Date: June 10, 2024
Contact: NWCG Feedback 

The NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Branch Director (OPBD), PMS 311-109 is now available for use within the OPBD position qualification pathway. As part of the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), the OPBD Next Gen PTB was developed and the position qualification pathway updated.

More information about the Next Gen PTB format can be found on the NWCG Position Task Book webpage.

References:

Operations Branch Director Position Page

Operations Branch Director Next Gen PTB

NWCG Position Task Books

Updated NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902

Date: June 5, 2024
Contact: NWCG Incident Business Committee 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902 is now available. The uniform application of interagency incident business management standards is critical to interagency fire operations. PMS 902 assists NWCG agencies in constructively working together to provide effective execution of each agency's incident business management program.

References:

PMS 902