IMT Exercises “Refusal of Risk” 2018

Refusal of Risk: The Deputy Forest Supervisor remembers the Incident Commander very deliberately saying: “This is a right and proper refusal for risk.” The Deputy Forest Supervisor disagreed. He knew he had 48 hours to get a new team in and that is where his focus was. The IC states that the incoming IMT was unaware that his team had exercised “refusal of risk” as outlined in the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG). After returning home, the IC pondered for ten days over what he would put in a SAFENET before putting pen to paper. He took two days to complete the draft before sending it to his Command & General Staff to review. He viewed the SAFENET as the final step in following the refusal of risk. The ZFMO felt personally attacked in the SAFENET and did not feel it was accurate. The Fire Staff Officer questioned the appropriateness of calling this a “refusal of risk.”

Extended Attack, Large Fire