| I was assigned to the Iron Complex in late July as a DIVS. Since being assigned to the incident I noticed a communication issue between the Day Operations and Night Operations. Several othe DIVS complained that they would come up with a plan for the next day operational period but then night operations would come in and start firing operations whether weather permitted or not. I heard DIVS complain about wrong pieces of line being burned, dirty burns being left with little to no consumption. When I asked why don't they take their concerns to Branch, I was told that would be as far as it goes. I was made aware that the Night Operation Section Chief has a family relationship with a member of upper management on the IMT and that no one on the team would complain due to fear of reprisal and that this has been allowed to go on for some time. This raises a safety concern when no one is able to raise concerns about tactics or safety because of the fear of reprisal. On one shift change I witnessed two Hotshot Superintendents turn down a firing assignment due to unsafe conditions. They explained that there was no safey zones, escape route was back up the line (uphill) on a handline with heavy canopy. The winds where blowing across the line at 10 mph with gust to 18. We could see a line of fire forming across canyon on the north slope. They gave options of falling back to the 3 blade dozerline a mile up the road or wait til' early morning and coming up from the bottom. This firing operation was to contain a spot that formed 1/4 mile ahead of the night shift firing, which also posed a concern to the Hotshots in regards to being committed on the handline. The Day DIVS asked the two Superintendents to brief the night DIVS of what they saw. Night DIVS agreed to their concerns and called the Night Operations the brief her. She stated in a rude tone that she would have her night crew make that decision. After that, it appeared the Night DIVS and Night personnel felt that even though the conditions where not right to burn, Night OPS would still want to burn regardless. The IHC Supt. asked the DIV Night Safety Officer to take a look at the line and what was being proposed. About ten minutes later DIV Night safety called the Night OSC and told her "Do Not Put Fire on the Ground!". Night OSC responded extremely rudely "Why Not??!!" Saftey explained that it was not safe due to no safety zones, poor escape routes, the wind was in their face and fire behavior was pickig up. Night OSC rude response was "I'll be up to talk about this!!" I could not believe the total disregard to safety concerns being raised by several competent folks. I heard that at the next moring Day Briefing, the day OSC and Night OSC took the two Hotshot Superintendents around the back of the brifing tent. The Night OSC screamed at the Superintendents in such a rage stating the they placed fear in her night DIVS and how dare they get the safety officer involved. I was told that they almost got sent home for this but was reassigned to a different part of the complex. I would expect more professionalism from someone in that leadership position. I found out later that the Night OSC was a trainee. This raises another concern. It appears that the Day OSC was her trainer yet he would transfer command to her at the evening. So who was out there with her as her trainer? Also, the Day OSC just got signed off as an OSC and was on his first assignment as an OSC. I believe the requirement for a trainer is that you have at least 3 assignments in that position before you can train someone else. Again, a blind eye turned away due to nepotism. I believe that if this Night OSC was on another IMT, this type of incident would never be allowed to occur. |
