September 19th Forest Service resources responded to an initial attack on the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Initial size reported was a tenth acre fire burning in a fuels treatment area. Primary fuels burning were reported in timber with grass understory. The fire is located in a canyon with limited road access and radio coverage.
Radio traffic between dispatch and initial attack resources was broken and unreadable over primary channels. Multiple attempts to communicate over primary and secondary channels were mostly unsuccessful. Resources returning to station were able to communicate once enroute back to station. Intentions to bring more resources to the Incident and use managed fire tactics.
The following morning (September 20) additional resources consisting of engines, fuels module, and overhead responded to the fire. Firing operations were a tactic implemented by on scene personnel. The fire was upgraded from a type 5 to a type 4 IC. Dispatch and on scene personnel were unable to establish clear and concise radio traffic during this operation. Radio traffic again cleared up as resources returned to station at the end of shift.
The following morning (September 21) resources returned to the incident and firing operations continued. Radio traffic continues being unreliable between dispatch and on scene resources. Multiple concerns were raised over the lack of radio commo between dispatch and on scene personnel.
On the morning of September 22nd, before burning operations continued, dispatch requested from the IC that they establish a human repeater due to the unreadable radio traffic between dispatch and the incident. The IC responded that they would implement a human repeater before ignitions that morning. On multiple occasions Dispatch and Overhead fire staff requested information and/or questions be relayed to on scene fire personnel. Radio communications continued to be broken, unreadable, or unresponsive during this time. Burning operations continue and future plans to upgrade to a type 3 Incident with more personnel requested.
Radio communications between dispatch and on scene personnel has continued to be limited or non existent during operations that require quick and concise radio traffic. The lack of communications over Primary or secondary means of radio communications have created an unsafe environment. In the case of an emergency radio communications will be extremely hard to obtain for a rapid response. |
