| FIRE MANAGEMENT OPERATING PLAN |
| PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIBES FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM |
| CODE OF CONDUCT |
| OBJECTIVES |
| 1. To establish a system which ensures that the QIN Fire Management Program has trained and qualified firefighting crews. 2. To ensure standardization of procedures for management of all QIN crews. 3. To provide administrative and supervisory direction for the management of crews. 4. To provide equality in management of the Fire Fighter program. |
| DEFINITIONS |
| Crewmember: Includes Fire fighters, Camp Crew, and Overhead personnel. Fire personnel: Includes all staff hired to assist with fire operations, either as permanent staff or on a temporary basis. QNT: Quinault Nation Tribe, This code will be used to identify personnel dispatched from the Quinault dispatching center. ZONE DISPATCH CENTER (ZDC): A Northwest Area dispatch center, located in Everett, Washington, a central point of contact for all fire resource requests. Zone Responsibilities include the Western Washington Area. Core responsibility is mobilization and demobilizations of crews utilizing local dispatch centers within their zone to fill fire needs. Local Dispatch Center: Quinault dispatching center, whose core responsibility is to maintain in-house crew management systems for fulfilling ZDC fire resource requests. Fire Assignment: A specific fire emergency that requires crewmembers to respond. Length of Assignment: Begins from the point of hire to the release of crewmembers by Fire Management Personnel. Crewmembers should plan on being gone for up to 16 days at a time. Nepotism: Defined as the display of favoritism to employees based on familial relationships. Fighting: Is any contact with meaningful intent to harm another individual. |
| HOME UNITS RESPONSIBILITY |
| The home unit, Quinault Nation Tribe (QNT), has the first level of responsibility for recruitment, hiring, training and administrative matters relating to all crewmembers being dispatched out of the home unit. The home unit will be responsible for maintaining records regarding the qualifications, performance, training and experience of each crewmember. The home unit will establish and maintain a call-up system, which meets established time frames for crew mobilization. |
| General Guidelines: |
| * The operations plan applies to all crewmwmbers and fire personnel as defined above. * The NIFC fire business handbook will be used for all fire assignments and will be followed at all times. The crew boss will have a copy of the fire business handbook while on a fire assignment. * THE CREWBOSS WILL HOLD ALL RED CARDS AT ALL TIMES. * Satisfactory performance and conduct is required at all times. You are subject to this operation plan once you report for a fire assignment. This means from the time you report to home unit or designated dispatch center. Other tribes under cooperative agreeement with QNT will have designated dispatch areas for crewmembers to report to. * Fire situations will dictate length of assignment, crews should be prepared to be gone 16 days from the home unit. Crewmembers who cannot complete a 14-day assignment (plus 2 days of travel) for prior personal reasons will not be dispatched. Only emergency situations such as a death in the family will be allowed for imcompletion of the 14-day assignment. * All crewmwmbers have the personal responsibility to see that these rules are followed and to take action to prevent violations. * Every firefighter is important to the overall effectiveness of their crew. Organization and discipline will be maintained form the time a crew leaves their home unit until they return to the home unit. * All incoming rookies will be subject to a urine analysis (UA) drug test before participating in Rookie School. Failure to pass the UA will result in not being able to participate in the Rookie School training. as weel as one year suspension from any fire activities. This test will be administered by either an EMT or a medically trained professional * In accordance with the ZERO TOLERANCE policy of substance abuse, CANINE UNITS may be utilized to determine the presence of illegal substances before a dispatch. If canine units "HIT" on personal property, consent to search that property will be requested. If consent is NOT granted, the individual will be released from duty and sent home, and will not be allowed to participate in the Fire program for one year from date of the offense. * Violation of any of these rules of conduct can result in the immediate removal of the indvidual(s) involved from the fire and camp. All violations will be reported to the Home Unit for possible disciplinary action or suspension. |
| Crewmember Responsibilities |
| 1. Abide by the "Conditions-of-hire," from the point of hire to the release from the home unit by Fire Management Personnel. 2. Fight fire aggressively and safely. You should be in good mental and physical condition. 3. Complete work assignments within given time frames. 4. Conduct themselves in an orderly and safe manner at all times. Refrain from possissing or bieng under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at any time during the ENTIRE ASSIGNMENT. This includes travel to and from fire assignment, work period once on fire, Rest & Recuperation (R&R), on and off shift, and ordered standby duty. Entire assignment means from point of hire until release from the home unit by Fire Management Personnel. Follow safe working practices at all times; observe the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders, (these 10 standards must never be broken), LCES and 18 Situations that shout watch out, and use safety equipment provided. 5. Maintain assigned equopment and tools in good, serviceable condition, and at the end of the assignment, return this equipment in good condition to the place or person designated. No Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be allowed to be taken home under any circumstances. A sign in and sign out sheet will be issued to each individual firefighter for all PPE issued. The individual firefighter will be charged a full replacement fee for the loss of or intentional neglect to any PPE. 6. Report for duty at the place and time designated, ready to begin the assignment. The indvidual firefighter is solely responsible for all PPE, tools and supplies issued for fire assignment from the time issued till return to home unit. 7. Carry out all instructions from supervisors unless otherwise prevented by unsafe conditions or situations. If you have a question about your assignment, ask your supervisor, or the individual(s) giving the instructions. 8. Maintain clean, orderly living areas whil in fire camp. Garbage, tools, and equipment will be picked up and disposed of or stored properly at all times. Before departing on a dispatch, the Fire Cache, and the surrounding area will be cleaned up before departure. Vehicles used to transport crewmembers will be maintained in a clean orderly fashion free from debris and garbage. 9. Do not carry expensive personal items. Quinault Indian Nation will NOT be responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed personal items not essential to the job. 10. Nepotism: will not be tolerated ahdould be avoided if possible. Report to a Supervisor any situation that prevents you from avoiding this situation. Corrective action will be taken by supervisor. The following list of relationships serve as a guideline for potential nepotism situations between immediate family members and/or intimate relationships which include: spouse/significant other, parent, child, sibling, in-laws, aunts and uncles, first cousins, grandparent and grandchild, or any person who is recognized by the community as acting in one of the above capacities. Comment: a) No person will considered qualified for a position that requires him or her to directly supervise or be supervised by, or to participate, either formally or informally, in the decision to hire or determine salary of an "immediate family member." Nor shall any person be considered qualified for a position which can be viewed as affecting the party's ability to perform his or her job without a conflict between personal interest and the Nation's interest or where-such relationship will interfere with the efficient operation of the workplace. b) Employees who marry or become members of the same household may continue employment as long as there is not a conflict or potential conflict of interest. Should such a situation occur, the fire supervisor will attempt to find a suitable position to transfer one or the other of the crewmembers to. If accommodations of this nature are not feasible, the crewmembers will be permitted to determine which of them resigns. 11. NO weapons of any kind will be allowed on a fire dispatch. This includes but is not limited to; knives, throwing stars, nunchaku's, guns, brass knuckles, etc. 12. Crew Boss will have all required paper work turned into Dispatch with-in 24 hours after arrival at home unit. Emergency Firefighter Time Reports (Red dogs), Crew Time Reports, CA-1, CA-16 or any medical papers, and all travel expenses for rooms, meals, or any other cost that was accrued on the assignment. 13. Individual crew evaluations (rating) must be done for all crew-members by the Crewboss, before they leave the incident ALONG WITH a crew evaluation from the Division/Group Supervisor, branch director, or Task Force/Strike Team Leader if one is assigned as direct supervisor for crews. All discipline problems will be documented and must be signed off by the fire camp if required. Crewbosses will be disciplined for failure to comply with this policy. 14. Each individual is expected to follow established rules and procedures and will be rated on his/her performance on any given dispatch. Severe violation of this policy may result in crewmember securing their own transportation home and at their own expense. 15. These guidelines are not all inclusive, each fire assignment and crewmember is unique. The use of documentation from fire supervisors, such as a crewboss or division supervisor will aid in determining any violations of this policy. |
| PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIBES DISCIPLINE POLICY |
| 1. POOR OR DEFICIENT RATINGS FOR INDIVIDUAL FIREFIGHTER: FIRST OFFENSE: VERBAL AND/OR WRITTEN WARNING. SECOND OFFENSE: INDIVIDUAL INELIGIBLE FOR DISPATCH FOR REMAINDER OF THE SEASON THIRD OFFENSE: THREE-YEAR SUSPENSION NOTE: Each individual is expected to follow established rules and procedures and will be rated on his/her performance on any given dispatch. Their crew boss, will give ratings for each crew member, after each dispatch. Each individual will be rated on: a. Knowledge of fireline construction and mop-up. b. Crew organization and equipment. c. Following orders. d. Decision-making. e. Initiative. f. Physical condition. g. Safety. h. Respect for and working with others. i. Showing up on time for all tasks associated with the fire assignment. j. Off duty behavior. k. Attitude. |
| Each firefighter will be rated either acceptable or unacceptable oneach of the above categories. An unacceptable rating will be dealt with immediately while on the fire assignment, if this is not possible the individual will be subject to discipline action upon return from assignment. |
| 2. DISMISSED FOR POOR PERFORMANCE WHILE ON A FIRE: If individual's performance is not up to required standards and corrective action is taken by the crew boss, and the individual does not correct it then the following disciplinary action will be taken: Individual will be terminated and sent home, and travel costs will be deducted from their paycheck. The individual will be responsible for finding his or her own way home depending on the type of disciplinary action taken. The Crew Boss will write an evaluation on the individual detailing the circumstances of the dismissal and notify home unit of action to send individual home without pay. FIRST OFFENSE: ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION SECOND OFFENSE: THREE-YEAR SUSPENSION THIRD OFFENSE: LIFETIME SUSPENSION |
| 3. INTOXICATED PRIOR TO DISPATCH: |
| No tolerance policy. NO ILLEGAL DRUGS OR ALCOHOL FROM POINT OF HIRE TO POINT OF RETURN!!!!! Individuals showing up for dispatch under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be dispatched. FIRST OFFENSE: NO DISPATCH SECOND OFFENSE: TWO-YEAR SUSPENSION THIRD OFFENSE: LIFETIME SUSPENSION OR 3-YEAR SUSPENSION AND PROOF OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A RECOGNIZED REHABILITATION PROGRAM |
| 4. USE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WHILE ON DISPATCH: The use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs, at any time during the dispatch will not be tolerated. Individuals will be terminated and sent home. Travel costs will be the responsibility of the individual, as well as finding their own transportation home.The crewboss will document all occurences and report problem to home unit. Fire camp will be required to sign off on findings as well. FIRST OFFENSE: TWO-YEAR SUSPENSION SECOND OFFENSE: LIFETIME SUSPENSION OR 3 YEAR SUSPENSION AND PROOF OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A RECOGNIZED REHABILITATION PROGRAM |
| 5. DRUG TESTING All crewmembers are suject to a drug testing. If suspicion exists the following individuals can request additional testing: Quinault Nation Fire Management Officer, Steve Fraidenburg Assistant Fire Management Officer, Larry Morgan Makah Forest Manager, J. Trettivic Offense: Refusal to take drug test - automatic one-year suspension. Offense: Drugs found in UA, three-year suspension, plus evidence of successful completion of a certified drug and alcohol program prior to further participation. Offense: Drugs found during canine search at home unit or on fire assignment will result in a lifetime suspension. |
| 6. INITIATION OF A RELEASE UNDER FALSE PRETENSE Upon accepting a fire assignment and being dispatched, you have committed yourself for the duration of the fire you are being dispatched to, or transferred to. Only individuals with family (immediate family) emergencies may be released from the dispatch. Individuals will NOT be released from the crew for the following reasons: Court appearances, Job interviews, School, Dr. appointments All of these should be taken care of prior to reporting to a dispatch. The crewboss is the only person that can release you from a fire assignment. FIRST OFFENSE: TWO-YEAR SUSPENSION AND TRAVEL COSTS DEDUCTED FROM PAYCHECK SECOND OFFENSE: LIFETIME SUSPENSION |
| 7. INSUBORDINATION: "Not submissive to authority, disobedient". EXAMPLE: Refusing to wear eye protection during mop up. FIRST OFFENSE: INDIVIDUALS WILL BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY AND TRAVEL COSTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THEIR PAYCHECK. Crewmember will not be allowed to participate in Fire Management activities for the remainder of the fire season. INSUBORDINATION WILL NOT BE TOLERATED ON ALL FIRE ASSIGNMENTS SECOND OFFENSE: LIFETIME SUSPENSION a. FIGHTING: Fighting is any contact with meaningful intent to harm another individual such as: (1) Grabbing and holding an individual without their consent; (2) Pushing or shoving an individual to provoke or prolong a fight; (3) Assault and battery, hitting, punching, slapping etc. Individual will be terminated, sent home and travel costs will be deducted from his paycheck FIRST OFFENSE: TWO-YEAR SUSPENSION SECOND OFFENSE: LIFETIME SUSPENSION b. INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT: Includes verbal harassment (i.e. threats, racial or ethnic jokes, foul language when offensive to others). Also, sexual harassment, which is deliberate, unsolicited verbal comments, gestures, or unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature, will NOT be tolerated. Any unwelcome advances should be reported to your Crewboss immediately. The Crewboss will determine appropriate based on severity of the incident. The Crewboss and Squad bosses will follow and practice the same conduct code. Any offense by crew and squad bosses will be reported to the Strike Team Leader, Human Resource Manager, Division Group Supervisor, or anyone of authority within the fire organization chart, this is guaranteed immediate action. A report to the Fire Management Officer (FMO) upon return to home unit is also required with all supporting documents of the incident to be turned over to the FMO. FIRST OFFENSE: VERBAL AND/OR WRITTEN WARNING SECOND OFFENSE: ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION THIRD OFFENSE: LIFETIME SUSPENSION c. ABANDONMENT OF POSITION (WALKING AWAY FROM THE CREW): THIS INCLUDES NOT SHOWING UP FOR WORK DURING WORKING HOURS WITHOUT WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION ACTION: ***AUTOMATIC THREE-YEAR SUSPENSION*** INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE TRAVEL COSTS DEDUCTED FROM THEIR PAYCHECK d. POOR PHYSICAL CONDITION (Written Documentation of Problems required): Enroute to fire, around camp, fireline and return to home base. ACTION: Retake physical and the Work Capacity Test (Pack test) CONTINUED PROBLEM: Will not be dispatched on crew |
| 8. NO FIREARMS OR DEADLY WEAPONS AS DEFINED BY THE WASHINGTON STATE LAW AND QUINAULT INDIAN NATION LAW. Handguns, knifes, and any other item that may cause bodily harm. ACTION: Crewboss is to remove all known items once found or reported. Documentation of offense is required. Coordination with local Law Enforcement on and off the fire assignment is required. All items found will be turned over to the law enforcement for further action. Depending on the incident the crewmember may be subject to disciplinary action. |
| 9. ALL FIREFIGHTERS WILL BE IN UNIFORM - Standard uniform consists of: Green Nomex Pants, Quinault Nation T-Shirts or Yellow Nomex fire shirt, with Boots on, at all times, except during meals, and while in camp after shift hours. All firefighters will be in uniform during travel status. |
| Click here for the Code of Conduct Signature page Print this out and send it with your application |
| Click here for Procedures For Emergencies This can be printed out for your records |