SAFENET


SAFENET

Wildland Fire Safety & Health Reporting Network

SAFENET Event Information
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SAFENET ID:
20250611-0001        [Corrective Actions]
Event Start Date:
06/10/2025 1600
Event Stop Date:
 
Incident Name:
Aging radio System
Fire Number:
 
State:
Oregon
Jurisdiction:
USFS
Local Unit:
Malheur National Forest
Incident Type:
Wildland, Prescribed/Fuels Treatment, All Hazard, Training
Incident Activity:
Line, Support, Transport to/from, Readiness/Preparedness
Stage of Incident:
Initial Attack, Extended Attack, Transfer of Command, Mop Up, Demobe, Non-incident
Position Title:
District AFMO 
Task:
daily Operation  
Management Level:
N/A
Resources Involved:
all resources on forest  
Contributing Factors
Contributing Factors:
Communications
Human Factors:
 
Other Factors:
 
Narrative
Describe in detail what happened including the concern or potential issue, the environment (weather, terrain, fire behavior, etc), and the resulting health issue.
The communication system on the Malheur National Forest has experienced ongoing issues, which have become increasingly problematic this year. Dispatch and resources are facing significant challenges in maintaining effective communication, with recurring problems such as repeater outages, radio console failures, and network disruptions. These issues are further exacerbated during power outages, as there is no backup power for the communication infrastructure. This concern has been raised multiple times; however, there has been little progress in addressing these problems. The system is acknowledged to be outdated, but no efforts have been made to replace or upgrade the equipment. This presents a critical safety concern, as unreliable communication can hinder coordination during emergencies, potentially putting personnel at risk.
Immediate Action Taken
Reporting Individual : please describe actions you took to correct or mitigate the unsafe/unhealthful event.
Currently, our primary contingency for system failure is to contact dispatch via telephone.


Agency Response

20250611-0001-CA001

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