Fire Archaeology

 
What to do on the fireline:

In order to work on an active fireline you must first be a qualified wildland fire fighter or also called “redcarded”.  To do this you have to take a week long class that is called by various names of Basic 32, Fire Guard school, S-190 & S-130.  You also have to take the “pack test”. The class and pack test are provided yearly by all the major national land agencies.


Only after you are a firefighter can you go on an active fire or on a BAER team as an archaeologist.

An archaeologist work as a Technical Specialist Resource Advisor during suppression of a fire or on managed fires such as prescribed fires or fire use; or as a Technical Specialist on a Burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) team. Suppression - To work on a suppression fire or managed fire How to be a fire archaeologist - This link provides helpful information from how to get redcarded, get a fire assignment, what do you do once you are on a fire and what do you do with the information you collect on the fire. Procedures developed by Lisa Hanson, National Park Service, Lisa_Hanson@nps.gov. Comments are appreciated please contact Lisa personally. An Archaeologist on a fire helps the Incident Command take cultural resources into consideration during fire suppression activities. To do this Archaeologists can fill many roles depending on the size of the fire and the fire team. No matter where in the system you end up working it will help to “speak Incident Command” and understand the National Wildland fire flowchart While not officially adopted the following position descriptions and proposed qualifications developed by Mike McIntyre, USFS, mmcintyre@fs.fed.us are helpful in determining where a fire archaeologist should fit in the Incident Command System. Archeological Surveyor fire Assistant Heritage Specialist fire Heritage Specialist fire Archeological BAER team member Proposed chart of qualification for BAER team member, Heritage Specialist, Assistant Heritage Specialist, and Archeological Surveyor fire positions. Also see Resource Advisor page for more on the roles and responsibilities of an archaeologist during different times on the fire line. Different agencies have developed Guides that describe what they want a fire archaeologist to do: California Department of Forestry procedures Field Guide for BLM Archaeologists Assigned to Wildfires US Forest Service Heritage Times articles Officially Archaeologist are considered Resource Advisors - The official NIFC handbook for all resources advisors can be found at http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/RAguide_2004.pdf The Department of Interior acrynom for a suppression archaeologist as CULS. If you are interested in other fire positions take a look at the Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System Guide http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=toolboxes&sec=fire3 - Wilderness.net has a great Fire Management Tool Box that has information and example for Resource Advisors including Archaeologists. Wilderness Fires and Heritage Resources by Neil Weintraub BAER USDI Roles, Responsibilities, and Training requirements for BAER Archaeologist Qualifications: BACS.doc BAER CULTURAL RESOURCES SPECIALIST (BACS) BAER Cultural Resources Specialist DOI BAER Qualification Checksheet Prerequisite Experience, Cultural Specialist (CULS). Establishing IQCS Post-wildfire Recovery Positions BAER TEAM LEADER (BAEL) The BAER Team Leader BAER ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST (BAEN) Works with the BAER Cultural Resource Specialist to assure that the NHPA Section 106 process has been initiated for specifications that may impact historic ...The_Fireline_files/Fire%26arch%20procedures%202-01.docmailto:Lisa_Hanson@nps.govThe_Fireline_files/How_To_Speak_Incident_Command.docThe_Fireline_files/How_To_Speak_Incident_Command.dochttp://www.nifc.gov/fire_policy/docs/app-f.pdfmailto:mmcintyre@fs.fed.usThe_Fireline_files/ARCSUR1.rtfThe_Fireline_files/DHTL1.rtfThe_Fireline_files/HTL1.rtfThe_Fireline_files/BAER%20TEAM%20MEMBER.docThe_Fireline_files/Quals.rtfResource_Advisor.htmlhttp://www.indiana.edu/~e472/cdf/fire/fire_procedure.dochttp://www.indiana.edu/~e472/cdf/fire/field_guide.docThe_Fireline_files/The_Times_May_2002_12_3.dochttp://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/RAguide_2004.pdfhttp://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/RAguide_2004.pdfThe_Fireline_files/FIRE_qualification.PDFhttp://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=toolboxes&sec=fire3http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/documents/fire/heritage_cultural_resources_C.ppthttp://fire.r9.fws.gov/ifcc/esr/BAER/Mobilization%20and%20Directories/Positions-Checklists/BACS.htmThe_Fireline_files/BACS.dochttp://www.fws.gov/fire/ifcc/esr/BAER/Mobilization%20and%20Directories/Positions-Checklists/BACS.htmhttp://www.fws.gov/fire/ifcc/Esr/BAER/Mobilization%20and%20Directories/Positions-Checklists/BACS.dochttp://www.fws.gov/fire/ifcc/esr/BAER/Mobilization%20and%20Directories/BAER%20IQCS%20quals.htmhttp://fire.r9.fws.gov/ifcc/esr/BAER/Mobilization%20and%20Directories/Positions-Checklists/BAEL.htmhttp://fire.r9.fws.gov/ifcc/esr/BAER/Mobilization%20and%20Directories/Positions-Checklists/BAEN.htmshapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2shapeimage_4_link_3shapeimage_4_link_4shapeimage_4_link_5shapeimage_4_link_6shapeimage_4_link_7shapeimage_4_link_8shapeimage_4_link_9shapeimage_4_link_10shapeimage_4_link_11shapeimage_4_link_12shapeimage_4_link_13shapeimage_4_link_14shapeimage_4_link_15shapeimage_4_link_16shapeimage_4_link_17shapeimage_4_link_18shapeimage_4_link_19shapeimage_4_link_20shapeimage_4_link_21shapeimage_4_link_22shapeimage_4_link_23shapeimage_4_link_24shapeimage_4_link_25shapeimage_4_link_26
Equipment Personal equipment needs for the Resource Advisor (RA) should include the same items as for any fire suppression personnel with a field assignment, including all Personal Protective Equipment required for presence on the fireline. In addition to these items a Resource Advisor also needs specialized equipment. What to wear on the fireline All cotton underwear and t-shirt Fire resistant polyamide pants and shirts, or equivalent (e.g. Nomex) Leather belt Approved wildland firefighting hardhat, with chin strap and if possible a shroud Leather gloves Leather lace-up boots: must be at least 8” high, with traction sole. USA - avoid boots with metal toes or metal in them. Australia requires metal safety toed shoes. Fire Shelter Hand Tool of your choice (i.e. shovel, polaski) - a GPS does not count you need something that can cut fire line with incase you need to protect a resource or your own deployment zone. Incident Response Pocket Guide, NFES #1077 (in your pocket) FIRE PACKS You will need two main fire packs, line pack (also known as web gear) this the pack worn on the fire line and must have an easy access pouch for a fire shelter; overnight pack that should carry all you need for a 14 day fire assignment. The packs can be a maximum weight of 45-pound for overnight pack; 20 pounds maximum for web gear. Failure to meet weight requirements may result in abandoning some items at airports or heliports. No additional packs, gear, boots, etc. strapped onto outside of packs. Label pack with your name and home unit address. NO alcohol or illegal drugs. These will cost you your job. You may bring prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Walkmans, personal cameras, etc. are not recommended. They are easily damaged, lost, or stolen. Bring them at your own risk.  LINE PACK: The Basics • extra set of gloves • Safety goggles or safety glasses • earplugs • headlamp w/ batteries (not lithium) • personal 1st aid kit • canteens (totaling 1 gallon) • compass • jacket-brush jacket or wool shirt (not synthetic) • Fireline Handbook, NFES #0065 • Handheld flashlight and batteries • ICS forms (ICS-214, Unit Log; ICS-213, General Message) • Office/field supplies (e.g., pencils, pens, felt tip markers, ruler, map scale, paper, calculator, clipboard, tape, scissors, etc.) • Lunch • Extra food (incase you have to stay overnight on the fireline) • Emergency blanket • Fusees (incase you need to burn a safety zone) Specialist Field Gear • USGS 7.5’ Topo maps • Compass • Measuring equipment (3 meter/10’ tape) • Mapping equipment for hand-drawn maps (e.g. ruler, protractor) • Camera • Plastic/paper bags • Blank site forms or site recording checklist • Site records and maps • Flagging tape (appropriate color) • Binoculars • Altimeter and clinometer • Maps showing: wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, significant or known cultural sites, threatened or endangered species, critical habitat areas, National Conservation Area, National Monument boundaries, and other areas of concern • Reference list of resource specialists and important contacts with phone numbers • Field identification guides (noxious weeds, trees, plants, birds, fish, animals), when applicable Other Equipment, as needed and available • Radio with incident frequencies and extra batteries: you must have a radio if you are on the line in a fire situation • Handheld Global Positioning System (GPS unit) • Cell phone with national coverage • Spare batteries for each electronic device • Firefighter Crew Time Report, NFES #0891 • OF-288, Emergency Firefighter Time Report, NFES #0866 OVERNIGHT PACK: (number of items may vary based on personal preference) • Nomex pants (2 pair) • Nomex shirts (2 pair) • Socks (5-7 pair, good quality, never skimp on socks!) • Tee-shirts (4 or more)100% cotton • Underwear (5 or more) 100% cotton • Warm jacket • Stocking hat • Light weight raingear • Bandanas (4 or more) • Washcloth & towel • Toiletries: o Deodorant o shampoo & conditioner o Foot powder o moleskin o toothbrush & paste o vitamins o soap o chapstick o Lotion o Extra supply of medication o For women: Feminine protection • eyeglass repair kit • Sunscreen • Bug repellant • Extra bootlaces • Tent • Sleeping bag & sleeping pad • Plastic bag for dirty laundry • alarm clock • Resume or c.v.(this may be required to obtain site records) Personal items: You may wish to consider taking other items, especially if you expect to be in a camp distant from a town or store. You should take whatever (within reason) you will need for two weeks, bearing in mind the weight limits noted above. Computer equipment, if available • Laptop computer and portable printer, surge protector, electronic storage media • Topo map program (e.g. ArcMap, ArcView, Topo!, TopoUSA, Maptech). • Electronic site forms and other forms as needed • Suppression Rehabilitation Guidelines and Sample Rehabilitation Plan (in electronic format if possible) • Resource Advisor Final Report or like form Vehicle: When possible, drive to a fire in a field vehicle since vehicles are usually in short supply. Other items you may want • Local policy statements (e.g., Land Use Plan, Wilderness Plan, Fire Management Plan) • Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) Guidelines • Resource Advisor’s Guide for Wildland Fire (also known as NWCG Resource Advisor's Guide Book) • Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book), current year • Copy of the Wilderness Act and/or enabling legislation, when applicable • MIST video to show at Incident Base • Fireline Handbook or Field Operations Guide • Extra applicable ICS forms • Rehabilitation documents and forms • Field identification guides, i.e., birds, mammals, plants, etc. • Endangered and threatened plant and animal documents • Pencils, pens, felt tip markers, ruler, scale, dot grid, flagging, paper, graph paper, envelops, calculator, clipboard, etc. • Acetate overlay material  • 35mm camera with print film • Belt weather kit (optional) • When applicable, fuel and soil moisture sampling equipment • When applicable, forest mensuration equipment and tally sheets • SCS soil surveys • Aerial photographs and LANDSAT imagery if available. • Reference list of area resource specialists with phone numbers. • nametag • Business cards • Sample Rehab Plan Remember Safety First Daniel McCarthy, 2004, Fighting fire in the trenches: an archaeologist battles seasonal blazes in an effort to save endangered sites Publisher: Archaeological Institute of America Publication Name: Archaeology ISSN: 0003-8113Safety_First.htmlshapeimage_5_link_0

Updated January 3, 2009