Project 0-6735
Best Practices for TxDOT on Handling Wildfires
Abstract
Texas saw a record-setting number of wildfires in 2010 and 2011. Personnel from the
TexasDepartment of Transportation (TxDOT) are often called upon to provide support
in responding towildfires, and the number of requests has increased dramatically over
the past few years. TxDOT developed a draft Guidance Document for Wildfire Response,
but personnel are frequently asked to
perform services not specifically addressed in that document. TxDOT took advantage
of the recentincrease in wildfire response experiences to document the lessons learned
from wildfire events andstudy the role of TxDOT in the mitigation, containment, and
response to wildfires. The objective of thisresearch project was to develop a protocol
to help TxDOT effectively respond to wildfire situations thatmay occur in the state,
and to present the protocol in the form of "Best Practices" based on information gathered
from many sources both within TxDOT and from agencies outside the department. Using
theinformation collected, researchers developed a training course for TxDOT personnel
who deal withwildfire situations. A pilot course was presented to the Project Monitoring
Committee, and based onfeedback from that pilot course, six training modules were
developed to present as training for TxDOTsupervisors, assistants, and district safety
coordinators. A significant and repeated finding is thatTxDOT employees are not expected
to fight fires directly and have no such responsibilities. Emphasison employee safety
is paramount.
Project PI: Sanjaya Senadheera
Project Co-PI's:
Phillip T. Nash
J. Micah Beierle
Project Researchers:
Wesley J. Kumfer
Dannia Wilson
Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation (TechMRT)
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Address
Texas Tech University, Box 41023, Lubbock, TX 79409-1023 -
Phone
806.742.3523 -
Email
techmrt.outreach@ttu.edu