Pacific Northwest Coordination Group Steering Committee (PNWCG)
150 Harrison St, Portland Oregon
September 19, 2012
Final notes
Attendees: Pam Ensley, USFWS (acting Chair); David Summer, USDA FS; Bobbie Scopa, BLM;
Cory Winnie, BIA; Mariana Ruiz-Temple, representing Oregon Fire Marshal, (proxy for Paul
Perz) Mark Havener, Oregon Fire Chiefs; (proxy for Dave Lafave, WFS); Nancy Hirsch, ODF
(proxy for Joe Shramek, WADNR) ; Travis Medema, ODF; Pat Kelly, Executive
Director/Facilitator; Jan Mathis, notetaker; presenters: Dan O’Brien Called in: Sue Husari, NPS;
Nick Giannettino NIMO; Christy Neill, NPS; guest: Dale Sebastian, BIA.
Leader’s Intent
Pam Ensley
Today’s agenda
Finalize
(Handout 1 – PNWCG SC Meeting agenda Sept 19, 2012, 1 p)
August notes
(Handout 4 – PNWCG SC Meeting Aug 15, 2012, draft v.1, 6 pp)
Proposed discussion with
Contractor associations
Bobbie Scopa / David Summer
Give the contractor associations a chance to collectively give us their feedback and address their
top 2 to 3 priority issues of concern.
SC is in support of having a meeting. The focus should be strategic, have time specific limits, and
by invitation only to keep the group small. Invite Lyle Carlile from NMAC to the discussion.
 Date to hold discussion is set for Nov 14. David and Bobbie to bring more
information to the next meeting.
2013 vision for Fire Operations Safety Sessions
Nick Giannettino
Leaders intent: What is the next message (same as last year?), who is the target audience, when is
the best time, same delivery (multiple locations?)
 PNWCG SC is in support of holding another 2013 Fire Operations Safety Session.
Captains Group is the target audience.
Narrow down the best dates from interaction with each agency.
 Nick and Shelby to do staff work on the best date and delivery options. They will
report back at the Oct PNWCG SC meeting.
At next month’s meeting, we’ll define the roles from the partner agencies. FWS and ODF have
offered up locations to hold sessions.
9.19.2012 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 1
Cohesive Strategy
Travis Medema
(Handout #3 – Cohesive Strategy National Update, 2 p)
(Handout #4 – What makes the west unique diagram, 1 p)
The Cohesive Strategy has now moved into Phase 3 and the deadline for the final report is Oct 15.
After the report goes through a series of approvals, then the action planning phase will begin for
November, December and January.
The planning action phase will be the time when we can drill down to the next level and find out
what this means to R6. There will be a lot of opportunity to engage with the action planning phase
and plug into the cohesive strategy framework.
We should spend some time and find out how we can engage with this process.
 The PNWCG SC would like to continue with monthly updates on the Cohesive
Strategy.
Break for lunch at 1130, reconvened at 1215 hrs.
How to behave at PL5
Dan O’Brien
The NW MAC reps want to feel that they own the priority decisions being made when we’re
at PL5.
 Decision made to implement a draft priority decision memo and mail out to MAC
Reps, with a 60 minute return requirement, prior to posting.
PNWCG Leaders Intent on IMTs / Message on Safety and
Fatigue Management / Operational Period Management
Managing IMTs duration on incidents:
We need to honor the rule that teams work for 14 days, then timeout. Rather than extending them,
bring in another fresh team. The focus needs to be on fatigue management and safety.
Principles regarding IMT Management:



Consider operational period length. Commiserate with incident objectives and assumed
risk, we would not rather not extend teams if there’s 5 days and there’s more work to be
done, however, if the incident will be done in 3 days, then extend the team.
14 days vs. extension
If an extension supports transition safely to the next lower level – consider it.
Complexity analysis to drive team needs.
Sue will send Dan O’Brien an email she received regarding this subject. He’ll share with the SC.
The NW MAC support group has a discussion with each IC about their glide paths.
9.19.2012 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 2
 Deliverable is a message to come out from PNWCG, signed by the Chair.
Dan O’Brien to craft and have out by Friday.
One voice in prevention in Eastern Washington
Dan O’Brien
Each of the Agencies would proceed individually with proclamations of their own and Dan
O’Brien will work with Carol Connolly to make certain the Interagency prevention message was
emphasized in Agency prevention messages and media notices.
Prevention Message
NWCC (Dan O’Brien, Carol Connolly) are going to add information on the current situation to the
prevention message that is posted on the PNWCG website. The additional information will
include a call to action for the public to be responsible with the focus on keeping our firefighters
safe.
Preparedness Message
Dan O’Brien
If we break another event this weekend, we’re prepared to put the incidents on custodial
management mode, so we can prioritize our capabilities.
Regarding ignitions and prioritization of placing resources where they’re needed. If nothing is
being threatened, then the resources will be put where they’re needed based on life, property and
resources being threatened.
NW MAC & NWCC already have resources on the ground to respond to an upcoming event. ICs
have been briefed by Ops NW MAC that we may need to start pulling resources back to prioritize
our capabilities.
Dan to put out a message on Friday after NW MAC 1600 conference call on Thursday.
T2 IMTs in Oregon
Dan O’Brien
Dan to frame up this issue and give to Pat as a future topic.
How to sustain aviation assets in October
Aviation assets have been extended through the end of September. They will go off around Oct 1.
At this point we will need to extend. If we do extend, how do we pay for them?
We need to make our business case to request severity.
The ODF will be able to keep their aviation assets on as long as needed through special needs
severity through the state. (Medema)
How to sustain non-aviation assets in October
There may be an option to extend temporary hires.
9.19.2012 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 3
Hot Topics
Fatality at Wenatchee
David Summer
Update on the fatality that occurred at the Wenatchee Complex on Sept 17, 2012.
Aero Commander Incident
David Summer
Update on the Aero Commander Incident on the Yakima Complex Fire.
Oregon Legislative Update
Nancy Hirsch
Provided a fire season update during the September legislative days. Topics included the use and
cost of statewide severity resources. Legislators were very interested in the implications of the
Moonlight Fire to forest landowners in Oregon. State Legislators had a lot of questions about
USFS forest management and fire policy.
AAR
+ Discussion of PL5 was wandering
+ Strong support for NWCC’s execution
+ No offense taken or intended
Meeting adjourned at 1500 hrs.
Handouts
Handout 1 – PNWCG SC Meeting agenda Sept 19, 2012, 1 p
Handout 2 – PNWCG SC Meeting Aug 15, 2012 draft notes, v1 6 pp
Handout 3 – Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy National Goals, 2 pp
Handout 4 – What makes the West unique diagram, 1 p
9.19.2012 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 4