Firehub project: Task 5 Interview protocol

 The interview should use the structure of the Questionnaire as a guide for the
conversation with the interviewee. The context of the interview should be semi-
structured allowing the interviewee to add related questions and information or
to justify answers.

 The interviewees are experts who were involved in recent big wildfire events in
countries members of EUCPM, preferably persons from all decision and
command levels (strategic, tactical and operational) representing both host and
incoming/sending first responders’ organisations for each level. Having persons
who experienced recent big wildfire events through their involvement with
EUCPM activation should provide the most accurate information on how the
mechanism works today and where to seek for potential improvements.

 Prior the interview, information on the objectives of Firehub Task 5 and the
Questionnaire should be sent to the interviewees to make them familiar with the
context and the purpose of the interview. They will be asked to be prepared for
answering/commenting the questions during the conversation. The purpose of
the interview: Identification and analysis of the challenges and capability gaps
concerning the participation of firefighting resources (international assistance)
into the EUCPM response operations with the aim to derive lessons learned and
make relevant recommendations to improve interoperability during EUCPM
activations, but also in case of bilateral firefighting assistance missions. The
analysis will serve for recommendations for an improved EUCPM wildfire
response governance framework.

 The interview will be performed via Skype or, if possible, face to face.

 The interview should have duration between 30’ and 1 hour maximum, and
cover all the topics of the questionnaire. The time will be distributed according to
the expertise of the interviewee.

 The interviewer should take care of the management level and the mission side
(sending/hosting) of the interviewee and approach the topics accordingly.

 The interview should focus to identify what works good and what not with the
firefighting missions of the EUCPM. The interviewee should be guided to
recognise and report needs and gaps. Positive elements of the mechanism or
successful cases should be recorded as well.

 The interview will be recorded as an interpretation of the discussion and will be

sent to the interviewee for the approval.

Since the interview is semi-structured, using the Questionnaire the discussion should
be directed towards the following topics’ purposes:
1. Interoperability
Technical interoperability
The aim of this interoperability topic is to identify to what extent a common/shared operational picture
was understood between host and incoming organisations by using technical assets. To this end the
knowledge on whether there were issues or which arose due to incompatibility of information
exchange systems or used standards/terminology for the data/information exchange. Moreover,
experience during the usage of voice or video communication protocols is also valuable. However the
positive perspectives are also appreciated and should be recorded.
Interoperability from the organisational perspective
The goal of this topic is to identify to what extent strategies/doctrines were harmonised (strategic
level) and to what extent procedures and operations were aligned (tactical and operational levels). In
general, how long did it take to establish organisational link with host/incoming organisations.

2. Safety Measures
Safety standards
The intention is to identify were the used standards comparable and were there any issues related to
them.
Level of safety
This topic deals with a common understanding of the fire-fighters awareness level. There is also a
question about possibility of mutual alignment of the safety standards in order to act together.
Additionally, the topic also values process of becoming aware of local characteristics in context of fire-
fighters safety (timber characteristics, winds, terrain, etc.).

3. Logistics for response capacities

Deployment and maintenance of equipment
The aim of this topic is to find out how long did it take to deploy equipment coming from sending
nation and to identify eventual obstacles or issues. If rescEU is used, the effectiveness of this
mechanism is also valuable information.
Provision of facilities
This topic deals with the judgement on the effectiveness of provided facilities: transfer and storage of
equipment, communication means, reimbursement if asked, permission (flights), liaison between
teams, hand over procedures, relations between actors, customs, arrival and departure of incoming
teams.
Governance of logistics activities
The topic is focused on the shared governance of logistics. Consequently, the information on
application of Host Nation Support framework could be valuable, particularly the coverage of all
necessary aspects of host nation’s support to other states delivering assistance. It would be important
to name key points that would have been helpful but were missing.