OG 4005 Wild-Land Fires within HRM

Issued By: OPERATIONS (S. Thurber)
Approved By:  Fire Chief William H. Mosher 
Date of Issue: 1998/04/22
Revision Date: 1999/02/09; 2004/09/22; 2009/05/12

BACKGROUND:

In the event of a suspected wildland fire, Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) should not delay in contacting the Department of Natural Resources. The goals of HRFE and the Department of Natural Resources are to suppress a fire as quickly as possible and minimize damage. The Department of Natural Resources would prefer to send out equipment and personnel initially, and if necessary, turn them around rather than delay their response. The Department of Natural Resources has logistical restrictions on the availability of helicopters for wildland fires. They have four helicopters assigned for their helitack crews, which have responsibility for fires across the entire Province. When available from Shubenacadie, they will assist us in whatever capacity they can with helicopters equipped for wildland fire suppression.

PURPOSE: 

To establish a standard and effective method for requesting a helicopter or ground crews from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

OBJECTIVE:

A standardized approach will be utilized to effectively request a helicopter of ground crew from DNR. 

SCOPE:

This operating guideline applies to career and volunteer firefighters with HRFE.  


Areas of Responsibility:

Within the preamalgamation areas of Halifax, Dartmouth and Bedford, Halifax Regional
Fire and Emergency has responsibility for wildland fires. The Department of Natural
Resources will only enter these areas at the request of the HRFE, or if the fire suppression effort is considered insufficient by the DNR as established under the Forest Act of the Province of Nova Scotia.

McNab’s and Lawlor’s Islands are the Dept. of Natural Resources’ responsibility for wildland fires. 

Within the areas of Sackville, Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, Cow Bay and all other suburban/rural areas of HRM, the Department of Natural Resources has the responsibility for wildland fires. The Department of Natural Resources must be made aware of all calls responded to in these areas that are bush or brush fires which are an imminent threat to adjoining wildland.

PROCEDURE:

 Upon arrival at the scene, the Incident Commander shall contact Dispatch via radio and relay the following information, when available:

•    Location of fire (landmarks).
•    Resources at scene estimate personnel and equipment who have arrived/ are enroute.
•    Flame description (surface or crown, approximate rate of speed).
•    Smoke description colour, shape (i.e. column or flat).
•    Type of fuel (slash, grass, softwood, hardwood, etc.).
•    Relation to communities (proximity to buildings, whether the fire is spreading towards buildings).
•    Terrain (road access, water sources, slope).
•    Weather description approximate wind speed and direction.
•    Cloud cover (visibility and fog) particularly important, as it relates to flying.

This information will assist Department of Natural Resources in prioritizing your request and determining what resources should be sent to the incident. Dispatch will ask these questions as they are in their policy manual.

Upon receiving the above information from the Incident Commander, Dispatch will contact the Department of Natural Resources and relay all appropriate information.

All requests for resources and helicopters will go through the On-Duty Platoon Chief or Local Chief/Designate. Department of Natural Resources requests that Communication with helicopters during water operations be kept to a minimum.

For Stations 218, only the Platoon Chief /Assistant Deputy Chief Director/Deputy Chief Director/ Chief Director are authorized place the call for Department of Natural Resources assistance.

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the procedure utilized to request resources from DNR.