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Sycuan Hotshots Receive Federal Certification for 2008 National Fire Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SYCUAN INDIAN RESERVATION — The Sycuan BIA Golden Eagles Hotshots wildland firefighting crew completed their 2008 Annual BIA Inter-Agency Hotshot Crew Certification Review on June 10th and received official certification for the 2008 fire season after passing the federal government's stringent administrative, field and medical evaluations.
Sycuan Golden Eagles IHC Superintendent Juan Mendez addresses his elite crew of professional firefighters just moments before turning them over to Bureau of Indian Affairs officials for inspection of line gear, tools, equipment and basic firefighting knowledge.
Federal fire management officials from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Pacific Regional Office addressed the Sycuan Hotshots and began a formal review of their initial attack line gear. The BIA officials are out of the Sacramento office in California.
A Sycuan Golden Eagles Hotshot answered a question asked by BIA Regional Fire Management Officer Ronald P. Recker (in blue shirt).
BIA Regional Fire Management Specialist Jose Merjil (in white shirt) talked about wildland firefighting belt weather kit with one of Sycuan's newest hotshots, Firefighter Noah De La Rosa, a 2008 graduate of the Sycuan-BIA Firefighting Academy. Mr. Merjil, a Native American Tauhrumara Indian, has been a professional fireman since 1970.
Sycuan Hotshots Captain Madrigal (in red helmet) stands alongside his crew during the review.
NATIVE AMERICAN CREW:
The Golden Eagles IHC includes Native American Indians from a variety of Indigenous North American Indian tribal nations, and is one of seven federal BIA Native American inter-agency hotshot crews.
Pictured above (far left) is CODY RIDLEY, a Paiute-Shoshone Indian from Fallon Indian Reservation in Nevada, and (3rd from left) LELAND RED EAGLE, Lakota, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. Other Native American Sycuan firefireghter blogs may be found in the SYCUAN CREW LOUNGE.
Firemen listened up and asked questions before entering the next phase of the certification process.
BEGIN INITIAL ATTACK PHASE:
Sycuan Hotshots ran a mock deployment to simulate a mission. Above, the firefighters entered one of Sycuan's crew carriers and stowed their out-of-county gear before boarding and beginning their initial attack deployment drill.
Next the crews circled the compound and arrived at scene.
The crew then lined up for instructions and another inspection with their IA (initial attack) fire-fighting gear —receive safety briefing from overhead about the assignment.
SIMULATED INITIAL ATTACK SCENARIO:
The crews then proceed to a staging area on the Sycuan reservation so BIA officers could observe their performance and tactics for line construction and on-line medical emergency scenarios.
Second Squad Boss Robert Goodwin briefed his crew on their assignment and objectives.
CUTTING FIRE LINE:
First Sawyer Robert Villegas anchors the handline and leads the crew along simulated fire line.
Firefighter T-1 (trainee) Chris Rivera demonstrates a one-lick method to mark the hand line location using a Pulaski.
The Southern California San Diego County rural countryside is extremely dry and hazardous as seen in this fire photo. Flare ups generally occur in deceptively light fuels such as grass and light brush.
FIRE SHELTERS — Part of the certification script called for a safe and organized rapid retreat throught identified escape route to their predetermined survival zone where they deployed fire shelters. Inside their Wildland fire shelters, firefighters have remained alive for over an hour in direct flames and thick smoke while maintaining radio communications with adjoining forces.
Sycuan IHC 63D is on the move.
ON-LINE MEDICAL/TRAUMA EMERGENCY:
Hotshots simulated an on-line medical-trauma emergency and provided on the spot emergency medical aid.
Next, the Sycuan firefighters performed a "four-person carry" maneuver and transported the injured fireman to safety where he could receive emergency medial attention, either by ambulance or helicopter transport to the nearest hospital, burn center to be evaluated and treated by professional medical doctors.
AFTER ACTION REVIEW:
Sycuan Superintendent Juan Mendez listens to BIA fire officers Ron Recker (blue) and Jose Merjil talk about his crews' performance during the crew deployment drill as they wrapped up the field portion of the BIA IHC certification process.
Sycuan-BIA Golden Eagles Hotshots stood by after completing the wildland fire simulated mission and had another question and answer period with the BIA Pacific Regional Office career professionals.
The BIA officials shared much information and experience with the Sycuan firefighters during this event.
YOUNG FIREFIGHTER FACES:
With a long fire season already under his belt, this experienced 19-year-old professional fire fighter is a graduate of the 2007 Sycuan-BIA Firefighting Academy.
Participating Sycuan crews included graduates of the 2008 Sycuan-BIA Firefighting Academy, including this young professional firefighter.
FIREFIGHTING CAREERS
Please see the SYCUAN FIRE DEPARTMENT Careers link for information about how to apply for exciting active lifestyle employment opportunities with the Sycuan Fire Department.
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