JACKSON HOLE, WYO – The Bridger-Teton National Forest hosted the tabletop wildfire training exercise on May 8 at the Forest Service office on North Cache Street. The scenario was created by Teton Interagency fire personnel and Teton County Emergency Operations management.
The purpose of this year’s exercise was to raise awareness of roles and responsibilities during wildland fire incidents. The exercise gave leaders an opportunity to develop joint decision-making relationships and enhance critical decision-making skills. The scenario centered on a wildland fire in the north end of Teton County.
“The scenario followed what we typically would expect in this area at the end of July,” said Bridger-Teton National Forest public affairs officer Mary Cernicek. “It was late July, and a lightning strike fire was reported on the Forest along the boundary of Grand Teton National Park. We have fire history, weather trends, and information about our typical fuel moistures and fire danger so we can simulate a fairly real-life scenario to test our skills and abilities.”
Participants included Teton County Emergency Management, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, Wyoming State Foresters office, and the National Elk Refuge.
The objectives of this year’s discussion-based tabletop exercise were:
- Identify key values impacted by a given wildland fire scenario.
- List impacted stakeholders and their responsibilities during a wildland fire.
- Develop initial policy direction for a wildland fire response.
- Generate talking points and key public information efforts necessary for a wildland fire.
- Compose strategies to mitigate economic impacts to the community from wildland fire.
Cernicek added, “There is incredible benefit to having all managers in a room and working through the ‘what-if’s’ before they ever occur. We have outstanding leadership in this area and there was much to learn from all the participants on how we would approach protecting lives, the safety of the firefighters, and protecting property.”
Government agencies do their part. Homeowners, too, need to develop firewise practices.
“We are fortunate that there has been much emphasis in Teton County on working around homes and property before a wildfire event,” Cernicek said. “Steps homeowners take right now can dramatically impact how an approaching fire behaves as it comes towards a neighborhood or private property.”
For more information on firewise practices or what you can do, contact the Bridger-Teton National Forest at (307) 739-5500.
