Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group
Operations Working Team (OWT)
May 20, 2010 – NWCC
Operations Working Team Present: Randy Johnson (WA Fire Service), Larry Nickey (NPS),
Robert Madden (OR Fire Service), Doug Grafe (ODF rep), Brian Gales USFWS, John Szulc (BIA),
Carla Schamber (USFS, Facilitator),
Absent: John Ketchum (OR Fire Marshall’s), Albert Kassel WADNR, Dave Lentz (BLM), Sarah
Robertson (USFS), Dave Quinn (NWCC rep), Ken Snell (PNWCG Steering liaison)
Old Business:
Reviewed Action Items from last meeting:
Last meeting was canceled. Previous meeting had been conducted as a conference
520 process – next year’s course sounds as if it will be cancelled as the course is revamped.
New Business:
Report from ICAPS (Randy) – May need to follow up with Dale when his schedule is freed up to
try to mine additional data from ICAPS, to see if AD information is available. DNR was supposed
to be looking at utilizing ICAPS for their vacancy announcements in 2011.
Working Group Participation – Discussion on working group participation at meetings. It is
recognized that all team members are extremely busy, but if you are unable to attend, please try to
assign an agency alternate to insure all agencies participate in the working team meetings.
Report from 2010 PNW Fire Operations/Safety Conference (Attendees) – Bob gave a brief
discussion of the safety conference. Topics discussed included aircraft capability, EMS capability,
Dutch Creek review, forest health issues such as green tree failure/snag issues, IHC crews in PNW
will have their EMT’s covered by standing operating procedures under Dr. Jue.
Rappel Issue – National rappel program is currently stood down. PNW presented that they were
compliant and WO has not responded yet. July 10 is final date to become operational. If not ready
at that time, program will not go forward in 2010 and aircraft will be used as helitac.
Medivac/extraction of injured personnel - Discussion carried forward into a review of discussion
of the hoist capability within the region. Discussion of having a standardized template for an
incident within an incident to be utilized within IAP’s for type 1 and 2 teams. Doug will send out
ODF’s plan to OWT members.
IC spring meeting in Hood River – Short discussion covering IC team meeting.
Crew Composition, Position Qualification Requirements/Training (All) – OWT team went over
the proposed crew contract requirements for crew composition, position qualification requirements
and training. Team members need to do a complete review of the proposal by the June 1 and
forward to Randy and be able to present recommendations and June 17 OWT meeting. Doug will
contact contract working team to have member present next meeting to go over the qualification
requirements so that OWT/CWT can discuss the requirements.
Action item – Team members complete their reviews and get to Randy by June 1, so we are ready
to discuss for June 17 OWT meeting
OWT web page – web page is not operational and needs to be addressed.
Good of the order
ODF• team meetings were held and went well.
• Doug attended the compact meeting with Canada and WA DNR and was a good meeting.
ODF budget is gearing up for 2011 budget, with governor asking for budget reductions.
• Went to state legislation with several proposals to increase funding IA ability and realigning
funds under wildfire reduction act.
• Readiness wise 2 AT in Redmond 2 AT Medford, 3 type 2 helicopters. Three state teams
fully staffed with 33 people. Created a critical support overhead module. DOC crews down
to 15 crews.
• if critical needs are not immediately filled, orders will be moved to NWCC.
Madden – attended CA air attack academy. Felt it was one of the better training courses put on.
Carla –
• Agency administrator’s spring meeting is next week, followed by Fire and Aviation meeting.
Flame act for strategic risk assessment. USFS will be practicing with risk assessment in 2010
and then a requirement in 2011 suppression funding.
• There are three models for NIMO team use {(1). Team in place and NIMO comes in under
delegation of suppression organization to do assessment. (2) Type 2 Team in place, model
shows complexity will go Type 1, and NIMO will integrate over the top of the Type 2 team.
(3). Type 3 organization in place and NIMO team comes in to enhance experience levels of
Type 3 organization and build necessary capacity.}
• Task group that worked on strategy for reallocation of critical resources. Discussed how the
process would work.
Next OWT meeting is at 0900 on June 17 at NWCC.
Upcoming meetings of interest:
Agency administrator’s spring meeting is next week, followed by Fire and Aviation meeting.
OWT Liaisons to other PNWCG working teams
Training WT – John Szulc
Contract WT – Albert Kassel
Aviation WT – Larry Nickey
OWT Schedule of remaining 2010 meetings (0900-1530 approximate times) at NWCC unless
otherwise noted
June 17, 2010
July – none unless a team is dispatched
August – none unless a team is dispatched
September 16, 2010
October 21, 2010
November 18, 2010
December - No meeting
January 20, 2010
OPERATIONS WORKING TEAM MEMBER ADDRESSES
2010 Operations Working Team (OWT) member contact numbers and email addresses
(Names listed in order of which agency is next chairperson.
Randy Johnson – WA Fire Service representative (Chairperson)
Spokane County Fire District 4
3219 E. Chattaroy Road
Chattaroy, WA 99003
email – randyj@scfd4.org
Dick Gormley – alternate WA Fire Service representative
Chelan Co. Fire District #1
1637 Horse Lake Road
Wenatchee, WA 98801
email - rgormley@aol.com
Larry Nickey – NPS representative (vice chairperson)
Olympic National Park
600 E. Park Ave
Port Angeles, WA 98362
email – larry_nickey@nps.gov
John Szulc – BIA representative
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Northwest Regional Office
911 NE 11th Ave.
Portland, OR 97232
email – john.szulc@bia.gov
Cory Winnie – Alternate BIA representative until mid-May on John’s return from leave
Email - cory.winnie@bia.gov
Dave Lentz – BLM representative
USDI-Bureau of Land Management, OR/WA State Office
Fire and Aviation Management
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, OR 97208
email – Dave_Lentz@blm.gov
Robert Madden - OR Fire Service representative
Bend Fire Department
1212 SW Simpson Ave.
Bend, OR 97702
email - rmadden@ci.bend.or.us
Albert Kassel – DNR representative
Department of Natural Resources, Resource Protection Division
PO Box 47037
Olympia, WA 98504-7037
email – albert.kassel@dnr.wa.gov
Brian Gales – USFWS representative
US Fish and Wildlife
911 NE 11th
Portland, OR 97232
Email – brian_gales@fws.gov
Doug Grafe – ODF representative
Oregon Department of Forestry
2600 State Street, Bldg. D
Salem, OR 97310
email – doug.grafe@state.or.us
Sarah Robertson – USFS representative
USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region
Fire and Aviation Management
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, OR 97208-3623
email - sarahrobertson@fs.fed.us
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
email - cschamber@fs.fed.us
Dave Quinn – Dispatch Rep.
NW Coordination Center
5420 NE Marine Drive
Portland, OR 97218
email – dquinn@fs.fed.us