Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group
Operations Working Team (OWT) and Aviation Working
Team Meeting
April 29, 2008
Operations Working Team in attendance: Brian Gales (USFWS), Larry Nickey (NPS), Jim
Walker (ODF), Robert Madden (OR Fire Service), Dick Gormley (WA Fire Service),
Aviation Working Team in Attendance: John Rollens (USFS), Clay Hillin (NPS), Joel Kerley
(BIA), Chris Hice (BLM), Dave Doan (DNR)
Absent: Ken Snell (PNWCG Steering liaison), John Ketchum (OR Fire Marshall’s), Sarah
Robertson (USFS), Dave Lentz (BLM), John Szulc (BIA), Joe Shramek (DNR), Steve Dickenson
(NWCC): Jim Ziobro (ODF), Steve Smith (AMD), Steve Pietroburgo (FWS), Brad Bernardy
(BLM), Gary Sterling (USFS)
Guests: None
Agenda: Annual meeting to discuss goals and objectives for the year of the two working teams.
Update on Steering Committee Meeting - Rollens/Walker - updated the group on the meeting with
PNWCG Steering Committee had with the working team chairman. Briefly discussed the Steering
Committees strategic plan.
Update on Region 6 and 10 Fire Management Merging – Rollens - USFS Region 6 has merged
fire management with Region 10 (Alaska). Alaska Aviation will remain under Region 10.
Reviewed one page briefs of OWT and AWT sent to Steering Committee – Rollens/Walker
OWT –
 sets priorities for 520/620 nominations
 Working on proposal to consolidate IMT’s from current geo boards to consolidate more
into a model featuring an Oregon, Washington, State Fire Marshall (for each state) and
National board or some similar configuration in an attempt to consolidate GEO boards.
 Facilitated meeting for all working teams and steering committee to get together during
one workshop
 Charter for IC Council is complete and operational.
 Working with training working team on formalizing pack testing for contractors
AWT –




Develop Cooperator Approval standards for fixed and rotor-wing aircraft
Review and update the Master Agreement Operating Plan prior to field season
Continue to update and maintain the Aviation Policy Differences Matrix
Facilitate and host the annual Aviation Awareness Workshop May 21-22, 2008
 Update and publish the Aviation Frequency Guide annually (currently at printers)
 Produce and present the annual update to PNWCG
 Annually provide the location for numbers and type of aviation assets that each agency
will have prior to the start of the fire season
Aviation Resources Available
 NPS – no aviation resources in region 6. Two exclusive use in California. Call when needed
contract for shorthaul at North Cascades. DOI doing a CWN fire contract for Type 3
helicopters.
 DNR – PBY will no longer be under contract with DNR. CL-215 bids should be in soon for
Deer Park for a 60 day contract starting in July. 9 Helicopters – 6 available July 1. Federal
personnel can not fly on aircraft due to being basically a restricted aircraft. King Air 200
available for use. Working with Canadian Provinces to utilize Canadian resources if needed
through NW compact.
 BIA – Helicopter and Seat at OMAK, helicopter at Warm springs, CWN helicopter at
Spokane, National Contract helicopter will be shifted to Washington as season progresses, 3
CL-215 on CWN contract.
Gel evaluation will be going on this year.
 BLM - nationally
o 2 Seat Contracts
o BLM – Nationally 24 helicopters, 6 Type II and 18 Type III (locally Vail, Lakeview,
Burns)
o 7 Smokejumpers planes
o 3 ASM platforms
o 9 ATGS platforms
o 4 basic utility aircraft
 USFS – nationally
o
Air tanker contracts awarded with no designated bases. Same bases available as in
past.
o
Type II – Funding 25 helicopters nationally
o
Type I or II large fire support – Funding 34 helicopters nationally
o
CWN contract – still under review in DC
o
ASM/Lead contracts – Bids Close March 28. Leased King Airs renewed
o
PNW – 5 exclusive use platforms (burns/vale)
 1 ATGS position filled in La Grande
 4 ATGS positions left to fill: Redmond, Wenatchee, Burns/Vale, Lakeview
 Smokejumpers adding 23 jumpers
 Rappel – going to 6 rappel platforms (type III’s at Grants Pass and Prineville,
Type II’s at Sled Springs, Frazier, John Day and Wenatchee)
 Host two National Type II helicopters – Wenatchee and John Day
 Host five National Type I helicopters – La Grande, Wenatchee, Oakridge,
Central Oregon, John Day
 Approval for use of British Columbia air tankers and bird dogs.
 Working on approval of Canadian Helicopters
 2 exclusive use seats – John Day and Pendleton
DC-10 is authorized for Forest Service use this year
 USFWS – Seat at Richland on 90 day contract
 ODF – 4 districts will have 60 day helicopter agreements, 5 Type II and 2 Type III
2 DC-7s will be on contract
Alaska lead plane will be brought down later in summer
Type 1 helicopter out of Medford
3 Type II helicopters (John Day, Klamath, and either Pendleton or Prineville)
Issues needing to be addressed by OWT/AWT
Discussion on ATGS trainer program - AWT, OWT and Training WT needs to draft some guidance
for PNWCG Steering to provide support from an interagency standpoint for the ATGS program.
Rollens will take the lead on letter.
Discussion on air attack platform standards – concerns on number of radio requirements for
helicopters to meet standard as an air attack platform. Will be discussed and clarification letter will
be sent out for Region 6.
Continued shortage of helicopter managers – Hice is working on paper that discusses current issues
associated with the lack of aviation personnel. He will share with the meeting members.
Potential of private insurance companies hiring their own aircraft and engines to assist to fight fires
that affect their policy holders. This would probably need to be addressed in the delegation of
authority.
Review meeting notes of prior meetings
AWT to set up a meeting with Ken Snell
Suggestion for future meeting is to set an agenda previous to the meeting.
OWT Schedule of remaining 2008 meetings (0900-1530 approximate times) at NWCC unless
otherwise noted
April 29, 2008
May 22, 2008
June 26, 2008
July 16-17, 2008 (send members to fire if PNW Type 1 team on fire in region)
August 20-21, 2008 (send members to fire if PNW Type 1 team on fire in region)
September 18, 2008
October 16, 2008
November 20, 2008
AWT Next meeting
July 9, 2008 at 0900 at GP
OPERATIONS WORKING TEAM MEMBER ADDRESSES
2008 Operations Working Team (OWT) member contact numbers and email addresses
(Names listed in order of which agency is next chairperson. In 2008 Sarah will become
vice chair a year early due to new WA Fire Service anticipated new member):
Jim Walker – ODF representative (Chairman)
Oregon Department of Forestry
2600 State Street, Bldg. D
Salem, OR 97310
Office 503-945-7437
cell 503-551-5391
fax
503-945-7430
email – Jwalker@odf.state.or.us
Dick Gormley - WA Fire Service representative
Chelan Co. Fire District #1
1637 Horse Lake Road
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Office 509-888-0833
cell 509-994-2839
fax
509-667-2563
email - rgormley@aol.com
Randy Johnson – alternate WA Fire Service representative
Chelan County Fire District #1
P.O. Box 2106
206 Easy Street
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Office 509-662-4734
Cell
Fax
509-662-3967
email – rmjohnson@chelancountyfire.com
Sarah Robertson – USFS representative (vice-Chair)
USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region
Fire and Aviation Management
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, OR 97208-3623
Office 503-808-2314
cell 503-545-9374
fax
503-808-6799
email - sarahrobertson@fs.fed.us
Larry Nickey – NPS representative
Olympic National Park
600 E. Park Ave
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Office 360-565-3121
cell 360-808-3405
fax
360-565-3129
email – larry_nickey@nps.gov
John Szulc – BIA representative
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Northwest Regional Office
911 NE 11th Ave.
Portland, OR 97232
Office 503-231-6797
cell 503-780-4682
fax
503-231-6774
email – johnszulc.bia@gmail.com
Dave Lentz – BLM representative
USDI-Bureau of Land Management, OR/WA State Office
Fire and Aviation Management
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, OR 97208
Office 503-808-6559
cell 503-729-9471
fax
503-808-6799
email – Dave_Lentz@blm.gov
Robert Madden - OR Fire Service representative
Bend Fire Department
1212 SW Simpson Ave.
Bend, OR 97702
Office 541-322-6312
cell 541-419-6931
fax
541-322-6325
email - rmadden@ci.bend.or.us
Joe Shramek– DNR representative
Department of Natural Resources, Resource Protection Division
PO Box 47037
Olympia, WA 98504-7307
Office 360-902-1317
cell 360-791-8360
fax 360-902-1781
email – Joe.Shramek@wadnr.gov
Brian Gales – USFWS representative
US Fish and Wildlife
911 NE 11th
Portland, OR 97232
Office – 503-231-6769
Cell – 541-760-2862
Fax – 503-231-2364
Email – brian_gales@fws.gov
John Ketchum – Ad Hoc member
Oregon State Fire Marshall’s Office
Email - firechief@kenofire.com
Carla Schamber – facilitator
Siuslaw National Forest
P.O. Box 1148
4077 Research Way
Corvallis, OR 97339
Office 541-750-7088
cell 541-223-1907
fax
503-750-7187
email - cschamber@fs.fed.us
Steve Dickenson – Dispatch Rep.
NW Coordination Center
5420 NE Marine Drive
Portland, OR 97218
Office 503-808-2722
cell 503-539-6062
fax
503-808-2750
email – sdickenson@fs.fed.us