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Volume 21 — Issue 21 | May 27, 2021

Minimizing smoke exposure and protecting the wildland firefighting workforce during the 2021 wildfire season

As Wildfire Awareness Month concludes, a particularly dry and dangerous wildfire season is already beginning in the Western United States. The region has already been drought-stricken for many years, exacerbated by a dry winter and warm early spring this year, which has further strained water supply in the region.

In the 2020 fire season, just 3 percent of California was in extreme or exceptional drought. In 2021, 73 percent of California is now in extreme drought, and more than 90 percent of Utah, 86 percent of Arizona and 75 percent of Nevada are now in those highest drought categories, according to the United States Drought Monitor.

In addition to being drier than last year’s already record-shattering fire season, the wildland firefighting workforce will be stretched thin, and staffing shortages are anticipated this year as well. Now more than ever, it is important to protect the wildland firefighting workforce and ensure the safest, most efficient use of their firefighting capabilities.

In a recent article in its “6 Minutes for Safety” series, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) outlines the hazards of wildland fire smoke exposure and stresses the importance of always being on the lookout for opportunities to reduce exposure.

Wildland fire smoke is a complex mix of chemicals and particles, which varies depending on the fuels, soil, weather, fire intensity and the burning phase of the fire. Among other things, wildland fire smoke contains carbon monoxide (CO); fine particulate matter (PM), which can penetrate deep into the lungs; and a variety of harmful chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The NWCG also cites COVID-19 as a compounding risk to wildland firefighters, with the most current studies showing that wildland smoke can lead to an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, including pneumonia. Severity of infections or symptoms may be increased due to the respiratory tract’s immune responses to smoke exposure.

The question for consideration is: does the wildland firefighting workforce really need to be in the smoke to meet the operational objectives? Certain tasks such as mop-up, holding, line construction, and firing are associated with higher smoke exposure. The NWCG encourages decision-makers in the wildland firefighting workforce to consider ways to reduce smoke and particulate matter exposure during these tasks.

For additional information on the risks of wildfire smoke exposure and how to minimize these risks, the NWCG provides several scientific references and resources for further discussion on this topic in the article.

(Source: NWCG)

Highlights

Minimizing smoke exposure and protecting the wildland firefighting workforce during the 2021 wildfire season

FEMA releases COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery, webinars in June

Microchip shortages impacting auto industry lead to shortages in ambulance production, supply chain disruptions

NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) 2021 free virtual event, June 21-24

Cyber Threats

The U.S. Fire Administration operates the Emergency Management and Response – Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC).

For information regarding the EMR-ISAC visit www.usfa.dhs.gov/emr-isac or contact the EMR-ISAC office at: (301) 447-1325 and/or fema-emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA releases COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery, webinars in June

In advance of the 2021 Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons and the peak Western wildfire season, FEMA has released its COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance: All-Hazards Incident Response and Recovery. This updated document takes an all-hazards approach and builds on guidance provided in last year’s COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season, adding lessons learned and additional planning considerations for response and recovery during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

FEMA notes, in addition to preparedness for hurricane and wildfire seasons, the planning considerations outlined in this document are applicable to any disaster operation in the COVID-19 environment, including no-notice incidents, spring flooding, tropical cyclones, severe weather and other all-hazard incidents. The document can also be used by private sector and non-governmental organizations to gain an understanding of the government’s posture, planning and readiness efforts in 2021.

Throughout 2021, jurisdictions nationwide will be at different stages of pandemic recovery. FEMA encourages state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) emergency managers to use this document while reviewing response plans and guidance to align and synchronize community response actions with federal planning efforts, with a focus on key changes necessitated by the COVID-19 environment and ensuring the equitable delivery of disaster assistance.

Some highlights of the FEMA planning guidance to SLTT’s for response and recovery during the COVID-19 PHE include:

• Adopting lessons learned from adaptations made in 2020, such as updated policies, processes, and guidance, virtual program and service delivery and virtual training opportunities.
• Workforce safety measures, including on-site testing and screenings, both for general health and wellness and for COVID-19.
• Staffing considerations and continuity strategies to prepare for a variety of potential conditions to account for local outbreaks, periods of peak COVID-19 activity or phased reopening.

FEMA also encourages SLTT partners to exercise updated plans via virtual tabletop exercises. The document contains numerous appendices with additional resources for SLTT planning.

FEMA is offering a series of webinars throughout the month of June to further educate people on the pandemic operational guidance. Register for any of these free offerings on FEMA’s website.

(Source: FEMA)

Microchip shortages impacting auto industry lead to shortages in ambulance production, supply chain disruptions

The American Ambulance Association (AAA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) Ground Vehicle Standards announced earlier this month that the global semiconductor shortage currently stalling production of motor vehicles in the United States and worldwide is now impacting ambulance production.

Ford Motor Company, which supplies approximately 70 percent of the ambulance chassis used in the U.S., shut down production at various plants that produce the E series, T series, and F series ambulance chassis in mid-April. The shortage of the critical microchips is predicted to run into 2022. Ford currently predicts an overall production loss of over 1.1 million units in 2021.

This equates to a major supply chain interruption for chassis needed to produce ambulances in North America. Both Ford and GM report that the duration and extent of the semiconductor shortage and resulting production shutdowns are not yet known and “the situation changes daily”.

The shortage was brought on by a combination of factors.

According to a recent article in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), when automotive factories shut down last year due to decreased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, semiconductor makers shifted production from automobiles to personal electronics to meet the demand of more people working from home. An economic rebound then happened faster than economists predicted and automotive plants began restoring full-scale production. Chip makers were unable to keep up with the demand.

Matters weren’t helped by a fire at a major microchip factory in Japan in March 2021, which stopped production of about 30 percent of the automotive sector’s microprocessors globally. The consequences of the fire on the global supply chain are still not clear.

According to a recent article in Autoblog, it may take longer than a few months for the market to normalize. In the bigger picture, investors are looking at expanding U.S. microchip production. Semiconductor fabrication is a complex and expensive process, which limits the size of the field, and not every manufacturer is capable of supplying the chips needed by car manufacturers. 

In the meanwhile, EMS organizations currently awaiting new ambulances or looking to purchase ambulances soon should contact manufacturers for details and begin planning for the impact of these delays.

(Source: AAA)

NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) 2021 free virtual event, June 21-24

Guided by a dedication to community, transparency and progress in the public safety communications technology space, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division, is holding an annual meeting and inviting public safety, industry, government, academic and media stakeholders to attend sessions, connect with researchers, and form connections that foster innovation.

This year’s virtual event, PSCR 2021, will take place June 21 through 24, 2021. The event will highlight the latest public safety communications research advancements. It will consist of live and recorded content for participants to build their own experience. At PSCR 2021, participants have the opportunity to interact with researchers in real-time during plenary sessions, technology demonstrations and live question-and-answer sessions.

NIST highlights four cutting-edge research sessions at this event:

• How Data Analytics in Real-Time Enables Situational Awareness and Public Safety Decision-Making Capabilities.
• Are We There Yet? 5G Capabilities, Gaps, and Opportunities.
• Design Technology Incorporating the Voices of First Responders: Now is the Time!
• Riding the Tide of an IoT Tsunami: Managing the Wave.

A free orientation to the upcoming virtual event, “The Road to PSCR 2021: The Digital Experience,” offers a brief history of the PSCR and guidance to participants on how to navigate the virtual experience. This orientation was conducted on May 26, and the recording is now available free on-demand with a simple registration.

You can register for the event itself at NIST’s event registration page.

(Source: NIST)

Cyber Information and Incident Assistance Links

MS-ISAC
SOC@cisecurity.org
1-866-787-4722

IdentityTheft.gov

IC3

Cybercrime Support Network

General Information
Links

FTC scam list

CISA alerts

Law Enforcement Cyber Center

TLP Information

DHS announces new cybersecurity requirements for critical pipeline owners and operators

On May 27, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a Security Directive that will enable the Department to better identify, protect against, and respond to threats to critical companies in the pipeline sector.

The Security Directive will require critical pipeline owners and operators to report confirmed and potential cybersecurity incidents to the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and to designate a Cybersecurity Coordinator, to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will also require critical pipeline owners and operators to review their current practices as well as to identify any gaps and related remediation measures to address cyber-related risks and report the results to TSA and CISA within 30 days.

TSA is also considering follow-on mandatory measures that will further support the pipeline industry in enhancing its cybersecurity and that strengthen the public-private partnership so critical to the cybersecurity of our homeland.

This new TSA Security Directive also highlights the critical role that CISA plays as the country’s national cyber defense center. Last December, Congress, through the National Defense Authorization Act, empowered CISA to execute its mission to secure federal civilian government networks and our nation’s critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats.

(Source: DHS)

NSA, ODNI and CISA release 5G analysis paper

The National Security Agency (NSA), in partnership with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), published an analysis paper on May 10, 2021, which identifies and assesses risks and vulnerabilities introduced by 5G adoption.

The Potential Threat Vectors to 5G Infrastructure analysis paper informs national 5G stakeholders of these issues to develop a comprehensive approach to solutions. The analysis paper examined three major threat vectors in 5G: standards, the supply chain, and threats to systems architecture.

(Source: NSA)

47 percent of criminals buying exploits target Microsoft products

Microsoft products accounted for 47 percent of the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) that cybercriminals request across underground forums, according to researchers who conducted a yearlong study into the exploit market.

The research spanned more than 600 English and Russian language forums. Researchers scoured advertisements for the sales of exploits from January 2019 through December 2020. Microsoft's tools and services made up 47 percent of all requested CVEs on underground forums. Internet-connected products made up only 5 percent.  More than half (52 percent) of exploits requested were less than two years old. Buyers were willing to pay an average of $2,000 (USD) for requested exploits; however, some offered up to $10,000 for zero-day exploits targeting Microsoft products. Microsoft Word and Excel exploits "dominated" in both categories.

(Source: Darkreading.com)

FBI: 16 Conti ransomware attacks targeted healthcare, first responders in US

The FBI says it has observed 16 Conti ransomware attacks that targeted healthcare and first responder networks in the United States over the past year.

First detailed in July 2020, Conti has grown to become a major threat, with more than 400 organizations worldwide (290 in the United States) being hit by the ransomware to date. Conti’s operators appear to tailor the ransom amount to the victim and were observed asking for as much as $25 million recently -but victims do have the option to negotiate the amount.

U.S. healthcare organizations and first responders that Conti has hit since its emergence include 9-1-1 dispatch centers, emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, and municipalities, the FBI reveals in a newly published alert.

(Source: Security Week)

The InfoGram is distributed weekly to provide members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures.

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