[atcjorg]

Well I can share a little about TFR's that might help. First off if you see smoke tell ATC that is usually the first chance to get a response going. ATC has a list of phone numbers for reporting fires. The next action will probably be an airborne "air boss" in either a be55 or an OV10 heading to the scene asap they usually are at 5500 to 8500 msl unless the smoke/terrain pushes them higher. They will assess the TFR needs and gets that called in and implemented- it can take a little while from fire start to actually getting a TFR up and running. The response can be anything from a few helicopters to DC10 tankers and C130's. the nuts and bolts. The only aircraft on the approach control freq. is the air boss and he is on multiple radios coordinating the fight and sometimes the fixed wing aircraft while transiting to/ from the staging airport to the TFR are on freq.but that is more the exception than the rule, just listening on approach freq. may help some but you are far better off asking for flight following. Trust me 95% of approach controllers will gladly provide the service the other 5% just suck.