Engines

Teton Interagency Fire staffs a total of seven engines; five Forest Service, one Park Service, and one interagency.

Teton Interagency Engines:

• ENGINE 3
  
  Grand Teton National Park is home to two wildland fire engines. These engines work within the greater framework of fire management known as Teton Interagency Fire. Crews are composed of firefighters from Grand Teton National Park andthe Bridger-Teton National Forest. These crews assist fire managers in … “Maintain[ing] an interagency fire program that provides for safe,cost effective, efficient and ecologically sound firemanagement addressing resource goals and reducing threats to life, property and other resource values across boundaries” (Grand Teton National Park FMP 2009).
  
  Engine 3, a type three engine, is based at the park’s headquarters in Moose, WY. Moose is located within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park, located approximately 12 miles north of Jackson,WY. Many of the crewmembers enjoy the benefit of living in government housing inside the park. Jackson is the nearest full service community, for more information visit the Town of Jackson website.
  
  During fire season, June through September, the engines are staffed seven days per week. Over the last five years, the forest has averaged 44 fire starts with the park averaging 14 starts over the last ten years. This truly interagency crew is composed of seven crew members, four of whom are park employees and three are forest employees. In addition to serving as initial attack resources for the forest and park, the engine crews also travel nationally to aid with support of large incidents. Engine crewmembers are also able to travel with the Teton Crew, a 20-person type 2 IA crew. Teton Interagency Fire has an active prescribed fire and fuels management program. The engine crews are routinely called upon to assist in mechanical fuel treatments as well as participating as hand crew, engine crew and overhead positions as qualified on prescribed fires and fires being managed for resource benefit.
  
  Due to the varied experience of crew members, they are able to support other crews in the park and forest in several functions including: EMS, search and rescue, hazard tree removal, radio and weather station maintenance, fuel sample collections and fire effects monitoring.
  
  For information on Engine 3, contact Wayne Petsch at 307-739-3338 or by email at wayne_petsch@nps.gov.
• ENGINE 4
  
  The duty station for Engine 4 is Colter Bay Village, a communitywithin Grand TetonNational Parklocated on the north shore of Jackson Lake. It features two restaurants, a marina, the Colter Bay VisitorCenter & Indian Museum, a small grocery store, trail rides, direct access to Jackson Lake, with close, easy access to the Snake River for great fishing and float trips. Colter Bay is 15 miles south of the south gate to Yellowstone National Park, 12 miles northwest of Moran and 45 miles from Jackson. Employee housing is provided within the Colter Bay Village.
  The crew consists of:
  • an engine boss (engine boss and ICT5 minimum qualifications);
  • assistant engine boss (squad boss, ICT5, engine operator);
  • firefighter 1 crew member (squad boss and ICT5 trainee, engine operator);
  • and a firefighter 2 crewmember (S-130/190 qualified).
  
  All four personnel are National Park Service employees, but the crew works closely with the neighboring Bridger-Teton National Forest fire modules and staff. Engine 4 is a type 6 engine, developed for off-road wildland fire suppression activities. It is a 2007 Ford F550 Super Cab, which holds 5 personnel and almost 300 gallons of water.
  
  In addition to responding to both local wildfires and prescribed burns within the park and the forest, Engine 4 crew members typically have opportunities to travel on assignments to large fires with either the engine, the Teton Interagency 20-person handcrew or with other modules. The Engine module may also assist with motor vehicles accidents, search and rescues and other all-hazard emergency responses. Firefighters are offered several fire-related trainings locally throughout the month of June. The Engine 4 module also has an aggressive and fun physical training program that takes advantage of the many hiking trails within the park, as well as the exercise gym within walking distance of the fire cache.
  
  For information on Engine 4 or employment opportunities, contact Engine Captain Tom Edwards at 307-739-3510 or by email at thomas_edwards@nps.gov.
• ENGINE 411
  
  Engine 411 is based out of Kemmerer, WY, which is where the district officeis for the Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Kemmerer RD is the southernmost district of the forest and is the location of the head waters of the Hams Fork River. Kemmerer RD is zoned with Greys River RD to form the 725,069 acre West Zone Fire Management area of the Bridger-Teton NF. The Zone averages over 25 fires per year. A good working relationship exists with Lincoln County Volunteer Fire Departments, the National Park Service, and the local Bureau of Land Management office to assist with any fires they have as well.
  
  Engine 411 is a Type IV Wildland Fire Apparatus. The chassis is a 32,000lbs GVWR, 2010 4x4 Freightliner 4-door Crew Cab with seating for five. The pump package is a model 52, high pressure pump, with 750 gallon water tank. Storage space on the engine is immense, with enough room for firefighting equipment, crew gear, and supplies to be self-sufficient on a fire for days.
  
  The engine modules consist of three permanent staff – Supervisory Fire Engine Operator, Assistant Fire Engine Operator, and a Lead Fire Fighter – along with two to four summer seasonal crewmembers. Expectations for the engine crews are high. Being physically fit, having a positive attitude, having an eye for detail, and being self-motivated are encouraged and appreciated. Because of the size of the zone and lack of good roads, vehicle access to a fire maybe greatly reduced. The ability to hike long distances, with weight, over uneven terrain, at elevations above 6500 feet is not uncommon.
  
  For further information, please contact Cody McFarland, Engine Captain in Kemmerer, WY at 307-828-5124 or by email at cmcfarland@fs.fed.us.
• ENGINE 421
  
  Located on the Bridger-Teton National Forest is Engine 421 (a Type 4 Wildland Fire Engine) based out of Big Piney, Wyoming. This Engine Module is part of the East Zone fire organization with fire management responsibilities on the Big Piney and Pinedale Ranger Districts. In addition to the two engines, The Zone organization is comprised of one Fire Prevention Technician, a Fuels AFMO, an Operations AFMO and a Zone FMO. Forest resources commonly used on the Zone include Teton Helitack and other Forest Type 6 and Type 4 Engines. A good working relationship exists with Sublette County VFD. The Zone averages over 25 fires per year, many fires in the Wilderness. The area of coverage is over 1.2 million acres with roughly 460,000 acres of Wilderness. The engine modules consist of 3 permanent staff (Captain, Engineer and Senior FF) and 2-4 seasonal crewmembers. Seasonal employees are provided government housing.
  
  A normal fire season for the area is late July thru September. Fires on the East Zone have been reported as early as May and as late as December. Seasonal crewmembers can expect to start in mid May to early June and work into October. Both engine crews are highly motivated, with individuals who desire to work long, hard hours to complete any assignment. Expectations for the entire crew are high. Fire assignments include local Initial Attack to off-Forest, Extended Attack large fires. Assignments can be with the Engine or with the Teton Interagency Type 2IA hand crew. If not assigned to a fire, East Zone fire crews can be found out in the Forest prepping prescribed burn units, carrying out fuel reduction treatments or completing various other projects for the District.
  
  For further information regarding Engine 421, please contact Rick Lancaster, Engine Captain E-421 at (307) 276-5822 or by email at rlancaster@fs.fed.us
• ENGINE 631
  
  The Kemmerer and Greys River Ranger Districts make up the West Zone Fire Management area. The zones consist of 719,383 acres (438,883 acres for Greys River and 280,500 acres for Kemmerer.)The West Zone Fire organization is comprised of one Type 4 Engine (Kemmerer RD) and one Type 6 Engine (Greys River RD in Afton, WY), one Fire Prevention Technician, a Fuels AFMO, an Operations AFMO and a Zone FMO. The Zone averages over 25 fires per year. Other forest resources commonly used on the zone include Teton Helitack, Teton Interagency Type 2 IA Crew, and other Forest Type 4 and Type 6 Engines. A good working relationship exists with Lincoln County Volunteer Fire Departments. The module consists of 3 permanent staff (Supervisory Fire Engine Operator, Assistant Fire Engine Operator, Lead Fire Fighter) and 2-3 seasonal crewmembers. Seasonal employees are provided government housing.
  
  A normal fire season for the area is late July thru September. Fires on the West Zone have been reported as early as May and as late as December. Seasonal crewmembers can expect to start in mid May to early June and work into October. Expectations for the engine crews are high. Fire assignments include local Initial Attack, and off-forest engine details and assignments. Assignments can be with the Engine or with the Teton Interagency Type 2IA hand crew. When not assigned to a fire, the crews can be found out in the forest prepping prescribed burn units, carrying out fuel reduction treatments or completing various other projects for the districts.
  
  For further information, please contact Adam Hansen, Engine Captain at (307) 886-5335 or by email at ahansen@fs.fed.us.
• ENGINE 671
  
  Located on the Bridger-Teton National Forest is Engine 671 (a Type 6 Wildland Fire Engine) based out of Pinedale, WY. This Engine Module is part of the East Zone fire organization with fire management responsibilities on the Big Piney and Pinedale Ranger Districts. In addition to the two engines, The Zone organization is comprised of one Fire Prevention Technician, a Fuels AFMO, an Operations AFMO and a Zone FMO. Forest resources commonly used on the Zone include Teton Helitack and other Forest Type 6 and Type 4 Engines. A good working relationship exists with Sublette County VFD. The Zone averages over 25 fires per year, many fires in the Wilderness. The area of coverage is over 1.2 million acres with roughly 460,000 acres of Wilderness. The engine modules consist of 3 permanent staff (Captain, Engineer and Senior FF) and 2-4 seasonal crewmembers. Seasonal employees are provided government housing.
  
  A normal fire season for the area is late July thru September. Fires on the East Zone have been reported as early as May and as late as December. Seasonal crewmembers can expect to start in mid May to early June and work into October. Both engine crews are highly motivated, with individuals who desire to work long, hard hours to complete any assignment. Expectations for the entire crew are high. Fire assignments include local Initial Attack to off-Forest, Extended Attack large fires. Assignments can be with the Engine or with the Teton Interagency Type 2IA hand crew. If not assigned to a fire, East Zone fire crews can be found out in the Forest prepping prescribed burn units, carrying out fuel reduction treatments or completing various other projects for the District.
  
  For further information regarding Engine 671, please contact Kendra Jackson, Engine Captain E-671 at (307) 367-5713 or by email at kendrajackson@fs.fed.us.
• ENGINE 441
  
  Engine 441 is a Type Four Interagency Wildland Fire Engine staffed by a 5 person module, based out of the Jackson Ranger District in Jackson, WY, with the primary response area of the North Zone of the Bridger Teton National Forest. The crew responds to initial attack fires, supports large project fires and prescribed fires while providing opportunities for crewmembers to gain experience on crew assignments.
  
  A class B commercial drivers license is needed to drive the engine, but not necessary for a crewmember position. Season starts around Memorial Day and continues through the end of prescribed fire season, somewhere in the end of October.
  
  Mission Statement: E-441 will strive to exceed the standards and expectations of wildland firefighting by demonstrating teamwork, respect, commitment, professionalism and safety.
  
  Motto: "Preparation started yesterday"
  
  For further information regarding Engine 441, please contact Engine Captain, Noel "Chip" Gerdin 307-413-4086 or by email at ngerdin@fs.fed.us.