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Northern California

  • Coast Guard (Northern California)
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    Coast Guard
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    MH65D (AS365), 3 Aircraft assigned, 1 staffed 24/7

    Notes:
    Perform @7000'/90 F varies. Emergency missions accepted/declined without delay, but will require follow-up with CALOES mission tasking number.
    Ordering Procedure:

    Sector Humboldt Bay Command Center, 707-839-6113

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    McKinleyville, CA - Humboldt Bay
    Map Location Number:
    14
  • Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Air Operations
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Air Operations
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    2-Bell UH-1H (Fire Copter 1 and Fire Copter 2)

    Notes:

    Willing to release 1 helicopter for extended operations. Rescue Crew Configuration: Pilot, Hoist Operator (Paramedic), and Rescuer (Paramedic).

    Ordering Procedure:

    Contact: Dispatch @ (916) 228-3035, AC Mike Lozano @ (916) 616-2409, CAPT Grant Russell @ (916) 628-3254, or Chief Pilot Montie Vanlandingham @ (916) 628-3097. Agency considers rescue operations as a priority mission. Available for EMS transport (ALS Certified), SAR, and Wild Land Fire Operations. AFF Capable.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Map Location Number:
    13
  • Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    Bell Long Ranger 206L; 1-C30P/Bell 206B

    Notes:
    Also River, Ocean, and Cliff trained besides basic Long Line.
    Ordering Procedure:

    <p>
    Contact Chief Pilot/Detective Sergeant Rob Latapie at 209-404-2668 or 209-652-9472. Or Unit Commander Lt. Mike Parker at 209-652-8526. Or Sheriff's Department Communications at 209-552-3914.</p>

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Modesto, CA
    Map Location Number:
    12
  • California Highway Patrol (Northern)
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    California Highway Patrol
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    Airbus AS350 B3

    Notes:

    Rescue is a priority, but agency will not let the helicopter be on standby for a fire rescue/medivac. Helicopters are not available when on law enforcement missions. The helicopter could be working on incident and have a delayed response. Some helicopters will not respond to mountainous terrain at night if pilot has not seen the area in daylight.

    Ordering Procedure:

    #23- Direct: 760 -240-8004/ After Hours: 760- 255-8760.
    #24- CHP Com. Center: 916-861-1299
    Air Ops. Office: 530-823-4535
    #25- Office 559-488-4121/ Dispatch 559-441-5400
    #26- Direct: 805-239-3553 / After Hours: 805-593-3344
    #27- CHP Com. Center: 530-242-3210 (24 hrs./day)/
    Air crew: 530-225-2040
    #28- Indio Dispatch 760-772-8989
    Unit request assistance when there is a medical emergency though 911 system.
    #24, 27, & 28 They can be ordered through the normal ordering process Forest/ Units have in place. No mechanism for agency payment.
    #24 & 28 – North Ops Resources #23, 25 & 26 CA Highway Patrol. #24 Can cross Nevada border for critical incidents. #26 Long-line short-haul: 1,660lb/FLIR/PA #27 Can cross Oregon border for critical rescue missions. Pilot-Sgt. Steve Young (Phone #: 503-225-2040)

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Auburn, CA; Redding, CA
    Map Location Number:
    10, 11
  • California National Guard
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    National Guard
    FM Radio Programmable:
    No
    Make & Model:

    11- Blackhawk (UH-60) @ Mather; 8- UH60 @ Los Alamitos; 10- CH47F @ Stockton

    Notes:

    Perform @ 7000'/90 F varies. These 11 helicopters are in deployment rotation and available on a case-by-case basis. Can take up to 24 hours to mobilize depending on the request.

    Ordering Procedure:

    Hired through request for assistance to the National Interagency Coordination Center or CAL FIRE can hire though request for assistance through the Governor’s Office (CAL EMA). GACC or 911 dispatch centers should coordinate requests for military, Coast Guard, and National Guard resources through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at phone #: 800-851-3051.
    Direct contact: Lt. Colonel Lou Carmona, (o) 916-854-1403 or (c) 916-439-3545.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Stockton, CA
    Map Location Number:
    9
  • Sonoma County Sheriff
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    Sonoma County Sheriff
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    Bell 407

    Notes:
    None
    Ordering Procedure:

    This aircraft is dispatched through Redcom (Sonoma Co. Fire Dispatch) 707-576-1371.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Sonoma, CA
    Map Location Number:
    8
  • CalFire (Northern)
    Geographic Area:
    Northern California
    Source:
    CalFire
    FM Radio Programmable:
    Yes
    Make & Model:

    11 Bell 205 (UH-1H) Restricted Super Huey

    Notes:

    Cal Fire has helicopter bases throughout CA and is available for emergency use determined by location and need. Rescue is a priority, but the agency will not let the helicopter sit on standby on a fire for rescue/medivac only. The helicopter could be working on incident and have a delayed response.

    Ordering Procedure:

    911 dispatch centers should coordinate requests through appropriate CA GACC.
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 : North Ops Resources. They can be ordered through the normal ordering process Forest/ Units place to the GACC and GACC place with corresponding unit.
    6, and 8: Order through normal ordering process. Forest/units place to GACC, GACC will place to San Andres ECC.
    For Northern CA, contact ONC GACC (24 hour #): 530-226-2800. Southern CA, contact OSC GACC (24 hour #): 951-276-6725. Day missions only.

    Recovery Device or Method:
    Map Location:
    Bieber, CA; Kneeland, CA; Vina, CA; Howard Forest, CA; Boggs Mountain, CA; Columbia, CA; Alma, CA
    Map Location Number:
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
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NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: May 10, 2024
Contact: IFUASS Qualification and Curriculum Board (IFUASS) 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 is now available. PMS 515 standardizes the processes and procedures for interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This publication is now available as a PDF for easy use offline.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Memorandum 24-003: Removal of Type 1 Command and General Staff (C&G) Incident Position Qualification Pathways

Date: May 10, 2024
Contact: Aitor Bidaburu 

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide NWCG direction for removal of the Type 1 Command and General Staff (C&G) incident position qualification pathways to transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM). Responders may continue to utilize available NWCG pathways to attain Type 1 C&G qualifications until December 31, 2024.

References:

Memorandum 24-003

CIM Story Map

2024 Professional Reading Program

Date: April 26, 2024
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP) 

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2024 Professional Reading list! The intent of the Professional Reading Program is to promote the reading and discussion of these books throughout the year. Discussion guides are provided and the corresponding Wildland Fire Leadership Levels have been identified.

The five books chosen for this year are: Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by William H. McRaven, The Art of Clear Thinking by Hasard Lee, Emotional Agility by Susan David, and Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Wildland Fire Leadership Levels

NWCG Training Catalog now on Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Date: April 25, 2023
Contact: NWCG Training  

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has migrated the training catalog from the NWCG website to the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes and improve efficiency. To facilitate this transition, the training catalog remains available on www.nwcg.gov through April 2024.

Starting May 2024, the training catalog will no longer be accessible on www.nwcg.gov. However, you can still access the complete training catalog by logging in as a guest to the WFLP.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal