Pacific Northwest Coordination Group Steering Committee (PNWCG)
150 Harrison St, Portland Oregon
October 19, 2011
Final notes
Attendees: Chair, Carl Gossard, BLM-SORO; Joe Shramek, WA DNR, Ken Snell, USDA FS; Sue
Husari, NPS; Pam Ensley, USFWS; Cory Winnie, BIA, Mariana Ruiz-Temple, OR Fire Marshal; Nancy
Hirsch, ODF; Pat Kelly, Executive Director/Facilitator; Jan Mathis, BLM-SORO, recording secretary.
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Summary of decisions & taskings
Safety Focus Meeting (pg 2)
 There is consensus for PNWCG SC to sponsor the Safety Ops Conference scheduled for the week
of March 12, 2012. The SC can design and the NIMO team will implement the logistics. Reps
from the NIMO team and SMEs to attend a future PNWCG SC meeting. Carl Gossard will be the
lead and work with Shelby Gales.
PNWCG relationship with Geo boards (pg 4)
 PNWCG SC members are supportive of having a formal link to the geo boards. Ken will talk to
Larry Nickey, Chair OWT, about the concept and workload. We’ll hear from Ken at the
November PNWCG SC meeting. (If given the go ahead, letters would be written to each of the
geo boards.)
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Leaders Intent
Carl Gossard
(Handout 1 – PNWCG SC AC/WT liaisons/Chairs, 1p)
Announcements:
 IC Council Meeting Nov 14 at Hood River, 8 to 1700 hrs.

New chairs of working teams:
o Fire Prevention Communication WT – Nancy Hirsch is the new liaison
Lauren Maloney is the Chair, however she is currently on extended leave. Clare
McGrew from OR fire marshal’s office will act for Lauren Maloney during her
absence.
o Training Working Team Chair has transitioned to Bob Young.
o Fire Program Analysis Advisory Council – New chair is Matthew Johnson (NPS)
replaces Bill Johnson
o Center Managers Advisory Council – Renae Crippen (FS) replaces Katie McConnell
(BLM)
Pat sent out 2 letters for 72-hour review:
1) NW Center Managers Advisory Council – for conceptual ideas for a coordination center –
skills, scope, structure.
2) Letter of support to ODF for continuation of administration of crew agreement.
We had a really good discussion at the Safety focus meeting yesterday. Want to modify the agenda today
to spend some more time on safety.
10.19.11 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 1
Today’s agenda
Pat Kelly
(Handout 2 – PNWCG SC Meeting agenda, Oct 19, 2011, 1p)
Current Task Orders/tracking
Pat Kelly
(Handout 3 – PNWCG SC Task Order Tracking, Oct 10, 2011, v.27, 1p)
0904-02 WA IMTs have developed medical criteria plans - confirmed by Joe Shramek. Ken spoke with
Larry Nickey, all teams met or exceeded protocols. The Task Order is closed.
1008-04
1011-12
1104-01
1109-03
1109-04
No change
Extend date to Mar 2012
National teams on a 1-year rotation. Fully implement in 2013. Ken Snell to update in Nov.
No change
No change
Tracking commitments
(Handout 4 – PNWCG SC Tracking commitments, Oct 10, 2011, v.16, 1p)
1. No change
2. Carl working on drafting up letter.
3. No change
4. Scratch this, to cover in hot topics
5. No change
Agenda topic: Program of Work to be moved to another date.
September Notes
Jan Mathis
(Handout 5 – 9.28.11 PNWCG SC meeting notes, 7 pp)
Safety Focus Meeting
Sue Husari / Carl Gossard
This includes Tuesday’s initial discussion and decisions, Wednesday’s decisions and the path forward.
An all day safety focus meeting was held yesterday. Every agency gave a brief presentation on the status
of their safety program with the intention of putting together a short briefing paper. Input is needed from
the Oregon Fire Marshal, Washington Fire Chiefs and Washington Fire Marshal.
We had a lot of interaction with Brit Rosso, Center Manager, from the Lessons Learned Center.
Sue gave a presentation on the NPS initiative on risk assessment training.
Bobbie Scopa & Tony Engel discussed HRO and their perspectives.
We talked about the need for trust for HRO from employees, and that past experience has eroded that
trust (30-mile).
Perceptions about liability and protection of employees.
Brit led us thru a facilitated discussion on what we could do as an interagency coordinating group which
would be to create a learning culture in the PNW and how we can provide leadership.
Suggestions:
Establish an anchor point.
Rules-based versus learning-based system. Consensus is the PNWCG SC wants to focus on learning.
Initial Decisions from yesterday’s meeting:
10.19.11 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 2
A. The scope of PNWCG’s safety focus is: Wildland fire including preparedness, suppression
(& related aviation), fuels (& related aviation), Prevention is PNWCGs outcome. Use firefighters
to scope their issues.
How: “Issue scan” focus group approach. What are the interagency issues? What are the top
few? Be aware of funnels and filters. How to include contractors is an unresolved issue?
B. Have focused time for Safety at each PNWCG SC meeting.
C. Focus on learning and sharing culture.
D. Continue to use Brit.
E. Consider PNWCG SC sponsorship of “Fire Ops Safety / Building Our Future Conference”?
The SC has decided to take the following path forward:
Item A. The SC is in agreement with the Scope of PNWCG’s Safety Focus.
Item B. Hear from single-digit GS level fire personnel, what are their issues.
PNWCG SC could attend the fall IHC AAR.
How can we include other personnel? ie. engine community.
Consider Establishing an Advisory Group - IHCs (Kurt Ranta)?
How to proceed with implementation, a SC member can be the point of contact or perhaps an SC
member can appoint someone outside.
Item C. Set aside at least 30 minutes at our PNWCG SC meetings to work on safety.
We can develop our vision. The NIMO team can be our resource for implementation.
Make sure that we focus on safety strategically rather than tactically.
 There is consensus for PNWCG SC to sponsor the Safety Ops Conference. This is
scheduled for the week of March 12, 2012. The SC can design and the NIMO team will
implement the logistics. Reps from the NIMO team and SMEs to attend a future PNWCG
SC meeting. Carl Gossard will be the lead and work with Shelby Gales.
Proposed letter to the Training Zones
Carl Gossard
(Handout 6 – TWT liaison to PNWCG from MOU Administrator, 1p)
Cory Winnie to send background information to Carl Gossard. Carl will craft a letter to be signed by
Chair and get out for 72-hour review. Each SC member will take back to their zones.
Cohesive Strategy
Pam Ensley
The Cohesive Strategy Sub Committee (CSSC) and Wildland Fire Executive Council WFLC has accepted
the Western regional report as is. Don’t know the status on the other two regions. The CSSC will take all
three reports and merge them into one. That is to come out today with 48 hours to identify any fatal
flaws.
An idea is to build in areas where we’ve already show successes. Pam will take that idea to her working
team and bring back to the PNWCG SC. This will include collaboration, projects worked on with
partnering agencies and communities, etc.
2012 Meeting Dates
Pat Kelly
(Handout 7 – PNWCG SC Meeting Dates 2012, Oct 19, 2012, 1p)
Pat will make the edits and post to the PNWCG website.
10.19.11 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 3
Break for lunch 1130, reconvened at 1215 hrs.
PNWCG relationship with Geo boards
Carl Gossard / Ken Snell
A suggestion is to write a letter to the two geo boards to have a member of the OWT attend the meetings
(ex-officio). They could act as a conduit between the PNWCG and the geo boards.
 PNWCG SC members are supportive of having a formal link to the geo boards. Ken will
talk to Larry Nickey, Chair OWT, about the concept and workload. We’ll hear from Ken
at the November PNWCG SC meeting. (If given the go ahead, letters would be written to
each of the geo boards.)
NWCC Budget
Carl Gossard
(Handout 8 – FY2012 NWCC Budget Considerations, 3 pp)
For FY13 – for NWCC
 Compare Northwest with other GACs (need direction)
 Using FY12 as a base.
o Minus 10%
o Minus 20%
Add to list of issues to:
 Fair share in Predictive Services – what is the fair share, how do they decide, etc.
Due in March 2012.
Issues for NMAC / GMAC
(Handout 9 – Issues for NMAC/GMAC, 4 pp)
Carl Gossard
Group all of the team topics under one heading “Team Management”
Non-compliance with National Mob Guide – ADs on IMTs
HSPD-12 requirements
Rental cars – the IBPWT should take on this issue
CRNW issue
State reimbursement
Risk management
DOI/FS & common direction
If there is anything that you would like Carl to bring to the NMAC/GMAC, please let Carl or Joe
Shramek know by Oct 28.
Dispatch Center Geographic Area Responsibilities
Carl Gossard
We’re letting the Dispatch Advisory Committee take the lead on this issue.
National Weather Service
Carl Gossard
The NWS position that is currently at the NWCC is under discussion.
AAR
+Good topics
+Covered a lot of ground
10.19.11 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 4
Handouts
Handout 1 – PNWCG SC AC/WT liaisons/Chairs, 1p
Handout 2 – PNWCG SC Meeting agenda, Oct 19, 2011, 1p
Handout 3 – PNWCG SC Task Order Tracking, Oct 10, 2011, v.27, 1p
Handout 4 – PNWCG SC Tracking commitments, Oct 10, 2011, v.16, 1p
Handout 5 – 9.28.11 PNWCG SC meeting notes, 7 pp
Handout 6 – TWT liaison to PNWCG from MOU Administrator, 1p
Handout 7 – PNWCG SC Meeting Dates 2012, Oct 19, 2012, 1p
Handout 8 – FY2012 NWCC Budget Considerations, 3 pp
Handout 9 – Issues for NMAC/GMAC, 4 pp
10.19.11 PNWCG SC Meeting, pg 5