Statement of Qualifications
Emergency Response - Command, Control, Logistics
NorthTree has provided satellite and radio communications, logistical, medical standby, documentation and mapping support for teams responding to emergency incidents ranging from railroad events (trestle and tunnel fires, derailments, hazmat spills, and the 2008 Frazier Slide,) to national emergencies from hurricane response to the Space Shuttle Colombia Recovery Mission.
NorthTree has the privilege of serving as an exclusive prime emergency response contractor for the largest railroad in North America. We help them to run massive emergency reconstruction projects like the 2008 Frazier Slide. This project started when a large mudslide closed Union Pacific's Oregon Trunk line for over 3 months, creating one of the largest emergency construction projects ever undertaken by UP.
NorthTree was tasked to staff lookouts and traffic control on the slide site, provide a full EMS/rescue division, and create documentation of all daily work performed by over 150 pieces of heavy equipment and 3 simultaneous large quarry operations. Some of the statistics that we tracked are summarized at this link.. In addition to field personnel and command and control elements, we provided radio repeaters, onsite Mobile Documentation Services, and 24 hour GIS/Graphics Support Units.
Industrial Site Safety Standby
NorthTree has provided confined space rescue standby services since 1997 and today has one of the largest staffs of confined space technicians in private industry. In 2008, NorthTree was selected by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and awarded a multi-year contract to provide confined space rescue standby services for all DWR facilities throughout the state. Our fully trained and certified standby rescue teams adhere to OSHA regulations and requirements and can assist our clients in evaluating their workplaces to provide standby rescue services for routine and specialized operational events.
Industrial & Utility Asset Protection
NorthTree provides threat analysis, response and protection to major industrial and utility assets around the country. NorthTree has protected major power grids from wildfire, rail structures and rights of way from floodwaters, earth slides and fire. NorthTree's respected leadership and industry recognized competency has provided our clients seamless integration and implementation within the jurisdiction's Incident Command System. NorthTree Fire's experienced personnel and modern and versatile equipment cache are available to respond and protect your assets on short- and long-term assignments.
Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing & Mapping Support
NorthTree's GIS division combines a highly skilled and flexible staff with modern and reliable equipment. We put wheels under a top-notch GIS consultancy - taking GIS out of the office and onto the road. Operating under their own power with high-speed satellite uplinks, our mobile GIS labs are ideally suited for supporting heavy construction and all types of emergency response - they can be up and running, producing maps from our extensive collection of base data within 30 minutes of arrival on an assignment.
When used in conjunction with NorthTree's Incident Management Support Clerical Units, our GIS units can be used as Graphics Production Powerhouses, cranking out thousands of color briefing maps, posters, signs, or maps. When NASA needed remote map production and printing support for the Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery Mission, they specifically requested these NorthTree units. See a detailed mapping SOQ at this link...
Asset Management / Land Management Information Systems
NorthTree applies Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to assist landowners and land managers to catalogue property information. Our system uses GPS mapping, digital photography, video, aerial photos, and Google Earth to organize and present land information. For example, a user can use the map to zoom into a pump, and see information about the pump itself (parts lists, manuals, receipt from purchase, and contact info for repairs), view maintenance histories, and any other information pertaining to a given feature. Other attributes on the map could include fence lines, gates, power poles, pastures, water delivery, or noxious weed invasions. These types of systems are well suited for archiving land condition, or for meeting conservation easement monitoring requirements.
Remote High-speed Internet
NorthTree's Mobile GIS and Clerical Support Trailers can be hired as a standalone satellite internet service. We offer satellite internet access at speeds of up to 15Mbs download and 1Mbs upload, with VOIP phone service. This service can be provided in the form of free wireless for your remote event, or as the communications backbone of any mobile logistical effort. Contact our Dispatch Center for more details.
Pre-Fire Planning and Hazardous Fuels Reduction
NorthTree's Fuels Management program offers a full range of hazardous fuels reduction services, with an emphasis on mechanical treatment. Our fuels management programs offer a full suite of hazardous fuels reduction services ranging from fuels planning to post-project monitoring and maintenance. NorthTree's fuels reduction clients include large state and federal agencies as well as many private communities, fire safe councils and property owners to manage fuels to minimize fire risk.
Fire Behavior Modeling
NorthTree works with Barry Callenberger of Wildland-RX to develop and run the FARSITE and FLAMMAP fire behavior models. These programs use fuels, weather, and topographic information to create graphical portrayals of potential wildfire spread patterns, rates of spread, and burn intensities. The resulting maps are very useful for communicating big-picture wildfire hazard issues to a lay audience.
Wildland Firefighting
NorthTree has a vast amount of experience in all facets of wildland firefighting. Many of our personnel come from Federal and State Wildfire Agencies including the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire, and have served in all levels of Incident Command System. NorthTree personnel and equipment have worked on many of the largest wildland fires in the Western United States. NorthTree personnel are experts in ground applications of foams (CAFS) and gels for pre-treatment and structure protection.
Helicopter Support
NorthTree can support fire-related helicopter operations ranging from Mobile Gel/Foam Plants with dip tanks on wildfires to aerial ignition on prescribed burns.
Mobile Documentation Services
NorthTree's Incident Management Support program includes Mobile Documentation Services capable of handling a full range of administrative services including computer based data collection and retrieval, archiving, consolidation of field notes, report development, graphic arts, GIS Mapping, weather monitoring and interpretation, graphics reproduction and high speed color printing, and distribution services. These facilities are self contained including power, satellite internet hub, satellite as well as mobile phones and delivery. These units are staffed by trained documentation specialists. NorthTree has been deployed in support of agencies such as FEMA, NASA, USDA, USDOI, on such notable incidents as the Space Shuttle Recovery Mission, the 2003 and 2007 Southern California Firestorms, and on over 100 other Type 1 Incidents since 1999. These units can be deployed to disasters, or keep your special event from becoming one.
