From The State Chiefs Association
The Florida Fire Chiefs Association mobilized 75 engines, 72 brushfire vehicles and 29 tankers and tenders, beyond all others mobilized by the Florida Division of Forestry and normal mutual aid.

According to Tom Harmer, chief of Titusville Fire & Emergency Services and disaster coordinator for the Florida Fire Chiefs Association, the association, in accordance with the state's Comprehensive Emergency Manage-ment Plan, is an agency for the emergen cy support function of firefighting. Its role is to provide state-requested support of local fire agencies.

During the wildland fire disaster, Harmer and the association's response team staffed the State Emergency Operations Center and coordinated the mobilization of fire-rescue resources.

"These resources were dispatched directly to local fire departments to assist with initial fire attack and structural fire protection in the wildland urban interface," Harmer said. "The association processed 147 missions and deployed more than 1,500 Flori da firefighters to assist. This was in addition to local fire departments and local mutual aid plans that were first used to support the suppression efforts." To supplement the response, the state activated the Emergency Assistance Compact (EMAC), which is an agreement signed by the governors of a number of states to facilitate assistance during major disasters.

"The EMAC resources provided an additional 551 firefighters from seven states who were deployed by the chiefs association," Harmer said. "A link was established with the state Emergency Operations Center with forestry command and the chiefs association to help facilitate coordination of resources. In addition, chiefs association liaisons were dispatched to help coordinate activities between county emergency operations centers, local fire departments and forestry operations."

The fire chiefs association's Disaster Response Plan was developed in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in an effort to more efficiently and effectively manage large-scale fire response deployments, he said.

"The state disaster coordinator has a network of seven regional coordinators located throughout the state and they work with 67 county coordinators," Harmer explained. " The members of this disaster team are typically fire chiefs or senior managers in fir e departments. Over 6,100 hours were provided to the members just in coordination of the statewide response to the wildfires. This activation will be closely analyzed and lessons learned will be incorporated into future revisions of the plan to help insur e that the fire service continues to find ways to be better prepared for future disasters."

"Historic Event"
Gene Madden, safety officer and spokesperson for the Florida Division Of Forestry, was assigned as the division's lead public information officer during the entire Florida fire siege. He also was assigned as his agency's representative to the White House and the Secret Service for the VIPs who toured the devastated areas. "The wildfires that occurred in Florida this year were truly an historic event in firefighting and will be written about for years to come," Madden said. "These wildfires will be to the '90s what the Yellowstone Fires were to the '80s – the signific ant wildfire event of the decade. One can make many observations about wildfire behavior. What was most striking to me was that we experienced such explosive fire intensity on so many fires across Florida for such long periods of time. It was nothing shor t of miraculous that no one lost their life to these infernos.

"A few things stand out as making significant contributions to the overall success on these fires. First, Florida has the nation's leading prescribed fire program. Certainly, without the use of prescribed fire, many of these wildfires would have been much more difficult to contain and control. Second, the aggressive and widespread use of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft saved many structures. Third, the interagency cooperation and the use of the incident command system by and large were spectacular. Wh at a tribute to the professionalism of structural and wildland firefighters."

On The Lighter Side

• This may be a first in wildland firefighting. A firefighter suffered a bite to his hand when he attempted to rescue an otter from fast-approaching flames. Otters possess razor-sharp teeth that can cut through leather gloves. The wound was minor and t he otter was last reported alive and frolicking in a stream.
  
• Two firefighters working at a pond to set up a water-supply operation were next to a "large green log." The "log" suddenly developed a long, tooth-laden snout and two reptile-like eyes. In their panic to reach a safe location, one firefighter bumped the other one into the pond from which they were pumping. You guessed it – that "large green log" was a 12-foot-long alligator. Look out, you Northern boys!
  
• Firefighters rescued a whitetail deer fawn that had some minor burns on its hooves. The firefighters named the fawn "Blaze." Move over, Smokey. Blaze may be the next national symbol for wildland fire protection.

Help From Private Groups
Many private groups and church-based organizations came to the aid of the firefighters during the operation. Some opened kitchens and fed the firefighters. Others waived payments or discounted lodging in hotels and motels. Many civilians opened their home s and hearts to the firefighters. The owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway donated $30,000, and the owners of the Daytona International Speedway donated their facility as a staging area and a shelter for firefighters after the July 4 race was postponed. Aqua-Med, a Largo-based manufa cturer of wound-care medications, donated $24,000 worth of spray solutions to treat injured firefighters. Florida Health Care Inc. said it would cover the costs of transporting those medications.

During and after the fire siege, there was a tremendous outpouring of thanks and appreciation shown to the firefighters by residents and businesses. Hotels and motels offered free weekends for those firefighters to return within a year. Major tourist attr actions such as Daytona USA and Daytona Opryland as well as the big theme parks and state parks announced plans to offer free or discounted passes to those who fought the fires. Residents hung posters, thanking and praising the firefighters for their eff orts. Private homes were opened up to emergency workers, where they were allowed to rest, shower and be fed. Churches also welcomed the firefighters, giving them rest and both physical and spiritual sustenance.

What Lies Ahead?
As this history-making structural wildland interzone (SWI) fire event was in the final stages of demobilization, large wildland and SWI fires were igniting in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah and elsewhere in the country. Wildland s and structures were being burned. Firefighting resources were being deployed. By the time this article is published, the numbers of fires and acres burned may exceed 10-year averages.

Will the next fire siege occur in California, New Jersey, Texas or the vast wildlands covering much of New England? History often repeats itself and nature will do its thing. Is your fire service ready to repel the invader fire? Does your community, count y, state and region have a fire disaster response plan in place? Has it been tested and upgraded recently? Are your local, state and federal fire agencies working in a cooperative effort and planning together? Is prescribed fire a part of your fire preven tion program? If your answer to any of these questions is no, then it's past time to get ready.