Author: Christopher Ayer, Corona De Tucson Fire Department
Pre-position cover assignments as a cooperator are always an interesting
adventure, mainly because we come from a very different background. Federal wildland agencies operate very similarly and
work closely together within their response areas. As a cooperator, getting
placed on a pre-position assignment comes with its own challenges—radios,
response areas, area familiarization, and simply working out of someone else's
fire station. It is definitely a learning curve coming from the structure fire
world.
A simple example is radio communications. We aren't as familiar with the
tones, multiple dispatch centers, or monitoring several channels at once. Not
to mention learning local engine tactics, size-up expectations, and
understanding what the local agency expects from incoming resources.
On my last cover assignment, a break in the weather early in the season
gave us the opportunity to participate in a multi-agency flagging fire hosted
by the South Fork BLM station. Some of the cover resources were integrated
directly into their normal response plan. As a cooperator, this was a huge
advantage. We got to see a realistic run-through of what they expected from
incoming resources, how we could assist, and where we fit into their normal
operation. Weather and time don't always allow for opportunities like this, but
it was an outstanding learning experience to see how they responded and
coordinated with their local agency partners.
One of the best parts of the exercise was the amount of knowledge shared
across every experience level. From running an incident within an incident to progressive pack
deployments, every evolution became an opportunity to learn.
One example was watching experienced firefighters teach newer personnel
about extending laterals and attacking spot fires—lessons I only wish I had
learned that early in my career. The exercise also gave firefighters on their
very first assignment a chance to walk through an initial attack before ever
stepping onto an actual fire. That is an opportunity that is difficult to
replicate at many home agencies.
The training brought together resources from BLM, Forest Service, county and two cover engines, adding another
level of realism to the exercise. Just as valuable was seeing a younger
back-seat firefighter serving as the incident commander while working on their
IC qualification. It was a great reminder that training isn't just about
tactics—it is also about developing the next generation of leaders.
As an engine boss trainee, I also
recognized something that I thought I understood but received a crash course in
during the exercise. At one point it became obvious that we needed another
tactical frequency. I recognized the issue, but with aviation traffic tying up
communications, I struggled to get the message out. Looking back, I realized I
should have stepped up and done something about it—or at least tried.
That was a lesson I hadn't really encountered in training at home.
Recognizing a problem is important, but leadership also means taking ownership
of solving it. Training alongside different agencies exposed me to operational
challenges I hadn't experienced before and gave me knowledge I can now bring
back to my own department.
We have pre-positioned and cover resources across the country every
season, but the opportunity to train alongside the agency you're supporting is
rare. Exercises like this build relationships, improve interoperability, and
allow everyone to identify gaps, share experience, and learn before those
lessons have to be learned on an actual incident.
A huge thank you to the Central California BLM District for creating such
an outstanding opportunity to train, collaborate, and share knowledge. It was
an experience that will benefit every resource involved long after the exercise
was over.
Christopher Ayer is a Captain/ Paramedic/ Engine Boss Trainee/ Wildland Coordinator for Corona De Tucson Fire Department in Tucson Arizona. The expressions and views are those of the author.
