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Southern California

  • California Highway Patrol (Southern)
    Geographic Area:
    Southern California
    Source:
    California Highway Patrol
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    Airbus AS350 B3

    Notes:

    #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. 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.
    Pilot-Sgt. Steve Young (Phone #: 503-225-2040)

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Apple Valley, CA; Fresno, CA; Paso Robles, CA; Thermal, CA
    Map Location Number:
    15, 16, 17, 18
  • California Army National Guard
    Geographic Area:
    Southern California
    Source:
    California Army National Guard
    FM Radio Programmable:
    No
    Make & Model:

    1- Blackhawk (UH-60) @ Mather 8- UH60 @ Los Alamitos. 10- CH47F @ Stockton

    Notes:

    Performance at 7000'/90 F varies. FM Radio Programmable note: Could install but need to request. These 11 helicopters are in deployment rotation and available on a case-by-case basis.

    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. : Can take up to 24 hours to mobilize depending on the request.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Mather, CA; Los Alamitos, CA
    Map Location Number:
    11, 12
  • Ventura County Fire Department
    Geographic Area:
    Southern California
    Source:
    Camarillo Fire Department
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    1-Bell 205, 2-Bell UH1H, 1-Bell- 212HP, 1-Bell 206 L1 FLIR

    Notes:

    Have limited crews, available for only few days. Must have prior approval to leave the Unit except on initial attack fires with local neighbors. Rescue is a priority, agency considers requests for the helicopter to be on standby for a fire rescue/medivac.

    Ordering Procedure:

    CAL FIRE: Units place order to the GACC and GACC can go direct to Ventura Co ECC.
    Federal: Units place order to the GACC.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Camarillo, CA
    Map Location Number:
    9
  • CalFire (Southern)
    Geographic Area:
    Southern California
    Source:
    CalFire
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

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

    Notes:

    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.
    Cal Fire has helicopter bases throughout CA and is available for emergency use determined by location and need. 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:
    Bear Valley, CA; Gillespie, CA; Hemet Ryan, CA; Prado, CA
    Map Location Number:
    1, 2, 3, 4
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NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC Bulletin 24-001: Discontinued Use of Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2024 Field Season

Date: June 4, 2024
Contact: NWCG Equipment Technology Committee 

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide NWCG direction on the discontinued use of hot/cold beverage kits for the 2024 field season due to spout failures and risk of burn injury. As an alternative, coffee heating kits are available for ordering through the cache system to support spike camps and remote resources.

If personnel see hot/cold beverage kits at an incident, these should not be used. Equipment specialists with the National Technology and Development Program are evaluating available alternative options to replace the faulty spouts and continue to coordinate with industry experts.

References:

Equipment Bulletin 24-001: Discontinued Use of Hot/Cold Beverage Kits – 2024 Field Season

NWCG Alerts

Updated Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297

Date: June 4, 2024
Contact: NWCG Incident Business Committee 

The 1990 version of the Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297, has been replaced by the updated May 2024 version. The new version of the OF 297 has been modified and improved to meet current incident management needs. The form now has areas to document the staffing of equipment and special rates. IBC has created a one-page help document and 3 completed sample OF-297 forms to assist in this transition, available on the IBC webpage.

References:

Incident Business Committee

Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297

2023 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date: May 24, 2024
Contact: NWCG Emergency Medical Committee 

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2023 Wildland Fire EMS Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2023 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

NWCG Emergency Medical Committee

Next Generation Position Task Books

Date: May 21, 2024
Contact: NWCG Training 

NWCG is excited to announce the release of Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs). The Next Gen PTB is part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. Next Gen PTBs are intended to be used in conjunction with Incident Position Standards to support constructive conversations between trainees and evaluators, set baseline standards, and enhance speed to competency.

Next Gen PTBs and Incident Position Standards are now available for Crew Boss, Single Resource (CRWB) and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2). As positions go through IPTM, Next Gen PTBs will be developed and published.

References:

NWCG Position Task Books

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)