Communication, Prevention, & Investigation Working Team
Meeting Notes
June 7, 2011
In attendance: Lauren Maloney, Claire McGrew, Leonard Diaz, Jeff Bonebrake, Pam Robbins.
Tom Skinner will not be able to meet with us due to a reassignment.
Review and Approval of March 24, 2011 Meeting Notes
Notes were reviewed and approved.
PNWCG Annual Accomplishment Report
Rod and Lauren worked on the report. Lauren will resend the document so that we can all
review the paperwork.
CPI WT Letter of Support for Oregon Garden Firesafe House
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Lauren sent a copy of the support letter to the group with the agenda yesterday as a rough
draft.
Jeff recommended that we send it to the District Forester, Steve Wilson as he will be the
one that is coordinating this.
Please provide any feedback to Lauren by June 17th.
PIO Training & Experience
The team had previously drafted and discussed a PIO training requirements document. It was
designed to help provide consistency for PIO training in Oregon and Washington and to help
new or potential PIOs better understand what is needed to qualify for these positions. Previously,
there was agreement to move forward on this document and send it out; however, there are new
National requirements for PIO’s and they are posted at:
http://www.nwcg.gov/branches/ppm/cepc/index.htm. The group decided not to complicate the
process and to use the national document instead.
Noted by Lauren: There was some confusion on whether PIOs should take the annual fire
refresher. PIO’s are required to take the annual fire refresher and there are some PIO’s that are
still looking to take this. She asked if anyone knows of any refresher courses that are available.
If anyone asks, she will have a summary of ones that are close to Portland.
Jeff noted that the Districts put them on. Typically, one is for the permenant staff and then they
catch up the seasonal employees. The districts work with their local partners to coordinate their
training, however, there is not a master calendar of events for this.
Jeff asked if we should be funneling it through Lauren as a clearinghouse. We will hold on this
until we see if the problem progresses.
The group is in agreement that we will not put a separate clearinghouse document.
S-203 in Oregon & Washington – regional funding, now required for all PIOs, consistent
schedule, rotating locations, retention of existing PIOs
Lauren will work with Regional budget staff to help secure funding to offer an S-203 training in
the Region during FY 2012. The new PIO requirements will increase the demand for S-203.
Len recommended that it should be provided by Redmond training. Without a needs analysis, it
could be challenging to set aside training monies. We should have a conversation with the
Training WT about S-203 being put on in local areas, and if there aren’t courses scheduled, but
there is a lot of interest, then Regional funding for training could have a stronger case.
There have been some challenges with staff commitment to classes. There could be a financial
strain locally with the Regional offices providing training.
Jeff recommended that we meet with representatives from the PNWCG training committee to see
how their process applies to the local training. Jeff feels this would broaden the student base and
would contribute to the success of the program. He feels we could more efficiently fill the need
if we could better understand the process.
Lauren will reach out to a member of the Training Working Team to find out what steps we take.
Jeff recommended that we invite them in to one of our meetings so we can all understand a little
better what is required. Len agreed. Lauren noted that the training working team may be having a
meeting next week. She will bring the issue forward with that team and will update us.
Jeff is considering offering an FI-310. He identified that this could be problematic as it’s
primarily a law enforcement course, however there are applications that apply to complex case
management, incorporation of ICS, tactics and strategy which applies to those that are not in law
enforcement, but who can reap the benefits of this training. This has a very specific target group
and is a valuable class with added value to those that take it.
Len added that they have BIA sponsored FI-310 courses that are beneficial.
The group agreed that 210 and 310 issues are separate, but that we could broker these out to the
Training team to solicit assistance in planning.
Lauren noted that Tom asked the group to discuss keeping up on the retention of existing PIO’s.
Keep this issue on the table. We need to review what are some of the dynamics…what prevents
us from retaining our PIO’s from the area?
Jeff feels the culture has shifted. Previously, staff came in support of the fire program. This is
less and less, so it can be difficult to attract them to that role.
Lauren noted the challenges with supervisors signing off on team applications.
Lauren noted that we will revisit this issue and continue to come up with ideas on retention.
Jeff indicated that this applies across into the investigation world. There is policy, guidance and
statute that indicate that all fires must be investigated, but there are not always qualified
investigators available. It’s important when you need it, but it’s difficult to commit to the
training otherwise.
Jeff has been trying to make investigation attractive to people which also applies to the PIO role.
It’s become more complex, but with Social media and the time demands, it can be intimidating to
people. You get more work, but you’re alone. They are building their pool so that this doesn’t
happen.
Lauren asked if cost recovery was a motivator for the states on getting more investigators.
With the increase of price in fires, their workload has increased because their work is being
scrutinized due to the financial impacts of the fire. This could be some of the same struggles
with the PIO world.
Fire Prevention Conference
Claire indicated that planning for the Fire Prevention Conference was upcoming. Last year’s
conference was held in Salishan due to the low cost of the facility.
She asked if there were any ideas for classes, instructors or feedback that could be delivered to
the group to allow for planning of the conference.
This is a preemptive question to allow for pre-planning of the conference. Claire will invite
Kelly Niles to the September 8th meeting to provide an update on the conference planning.
Representative Updates
Jeff Bonebrake
Delivering a FI210 class in Pendleton. There is good interagency representation from Idaho,
Forest Service, ODF, and the Umatilla Tribal Rural Fire Chief. They will be doing another one
in Lakeview on July 11-15th There is no tuition for the class.
He is pushing this year to do more interagency investigation. This occurred last year on the
Rooster Rock fire.
ODF has a short team in Alaska and also have 30 + people deployed in Arizona, Texas and
Alaska.
Pam Robbins
Kickoff for the pre 4th of July Media Day. Social media has a big presence on the BLM website.
Business is picking up on this and it appears to be a good avenue for fire prevention messaging.
Claire McGrew
New State Fire Marshal, Mark Wallace will be starting his new position on July 1. OSFM
funding is still not finalized.
Len Diaz
BIA still doesn’t have funding finalized. 2012 there is discussion of an 11% cut which includes
prevention. He is working to prepare an investigation report writing course that will be online.
He was asked by FMO’s to have a report writing course. The course is designed for completing
quality reports and having individuals from the Judicial side look into it.
Lauren Maloney
BLM National Fire Trespass Handbook – official draft released two weeks ago with a formal
review process. Comments are due back out by June 30th.
BLM budgets are down. Significant chunks out of fuel reduction. The Forest Service is again
struggling with talking about the two types of fires, planned and unplanned fires. Lauren doesn’t
have the specifics of the issues, but the challenges arise out of discussing different management
goals on the same fire. Additional talking points are supposed to come out from the National
Office.
Lauren will be present for the September 8th working team meeting, but will be out for some
extended leave right after that.
Lauren will share what happens with the training working team.
The meeting ended at 11:00.