Intro to Sustainable Fire Camps

National Logistics MeetingBoise, IdahoMarch 2011

Jennifer Letz, USFSMeghan Oswalt, USFS

Deanna Crawford, USFS

Intro to Sustainable Fire Camps

Topics Introductions What is

Sustainability? Fire and

Sustainability Logistics &

Sustainable ICPs Importance of

Logistics How?

Fire Season 2011 How can we help?

Jennifer Letz Sustainable Operations Specialist for

the Deschutes & Ochoco NFs, Bend, OR MA in Sustainable Management Worked in / around fire since 1996 R6 Fire & Aviation Chair of Western Collective Greening

Fire Team

Deanna Crawford Incident Business Specialist, Nez Perce,

Clearwater, and Idaho Panhandle Forests in Grangeville, ID

Resource Unit Leader on Northern Rockies Type 1 Team

Degrees in Art and Criminology Member of Western Collective Greening

Fire Team

Meghan Oswalt Assistant Sustainability Coordinator for

the Aerial Fire Depot Missoula, MT BS in Computer Science Currently working on a MS in

Environmental Studies and MS in Computer Science

R1 Fire and Aviation Active participant of Western Collective

Greening Fire Team

What is Sustainability?My definition is…

A discipline balancing the needs of the Environment, social Equity, and Economic issues in the decision-making process.

“The 3 Es.”

Cone of Sustainability

How Do We Think Sustainably?

Whole Systems Thinking Look at the big

picture Consider the near

& far reaching effects of your decisions

What upstream changes can create win-win solutions?

Greening vs. SustainabilityGreening Sustainability

Detail focused Whole systems focus

Tactical Strategic

Ecological The 3 Es

Focus on addressing symptoms

Focus on addressing root

cause

Fire Operations & Sustainability

Facilities & Water Transportation &

Fleet Green Purchasing National Fire

Caches

ICPs Contracts Appropriate

Response to Fire

In 2009, the USFS Washington Office of Fire & Aviation Management designated 7 areas to integrate

sustainable practices:

Greening Fire Team Team under the Forest

Service Western Collective for Sustainable Operations Agency initiative to organize

and promote sustainable operations in the Forest Service and beyond

Board of Directors comprised of Deputy Regional Foresters of 6 Western regions

Created in 2009Greening Fire

USDA Forest Service

Greening Fire Team Research, recommend, and

assist with implementing sustainable improvements at fire camps and beyond

Firefighter safety top priority Current projects include:

Waste reduction Recycling Alternatives to bottled water Outreach and education

Why Fire Camp? Multiple opportunities to integrate

sustainable operations Historical reliance on disposable items has

led to increase in spending and waste of resources and energy

Unique challenges due to various unknowns Increasing demand for spending reductions Crossroads of the fire community – chance

to influence behaviors of 1000s of folk from multiple agencies, states, private industry, etc.

Logistics, Sustainability, & ICPs Every camp denizen has a role to

play…Agency AdministratorAviation CacheContractors

Firefighters IC Information PlanningPurchasing /

Buying TeamOperationsSafety

… but Logistics is the “hub” of camp activity.

Day in the Life - Logistics Average day

may include making decisions about: Food Potable

Water Shelter Power Transport

Fuel

Equipment Fuel

Caterer Fuel

Supplies Waste

management

Sanitation Transportati

on Security Phones

IT connectivity

Radios Showers Laundry Night shift Spike

Camps Satellite

Camps DemobPHEW!

Working Towards Sustainable ICPs

Ultimately, a fire camp operating more sustainably will be:

Less expensive to run Safer for staff More efficient Less wasteful of

resources

How?

-CHOOSE

-COLLABORATE -

COMMUNICATE

Choose: ICP Flow of Materials

ICPFuel

Water

Food

Supplies

Recycling / Donation

Waste / Grey Water

Emissions

Cache / Host Unit

Collaborate: Sphere of Influence

Camp CrewTeam Members

Firefighters

Host Unit

Contractors

Branch Members

You! Buying Team

NIFC

Ask…

Communicate Connect the Dots – lack of

communication is biggest hurdle to successful sustainable operations at camp IAP Shift Briefings DETAILED signs Inform branch staff

DETAILED purchase requests

One-on-one interaction

Moving Forward: Fire Season 2011

What are you already doing to improve sustainability at camp?

What can you do this season to improve sustainable operations?

How can we help you?

Thanks for ListeningNew email address:

[email protected]