The community of A is located in a densely forested area accessible by one highway. It has a population of 3450 and contains critical infrastructure like a hospital and schools. A forest fire is reported south of community A during a period of high heat and lack of rain. As the fire spreads and threatens nearby communities, emergency responders work to evacuate residents, fight the fire, and search for missing persons. Water bombers are called in to assist with fire suppression as strong winds cause the fire to grow in size. After search and rescue efforts locate an unconscious victim, the evacuation of communities C, D and E is ordered to protect public safety.

1. Sample Table Top Exercise
By: Sacha Pilgrim
Community Profile
The community of A is located in a densely forested area located on the western side of a
northern pointing peninsula. It is accessed by a North bound highway which transverses off the
Trans-Canada Highway for 60 km. The only other access roads in the area are old woods roads
which are no longer maintained. There is one small town approximately 25 km north of
community A at the very northern tip of the peninsula. To the west is the ocean which the town
faces and to the east there are several smaller communities and a densely forested area of over
20000 hectares.
A summary of the community profile is displayed in the chart below:
Population Total: 3450
Density:
122.3/km2
Natural
Demographics
Dwellings:
1800
Geography
Land area:
28.2 km2
Densely
forested area
Ocean (less than 1
km west, 25 km
North, 200 km
east)
A number of
small ponds,
lakes and
streams
Critical
Infrastructure
Community A
Regional
Hospital
Retirement
Home
Community
Collage
2 schools
Transportation
One highway
(North/South)
Small sea
port
No airport No railways
Industry Forestry Fishing Local Business
Most people
work away
Emergency
Resources
Volunteer
firefighters
(station in
community)
Paramedics
(station in
community)
RCMP (station in
community)
Overall
limited
emergency
resources

2. Story Board
It is the middle of August and temperatures have been reaching an above average high of 32C.
There has been an increase in grass and bush fires due to the extreme high temperatures and lack
of rain. The local volunteer firefighters have limited resources and are becoming exhausted with
dealing with a high number of small fires. They have been getting over 10 calls a day for the past
two weeks.
At 1205 local time on Saturday August 23rd, a frantic call is made to the fire station by a man
who was hiking in a hilly area 10 km south of community A. He reported seeing dense smoke
coming from a densely wooded area on the eastern side of the peninsula. When he reached the
bottom of the hill, the smoke had become so thick that he had trouble breathing. He quickly left
the area and once within cell phone service range, he called the fire station. He also reported
spotting two trucks parked at the junction which leads to communities C, D and E but didn’t see
anyone else in the area.
The fire station promptly notifies the Mayor of an expected forest fire and proceeds to the area to
access the situation. At 1220, the fire department arrive at the highway junction where the man
reported the vacant trucks. They set up a staging area and the Fire Chief calls the Major to
request activation of the Emergency Operations Center. The Fire Chief is growing increasingly
concerned as the wind is currently from the Northeast at 30km/hour and is expected to increase
and change to be from the west. A westerly wind could allow the fire to spread towards the
communities of C, D and E. Depending on the severity of the fire and how it spreads all
communities may need to be evacuated.

3. Injects
Inject 1
Time: 1220
Fire Chief requests mutual aid (MA) from fire department located in
community E. Additionally requests police and paramedics to be on scene.
Inject 2
Time: 1241
MA, police and paramedics arrive on scene. Fire Chief directs firefighters
to commence a controlled burn to try to prevent fire from spreading and
eventually jumping the highway.
Inject 3
Time: 1248
Persons from nearby communities are arriving to observe. Police set up
road block to prevent traffic from passing.
Inject 4
Time: 1300
A woman calls the police saying her husband and his three friends were
fishing in the area and haven’t come home. Police confirm the unattended
trucks belong to her husband and his friend. Fire Chief sets up a search
party of fully dressed firefighters.
Inject 5
Time: 1315
Smoke is visual from staging area. EOC informs Fire Chief that water
bombers will arrive in two hours.
Inject 6
Time: 1323
Social networks are being overloaded with comments and postings of panic
and the desire to evacuate the communities. Citizens are becoming
panicked and are making comments to pass through the road blocks.
Inject 7
Time: 1345
Firefighter search party returns. They report seeing a backpack and ATV
but not the missing persons. A second team is sent to search.
Inject 8
Time: 1433
One firefighter collapses from heat exhaustion.
Inject 9
Time: 1507
Three men emerge from the woods. They are suffering from smoke
inhalation and report that they lost their friend. He was on an ATV but left
it to walk around the lake. He is likely on the North side of the lake.
Inject 10
Time: 1519
Fire Chief informs EOC that the wind has changed and is now from the
west.
Inject 11
Time: 1527
Water bomber arrives on scene. Fire Chief establishes communication and
informs them of missing person. Decision is made to fly over area to get a
report on fire size before dropping water and potentially causing more
danger to victim. Water bomber is informed of victim’s potential location.
Inject 12
Time: 1530
Reports of dense smoke in communities C, D and E

4. Inject 13
Time: 1601
Water bomber reports that fire is rapidly spreading. The fire edge is located
approximately 3 km from community C and D. Decision is made to
evacuate communities C, D and E and move them to community A.
Community A and B are deemed safe for now.
Inject 14
Time: 1617
Police request able bodies to assist with the evacuation of the communities.
Not all persons have transportation. EOC to arrange buses and persons to
assist.
Inject 15
Time: 1618
Water bomber reports spotting the victim. He appears to be unconscious
lying near the lake. Water bomber reports it is safe for entry North of the
lake. A plan is established for victim retrieval by using the fire departments
Tahoe and entering from a northern woods road.
Inject 16
Time: 1620
Water bomber drops first load of water. He will continue to refill from
lake. EOC informs in 30 minutes a second water bomber will be on scene.
Inject 17
Time: 1635
EOC requests local construction company to dig trenches around the
parameter of the woods and neighbouring communities.
Inject 18
Time: 1652
Police inform EOC that not all citizens are willing to evacuate. Second
water bomber commences fighting fire.
Inject 19
Time: 1735
Fire Chief sends MA fire department to community C to prepare for
defensive firefighting to protect housing around area where fire is expected
to travel.
Inject 20
Time: 1812
Firefighters retrieve victim. Ambulance is dispatched to Northern entry of
the woods road to meet the team.
Inject 21
Time: 1818
Evacuation of communities C, D and E is well underway. Persons being
mustered in schools in community A.
Inject 22
Time: 1847
Victim is brought to hospital. He is pronounced dead on arrival.
Inject 23
Time: 1937
Sun is setting, wind is decreasing and fire spread is less rapid. Fire has
been supressed by water bombers but is still burning. All citizens from
communities C, D and E have been mustered but not all accounted for.
Verification of citizen’s location is needed (many working away on
varying schedules). Assistance from a larger town two hours away to be
requested for the morning. Water bombers report that fire may last a few
more days and there is no rain in the long-term forecast. It is determined
that with additional provincial assistance the communities of C, D and E
shouldn’t suffer extreme damage.