Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group
Operations Committee
Meeting notes: November 19th Conference Call
Committee members present via call: Ted Pierce (NWCC), John Szulc (BIA), Greg Funderburk
(NPS), Lonnie Click (WA – Fire Service), Kevin Kleinworth and Megan Fitzgerald-McGowan
(WA-DNR), Bob Madden (OR-Fire Service), Brian Gales (FWS)
Absent: Joe Krish (BLM), Karen Swearingen (ODF), Steve Rawlings (USFS), Bobbie Scopa
(PNWCG Liaison)
Guests: None
Agenda
Time
0900
1030
Topic
Presenter
Leaders intent
Chair
Oct Notes Discussion
Chair
Tracking commitments
ALL
Taskings and POW (moving forward) ALL
Hot topics
ALL
Adjourn
Purpose
Provide direction
Review/Finalize
Update
**Reviewed October 2015 meeting notes and approved for posting
Existing Business
Deliberate Risk Assessment (DRA):
Noel Livingston and Rawlings distributed survey regarding DRA to field users (IC’s, Captains group,
AA’s) to solicit feedback. Small work group led by Noel will insure that by the spring Team meetings in
March 2016 the geographic area will have one template to utilize. It will be left to each IMT or unit to
determine DRA process for examining risk, intent is to have a standard template provide a consistent tool
for communicating with users.
Action: Rawlings/Gales will insure completion through Noel and roll out of template at Team training in
March. Post approved DRA on the NWCC-MAC Web Page (Pierce).
Geo Board and IC Council Update:
Downsized Interagency T2 IMT’s from nine to eight in 2016. ICAPS is now open for the two Type 1
and eight T2 interagency Teams. Consistent messages from IC interviews – Theater of operations was
good, additional info to define process requested, Area command insulated teams from AA’s and reduced
complete communication and info sharing, good relationships with READS and AA’s. Private
landowner law discussion, briefing to occur at Team training. ICAPS extended through December 21st.
Action: (Need lead POC for this) Add agenda Item in January to look at crew contract, opportunity for
contract OVHD, local logging equipment and increased utilization of fire service outside of state
mobilization and conflagration. Potential contacts Incident Business Team and NWSA rep.
Alaska Team Letter:
Alaska Coordinating Group letter to PNWCG on hold until Bobbie returns from AK. This should remain
with PNWCG or Geo Board.
Action: Scopa transfer the request to the Geo Board as OWT has limited to no involvement with IMT
oversight. Pierce/Gales will look for 2013 process document for supporting positions on Alaska Teams
with individuals from PNW.
520 Nomination Process completed for 2017 Class:
OWT no longer provides oversight for T1 IMT’s, S520 nomination process should transfer to new
oversight.
Action: Szulc to pass this process to the Geo Board to work with IC Council and Training Working Team
to determine who takes ownership of 520 processes in order to stay ahead of needs. Geo Board should
oversee PNW application process for 2017 course.
Purpose and Focus of Operations Committee (OWT)
Meeting in January to pull out charter and make sure we know what we need to focus on, what is
important to us, and how can we best serve the firefighters.
Action: OWT come to January meeting prepared to discuss/develop POW for 2016 and beyond. What
can and should we take on and lead up through PNWCG to enhance operations and fire management in
the PNW.
PNWCG / OPS LIAISON
Bobbie accepting new position and Brian no longer active at PNWCG will require new liaison.
Action: Scopa provide replacement name before leaving current position.
ALL HAZARD COMPLEXITY ANALYSIS AND MOBILIZATION:
Type 3 Response more often than Type 1 or Type 2
Action: (Click) to bring info to January meeting.
Task Order (1410-02) for Type 2 Crew Requirements:
Waiting for PNWCG to give specific direction and elaborate on task and its end state.
Action: Gales to request through PNWCG liaison the current need for this tasking. Does PNWCG want
OWT to look at a new balance for Type of crews in the PNW. Tie this with crew contract evaluation
discussion.
PNWCG PL5: FAST Team Report
Expect taskings in the future to the PNW working teams from report findings through PNWCG.
Wildland Fire Modules
Possible Action: (Rawlings) Consider Briefing Sheet: Capability and Use of Wildland Fire Modules
Short Haul
Action: Is there a need for white paper educating firefighters on the use and expectation of Short-haul.
Are all other options considered first (ground transport, heli-spot and etc.)
Type 3 Teams Out of area teams prepositioned several times during 2015 and generally utilized with
good results.
Use of local IMT3s sometimes drains local leadership.
Suggestion for our GACC to provide IMT3s for out of area use. (SW or AK specifically)
Action: Develop Briefing Sheet (Click) Standardization of IMT3s and Utilization inside and outside of
GACC, potential to formalize a Washington and Oregon T3 IMT.
Medical Response Protocol:
Insure agencies continue to require page 108 from IRPG as part of the medical plan.
Action: Add to package for out of geographic area teams and mention during AA session at Team
training.
Agency Update
DNR:
Filling key positions, busy preparing for legislative session, House Bill 2093 working with private
landowners, communities and a wildland fire advisory council.
NPS:
Filled regional budget analyst, regional FMO meeting coming up this winter.
BIA:
FMO meeting December 8-10 in Spokane interagency partners invited to participate
NWCC:
Vacancies include two coordinators, meteorologist, and IT specialist. Satellite dish packages now housed
at RAC and can be ordered through the Cache. Adopt a team process clarification for IT items.
Washington Fire Service:
T3 Team application open. Fire Defense Board meeting on December 2. Looking at how to dispatch
resources housed in the Snohomish County all hazard data base.
Oregon Fire Service:
Madden will be transitioning to PNWCG look to have a new rep on OWT soon.
USFWS:
Filling key positions, working to enhance interagency coordination in critical sage grouse habitat areas
and completing resilient landscapes projects.
January Meeting:
January 27th 0900 at NWCC
2016 Operations Working Team Members and Chair Order
Brian Gales – USFWS representative (Chairperson)
Steve Rawlings – USFS representative (Vice Chairperson)
Karen Swearingen – ODF representative
Lonnie Click – WA Fire Service representative
Greg Funderburk – NPS representative
John Szulc – BIA representative
Robert Madden - OR Fire Service representative
Joe Krish – BLM representative
Kevin Kleinworth – DNR representative
Ted Pierce – Dispatch Rep.
Bobbie Scopa – PNWCG Steering Liaison
John Ketchum – Ad Hoc member