Why is there not more support for the Texas fires?

[Mac...]

We had air support in Bosque Co.

[systemnt]

Scanners for Bastrop yesterday were talking about several blackhawk drops all day long... saying how long they had each copter and when/where the next drop was going to go..

[Roscoe]

When I drove into Georgetown at around 4:30 yesterday there was a helicopter leaving the the g'town airport heading towards Bastrop. It's water "bucket" was empty, so I assume it had been there refueling.

[Lynda]

Trained volunteer firefighters are being turned away by FEMA. The exact same way that they turned away help and resources in NOLA after Katrina.

https://www.infowars.com/fema-forces-firefighters-to-stand-down-in-texas/

It would be interesting to get a perspective on this from those on the ground.

[BrandonA]

Trained volunteer firefighters are being turned away by FEMA. The exact same way that they turned away help and resources in NOLA after Katrina.

https://www.infowars.com/fema-forces-firefighters-to-stand-down-in-texas/

It would be interesting to get a perspective on this from those on the ground.

Another failure of the Federal goverment. Texas needs to tell FEMA to go **** up a rope.

[kfd82]

Trained volunteer firefighters are being turned away by FEMA. The exact same way that they turned away help and resources in NOLA after Katrina.

https://www.infowars.com/fema-forces-firefighters-to-stand-down-in-texas/

It would be interesting to get a perspective on this from those on the ground.

As I understand it, this is a truth spun in a different light.

They are turning away people who jumped in their car and drove down there without being asked.
These people have no support with them. (equipment, trucks, etc...)

There is a state wide mutual aid agreement. When the department asks for help another department will send a booster truck and 2 men, or a tanker and 4 men or whatever. NEVER will they ask for a dude in his car.

All those posts most of you probably saw on FB over the last 2 days saying "Texas is asking for anyone to come help" were crap. The state will not ask for help on Facebook, they will use their mutual aid agreements.

[Lynda]

As I understand it, this is a truth spun in a different light.

This is what I am hoping is the case - I can understand them turning away people who just turn up. Organizating people who are not trained, or who are not on board with an existing plan, can be a logistical nightmare. However, there is always room for trained professionals.

Still a little skeptical though.

[HandiKap Bowhunter]

As I understand it, this is a truth spun in a different light.

They are turning away people who jumped in their car and drove down there without being asked.
These people have no support with them. (equipment, trucks, etc...)

There is a state wide mutual aid agreement. When the department asks for help another department will send a booster truck and 2 men, or a tanker and 4 men or whatever. NEVER will they ask for a dude in his car.

All those posts most of you probably saw on FB over the last 2 days saying "Texas is asking for anyone to come help" were crap. The state will not ask for help on Facebook, they will use their mutual aid agreements.

This is how it works. We have several in our Dept that are part of the state wide taskforce. I am working on getting in on it as a rescue and structure guy when huricanes hit. Im waiting to hear if they are going to ask for assistance form others outside of Task Force 1 if so I will be on a truck for our station. I got vacation at work to burn and am just waiting on a call. The problem with the others is they didnt go up the right chain of command and there is no accountability with them from their home dept. I so want to be in the fight but if we get another here in the Dripping Springs, Blanco, Wimberley area I NEED to be at home for it.

[SARSpecialist]

This is how it works. We have several in our Dept that are part of the state wide taskforce. I am working on getting in on it as a rescue and structure guy when huricanes hit. Im waiting to hear if they are going to ask for assistance form others outside of Task Force 1 if so I will be on a truck for our station. I got vacation at work to burn and am just waiting on a call. The problem with the others is they didnt go up the right chain of command and there is no accountability with them from their home dept. I so want to be in the fight but if we get another here in the Dripping Springs, Blanco, Wimberley area I NEED to be at home for it.

YES... you are all right.. an AREA COMMAND is being formed by TFS, NPS and FEMA.. The State has requested Federal Fire Support.. it is coming.. Texas Task Force 1 has deployed a Incident Command Team and the State has deployed ALL Incident management Teams... This is a State Wide issue.. and stripping local VFDs will not help when Fire occurs in their back yard..

[SARSpecialist]

This is what I am hoping is the case - I can understand them turning away people who just turn up. Organizating people who are not trained, or who are not on board with an existing plan, can be a logistical nightmare. However, there is always room for trained professionals.

Still a little skeptical though.

There are many logistical issues that must be addressed.. Fuel, Food, Rest Work Cycles, Vehicle maintenanace, Staging areas ect.. the Biggest is Accountability..Individuals are hard to track, and keep up with.. its all part of a LARGE plan... and unfortunatly it takes Days to get ramped up to full speed with a Incident this big as well as what is occuring all over the state.

[medic151]

My brother is on Task Force 1 and I talked to him last night about being deployed. He said the red team was up and they didn't need S&R people so his team won't go, yet. I asked our Chief why we weren't part of the state wide mutual aide and he said it was due to financial up front costs, which should be an after thought with the way Texas is burning right now. I am wildland certified and would love to help out, just can't because of beuracracy.

[Jeremy7306]

YES... you are all right.. an AREA COMMAND is being formed by TFS, NPS and FEMA.. The State has requested Federal Fire Support.. it is coming.. Texas Task Force 1 has deployed a Incident Command Team and the State has deployed ALL Incident management Teams... This is a State Wide issue.. and stripping local VFDs will not help when Fire occurs in their back yard..

Your correct. another Smaller fire could get massive like these if there is not enough coverage left to fight em.


"Aim small, miss small"

[Jeremy7306]

I think TFS learned alot from the first PK fires. That's when they stopped the 1 truck here, 1 truck there type response. They want whole county wide task force's. so instead of putting 5 random brush trucks together with 10 guys that don't know eachother, they just say Johnson co go here, Parker co go here, bosque go here.. Etc.. A large scale incident like these fires must have a solid accountability or someone will get Hurt or worse.


"Aim small, miss small"

[kfd82]

My brother is on Task Force 1 and I talked to him last night about being deployed. He said the red team was up and they didn't need S&R people so his team won't go, yet. I asked our Chief why we weren't part of the state wide mutual aide and he said it was due to financial up front costs, which should be an after thought with the way Texas is burning right now. I am wildland certified and would love to help out, just can't because of beuracracy.

Most paid departments dont fall under this, but if the Texas Forrest Service donates a brush truck to your department part of that donation agreement is that they can call you for help anytime they want to.

(At least thats how it was 10 or 15 years ago when I was a volunteer.)

[Leftridge]

We are not the only state burning as well.. Though we have the most going on..

here is a link to the National SitRep