PNWCG Meeting Notes
Goat Rocks Room; Gifford-Pinchot NF SO
February 19, 2015
Members Present:
Mark Havener, OFS
Brian Tonihka, BIA - Vice Chair
Chuck LeBlanc, Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office
Bill Slossen,
Jim Walker,OSFM
Doug Graffe, ODF
Bob Johnson, DNR
Mariana?
Bobbie Scopa, BLM
David Summers, Chair
Dan O’Brien, Facilitator
Carol Connolly, recorder
Morning Discussion
Leader’s Intent
Honor what the committees have done. Success is strategic and important, but today is about listening. The
intent to take out of today is a summary [of Committee report outs] and be held accountable for it.
NW Geo Board Update
The group of players are in place and David indicated a final letter will be sent out with the names, etc. Randy
Johnson is the Chair and Kevin Martin is the Vice-chair. Team selections were made, however, NIMO made team
selections that altered the GeoBoard selections. The first communication will be the changes that were made to
IMT selections. All 11 teams will meet in Vancouver (T1 &T2 will handle logistics) and delegation of authority is
in place and have an approved tentative outline with intent. April 8-10 will be the all IMT meeting. Subsets of
the group will be meeting either before or after the team meeting. It was agreed that each agency would pay
their fair share. Two subgroups of the GeoBoard will be working on the new charter. The Board knows that they
will need to present at the IMT meeting in March. When we meet in March we will figure out who will attend
the IMT meeting on behalf of PNWCG.
Executive Simulation Review
The format was good – it led to conversation regarding how we interact with solutions. Agency missions clearly
communicated.
Great to have Execs for a day – it is great that we had their attention
Who was not in the room?
More discussion needed about understanding our roles and responsibilities based on land jurisdiction – how do
we work together and coordinate and how we prioritize between habitat and communities. The messaging
needs to be solidified and consistent.
Helped prepare for what the season could be like.
During the simulation there was a need for more clarification about “assigned” resources vs. IA resources and
how they will be moved.
Affirmation of our process (e.g. Prioritization) was recognized and informally agreed upon between execs;
process continues to meet their intent.
DRAFT—V.2: D.O’Brien
Point protection was raised as a strategy for use when workload far exceeds resource capability. This is one way
for how we move forward – more discussion will be needed.
Need to create one voice and one message, be intentional about a new norm for fire season.
<Convened the PNWCG Committee Workshop>
Afternoon Discussion
Hot topics Re-advertise the regional aviation safety position – vice Gary Sterling
March 18 meeting intent –
Need to honor the commitments we just made. Revisit what we heard from the execs and from the
Committees.
Also look at the communication piece – letter to our “firefighter”.
Incorporate all into Program of Work/Strategic Plan for PNWCG. Think ahead for the June Preparedness review.
Homework assignment is to collect an agency mission from each member.
Coordinating Group Advisory Council –
Handout on different alternatives for managing rotation of Type 1 IMTs. Intent is to build greater equity for
team assignments, to create opportunities for all teams to be exercised. The CGAC letter asks the different
GACC’s to try/test/utilize one of the alternative rotations.
Doug Alexander (AK CGAC rep) requested AK be part of the NW rotation. A decision should be made by our
March meeting to meet the deadline. David likes alternative 4 with the neighboring areas. The notion of making
AK the 3rd team out – more discussion is needed.
Adjourn.
DRAFT—V.2: D.O’Brien