Collaboration between NPS Alaska Region Fire Management staff and BLM Alaska Fire Service bolsters national fire response, provides staff opportunities

H66HJ, an AFS contracted Bell 205A1++ out of Galena Zone assigned to the Windy fire in Southern California, returning at the end of shift to Kernville from doing bucket work.

(Christopher Havener, NPS)

Successful management of wildland fire is a team effort. National Park Service (NPS) staff in Alaska have formed a unique partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS), which has helped to turn challenges into opportunities, and increased operational efficiency in utilization of helicopters for fire suppression. This partnership has benefited not only Alaska, but also the wildland firefighting effort in several western states.

AFS serves as one of three “Protecting Agencies” in Alaska, providing wildfire suppression for just over half of Alaska (191.5 million acres) in the northern parts of the state, regardless of jurisdiction. NPS, as a “Jurisdictional Agency,” provides fuels treatments and develops objectives and strategic intent for the Protection Agency to implement.

Closeup of two crew members from the BLM/Forest Service/Park Service crew on an AFS/BLM helicopter.

(Ryan Nessle, NPS)

In Alaska, standards for helicopters used for fire suppression include use of just a helicopter manager (HMGB). But when fire season in Alaska winds down, usually in late August to early September, and these resources head to the lower 48 to assist other states, they are expected to have larger module sizes, meaning more people attached to the helicopter. Helicopter crewmembers (HECM) are in particularly high demand, as are HMGBs. Without sufficient modules, helicopters would need to request additional resources from other states, sometimes resulting in interruptions in the use of the resource.

Neither AFS nor NPS-Alaska currently hire and maintain dedicated helicopter modules. AFS staff generally have high operational qualifications above the level of HECM, and it is in their best career interest to find opportunities in other states after Alaska’s fire season ends. Meanwhile, NPS-Alaska has fuels crews, an aviation program that includes two light helicopters, trained helicopter managers, HECMs, and trainees. The ability to blend AFS and NPS helicopter personnel allows the group to share experiences that grow interagency fire in Alaska.

Helicopter at Green Ridge Fire Clearwater Lookout.

(Keith Mitchell, NPS)

This is where the partnership comes in. While NPS-Alaska staff have provided helicopter staffing support for the past 20 years, collaboration has ramped up over the last three years or so. AFS has begun reaching out to NPS, inviting their participation in the first wave of helicopters heading to fires in the lower 48. In 2021, NPS was invited to send HECMs and HMGBs even before the first helicopters headed south.

NPS has been able to provide for critical staffing needs caused by longer and more complex fire seasons and a nationwide shortage of trained aviation staff. At the same time, opportunities to assist AFS have benefited NPS staff, as the helicopters provide HECM training opportunities which open doors for staff who otherwise might not get work in lower preparedness levels of 3 and below. Additionally, the partnership allows staff who don’t work in wildland fire as part of their regular job (for example, rangers, biological technicians, dispatchers and maintenance staff) to gain valuable experience, which is a benefit to both the individual and the broader agency fire management effort.

Helicopter module featuring an AFS/BLM helicopter with BLM, Forest Service and Park service crew.

(Ryan Nessle, NPS)

“Alaska is a small fire community and the collaboration between the NPS and AFS allows continuity within the two programs,” said AFS Helicopter Manager Nathan Gilmore. “You can have an AFS manager cover a NPS helicopter or a NPS manager cover a AFS helicopter with minimal to no issues. Bringing on NPS personnel provides a professional workforce to meet the needs of incident management teams, and hosting units. The personnel have administrative support and are fully self-sufficient for 14 to 30-day assignments.”

Helicopter with setting sun in background

(Keith Mitchell, NPS)

To date, a total of nine NPS personnel have filled 11 resource orders and 243 operational periods on AFS helicopters, on fires in Idaho, California, Oregon, and Washington. Helicopter module members gained valuable training experience, increasing their career knowledge and filling in holes that allowed AFS helicopters to seamlessly stay in service on fires, giving AFS employees longer employment opportunities.

The positive results of this NPS and AFS collaboration are expected to continue. Gilmore added, “I hope to see more cross training and collaboration between the two programs in the future.”