Pacific Northwest Coordination Group Steering Committee (PNWCG SC)
Meeting Notes – Final
March 19, 2008 @ Northwest Coordination Center (NWCC)
Attending: Randy Simpson, OR State Fire Marshal, Vice-Chair; Sue Husari, NPS; Ken Snell,
USFS, R6; Carl Gossard, BLM-SORO; Pam Ensley, USFWS; Mike Burnett, OFCA; Albert
Kassel, WADNR (filling in for Mark Kahley), Jim Walker, ODF (filling in for Paul Bell); Jan
Mathis BLM-SORO notetaker; Pat Kelly, Executive Director PNWCG SC; Presenter: Mark
Gray on NFP Grants.
Meeting Called to Order at 9:00 a.m. Pat Kelly presented agenda overview.
(Handout # - PNWCG SC Agenda, Mar 19th v.3 at NWCC, 2pp)
I. Vice Chair’s Remarks (Randy Simpson) Objective: Update, Leaders intent
Welcome, I’ll be filling in for Cory as vice chair for this meeting. We have a lot on the agenda
with some last minute items that need to be worked in today. Turned over to Pat who went over
the agenda and talked about the last minute items to be worked into the current agenda: 1. NFP
Grants 30 minutes; 2. Information WT Activities 15 minutes; NWCC Facilities/Personnel 20
minutes@1500; 4. Hot Topics – Crew contract (am) 5 minutes Jim; 5. Fuels Program Ken/Carl.
II. January and February Notes (Jan Mathis) Objective: Finalize Notes
(Handout # 2 - PNWCG Meeting Notes draft v.1 January, 4pp)
(Handout #3 - Feb Notes draft v.2, 2pp)
(Handout #4 - SC Membership list (1p), for updating)
Decision: January and February Notes are approved. Membership list approved with minor
changes.
III. IAWF Safety Summit (Carl Gossard & Ken Snell) Objective: Decision
Shelby would need help to put the Safety summit together – requested the SC organize a task
force for assistance. Pam Ensley gives her approval from her agency. Sue supports this, but
suggests that Shelby talk to Roberta D’Amico first. Roberta is currently working on getting a
conference organized and has found the process to be difficult and burdensome.
Action: Carl will pass the word to Shelby to contact Roberta and get more information before
proceeding.
Action: Carl/Ken to report back to the group with a recommendation on how to proceed after
Shelby talks with Roberta D’Amico.
Decision: If Shelby decides to proceed, the SC is supportive of putting a task force together to
help. The BLM/FS can be the primary lead and be under the umbrella and inclusive of
PNWCG.
If it is a go: Pam Ensley has personnel who can assist with the conference.
Final thought: If the International Fire Safety Conference is not something that we can support,
then we will put on our own Fire Ops Safety Conference.
PNWCG SC Meeting Notes March 19, 2008- pg 1
IV. NFP Grants – presented by Mark Gray
(Handout #5 - PNWCG – NFP WT CA09 Grants Recommendations – Briefing Paper, 1p)
(Handout #6 - 2009 Grant Proposals – State Rankings, 5pp)
Discussed the Interagency Grants Program, projects and funding for community wildfire plans.
The information will need to be entered into NIFPORS by Apr 15. Requesting SC thumbs up or
thumbs down on the projects. There are 12 Oregon projects and 6 Washington projects.
Summary from Briefing Paper:
BLM – WA $200,000
BLM – OR $1.7M
USFS – WA $832,000
USFS – OR $534,000
BIA – OR $40,000
Total Funding $3.3M
Decisions: SC approves the projects.
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Paul Bell will be the liaison for the National Fire Grants Working Plan Team.
Mike Burnett will be on the Oregon GIS Working Team and Oregon Fire Chief’s
Association.
This will be an Annual Topic for the agenda for SC Meetings.
Suggestion from Ken – it would be a richer discussion to have a map with the coordinates that
shows where these projects are located. This mapping assignment needs to be tasked or retasked. It would be good to also include where treatments were done, did they work, what
should we do differently.
Decision: Mark Gray has agreed to work on this project and if he needs to re-approach the
SC and have a task order assigned for help, he will do that.
SC discussed the process and concerns in working in this project. Tracking and maintaining
projects is also something to look into:
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Are these being maintained? (Pam Ensley)
Sue asked Ken – How many years should we go back?
How to track maintenance and report the status of the maintenance?
Decision: SC agrees that the best place to begin is to find out how much information is
presently available. Mark will come back and report in June with what’s information is
currently available in NFPORS.
IV. SC Charter (Randy)
Objective: Final review
Decision: The SC is all in favor of the charter with a change to the signature page and
addition of the PNWCG Logo.
Action: Jan will edit charter and bring to April’s meeting.
PNWCG SC Meeting Notes March 19, 2008- pg 2
V. Contract Crews (Jim)
Discussed the $45 cap for contractor crews. We’re covered through September with 130 crews.
Has information been sent out to the associations? There are lawsuits going on right now.
Jim will check to see if letters and information is being sent out to the associations.
VI. NMAC Meeting (Sue Husari) (Powerpoint presentation & Handouts #7)
Presentation on the meeting and discussion on the topics. Some highlights:
o Northern Rockies – Long Duration Fire Planning.
o Discussed Strategies – Prioritize use of FF resources by work instead of fire.
o There was no concensus or decision-making accomplished at the meeting, it was
informational only.
o Kim Christensen – brought up 209s as not being useful – but not clear as to the reason
why. Weakness of information reported on ICS – 209’s. Changes proposed were very
minor and probably won’t have a big impact on us.
o Rationale for assigning IMT’s at higher Preparedness Levels – Didn’t work. A Simpler
system to replace NMAC IMT rationale memo of July 2007. Stay tuned.
o Fire Use Teams – proposal to change name.
o Configuration of Fire Use Teams, Change their standard configuration from 7 plus 3
positions to 10 plus 3 positions.
o FF Burn Victim Policy Update – Forest Service and DOI policies are different for
required treatment for burn injuries.
o Type 3 Engine staffing – Contracts (Pacific NW?) do not match red book standards. We
should pursue this through Gerry Day. Our contracts do match the red book standards.
Should task the OWT to track this one down.
o IMS Medical Standards – Some states allow only their own state EMT’s on incidents.
o Lack of available EMTs in those states. This issue will probably take a legislative fix to
correct.
o Good lively discussion on this topic.
o Alternative IMT Organizations Thought Provoking Exercise by the chair of NMAC,
Lyle Carlile – Sue will make copies of the position paper.
o Fire Complexity Analysis – won’t happen this fire season, probably next year.
o NIMO Teams – 2 new teams coming soon. They are hired through the Forest Service.
Other Topics discussed:
USFS Structure Protection Memo
PNWCG SC Meeting Notes March 19, 2008- pg 3
Type 1 Teams
CWFCG WUI Principles
Web Technology Update
Drought in Southern GACC
Small jets for Type 2 IA Crews
Length of assignment Policy to stay same
Etc.
Action: Sue will send the 3 hard copy handouts – will work with Jan to get out to the SC.
VII. SC/WT Agenda (Jim Walker) Objective: Comment and approval
(Handout #8 - Proposed workshop agenda, 1p)
Proposed workshop will be held from 1300 on April 28 to noon on April 29th at the Residence
Inn Portland North Harbour, located at 1250 North Anchor Way; Portland Oregon 97217;
503-285-9888
Day 1 (from flip chart)
Welcome Comments – Cory (15 minutes)
Strategic Plan – Sue (45 minutes)
(Sue – Cory – Pam) to work on PNWCG Draft Strategic Plan
 2007 Items/Topics
 2008 Topics
Feedback on current priorities for each team – baseline, activities, memberships, subgroups,
tasks, internal priorities. From this feedback, create a Program of Work for 2008.
There are 12 teams. Maximum allowed is 10 minutes each Team.
The total amount of time would be approximately 150 minutes.
Title/Charter/Liaison
Possibility of a night session of Working Team Chairs.
Action: Each Team to send 1 page per Team to Jan ahead of time to copy and handout at
workshop.
Day 2
0800-0930 Change “Where Should We Be Going” to “2008 Program of Work Development”
Little “Ts” and Big “Ts” (T=task)
How do they fit into 2008 and beyond SC vision.
What are the little tasks that the Working Teams do that may or may not line-up with the
Strategic Plan. Get them working on the tasks that are important to the Strategic Plan.
Open group discussion between the Working Teams and Program of Work.
A calendar of recurring events needs to be put together – the items that occur on an annual
basis. Jim to add to agenda. Will put together a format of the Working Teams.
PNWCG SC Meeting Notes March 19, 2008- pg 4
1000 – Role of Liaison
10-1130 Add web presentation from Mary Anne Sanford - Include in the wrap-up the
information on the website and where the teams can post their information.
1130-1200 Wrap up.
Action: Jim will put out a format for the briefing paper for the Working Teams and will
return to the April 17th PNWCG SC meeting for a final pre-meeting review.
Break for lunch at 12:00 Reconvened at 12:30 p.m.
VIII. IC Advisory Charter (Randy)
(Handout #9 - Pacific Northwest Incident Commander Council Charter, 3 pp)
IC Group will act as an Advisory. We now have criteria for the Advisory Group.
Decision: Approved with corrections.
Action: Jan to edit and bring to April meeting for Cory’s signature.
IX. Strategic Plan (Sue)
Strategic Plan was sent out for review and only received one comment from Gerry. That the
plan should reference activities from NW MAC. SC discussed this and agreed that the NW
MAC is a separate function and needs to be in the MAC Operating Plan not the Strategic Plan.
Action: Take a look at it in the next couple of weeks and if it works – just get it cleaned up
and formatted. Get it ready for the Working Team Meeting. Sue will work with Pam and
will bring the latest version to the April 17th SC Meeting.
X. Info Working Team
The Info Working Team is primarily working on the 20th Year Anniversary of the NWCC. Sue
is their liaison. They will want to have fire equipment in the parking lot for the ceremony.
Jeree Mills will be calling some members of the SC to request resources. Sue has a copy of
their notes with a schedule for the day – she will send to us. This working team will be on the
April Agenda. They need a charter re-write. Need to have a group that works with the GAC –
since it’s a full-time job.
XI. DOE (Pam)
(Handout #10 - email re: US Dept of Energy involvement in/with PNWCG, 2pp)
The issue is regarding DOE from the Tri-Cities area – more specifically a private contractor
under Hanford. What should the relationship of DOE and DOE’s Hanford Contractor be to
PNWCG? PNWCG SC records have been searched and no clear SC decision has been found
regarding this matter.
The SC believes that DOE at the Regional level needs to approach the PNWCG
SC if DOE has an interest in establishing a relationship with PNWCG.
Action: Pam will send a response back to Deputy Chief Click of the Hanford FD.
PNWCG SC Meeting Notes March 19, 2008- pg 5
Final on Training Oversight TWT 0701-04
Minor revisions were made by the TWT to the documents that Joel Roguaskas presented to the
SC in October. The TWT members will brief their Steering Committee representative. The SC
will adopt the revised work at the April meeting if no SC members object to the revisions.
Action: Jan can get the actual document out to the SC.
Carl to determine a date to respond by in the transmittal.
Status of Best Value Dispatching 0606-02
Gordon Foster presented his report to the December 2007 SC meeting. The SC hasn’t yet
received his final report.
Action: Jim Walker indicated that he will contact Gordon to obtain final copies of the report
for the SC.
Bin Items
T1 IMT Meeting (Ken/Sue)
There was a request for the chair of PNWCG to come and give a talk on Apr 29th.
Awards (Pam)
Checked into some of the things that are available to give out as awards. Pendleton blankets are
available with Smokey Bear and Native American Fire Symbols on them for around $95 to
$105 dollars. SC agrees that this is a great gift.
Decision: Would like to have an informal dinner for Bill Lafferty, thank him for his work
with PNWCG and present him with an blanket. Randy will get in touch with Bill to see when
it would be best to get together and let everyone know by email.
Misc:
Ken gave an update on the Fuels Program.
Action: This spring, SC would like to invite Rick Smedley of the NPS to update on FPA.
Dispatch Office (Gerry Day)
A national feasibility study has been done across the country on the Federal side. How many
offices do we need? They’re finally out of the A76 process and it’s now being presented to
national leadership and will be coming out in the spring.
Good discussion on this topic. There are currently 27 to 28 dispatch offices in the area. There’s
agreement to consolidate the dispatch offices. Question is: Do we have a plan, how do we take
the next step?
This will be a Hold Over Topic. Next step would be to scope the issue and make an initial list
of criteria.
Gerry suggests that the SC could voice interest, express willingness for consolidation and see
the potential opportunities for efficiencies and cost reduction.
PNWCG SC Meeting Notes March 19, 2008- pg 6
Another option would be to express the willingness to sign a non-disclosure statement prior to
release and have someone from the study come out to brief on the details during one of our
meetings.
Gerry offered to give a briefing on what’s public information in the feasibility study at the
next meeting. (This would take about 15 minutes)
Gerry:
There’s a vacancy up in the ROSS change board, they will be nominating Kristy Cutler.
A proposal circulated to remove dispatch from the IFPM requirements.
May 27th there will be an Open House for NWCC. Would like to know where some fire folks
are now – Ken Hoover, Gerry would like to know his address. He may contact other SC
members to try to locate more fire folks to invite to the 20th Anniversary.
Facility maintenance – BLM engineers to come out to look at the Bldg. May not know what it
will cost until late spring. 3rd week in April inspections will take place.
(Handout #1 - 2008 Current Organization and 2008 Proposed Organization Chart, 2pp)
Gerry discussed and explained the chart, the positions and the funding.
Gerry is requesting Interagency commitment and funding for a new FTE.
(Handout #12 - 2008 NWCC Budget, 1p) There are issues that need to be explored and
discussed.
No decision made from SC. Sue requests a few extra days to work with her budget person.
AAR
+ Got through everything by 3pm
+ Good AM organization helped
+ Getting better at candor
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 pm
HANDOUTS
#1 - Handout #1-PNWCG SC Agenda, Mar 19th v.3 at NWCC (2pp)
#2 - PNWCG Meeting Notes draft v.1 January (4pp)
#3 - Feb Notes draft v.2 (2pp)
#4 - SC Membership list (1p)
#5 - PNWCG – NFP WT CA09 Grants Recommendations – Briefing Paper (1p)
#6 - 2009 Grant Proposals – State Rankings (5pp)
#7 - Powerpoint presentation NMAC Meeting (Will be added)
#8 - Proposed Workshop Agenda (1p)
#9 - Pacific Northwest Incident Commander Council Charter (3pp)
#10 - email re: US Dept of Energy involvement in/with PNWCG (2pp)
#11 - 2008 Current Organization and 2008 Proposed Organization Chart (2pp)
#12 - 2008 NWCC Budget (1p)
PNWCG SC Meeting Notes March 19, 2008- pg 7