PNWCG Meeting
May 20, 2015
Northwest Coordination Center
Attending:
FS--David Summer
BLM--Jeff Fedrizzi/Bobbie Scopa
BIA--Len Diaz
FWS--Brian Gales
NPS--proxy to FWS
ODF--Doug Grafe
DNR--Bob Johnson
OSFM--Mariah Rawlings
WSFM--Bill Slossun
OFS--Mark Havener
WFS--schedule conflict; not attending
Guests: MAC Support: Dan Torrence, Maurice Evans, Jaymee Fojtik, Lani Williams
Leaders Intent:
Today is about accountability. We need to finish work that is at different stages of completion. There have been a few
incidents in early May where burning conditions looked like the first of July. Are we ready? Are we prepared?
MAC Support Guidance:
MAC Support has been working on prioritization, sharpening the definitions of the scoring criteria, as well as modifying
the template for the calls, to clarify issues, eliminate duplication and reduce confusion from the field. The goal is to
become more efficient and create greater transparency.
One specific task are changes in the 1600 briefing. The briefing is now considered as a baseline, recognizing geographic
area capability at the end of the day, identifying management options, and establishing intent for the next burn period
and beyond. The SWOT Analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) will establish the process for tying
together the elements of the day: the “internal” firefighting capability of the NW related to the “external” operating
conditions—fire potential, resource capability, etc. SWOT facilitates decision framing and creates the necessary
transparency for communicating decisions.
Task 1410-01—Prioritization Refresh—improved definitions for scoring criteria and adapted the Incident Prioritization
Worksheet (IPW) into a cleaner format. The revisions were introduced to the NW IC’s who accepted them as a beta
product to be evaluated through the 2015 Fire Season.
Comments from PNWCG on IPW:
Changes to the IP – scratch Forest from “Threats to … Improvements”.
Threats to City Watersheds, Utilities, Transportation, Telecom & Commercial Timber – can BLM get a tort claim
regarding the value of commercial timber v. an allotment? Why is Commercial Timber the only value being considered?
BIA would like to retain Commercial Timber. “Natural resource commodities” is a workable option.
Threats to Habitat? Include threats to T&E Species.
David – we can manage expectations by letting IMTs know we are there to set them up for success. A commitment is to
have a PNWCG presence at IMT inbriefing– to help set up Units and IMTs to be successful and to facilitate common
messaging. Dan/David – will draft a letter. This can be further developed during the “Program of Work” discussion.
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June 17 Preparedness Exercise: a fire simulation will be used to exercise 1600 briefing changes and to start the
conversation on priority setting and decision making. Will be utilizing “Phase 4” from the February Executive Simulation
as the context for the exercise.
Our intent will guide us through 2015 – PNWCG okay with MAC proposal and intent.
Developing PNWCG Talking Points RE: SO3336
There is a need to remove uncertainty and to assure critical thinking. Different agencies have different priorities and
how they fall into a larger dialogue. Leadership is saying this is important – that we need to indicate what is important
and communicate to the public. This is just one of the priorities.
SO 3336 – implementation plan - what are we going to do in 2015. Next report is for 2016 and beyond.
Specific to BLM – we manage over half the existing SG habitat.
We need to identify what questions we are hearing so we can understand and answer with one voice.
Goal is to have one letter from PNWCG that delivers to the field a clear intent. There are many different concerns about
the need for changing processes and effects to resource capability. We need to at least capture the salient thoughts and
at some point answer the concerns. We have been restricted to what we can say about talking points. Jeff willing to be
proactive and take the lead on this effort.
Principal SO 3336 Concerns:
 “Sage Grouse” is “A” critical priority, or “THE” priority?
 What processes are changing?
 What’s the impact to resource availability?
o Single agency direction
o Higher drawdown levels
This sort of uncertainty can create an environment that if a conflict exists it will come out. PNWCG needs to make a
clear statement about the interagency stance and take the message back to agency administrators for agency specific
direction. From the PNWCG perspective:
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It is all about preparedness
Not changing tactics
o Firefighter & Public safety are #1 priority
Will ensure we’re meeting SO 3336 intent
Utilize pre-positioning
Multiple values are at play, in addition to sage grouse habitat
Productively engage fiscal realities to support preparedness
Rumor control – clarify – need to communicate out to the public
BLM will order BLM resources into high risk areas from states out of fire season.
Reduce uncertainty
Where there is uncertainy about intent:
o
o
o
We need to be mindful of SO3336.
Must recognize “situational” nature of the operating environment.
Check-in along the way; utilize DAR’s to learn & improve.
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There is consensus that we have five basic talking points:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A process exists for setting priorities for incident and values at risk in the NW
Our process honors the ability for each individual agency to respond to agency priorities.
We value transparency. Our intent is to actively engage the input & values of our partners
We are taking deliberate actions to plan and implement effective incident response.
SG/FIAT is a critical fire priority. There are other critical values also at risk.
Next Steps:
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Customer group: Line/Staff (fire managers)
Primary Focus: to address uncertainty about SO 3336
Utilize NW processes as a vehicle for reducing uncertainty
Who: Jeff Clarke, BLM PA, Jeff Fredrizzi (lead), Dan O’brien – initial draft
When: Draft to group by May 29 – Signed with distribution by June 5
What: 5 talking points with explanatory explanation under each – 2 pages
Media Engagement Strategy regarding SG – NO not our audience
Media Engagement Strategy regarding Fire Season – Jim Whittington, Carol Connolly and CPI Committee
PNWCG Strategic Plan
Intent for the strategic plan:
1. Review & Approve for use
2. How to best engage strategies & why
3. Communications to committees and field
On review, the following edits were listed:
Strategy 2: No edits/concerns
Strategy 3: #2 – Support prevention plans that….
Strategy 4: #3 – what do we mean by education – who are we educating? How we educate folks what is the real need
Strategy 5: #5 – …….planning to evaluate mission and how we productively engage non-traditional partners.
Monitoring and Implementation: ….add committees will be requested to provide input to the Strategic Plan and
Accomplishment Report
Dan will edit and get it out ASAP
Doug: The transformation document is excellent – all documents fit with minimal repetition
PNWCG Program of Work:
Need: A list of outstanding tasks orders and how they are listed in the POW (current and future assignments). The only
formal tasks still open are those from last summer’s DAR.
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Next steps: grab the outstanding task orders and include. PNWCG spend time reviewing and providing commentary back
to Dan. Committee emphasis items are a starting point – some are not well developed. Be mindful of what issues that
you are familiar with that can provide direction to the committees. As liaisons – share with committees and help them
to be comfortable with the strategies and their course of action. Be inclusive of current and past tasks. Gap Analysis
Due by June 10.
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Assignments for the liaisons at the beginning of the scope of work - have up front to hand to the committees.
All in one document.
Use of (Transformation organization) chart inside document with names attached.
Outstanding task orders assigned.
PNWCG: Strategy 1, action 5 – this group, acting with/through the Geoboard: how can we be more intentional with in
briefs in setting up teams for success. Give up going to closeouts. Where should we spend our time and why? We can
fold this into the program of work. The ask of the Geoboard is to understand if the past practice of going to close outs is
still needed or can we share the workload for closeouts and in-briefs. Can it be a “we” thing? A rep from Geoboard,
PNWCG and line officer? The GeoBoard views it as their role to interact with the IC’s – Bob will bring forward and
discuss.
PNWCG/GeoBoard interaction with IMT’s – PNWCG needs to be deliberate in what we are asking each of them to do.
Liaison Roles and Expectations white paper: differences in liaison roles/expectations between PNWCG Charter and
Transformation document. Decision—table for now. Dan & David will work on it and discuss in the June meeting and
changes to all corresponding documents will be accomplished as necessary.
MAC Memos:
2012 Safety Vision and Leadership 2007 letter – what do we want done with these documents? DECISION—Pull the
documents from the NWCC website.
Bob Johnson will share what he is developing for DNR. PNWCG may be able to embrace and move forward with that
product as a broader message to all.
Hot topics:
Non-traditional partners – David
David was approached by a sub-set of the contract community and wanted to know if a member of the contract
community could be part of PNWCG as a non-voting member. If the contract community can agree on one person for
one year– will that voice be value added? David asked the members to think about it and will have a paper put
together for the June meeting. If contracting is part of the solution of where we want to be in 5 years – what is the best
business model?
Collaborative Awareness white paper – how to create a collaborative intelligence network extending to non-traditional
partners—including private sector. The white paper suggests an information sharing network with Oregon, Washington
Emergency Services who can then work with private sector entities responsible for community infrastructure. Guiding
principles developed. Doug – important work and doesn’t see a big caution. Coordinate through the state office OEM.
Feedback on NW Geoboard - David/Bob
Engaging on all levels – prepared for the upcoming fire season. No concerns as we move forward. Program of work in
place for 2016. A few new players, otherwise there’s continuity of leadership.
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Changes in Resource Capacity – Bobbie/Bob
What are we doing individually that we can use collectively
DNR: BIA SEAT out of Dear Park and utilizing federal resources to put a second SEAT in the Okanogan/Chelan area
Wildfire training academies for the East and West side beginning in June. Working with WA National Guard – 250
Guardsmen will be dong an exercise on June 15. Utilized some of the National Guard training time for wildfire
preparedness. 8 - T2 Helicopters – distributing around the state
FS maintaining status quo, more or less.
BLM – Eastside emphasis we will be establishing a SE Oregon Theater of Operations. A person or group of persons to
keep track of the extra resources that will be brought in for prepositioning, maintaining a perspective above and across
district boundaries. BLM hiring some staff to communicate with the RFPA’s
ODF Severity Program: From Wildfire Protection Act. Robust severity program increased from 2 million to 5 million.
Aviation program:
10-T2 helicopters
10-fixed wing
4-T3 helicopters
5-SEAT (eastside)
1-Large AT (only resource not carded)
NWCC oversight group
Need to get together offline - Bobbie
Prevention Team recommendations - Jeff
Can the CPI address the recommendations of last year’s prevention teams: Ask the chair to report out in June. What
have we done or need to do to follow up on recommendations. Liaison/Chair to attend.
PNWCG/NWCC Facilitator
SORO – new position for ESF4 work and facilitation duties. The plan is to have someone in place by the end of the year.
For the interim, as Dan gets busy, Bobbie has contacted Lori Heath, who is available as a contractor.
AAR
Productive as usual – good work completed.
Dan’s staff work allowed us to get through things
Sage Grouse conversation met Jeff’s objective for Talking Points.
Is there something important that we didn’t get to? Please let Dan know if there is something – June agenda is already
full.
Appreciates lunch – time to network and finish conversations.
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