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Fire/Fuels Management Specialist |
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Fire/Fuels Management Specialist |
Dennis Thomas, Fire/Fuels Specialist, is a partner and the fuels specialist for Northwest Management, Inc. He oversees 70-85 prescribed fuel management projects annually, totaling 10,000 acres. Mr. Thomas writes or approves the fuel management for each individual project and coordinates the burning with smoke management reports in local air sheds. He also provides the economic cost analysis for each project. Mr. Thomas’ previous experience includes 18 years as an area fire warden with Clearwater Potlatch Timber Protection Area (CPTPA). Responsibilities with CPTPA included: fuel management planning, fuel modeling, fuel mapping, identifying fire hazard in various vegetative communities, and fire risk rating on approximately 100,000 acres in the Clearwater River Drainage. Mr. Thomas also acts as the safety coordinator for Northwest Management, Inc.
Professional Memberships and Awards:
• National Interagency Incident Management SystemEducation:
• Western Forestry and Conservation Association
• National Fire Protective Association
• Interior West Council
• Northwest Fire Council
Coursework; 1970-72, Education, College of Education, University of Idaho, Moscow.
Coursework; 1972, Education, North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene.
Continuing Education:
Date Course Title Date Course Title
3/31/75 Intermediate Fire Weather 4/30/78 S-211/Ground Tanker & Pump
10/31/76 Fuels Management 6/19/79 Prescribed Fire
2/28/77 Fire Investigation & Law Enforcement 5/24/80 Management by Objectives
3/31/77 First Aid 3/26/82 Advanced Management State & Private Forestry
4/31/77 Intermediate Fire Weather 11/30/83 Effective Fire Management Presentation
5/2/77 Fire Behavior S-390 5/31/87 Basic ICS I-220
5/31/77 Defensive Driving 9/30/87 Blasting, EBW Fireline Explosives
5/77 Section Boss 2/29/88 ICS I-330/Strike Team & Task Force Leader
2/28/78 S-330/Section Boss 7/15/88 Helicopter Manager
5/25/89 Fire Prevention
Professional Experience:
1989 – Present; Partner/Program Manager, Northwest Management, Inc.
Mr. Thomas has 32 years of experience in Wildland fire and fuels management. He presently manages Northwest Management, Inc. (NMI) Wildland fire, fuels modification program. He oversees fuels and hazard management work on 10,000 acres of industrial and non-industrial private lands annually. This includes risk assessment, fuel modeling and fire behavior analysis, and developing and implementation of fuel modification treatments. Mr. Thomas is a qualified Prescribe fire manager.Fire ManagementThe National Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (NWCG) for the Incident Command System (ICS) certifies Mr. Thomas to instruct Wildland fire courses. Agencies that Mr. Thomas has instructed are Southwest Strategies (Arizona and New Mexico), Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forest, Panhandle National Forest, and Clearwater Potlatch Timber Protective Association [Idaho]. Mr. Thomas has appeared as an expert witness in both federal and civil court in Wildland urban interface and risk assessment issues. Mr. Thomas has been involved with Fire Safe Spokane and the City of Helena Wildland urban interface projects.
Mr. Thomas supervises Northwest Management, Inc.’s wildland fire agreement with Region 1 of the US Forest Service. This includes coordinating with the regional fire coordinator, dispatching personnel and equipment to wildfires throughout the country.
Mr. Thomas maintains National Wildland Fire standards for NMI’s personnel and user’s that equipment meets standards of the National Fire Protective Association.
1972-1989--Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association
As Area Supervisor of the Western Division, Mr. Thomas reported directly to the President of the Association and the Board of Directors. His responsibilities included oversight on all hazard management activities, soil erosion, fire protection, fire suppression, annual budgets, and personnel management of the area. Other duties included survey of the individual fire districts for fuels hazard problems, resource inventory analysis, enforcement of the Idaho Forest Practices Act and State Fire Laws. During this time Mr. Thomas was a member of the Western Fire and the Intermountian Fire Councils.Fuels/Fire
As Area Fire Warden, Mr. Thomas monitored wildland fire potential and fuels on the districts. He provided guidelines to reduce the fire hazard and is trained in law enforcement and fire investigation. Other duties included soil erosion coordinator, safety officer and the Public Relations Coordinator dealing with the State and Federal Agencies, and industrial and private landowners within the districts.Hazard Management
As a contract supervisor, Mr. Thomas was responsible for the preparation of slash for disposal in the contractor program. Responsibilities included setting prices, production rates, evaluating slash management alternatives, contractor’s safety, fire restoration and rehabilitation, and soil erosion. This required managing an annual budget of $500,000.Special Training
Incident Command System Qualifications:
Prescribe Fire Manager
Fire Investigation & Law Enforcement
Fire line explosives
Terra Torch operator
Helicopter Manager
DIV--Division/Group Supervisor
OSC--Operation Section Chief
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