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County officials press for better RFPA integration after national teams arrive
Summary
Officials said local Resource Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs) are effective for initial attack but often become sidelined when national incident command teams arrive; the court discussed a federal liaison or procedural change to better integrate RFPAs into planning and operations.
Commissioner Frank and Judge Hart described how local RFPAs have been critical for initial attack but sometimes are not integrated into longer-term operations when national incident command teams assume management. Officials said this can create friction and underuse of local expertise.
Judge Hart observed many visiting teams "get so locked into the ICS incident command system" that they do not know how to employ RFPAs outside their standard logistics and dispatch processes. Commissioner Frank referenced a recent memo recommending a federal-level RFPA liaison to improve coordination; he suggested the county could direct interested federal staff to local experts if a federal office showed interest in pursuing the idea.
Participants discussed whether a formal liaison slot or a placeholder in ICS procedures would be needed to ensure RFPAs are used beyond initial attack and to smooth logistics when teams come from across the country.
