Philip Taylor Email and Phone Number

I worked as a sawyer during the spring, summer, and fall, cutting brush and timber with a chainsaw for ten to twelve hours per day, four to six days a week. I was also responsible for saw maintenance in the shop and the field. This involved problem-solving and learning new skills and equipment because Alpine Forestry used a different brand than the forest service.Responsible for taking weather observations, updating dispatch or contact as necessary, ensuring prescribed burn was within prescription parameters, ignition of slash piles, mop up of slash piles, and notifying responsible parties when ignition was complete. During the winter, I worked ten-hour days burning slash piles, which involved hiking in the snow and enduring cold and windy temperatures.

I worked on Kings Peak WFM as the senior firefighter on the Ashley NF. Before the seasonal temps came on, I spent the initial pay period in quarantine, where I utilized my time to take any online training available and educate myself in a wildfire. I also used this time to continue my physical training schedule to prepare myself for the upcoming season fully. During this time, I also began to develop possible physical training routines for the crew. Once out of quarantine, I worked with the Squadie to ready our trucks and trailer for the season. Once the seasonal employees came on, I worked with the assistant supt and Squaddie. I put on an abbreviated guard school for the crew rookies, taking the lead on radio and navigation portions and assisting with crew firing procedures. I also was the lead instructor for S-131 for four crew members. Throughout the seasons, my two primary roles on the crew were working as an FFT1 in control of one of the squads and on one of the leading saw teams working as both a sawyer and a swamper. As the leader of one of the squads, I was responsible for ensuring all squad members were properly equipped with gear and PPE. I also ensured that my squad was adequately briefed on objectives and tactics and stayed on task. As a leader on one of the saw teams, I was responsible for maintaining saw and fuel inventories in both the saw shop and my truck, following up on filling any needs. I also filled the role of an FFT1 and ICT5 trainer.

I worked as a senior firefighter on a type three engine. In preparation for the season, I was responsible for helping the engineer ensure the engine was ready, which included checking all compartments against the engine inventory, ensuring all tools and saws were sharp and in good operating order, and all support materials were still in a usable state and medical supplies are not expired and are in good working condition. During the season, I filled roles as a sawer/swamper, a driver, and an FFT1 on the engine. I was frequently assigned to scout lines for potential threats independent of overhead alone and in a training capacity for FFT2s. I was responsible for ensuring daily tasks were completed by junior crew members to make sure the engine was ready for fire assignments. I finished my engine operator task book, worked on setting up hose lays, and installed pumping platforms. In the postseason, I participated in project work around the compound and was often given tasks to complete independently of supervision.

I worked on Redding IHC, which is a developmental crew detailed from the Mendocino NF. While working with the Redding IHC, I was utilized in many different roles, which I believe to be one of my most vital attributes. I worked as a Firing Boss trainee, HECM, Sawyer, Pump operator, and Lead. During firing boss assignments, I developed a firing plan, deciding on several lighters, firing devices needed, and staggering and spacing of lighters. Throughout the firing operations, I guided my firing team, adjusting spacing and staggering as necessary to accomplish the objectives of the Division and ensure the fire was held. While operating as a HECM, I performed numerous long-line missions: building nets, manifesting each load, providing that each load was below allowable, and sending each bag that was built. I also staffed multiple sling sights receiving shipments. I was also responsible for manifesting the crew and crew gear for the troop shuttle. As a sawyer, I participated in falling operations on the fireline and ensured that my saw was adequately maintained and remained fire-ready, performing minor repairs as needed. As a pump operator, I confirmed that the crew received water when needed and ensured the pump remained operational. As a Firefighter type 1 or lead, I coached my fellow crew members in properly collecting weather observations and mop-up and fireline construction techniques. I also directed a squad of five in the fireline location and participated in and directed fireline construction.

I served on a type 2 Helicopter for initial attack and search and rescue support. I worked in the primary role of helicopter crew member and firefighter type one, as well as serving as the primary crew EMT. I was also awarded a certificate of appreciation for my contributions to the Burns safety program and a successful rescue and extraction of a lost hiker from the Region 6 BLM office. As a crew veteran, I was responsible for helping to ensure new and detailed firefighters were briefed on our primary helicopter and crew procedures. And one other crew member came on before the entire crew and ensured all tools, chainsaws, and trucks were ready for the upcoming season. I acted as both a firefighter type one and incident commander type 5 trainee on multiple incidents, digging firelines with hand tools, such as Pulaskis, McClouds, hoes, shovels, and rakes, and cutting with a chainsaw, brushing lines and climbing and felling trees. As an ICT5 trainee, I made an initial size up on multiple incidents, determining the rate of spread, potential hazards, values at risk, point of the initial attack, and crew deployment. I also operated as a qualified helicopter crew member on heliports and firelines, shuttling crews, setting up sling loads, and sending and receiving sling loads. My time on helitack has made me proficient in working with aviation with regards to calling in bucket drops and retardant drops and setting up adequate heliports by recognizing and mitigating potential hazards. I was required to work in multiple capacities while on the crew, such as when we were dispatched to a search and rescue mission. I was responsible for ensuring the correct medical gear was loaded, acting as the primary first responder, and asses, loading, and transporting the patient to appropriate care once on scene.