Teton Interagency Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2012

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A summary of fire ecology activities and program information for the Park/network including fire effects plot workload, staffing, management objectives and monitoring results, and planning, fire monitoring, communications, and research. Also included are staff accomplishments/areas of focus, future program direction and other optional information (e.g. data analysis graphics or presentations, annual highlights, publications, program challenges, unique solutions to problems, collaboration, photographs of monitoring/fire activities, and suggestions on FFI). The Teton Interagency Fire Ecology Program serves Grand Teton National Park, Fossil Butte National Monument, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. In 2012, the program was staffed by Diane Abendroth, Fire Ecologist, Jon Freeman, Lead Fire Effects Monitor, Ron Steffens, Fuels Monitor, Kal Stromberg, Assistant Lead Monitor, Fire Effects Crew Members Jessica Haddon and Carly Monahan, and Joe Vaughn. This is the first time in the history of the interagency program that the crew experienced a 100% return rate for employees. With such a solid and experienced workforce the crew continued to improve efficiency, fire preparedness, training, morale, and overall functionality. These are the very results that were hoped for when GRTE chose to hire a permanent STF Lead Fire Effects Monitor in 2011, even though Regional funding was not provided. Currently the Assistant Lead Monitor position is seasonal, but it is hoped that the Bridger-Teton National Forest will be able to contribute a permanent STF position to help maintain program strength and continuity. The job description for the Fire Effects program seems to increase in complexity every season. While the crew continues to provide science-based data collection for the evaluation of fire management treatment objectives, they also serve several functional roles outside their traditional use. The crew is also highly qualified in the wildland fire arena. In one of the busiest fire seasons locally in quite some time, the crew was available as an initial attack squad daily throughout the fire season. Four of the five crewmembers are FFT1 (or higher) qualified, and were regularly asked to assist in staffing engines, helicopters, and the wildland fire module. In another direction, the crew also assisted in collecting data for a fire history study and regularly collected fuel moisture samples for the park and forest. 2012 also marked a drastic uptick in outside employees detailing to the fire effects crew. Word spreads quickly, and the crew generally had one detailer working with them through the majority of the monitoring season. In 2012, the crew visited 32 locations on the park and forest for plot work (up 7 projects from 2011), and participated in numerous unplanned fires locally and further afield in the Eastern Great Basin and Rocky Mountain GACCs. In addition to the Fire Effects Crew, the Teton Interagency Fire Ecology Program depends on collaboration with numerous fire and resource managers and crews in the parks and on the forest as well as the Wyoming Game & Fish Department.

Teton Interagency Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2012

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