More villages added to federal EFF medical exam schedule, others rescheduled due to weather

The Type 2 Emergency Firefighter crew from Noorvik walks to the fire line while on a fire in the Lower 48 in 2017. Photo by Neal Charlie, DOF

More villages were added to the schedule of mobile medical exams for federal emergency firefighters (EFF) in rural Alaska and others have been rescheduled after weather-caused cancellations.

The changes to the schedule are (click on links for exam request forms):

• Tanana: rescheduled for Jan. 7 (exam request form – mooseheart crew)
• Arctic Village: cancelled due to weather and yet to be rescheduled (exam request form – yukon flats)
• Fort Yukon: rescheduled to Jan. 22 (exam request form – yukon flats) 
• Ambler: Jan. 15 (Deadline for exam request form – kobuk river is Jan. 8)
• Buckland: Jan. 18 (Deadline for exam request form – kobuk river is Jan. 11)
• Hughes: cancelled and rescheduled for Jan. 21 (Eexam request form – k river-1)
• Ruby: Jan. 25. (Deadline for exam request form – mooseheart crew is Jan. 18) 
• Selawik: rescheduled to Jan. 25. (exam request form – kobuk river)
• Allakaket: cancelled due to weather and yet to be rescheduled (exam request form – yukon flats)
• Grayling: Jan. 28 (Deadline for exam request form – paradise-1 is Jan. 21)
• Holy Cross: Jan. 29 (Deadline for exam request form – paradise-1 is Jan. 21)

Dates for Noorvik, Kiana, Shungnak, St. Mary’s, Marshall, Mountain Village, Pilot Station, Stebbins, St. Michael and Koyuk have yet to be scheduled.

The BLM AFS is providing medical exams in approximately 28 Alaska villages through mobile medical units and by scheduled appointments at 18-predetermined facilities (WLFF Alaska Facilities Map) throughout the state in preparation for the 2019 fire season. The goal of implementing the medical standards to increase safety by identifying pre-existing conditions that could be aggravated by the Work Capacity Test (WCT) and the arduous duty of wildland firefighting. This requirement does not apply to Alaska Division of Forestry EFF.

Map of network of facilities where medical exams are available upon request. Click on link WLFF Alaska Facilities Map edit for PDF version.

Returning EFF firefighters and rookie candidates need to fill out a exam request form to schedule the medical whether it through the mobile units or at participating clinics in other communities. This form needs to be completed, signed, and faxed to BLM AFS at (907)356-5609 in order to schedule an exam. Click on link for the request form for EFF from Norton Sound communities at: exam request form – norton sound.

The same request form will allow you to schedule an exam at clinics in Fairbanks, Galena, Wasilla, Kenai, Anchorage, Kotzebue, Bethel, Yakutat, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Kodiak and Soldotna. There is no cost to the EFF for the examination, however, if the individual chooses a location other than their local village, BLM AFS will not cover the associated travel costs. Fax the forms to (907)356-5609 at least one week in advance to schedule the exam.

Type 2 EFF firefighters from the Nulato crew mop up a fire in the Lower 48 during the 2017 fire season. Photo by Travis McCabe, BLM AFS

All Alaska-based federal emergency firefighters, otherwise known as casual hires or administrative determined employees, are hired on an as-needed basis and will need to undergo a medical screening prior to being eligible for work. Those performing arduous duties will need medical exams once every three years and self-certify in between years. The medical screening, established by the Department of the Interior Medical Standards Program (DOI MSP), will screen EFF for any disqualifying medical conditions prior to participating in the pack test. Others performing light and moderate duties need to complete a health screening questionnaire in order to be medically cleared for work (click on link for more information). Regularly employed AFS firefighters have been adhering to these wildland firefighting medical requirements for years.

Additional paperwork will need to be completed and brought to the appointment.

They are (click on links for forms):
AFS EFF Examinee Instructions
AFS_EFF Medical History Questionnaire
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practice Form – 2 18 2016
HIPAA Authorization Form – 2 18 2016

You can also find the forms online on the BLM AFS emergency firefighter page at https://afs.ak.blm.gov/eff.php

Certain individuals may have conditions (click on link for list) which prevent them from participating in the pack test or working as a firefighter, but may apply for and be granted a waiver when there is sufficient evidence to show they can perform the job safely without endangering the health or safety of themselves or others. Please see Medical Exam Instructions for more information.

The Mooseheart Mountain crew walks up a hill while on assigned to the Mendocino Complex in California this summer. Photo by Dan White, DOF

After the exam is completed, a determination will be made regarding the candidate’s eligibility to participate in the pack test and the arduous duty of wildland firefighting. Medicals need to be performed with plenty of time to participate in the waiver process and get medically cleared to participate in the pack test in the spring.

The BLM AFS provides wildland fire management for the DOI and Native Corporation lands in Alaska and provides oversight of the BLM Alaska aviation program. Firefighter safety, and the safety of the public, is a core value and is fundamental in all areas of wildland fire management.

For more information, EFF candidates can email AFS_EFF@blm.gov or call EFF Program at 1-833-532-8810 or (907)356-5897.

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Entire schedule:

• Huslia: completed on Nov. 5 (exam request form – yukon koyukuk)
• Galena: completed on Nov. 7 (exam request form – yukon koyukuk)
• Kaltag: completed on Nov. 14 (exam request form – yukon koyukuk) 
• Koyukuk: cancelled and rescheduled for Jan. 16. (exam request form – yukon koyukuk Form)
• Nulato: cancelled due to weather and yet to be rescheduled. (exam request form – yukon koyukuk)
• Hughes: cancelled and rescheduled for Jan. 21 (exam request form – k river-1)
• Allakaket: cancelled due to weather and yet to be rescheduled (exam request form – k river-1)
• Selawik: cancelled and rescheduled for Jan. 25 (exam request form – kobuk river)
• Minto: completed on Dec. 6 (exam request form – mooseheart)
• Fort Yukon: cancelled and rescheduled for Jan. 22 (exam request form – yukon flats)
• Tanana: cancelled and rescheduled for Jan. 7 (exam request form – mooseheart)
• Arctic Village: cancelled due to weather and yet to be rescheduled (exam request form – yukon flats)
• Venetie: Jan. 8 (Deadline to turn in exam request form – yukon flats is Jan. 2)
• Ambler: Jan. 15 (Deadline for exam request form – kobuk river is Jan. 8)
• Buckland: Jan. 18 (Deadline for exam request form – kobuk river is Jan. 11)
• Ruby: Jan. 24 (Deadline to turn in exam request form – mooseheart is Jan. 17)
• Grayling: Jan. 28 (Deadline for exam request form – paradise-1 is Jan. 21)
• Holy Cross: Jan. 29 (Deadline for exam request form – paradise-1 is Jan. 21)
• Dates for Noorvik, Kiana, Shungnak, St. Mary’s, Marshall, Mountain Village, Pilot Station, Stebbins, St. Michael and Koyuk have yet to be scheduled.