An after-action review of the 2011 fire season to date was held Wednesday, Oct. 19, with representatives from area municipal and volunteer fire departments, as well as county and municipal officials, discussing what was planned, what actually happened, why it happened and what can be done next time.
The session was called at the behest of Grant County Fire Management Officer Gary Benavidez.
Grant County Commission Chairman Brett Kasten opened the meeting by saying this year was the most prolific and devastating fire season the county has seen.
"We saw a fire season we've never seen before," Benavidez said. "Locally we lost and almost lost multiple homes, but we were fortunate to have no people fatalities.
"Nationwide there were 54 serious injuries and entrapments and 12 fatalities, six of which were from volunteer fire departments," he continued. "Sixteen volunteer fire department members were involved in burn overs. Volunteer fire departments take on the bulk of fires nationally."
He did not have good news for the long-range weather and fire season forecast.
"La Niña is back again this year," Benavidez said. "It's déjà vu for winter. We're looking at the same scenario."
He pointed out on a map that New Mexico was in the red and dark red like last year.
"Drought is to persist and intensify," Benavidez said. "The moisture levels in January to March and March to May are about 5 percent.
"What we need to look at today is what we did well and what needs improvement," he said.
He introduced Loretta Benavidez with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as the facilitator. Tony Diaz from the Lincoln National Forest served as assistant facilitator and Tiffany Knauf, Grant County Community Health Council coordinator, and Kendra Milligan, GCCHC assistant coordinator, were scribes. Ellen Brown, Gila National Forest fire prevention coordinator, recorded the proceedings.
Loretta Benavidez reported that Lincoln National Forest has had no reprieve from fire yet this year.
She listed ground rules for the meeting, but asked no one to feel stifled about bringing up areas of concern. "This is the place to address the issues."
Silver City Fire Chief Rudy Bencomo led off the discussion by saying that every season the fires start earlier. He said Gary Benavidez has provided training to the municipal firefighters. "Now we're planning and training for fire season by early spring."
Don May, Sapillo VFD chief, said his department, in addition to training at earlier dates, also begins getting gear and supplies in November and December in preparation for the upcoming season.
"A well coordinated, professional response to every wildland and structure fire in Grant County is what we want," Doug Boykin, New Mexico State Forestry district forester, said.
Lucy Whitmarsh, Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department chief, said the department's emphasis is on training, resources and continuing with vehicle maintenance, "so we are always in readiness mode, ready to go. We have continuous efforts to work on radio communications."
Grant County Manager Jon Paul Saari said the county works with Gary Benavidez to give him support, so he has all the tools to support the fire chiefs and departments. "Sometimes, during an incident, we switch roles, and I take calls for him, and I become his support."
Joe Chavez, Fort Bayard VFD chief, said, in addition to the focus on training, the most important thing is to get together with other departments "so we can help each other. We are interfacing with partners pre-season."
Gilbert Helton, Grant County Office of Emergency Management director, said he prepares and finds emergency evacuation centers, purchases communication equipment and keeps the elected officials informed about any incident. Prior to this year's fire season he made an attempt to provide incident-command system training.
Santa Clara Mayor Richard Bauch worked with the county on the emergency plan. "We're trying to keep our station manned and trying to find enough volunteers. We have issues with recruitment."
Bill Crossland, Lower Mimbres VFD chief, said training and recruitment are ongoing, as is upgrading communications equipment and finding adequate water supplies.
Mark Standard, Santa Rita VFD chief, said the department has improved its equipment with compressed air foam systems to make resources last longer and to knock down fires faster. "We try to retain our volunteers. One percent of Grant County residents are volunteer firefighters. We train hard and want to be successful, especially with our quick initial attack response."
Frank Ryan of the Santa Clara VFD said he emphasizes equipment readiness. "We purchased all new equipment for the firefighters. It is a stress on the guys to be vigilant and always ready. In case of a fire that we may be called to, we go to the station and wait until needed."
Ellen Harris, Tyrone VFD chief, said the department focuses on training, equipment readiness, communications, and advance training with ICS for managing the fire, rather than "just fighting it. The first on scene is preparing to get the incident command ready."
Gabe Holguin, Gila National Forest acting fire staff officer, said the GNF is preparing for an active season with a fire management plan, aviation plan and communications plan.
"The biggest thing is to get the message to the initial attackers and incident management," Holguin said. "This past season was different from seasons before. In a normal year, a fire gets to the ridge top into the piñon-juniper and lays down. Not this year. We requested severity funding earlier this year to get additional crews and engines down here. We had complete refresher training for firefighters earlier than usual. There's an educational component to make people aware that things are different."
B.J. Agnew, Cliff-Gila VFD chief, said, in addition to training and communications, "we really harped on safety."
Fernando Martinez of the Hurley VFD said the members received a lot of training this year.
County Commissioner Gabriel Ramos said Gary Benavidez had met with him early this year with how worried he was about the season. "Getting him as our FMO was an important step for the county. I was in a supportive role and I was impressed by the coordination of all the departments. It was educational for me."
Jim McCormick, U.S. Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District assistant manager, which dispatches out of Silver City, reported engines went to the area early. "It quickly became overwhelming, especially in the southeastern part of the state. The district covers six counties including to here. Our role was support. We are up and down on ready reserve and getting enough resources. The prevention team came in to create public information notices."
Loretta Benavidez said fire prevention activities should go into a list of things to be discussed further.
Kasten reported that the County Commission starts a year ahead in its budgeting process. "We have to make sure there are financial capabilities for radios, the fire management officer and the office of emergency management. We're the support and try to help evacuees, too. We ensure the logistics and finances are in place."
Gary Benavidez said he began making a lot of calls to Doug (Boykin), the BLM and the Forest Service to preposition some additional engines. "I got reassurance that we would have backup with interagency support. We kicked off a prevention campaign, in order to be ready early. The area went into restrictions. There was a lot of preplanning. Silver City went in first with restrictions and we went in shortly thereafter."
"Restrictions were locally driven," Boykin said. "That's the way it should be."
A further article will cover what actually happened in this year's fire season.