Resources
The Payette Fire and Aviation program has a variety of different firefighting resources based in Weiser, Council, New Meadows, and McCall. Fire lookouts are still an important resource for fire detection and there are 11 fire lookouts staffed each summer across the forest. Learn more about firefighting resources below.
The Krassel Helitack program started on the Payette in the early 1970’s and moved from the Krassel Work Center to the McCall Helibase in 2013. The program is assigned to the East Zone Fire Management Area which consists of 1.2 million acres; 800,000 of which are a part of the 2.37 million acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and the remaining 400,000 acres are remote, non-wilderness land.
Krassel Helitack is based at the McCall Airport next to the Air Tanker and Smokejumper bases. The Helibase was built in 2012.
The Helitack crew consists of a 14 person module with 9 permanent positions and 5 temporary positions. The crew is one of the five US Forest Service emergency medical shorthaul programs in the nation. Helicopter contracts include a type 3 Astar B3 and a type 1 CH-47D both on a 120 day contract from June 1st to September 28th. The crew does everything from initial attack, wilderness fire management, support for 20 person crews, resource projects, and off-forest support for large fires.
Contact: 208-634-0976
Eric Taplin, Helitack Supervisor, eric.taplin@usda.gov
Gary Munson, Helitack Captain, gary.munson@usda.gov
Helicopters have been used to transport firefighters to fires, resupply fire personnel, evacuate injured persons, and retrieve smokejumpers from fires since the 1950's. "Helitack" bases were established at centralized locations with regard to fire occurrence and high land values usually associated with timber base areas. The first such helitack base was at Price Valley on the New Meadows Ranger District. This base was formally established in the early 1970's.
Price Valley Helibase is located at the historic Price Valley Guard Station, 12 miles west of New Meadows, Idaho on the west side of the Payette National Forest. Helibase amenities include a 24-person barrack, shower and laundry facilities, training facility and rappel tower, warehouse and shop, along with an office, locker room and ready room.
The Price Valley Heli-Rappel Crew is a Type 1 National Rappel Resource that’s primary mission is wildfire initial attack and large fire support. The current organization consists of 30 - 32 personnel, both permanent and seasonal firefighters. We contract two Type 2 Bell Medium rappel capable helicopters from mid-May through September.
Rappelling is a fast and efficient way of getting resources to fires in remote areas. Firefighters rappel from hovering helicopters up to 250 feet above the ground. Rappellers remain on the fire until it is declared out or relieved by other resources. At the end of the fire, rappellers will pack their gear, weighing 80-110 pounds to the nearest trailhead. Rappellers are a self-contained resource with the ability to remain on a fire for 36 hours without a resupply. The helicopters and crew also participate in a variety of project work throughout the season. Projects range from flying supplies to remote lookouts, performing aerial recon, or slinging materials to remote sites for trail work, etc.
Contact: 208-347-0327
Andy Guest, Helitack Superintendent, andrew.guest@usda.gov
Chad Walker, Helitack Superintendent, chad.walker2@usda.gov
The McCall Smokejumper program has provided rapid deployment of firefighting personnel and equipment whenever and wherever it is requested since 1943.
The McCall Smokejumper Base is located in McCall, Idaho on the shores of Payette Lake in the West Central portion of the state. The base is directly adjacent to six National Forests: the Boise, Nez Perce/Clearwater, Payette, Sawtooth, Salmon-Challis, and Wallowa-Whitman. This area presents many opportunities for the deployment of Smokejumper aircraft, personnel and equipment. The ability to move resources around the United States has given the McCall Smokejumpers a very large area in which they can be utilized. It is not uncommon to have personnel from McCall spread out all over the U.S. each fire year.
Tours of the facility are available during the summer. Tours are subject to cancellation due to fire activity so please call ahead 208-634-0390.
Contact:
Todd Haynes, McCall Smokejumper Base Manager, 208-634-0383
Dan Booth, Loft Manager, 208-634-0375
Wildland Fire Module (WFM)
A WFM is a 7–10 person team of firefighting personnel with expertise in the areas of fire monitoring, ignition, holding and suppression, prescribed fire preparation and implementation support, hazard fuels reduction, and fire effects monitoring. They may be deployed anywhere in the United States to fight wildfires or assist with prescribed fire and hazard fuel reduction projects.
Snowslide WFM
Snowslide WFM is a 10 person fire module located in McCall, Idaho. The crew formed from a five person initial attack squad and a type six engine, after the 2007 fires burned much of their protection area where they were stationed in the historic town of Warren. The two crews moved to McCall and were joined up and called Crew Four. In 2013, the crew was officially converted to a Type II Wildland Fire Module and named Snowslide. Snowslide WFM gained type 1 status in 2017. The crew is used as a fire suppression resource, for prescribed fire and for fuels reduction projects. As part of it’s Type 1 Wildland Fire Module status, Snowslide can operate logistically independently, provide intelligence gathering and produce a variety of written reports. They also carry qualifications to independently implement a prescribed fire or break apart to provide a variety of overhead positions on wildfires.
Contact: Nate Robinson, Snowslide WFM Captain, nathan.robinson@usda.gov
Hells Canyon WFM
Hells Canyon WFM is a 10 person fire module located in Council, Idaho. The crew was originally stationed near the remote community of Bear, Idaho and moved to Council in 2010. Hells Canyon WFM works on wildland and prescribed fires and is a highly mobile, logistically independent, and versatile Type 2 wildland fire module.
Contact: Kevin Guillard, Hells Canyon WFM Assistant Supervisor, kevin.guillard@usda.gov
Initial Attack Module (IA)
Crew 6 IA
Crew 6 is five person initial attack module based out of the Krassel Work Center on the Krassel Ranger District. The crew was established in 2013 and performs a wide range of tasks and assignments. They help with fire suppression and manage wildfires in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. They assist with opening and operating the Krassel Work Center, where housing is available. They often staff helicopters, engines, or other local crews on the Forest. Crew 6 also assists on fuels and recreation projects as needed.
Contact: Steven Becker, Crew 6, Supervisor Steven.Becker2@usda.gov
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A wildland fire engine is specifically designed to assist in fighting wildfires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment. They also respond to emergencies in the backcountry where traditional engines cannot respond. Most wildland engines have four-wheel drive capability and can climb hills and make it through rough terrain.
There are six wildland fire engines on the Payette National Forest.
- Weiser Engine 422 and 421, Contact: Aaron Bell, aaron.bell@usda.gov
- Council Engine 411 and 412, Contact: Ray Bilbao, ray.bilbao@usda.gov
- New Meadows Engine 431 , Contact: Brian Bates, brian.bates@usda.gov
- McCall Engine 441, Contact: Monica Morrison, monica.morrison@usda.gov