2009 FALL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING
NORTHWEST COMPACT DISCUSSIONS
• The Northwest Wildland Fire Protection Agreement includes Canada and
several states, and is set-up for voluntary mobilization and demobilization
of firefighting resources on both sides of the border.
• British Columbia has 4 standing short teams, that ramp-up and/or down
based upon the complexity of the incident(s) they are managing.
• There is a very formal in-briefing for out-of-area teams, and our transfer of
command equates to their fire turn over package. The NR’s could improve
their in-briefing package for out-of-area teams based upon the BC format.
• BC uses the IAP to develop a 4-5 day strategy for managing a fire, similar to
our long-term implementation plan.
CHANGES, CHALLENGES AND THOUGHTS
• Discussions centered on the changing landscape of fire management,
including the fire management workforce capabilities and the fire
environment.
• The challenge continues to be the demand for our firefighting resources
and setting priorities to get them in the right place at the right time.
• Maintain flexibility in our succession planning so we can make the
necessary adjustments based upon capabilities, requirements and needs.
NORTHERN ROCKIES NUMBERS AND TYPES OF TEAMS
• As of this meeting, The NR’s has the capability to field 2 Type I IMTs, 5 Type
II IMTs, 1 Wildland Fire Management Team hosted by the NR’s, and 1
Wildland Fire Management Team (mixed with NR and SW team members
based upon our agreement) hosted by the SW.
• Short team configuration versus long team configuration will be negotiated
between the assigned IC and the hosting agency and/or hosting agencies.
• NR’s IC’s agreed team size and configuration will be commensurate with
the management organization needed for a specific incident(s), and they
will respond with either a short- and/or long-team based upon discussions
with the hosting agency.
• Still a shortage of team members and/or individuals with the capabilities to
run FSPRO, RAVAR, and develop long-term implementation plans.
Recommendation was to utilize the module concept, either send people to
assist the teams or have them work out of a service center as an incident
support organization.
• Need to continue to improve our processes to get quality assignments for
our trainees, and take advantage of every assignment and type of
assignment to complete specific tasks in the respective taskbooks.
• The IC’s, and a representative from the NRTC need to revisit our succession
planning on an annual basis, and make recommendations to the NRCG BOD
based upon their experiences and findings during the fire season.
• Investigate the potential options associated with utilizing the Alaskan
Agreement to back-fill resource shortage areas during the higher levels of
preparedness in our GA.
TYPE III ORGANIZATIONS
• Brief discussion on the Kootenai Creek Incident, and the continued need to
supplement some of the sections within these organizations with higher
level qualifications to ensure the success of the assigned team.
• Recommendation is to develop a practice scenario to address unified
command, cost-share agreements, human resource specialist support and
aviation support on these teams.
• Need IT support to these teams, either from the GA and/or the hosting
agency.
• Recommendation is to challenge the dispatch zones to form their
respective Type III Teams for zone only assignments.
• It was agreed that S-300 will stay at the zone level, but NRTC will work
towards standardizing the course.
• Plan to have a 3-day Type III workshop to share experiences, successes, and
better prepare the Type III teams.
INCIDENT COMPLEXITY ANALYSIS
• Incident complexity analysis process is inadequate and antiquated. A small
team will attempt resolve this issue for the NR’s. Gilman to contact Boise
and get the information they have collected regarding this issue. Send
comments to Stanich to be compiled.
2010 TEAM RECRUITING PROCESS
• Follow the same process as last year, IC’s will identify their respective
needs by position.
• Team applications need to be into NRCC by January 30th, and selections will
be made February 17th and 18th, 2010.
S520 CANDIDATE STATUS
• Need to continue to move our candidates forward that have just completed
CIMC training, and NRTC will work with the IC’s to prioritize candidate
assignments so they can complete their respective taskbooks.
• All the NR’s S-520 candidates attended the pre-CIMC exercise as part of
their preparation to attend S-520, and local unit fire managers will be
notified.
• The S-520 candidate pool will be managed by the Type I IC’s and
coordinated with NRTC.
• A team will address the NWCG curriculum (Fieldhouse, Poncin, Waters,
Stanich, and Corbin), and if you have comments please have them back to
Fieldhouse by January 15th.
ZONE TEAM SPRING MEETING SCHEDULE AND LOCATIONS
• Type II IC’s from North Idaho and Western Montana will have their meeting
together, work the details out with their zone coordinators, and get the
dates to NRCC.
• Type II IC’s from Eastern Montana will identify their team meeting dates,
work the details out with their zone coordinators, and get the dates to
NRCC.
• Type I IC’s will identify their meeting dates, and work the details out with
NRCC.
• Wildland Fire Management Teams will identify their team meeting dates,
and get the information to NRCC.
NEW OPERATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
• Chairperson – Greg Archie
• Co-Chairperson – Bob Fry
• Many thanks to both of those gentlemen for stepping up.
CLOSING REMARKS
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NRCG BOD for their continued
support to the committee during my tenure as Chair. In addition, I would like to
thank all the committee members for their contributions and commitment to the
success of our NR’s operations. It has been my pleasure to have had the
opportunity to serve and work with all of you.