Inside DEEP

CT Interstate Fire Crew

Background

The Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew (CIFC) has been part of a national interagency effort to protect lives, personal property, and natural resources threatened by wildfire for over 30 years. More recently CIFC responsibilities have expanded to include wildfire suppression in eastern Canada through the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC) and broadened to include large scale FEMA incident responses and other national emergencies declared through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is signatory to a Master Wildland Fire Management Agreement with the USDA Forest Service. This agreement commits DEEP to maintaining readiness for a variety of nationally declared emergencies including wildfire, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, in 2022 wildfires consumed over 7.5 million acres at a cost of $3.2 billion. Sadly often times tragedy accompanies these manmade and natural disasters. DEEP takes great pride in contributing to a National response team during times of local overwhelming circumstances.

Within the state of Connecticut, the CIFC can be called to help combat in-state brush fires, respond to large-scale state requests for assistance such as severe weather events, and safely conduct prescribed burns preserving and maintaining rare forest ecosystems and critical early successional habitat for endangered and threatened wildlife species. CIFC members receive training on how to work effectively with others and develop leadership skills.

CIFC members may also become eligible to obtain additional specialized wildfire and emergency response credentials for personal development within the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) guidelines and criteria.

DEEP receives full CIFC member salary reimbursement from the requesting Agency for all out-of-state mobilizations.

How CIFC Works

The CIFC operational year runs from December through November when new applications are posted allowing for required annual health and fitness screening and training for new and returning CIFC members while accommodating in-state brush fire suppression and prescribed burning needs.

Timeline for CIFC Application

December

Annual application and medical screening forms are posted on Inside DEEP.

Existing CIFC members receive an email with updated forms attached.

Connecticut Fire Departments are notified of the recruitment effort for the CIFC during the open application period.

February

Application, Supervisory Approval Signature Page and Medical Screening Forms due to DEEP Forestry office located on the 6th floor at 79 Elm Street, Hartford.

Confidentiality of individual health information is protected, as the medical screening form should be forwarded in a separate envelope marked “Confidential”.

Annual Supervisory Approval Signature page grants permission to attend mandatory training.

Returning CIFC members require one refresher day annually.

New CIFC members require up to four days of training.

Once agreed upon between CIFC member and supervisor the individual is expected be available on short notice for a 14 to 16 consecutive day out-of-state fire assignment.

April

Work Capacity Test (WCT aka pack test). All CIFC members wishing to be “red carded” for arduous wildfire positions must pass the WCT.

New recruit and refresher training is conducted, some of which is non-compensatory, refer to Training Requirements below.

Training Requirements

All firefighters must be "red carded", indicating they have passed the NWCG position required physical test and received the minimum training required. Physical testing follows U.S. Forest Service guidelines by using the Work Capacity Test (WCT aka pack test). Wildland firefighters must pass the Arduous Standard.

New CIFC personnel attend courses S-130 (Firefighter Training, L-180 (Human Factors on the Fireline) and S-190 (Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior). Approximate time requirement for new CIFC personnel is 40-45 hours.

Returning personnel must attend 8 hours of annual RT130 - Fire Safety Refresher.

Firefighters are required to have at least one assignment every five years (three years for Air Ops positions) to maintain earned qualifications.

DEEP employees are required to make an annual application for fire crew participation. In addition, DEEP employees are required to have supervisory signature approval for participation that indicates both the employee and their supervisors understand the responsibilities of the firefighter and the potential for a short notice, long duration absence. It is the responsibility of the firefighter to notify the Division of Forestry (DOF) if they are not available for assignment, otherwise it is assumed they are available.

The DOF informs the Commissioner and Chief of Staff before posting a crew. Once a fire crew is assembled, it can be made available for assignment. Supervisory personnel are notified when a crew is posted for assignment and a list of DEEP personnel is provided at that time. It is the responsibility of the employee to promptly notify their supervisor of an assignment.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE consisting of hardhat, goggles, headlamp, Nomex shirt, Nomex pants, fire service backpack, fire shelter, water bottles, gloves, sleeping bag and tent are provided by DEEP Forestry upon mobilization. CIFC members are required to obtain fire boots at their expense.

Types of CIFC Assignments

There are three different assignment types that CIFC members may respond to;

IN-STATE - coordinated by Connecticut based fire responder resources

Assignments in-state are lead by Fire Control Personnel requesting personnel through the State Fire Supervisor. Firefighters meet at a designated location and are provided necessary PPE, tools, and communications equipment. Typically CIFC personnel intermix with traditional DEEP firefighters (staff from the Bureaus of Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation).

Generally, personnel receive little advance notice of an assignment and employee/ employer/supervisor must all fully understand that. It is the responsibility of the firefighters to notify the DOF if they are not available; otherwise it is assumed they are available. It is the responsibility of the employee to promptly notify their supervisor of an assignment.

The DOF coordinates transportation for in-state mobilization and demobilization, meals, lodging, etc. Depending upon the time of mobilization firefighters may be required to bring a meal (normally a lunch), or be requested to drive their personal vehicle.

OUT-OF-STATE

Assignments are for a 14 day period, exclusive of travel. The DOF fire staff in consultation with the designated Crew Boss determine crew make up. Crew make up is dependent on the requesting Agency needs, program needs, qualifications of crew members, skill sets, and training needs. Members requiring a mobilization to keep current on national qualifications are given priority. A cohesive fire crew is the overriding factor in crew assembly.

The DOF coordinates transportation for any mobilization & demobilization. This varies depending upon the mobilization point for any given incident. The DOF provides as much information as it can to family members and DEEP supervisory personnel on crew assignment, status, demobilization and periodic crew reports received from the crew boss while on assignment.

When the forest fire danger in-state is high or is expected to be high or if fire becomes a problem in-state the crew is not be available for out-of-state assignments.

National - coordinated by the Eastern Area Coordination Center (EACC) through the sub-regional Northeast Coordination Center (NECC). All CIFC members eligible

NFFPC – coordinated by NECC and NFFPC through authorities granted in Connecticut General Statute 23 – 53 through 57 (Northeastern Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact). Statutory requirements limit participation to CIFC state agency employees.

OUT-OF-STATE SINGLE RESOURCES National and NFFPC - also coordinated by EACC and NECC.

Single resources are individuals who are fully NWCG qualified to accept individual assignments within the Incident Command System. They respond as individuals to fill a role specifically requested for by the requesting agency or incident.

The DOF encourages single resources to keep themselves informed on regional and national issues as it relates to their qualifications as long as it does not interfere with the employee's regular work.

Single resource mobilization and assignment length are the same as that for a crew, 14 days exclusive of travel.

The single resource is responsible to make transportation arrangements to mobilization/demobilization points. This may involve the use of state employees, state vehicles or family members, if preferred. Individuals who pay out of pocket for parking at an airport should keep their receipt for reimbursement.

The DOF determines when single resources are available for assignment and advise the NECC that single resources may be posted "on-the-board". Generally, when the in-state forest fire danger is high or is expected to be high, single resources may not be available for out-of-state assignment. This varies with the resource and their qualifications. The DOF notifies single resources as to status changes.

Supervisor Responsibilities

Understand CIFC member time commitments for required training and out-of state fire assignment expectations BEFORE signing CIFC Supervisory Approval Signature page.

CIFC Member Responsibilities

Communicate regularly with your supervisor and Forest Fire Supervisor on planned Agency work and out-of-state fire assignment availability. DEEP business needs must take priority however with advanced planning successful CIFC deployments need not be disrupted.

Worker's Compensation

All DEEP employees, who have been properly trained and medically screened, when involved with firefighting activities within the State, and are responding as a DEEP employee, are covered by State Worker’s compensation laws. This includes required training and testing while employees are on state time. DEEP personnel injured while attending fire crew training/activities on personal time may be covered and are eligible to apply for Worker's Compensation.

The Annual Operating Agreement between the DEEP and the U.S. Forest Service states that any Worker’s Compensation claims that are attributable to an out-of-state incident for a DEEP employee are paid by the State and reimbursed.

Private Sector personnel (Administratively Determined, AD’s) are considered Federal Employees. Worker's Compensation claims are therefore managed by the Federal Government.

Administratively Determined CIFC Members (ADs)

CIFC members need not be DEEP employees. Private sector personnel who pass medical screening and complete training may also participate on CIFC. These non-state employees are otherwise known as “Administratively Determined” (AD’s) and are considered temporary Federal Government employees while on assignment and are paid at predetermined AD rates. Although not eligible for NFFPC assignments, AD’s do provide critical capacity when Connecticut’s CIFC is deployed by USDA Forest Service and FEMA.