PNWCG Program of Work – May 2011
Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordination Group
The intent
The Program of Work lists those strategies and tactics that the Steering Committee has decided to
pursue, identifies the parties responsible for competing the task and the scheduled date of
accomplishment.
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Strategic Direction # 1: Empower Working Teams
Strategy A: Utilize work teams and advisory councils to inform strategic planning.
1. Tactic: Liaisons will review charters with WT and update, if needed.
Status: Annually (Feb)
2. Tactic: Annually OWT and IC advisory council to plan and host Fall AAR for PNW Fire
Season
Status: November annually
3. Tactic: Annually IC council will prioritize issues from the fire season and forward them to the
SC with recommendations.
Status: December /January
4. Tactic: Do an annual report to capture accomplishments from the Steering Committee, Advisory
Councils, and Working Teams. These accomplishments, as appropriate, will help populate a
communication plan.
Status: Annually Assign to PCIWT (Per Task Order 1009-10)
Strategy B: Clearly define roles of PNWCG Working Teams, Steering Committee, and Liaison to
WT’s.
 WT request more focused tasks from SC – too much self-direction!
 Need processes for addressing common issues and creating interaction between
WT’s.Little “t’s” that cross over several WT’s need to be shared. Perhaps little
“t’s” listed on website? Add time to WT workshop for multi-Wt coordination?
Annual meeting of interaction of WT Chairs?
 Clarfy roles of AC’s. What’s the difference between WT’s and AC’s.
 AC’s need a liaison to PNWCG
 Level of engagement by liaisons varies greatly. WT’s would like more input in
determining liaison.
 Many changing members, turnover occurring at a much faster rate than in the
past.
 NW Center Mangers AC requests more leadership from SC. Multi-agency
employees full time, need help with budgets, need direction or combining disp
centers, more direction/leadership from SC.(SC letter of 3/11/11 was written after
the WS)
 FLA’s? Reconcile process among the agencies (On SC DRAFT May agenda)
 Fuel’s WT, Conflicting direction, conflicting priorities, different #1 priorities,
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different risk assessments, fuels strategies, budget processes, policy, guidance,
direction (From Tasks Being Tracked from the March 2011 SC meeting “Pam will
draft a letter to NWCG for clarification”)
1. Tactic: Plan and conduct an annual workshop of SC/WT/AC chairs early each CY
Status: February. Per Task Order 1008-04 annually the Logistics lead is the IBPWT
2. Tactic: Each Liaison will work with their WT to identify recurrent tasks assigned to their WT(s)
and validate thru the SC that those tasks are the highest priority.
SC liaisons commit to 50% attendance to WT meetings
Status: Ongoing
Strategy C: Monitor working teams to assure we have the appropriate number, type and mix.
Many WT members request better information and direction on their role on WT’s. They have to learn
their responsibilities “on the streets”.
1. Tactic: Annually Review roles, overlap and cooperation between existing Working Teams as
identified at the annual SC/WT meeting. Delete Duplicate of A.1
Status: April
2. Tactic: Annually liaisons will work with Working Teams and the SC to reconcile issues raised
regarding mission, team boundaries etc. throughout the year.
Status: Ongoing
3. Tactic: Annually Liaisons will review charters with WT and update, if needed
Status: February
4. Tactic: Develop a process to indoctrinate new work team and SC members to the PNWCG
working environment. Needs further discussion as far as SC priorities
Status: Assign to Chair as outlined in guidelines. Done as needed.
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Strategic Direction # 2: Establish a Governance Structure for the PNWCG Steering
Committee and Enhance External Influences
Strategy A: Communicate and coordinate with agency administrators regarding PNWCG
activities
1. Tactic: Annually schedule an agency executive/fire director meeting to discuss upcoming fire
season.
Status: Spring as needed.
2. Tactic: Schedule AARs with agency administrators as needed
Status: Fall as needed.
Strategy B: Clarify the relationship of PNWCG and sub geographic area coordination groups.
1. Tactic: Create a Task Group to compile a list of existing Sub Geographic Coordination Group
and areas of responsibility or coverage’s Substitute Tactic: SC work with Center Managers to
discuss how best to address sub-geo boundaries.
Status: Objective was redefined in Nov. 2010 meeting to focus on 3 Coordination Centers which
appear to be opportunities for boundary/role clarification. Substitute Status: SC is currently
working with NW Center Managers AC on this. (See SC memo of March 11, 2011)
Strategy C: Improve governance of T2 IMT’s in the Pacific Northwest.
1. Status: Assign to Carl Gossard and Ken Snell. Report back in January 2011.
Change status to: Bylaws, geo-board and Chair identified by July 2011
Add new tactic: Develop process for ICAP maintenance/management.
Add new tactic: Establish formal link with SC and 2 States geo-boards
Strategy D: Review and improve how PNWCG provides directions to member agencies.
1. Tactic: Develop a communications plan for the SC and its POW.
Status: Ongoing Change Status to: Assign Task Order to PCIWT in 2011 (include in T.T. to
send an annual e-mail to FMO’s with PNWCG’s web site and SC goals.
2. Tactic: Utilize line officer meeting to communicate PNWCG information
As needed.
3. Tactic: Assign PNWCG web page maintenance to a working team or web master.
Status: Oversight assigned to Vice-Chair as outlined in working guidelines and a webmaster
has been identified, Jim Edmonds.
Strategy E: Review and improve how PNWCG and its working teams interface with national
counterparts and geographic area neighbors.
1. Tactic: Enhance PNWCG interface with national level interagency coordinating groups and
Committees.
Status: PNWCG members on NWCG groups were inventoried in November 2010. There has
been no further tasking.
2. Tactic: Develop a process to get both SC & WT more involved with NWCG. At a
minimum, provide working teams with a copy of NWCG Org chart.
Status: Accomplished, July 2010 Change status to: Ongoing
3. Tactic: Annually invite a NWCG member to SC/WT meeting.
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Status: Assign to the IBPWT. Suggested Change to: Executive Director
Question: How do we gain access to share info to corresponding WT’s in other GACCs?
4. Tactic: Utilize state members of PNWCG to bring forward issues affecting all PNWCG
member agencies to organizations (i.e. NASF, WGA, OFCA, Western Fire Chiefs, National
Fire Protection Association, and National Fire Marshals etc.)
Status: Ongoing
5. Tactic: Work through local government representatives to network regionally and nationally
with international, state and national fire chiefs’ organizations and councils.
Status: Ongoing
Strategy F: Base PNWCG activities on strategic planning
1. Tactic: Continue development of PNWCG support elements including meeting protocols,
activity calendar and the website.
Status: Ongoing
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Strategic Direction # 3: Develop an Incident Response Structure that will sustain
itself and is flexible enough to meet changing demands.
Strategy A: Engender a safety culture in all aspects of wildland fire in the Pacific Northwest.
Insure appropriate elevation of safety in all actions and operations.
1. Tactic: Develop a northwest wide Aviation medical evacuation plan for injured fire fighters.
Status: Tasked to the AWT TO 0810-06 -- Reported to SC March 2009. Needs updated
annually.
2. Tactic: Develop a northwest wide Aviation Medical Protocol Criteria Plan for injured fire
fighters.
Status: Tasked to a Task Force with Task Order 0904-02
3. Tactic: Assign the following tasks to the SHWT:
 Explore the desirability of using the HRO concept as a cornerstone of Fire Management
in the PNW.
 Include Agency administrators in the safety culture initiatives put forth by PNWCG
 Review access to SAFECOMs by all employees in PNWCG
 Emphasize the use of the Lessons Learned Center products throughout PNWCG.
 Compile Oregon and Washington specific trends in firefighter safety, accidents and
injuries to understand and analyze trends.
Status: Not currently tasked
Strategy B: Work with IC Council to assure team deployments are meeting local agency
administrators’ needs and that NIMO is integrated into the PNW operations.
Status: Ongoing
Strategy C: Continue to develop and adjust training to assure it is inclusive of all agencies and
their individual policies.
1. Tactic: Assign TWT to examine the feasibility of increasing the amount of leadership training to
PNWCG member agencies.
Status: This tactic completed by adding Alan McMahen from the OR State Fire Marshal’s office
to TWT. Suggested change to: Ongoing
Strategy D: Continue to actively support open and honest communication between agencies and
firefighters regarding changes in the liability environment.
1. Tactic: The web site will be revised to provide a location for agency specific firefighter liability.
Status: Not currently scheduled
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Strategy E: Create inter-agency succession plan for Incident Management Teams.
1. Tactic: Task OWT to work with TWT, IC’s and governing boards to develop an IMT workforce
data base and to initiate an interagency succession plan for IMT’s.
Status: Tasked to OWT with TO 1011-12.
2. Tactic: Utilize PNWCG web site to disseminate information on the nature of wildland
firefighting and employment opportunities.
Status: Task PNWCG web site liaison (Carl Gossard) to write a TO.
3. Tactic: Explore a full range of possible sources in recruiting trainees for Incident Management
Team.
Status: Not currently scheduled
4. Tactic: Validate the number of IMT’s that we have and their configuration
Status: Not currently scheduled
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Strategic Direction # 4: Provide Oversight of Inter-Agency Policy Implementation
Strategy A: PNWCG will regularly update members on individual agency policy changes to
improve efficiency of implementation.
1. Tactic: Develop a policy difference matrix. PNWCG will spend time brainstorming key policy
differences and then task the appropriate working teams with further development of this effort
based on highest priorities
Status: Review at next Annual POW, not for implementation at this time. Suggested
substitute status: To be discussed by SC
2. Tactic: Monitor the implementation of PNWCG standards including the Master Agreement and
the Incident Business Management Operating Guidelines.
Status: Ongoing
3. Tactic: Request that the IC Council provide input on key policy differences based on their
experiences, and discuss as part of the AAR in November.
Status: November 2010-2011
4. Tactic: Develop joint operations doctrine to include state and local government.
Status: Review at next Annual POW review, not for implementation at this time. Suggested
Substitute status: to be discussed by SC
5. Tactic: Schedule Fire Policy workshops for implementation on an interagency basis in Oregon
and Washington.
Status: Scheduled based on outcome of discussion at PNWCG meetings
6. Tactic: Schedule a series of interagency WFDSS updates at functional workshops in Oregon
and Washington for different user groups.
Status: Accomplished Suggested substitute status: Ongoing (until everyone gets it)
7. Tactic: Request that the IC Council to provide input on 2010 experience with the reinterpreted
Federal Fire Policy and WFDSS as part of their 2010 AAR
Status: November 2010 Suggested substitute status: Annual
8. Tactic: Oregon and Washington will update on policy changes in the states.
Status: Ongoing
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Strategic Direction # 5: Support efforts to understand the wildfire behavior
environment, and to improve strategic implementation of hazardous fuels
treatments
Strategy A: Support effort to do a Western Wildfire Risk Assessment’s
1. Tactic: Work with ODF and WDNR to monitor and implement OR/WA risk assessment and
evaluate possibilities for PNWCG and working teams.
Status: Ongoing
Strategy B: Develop an inter-agency strategy to efficiently and effectively utilize or burn
hazardous fuels, and support State efforts to improve smoke management.
1. Tactic: Task Fuels and Fire Use Working Team with updating fuels strategy that they
developed in 2004.
Status: Not currently tasked. Decision made not to pursue this strategy in the September 2010
SC meeting. Change status to: Pursue when Cohesive Strategy finished. (tie in to statewide
assessments)
Strategy C: Develop common understanding of the influence changing fire regimes have on costs,
loss, politics, communities, and fire fighter safety.
1. Tactic: Task Fire Environment /Predictive Services/Information Working Teams and possibly
the Fuels WT with developing briefing paper on changing fire regimes in NW with a historical
comparative context.
Status: Not currently tasked
2. Tactic: Develop a map that shows hazardous fuels treatments and NFP grant distribution. This
is intended as an annual product.
Status: Annually in December by GIS WT.
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