State of California Natural Resources Agency

Memorandum

To Deputy Director Fire Protection Date August 192011 Region Chiefs Assistant Deputy Director Cooperation Training amp Telephone (916) 653-7772

Safety Assistant Region Chiefs Website wwwfirecagov Unit Chiefs Staff Chiefs

From KEN PIMLO Director California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)

Subject CAL FIRE Aircraft Response Guidelines

In light of the reduction of federal air tankers it is expected that there will be an increased reliance on State of California aircraft throughout California and adjoining states As a result all CAL FIRE personnel will follow the process listed below when addressing competing resource requests

In-State Response

CAL FIRE will continue to follow the procedures outlined in the Cooperative Fire Management Agreement (CFMA) the Geographic Area Operating Plans and the SubshyGeographic Operating Plans the California Mobilization Guide and the California Area Aviation Preparedness Guidelines with the following exceptions

bull CAL FIRE will dispatch air tankers on initial attack (IA) in accordance with existing agreements and per the California Mobilization Guide under the closest forces concept If a federal incident requires load and return of CAL FIRE air tankers or additional CAL FIRE air tankers are ordered for the incident the Federal GACC will order federal air tankers(s) from the other California GACC or through NICC as appropriate to replace CAL FIRE IA air tankers CAL FIRE air tankers should NOT be considered as a replacement for federal aircraft on extended attack or major Federal incidents in California

bull Any commitment of 4 air tankers or more to any incident (federal state or local government) will require Region Duty Chief notification

bull The Region Duty Chief must evaluate Region IA capabilityactivity values at risk (threat to life property) threat to SRA lands (including SRA within federal DPA) and proximity to DPA (FRA SRA LRA) boundary

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Aircraft Response Guidelines Memo August 19 2011 Page Two

bull The Region Duty Chief shall revisit the use of CAL FIRE air tankers on federal incidents with hisher federal Duty Chief counterpart at least every hour throughout the incident and consider the following

o Has a federal air tanker request been filleden-route o Updated evaluation of Region IA capabilityactivity values at risk (threat to

life property) threat to SRA lands (including SRA within federal DPA) and proximity to DPA boundary

o If necessary the CAL FIRE Region Duty Chief may deny the request for continued use of CAL FIRE air tankers if CAL FIRE IA capability is compromised

bull Requests for more than 4 CAL FIRE air tankers on a federal incident require Region Duty Chief approval

bull CAL FIRE reserves the right to deny a request for use of CAL FIRE aircraft based on CAL FIRE need to maintain effective initial attack capability and support CAL FIRE extended attack or major incidents

Out of State Requests

bull Same criteria as In-State with the following additional restrictions

o IA response limited to 25 nautical miles and for no more than 1 ATGS 2 Air Tankers

o Requires Region Duty ChiefRegion Chief Notification o Requests greater than 25 nautical miles require Region Chief approval o Requests for diverts to new incidents or additional IA dispatches within a

25 nautical mile radius require Region Duty Chief approval o Requests for additional CAL FIRE aircraft (3 air tankers or more) require

Director approval

cc Crawford Tuttle Janet Barentson Tonya Hoover Janet Upton Sacramento Duty Chief Notification List

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