Fire Departments

Local fire departments are important partners in Wisconsin's Forest Fire Program. The Fire Department Advisory Council (FDAC) [PDF, 45KB] is a council of fire department organizations, fire departments and the DNR - Division of Forestry. Member fire organizations include the Wisconsin State Firefighters Association, the State Fire Chiefs Association and the State Fire Instructors Association. Member fire departments represent broad geographical areas and different fire protection areas. The council was formed as a partnership and forum for the discussion of issues that affect both fire departments and the DNR on a statewide basis. Some issues discussed include wildland training programs, Forest Fire Protection Grants and Federal Excess Property vehicle program.

Wisconsin Fire Department Survey

Wisconsin Fire Departments were asked to participate in a wildland fire program survey in Fall 2009. The results of this survey will help the DNR's Forestry Division make recommendations about the future shape and direction of wildland suppression, prevention and training in the state. A comprehensive wildland fire program assessment is currently underway and the opinions of our closest partners, Wisconsin local fire departments, carry significant weight in this effort.

Fire Department Wildland Training for Cooperative Areas

Wisconsin DNR - Division of Forestry now has instructors available to teach wildland fire training to fire departments in cooperative fire protection areas of Wisconsin.

Introduction to Wildland Fire Suppression for Wisconsin Fire Departments

These instructors will be teaching the 8-hour WI DNR course, "Introduction to Wildland Fire Suppression for Wisconsin Fire Departments". This course is designed to offer firefighters all the information they need to safely suppress wildland fires in Wisconsin. A broader range of wildland fire topics is also available as requested by fire departments to meet their needs and time constraints.

Structural Protection for Wisconsin Fire Departments

This three hour training class is designed to give a WI fire department a background in structural protection during wildland fire suppression and to improve the efficiency and safety of fire department personnel operating on wildland urban interface (WUI) fires.

Unit 1 – Interface Awareness

describes the definition, background and rationale for structural protection training for fire departments.

Unit 2 – Size Up

describes the Firewise considerations, pre-incident and initial size up procedures and radio communications during a WUI fire.

Unit 3 – Triage

describes how and why of structural protection priorities. Explains the sorting of structures for protection strategies during WUI fires.

Unit 4 – Tactics

describes multiple structural protection tactics and techniques used in Wisconsin.

Unit 5 – WUI Fire Safety

describes safe operating guidelines and watch out situations on WUI fires during structural protection operations.

Unit 6 – Lessons Learned

describes a case study (Cottonville Fire 2005) of a WI WUI fire structural protection operation.

LeMay Forestry Center

Fire departments can purchase equipment from the DNR's LeMay Forestry Center. The catalog lists items available and prices (prices subject to change). Please note: We only sell equipment to Wisconsin government agencies and cooperating fire departments in Wisconsin!

Wisconsin Fire Departments (FD's) who have a signed suppression agreement with the DNR may order equipment and personal protective clothing through the LeMay Forestry Center Stockroom in Tomahawk. A signed authorization from the DNR Area Forestry Leader is necessary before a FD may place an order directly with the Tomahawk Stockroom.

The LeMay Center will not do any special purchasing for the Fire Departments but the FD's may order any items normally stocked by the LeMay Center. These items can be picked up or shipped via UPS. However, UPS will not deliver to post office boxes and there will be an extra charge for shipping to residential addresses.

Direct your order to:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
ATTN: Holly Lund
Tomahawk Stockroom
LeMay Forestry Center
518 W. Somo Avenue
Tomahawk, WI 54487
Phone: 715-453-2188
Fax: 715-453-5998
Emails: Holly.Lund@Wisconsin.gov

Dry Fire Hydrants

Are you planning to install a dry fire hydrant? All personnel involved are encouraged to read the installation tips in this booklet before beginning fieldwork on the project. It describes a dry fire hydrant system designed to be used with fire department engines and/or high volume pumps, not small portable pumps. And remember that permits may be required to place dry hydrants on the bed of any navigable waterway. To learn more about what is needed in order to apply for a dry hydrant, visit DNR’s website.

Firewise

"Firewise in Five Minutes" [PDF, 6.9MB] is a reference guide for firefighters designed to help them reduce the threat of wildfires in the wildland/urban interface. It provides many guidelines, definitions and helpful hints that will aid firefighters in communicating to their communities the importance of being knowledgeable and prepared for wildfire. The USDA Forest Service, National Association of State Foresters, and National Volunteer Fire Council partnered in producing this guide.

Grants

Forest Fire Protection Grant (FFP)

State funds are available to increase forest fire protection and suppression capabilities through cooperative efforts with local fire departments and county fire associations as per s. 917, 1997 Wisconsin Act 27, Stats. Fire departments that have executed a forest fire suppression agreement acceptable to the Department are eligible to apply. Factors considered include: 1) The fire departments serve in a DNR organized fire protection area; 2) Fire departments respond to wild fires within their jurisdiction at no cost to the DNR; 3) Fire departments with a majority of members meeting NFPA 1051 standards for fire fighting training and ; 4) Whether or not the fire department was awarded a FFP grant in the last funding cycle. Fire departments that have executed a forest fire suppression agreement acceptable to the Department are eligible to apply. County fire associations with a majority of the member FD's having a forest fire suppression agreement with the department are also eligible to apply. There is a 50% local match required. Eligible fire departments can receive a maximum grant award of $10,000. Eligible county fire associations can receive a maximum grant award of $25,000.

Wildland fire equipment is eligible in the following categories listed in priority order:

1. Personal protective clothing
2. Forest fire training
3. Forest fire prevention projects
4. Forest fire suppression equipment
5. Dry hydrants
6. Communications equipment
7. Mapping equipment, maps, and GPS units
8. Off road vehicles primarily used for forest fires including ATV's

A complete listing of eligible items can be found on the application web site.

• Applications are mailed to fire departments and county fire associations in late April.
• Applications must be returned to the DNR by July 1 (unless otherwise provided for on the application) of the same year.

For more information, contact Eileen Trainor.

Class A Foams
Under the Forest Fire Protection Grant program, only United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS)approved Class A foams can be purchased. Any nonapproved foams are not reimbursable. The USDA laboratory in Missoula, MT runs a series of tests to ensure Class A foam products are safe to the environment and biodegradable when used on wildland fuels. These tests ensure wildland firefighting operations are not doing more harm than good. The USDA approved list of Class A foam products is here [PDF]. Each of these products will be labeled as USDA approved on the container. Be cautious of vendor claims of approval without proof.

FFP grant application packet
FFP Fact Sheet [PDF, 14KB]

View the Forest Fire Protection Grant Recipients [PDF, 1MB] -- grants awarded for 01/01/2007 through 12/01/2007

Additional grants are available from the federal government. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants/ [exit DNR]

Aid To Firefighters Grant Program (AFG)- 2009

• $510 Million Total

• Operations and Safety - training, safety, equipment, wellness and facilities
• Vehicle Acquisitions
• Regional Projects

• Project Description
• Cost-Benefit
• Financial Need
• Effects on Daily Operations

• www.firegrantsupport.com [exit DNR]
• Grant Help Desk - 1-866-274-0960
• dawn.vick@wisconsin.gov
• Grant Writing Guide and Examples available at www.nvfc.org/news/2007-afg-safer.html