PNWCG STEERING COMMITTEE
Meeting Notes
October 25, 2000
In Attendance:
Bob Anderson, WA Fire Service
Earl Cordes, Jefferson Co. Fire District
Mike Dykzeul, OFIC (Guest)
Pam Ensley, USFWS
Bob Garrison, OR Fire Marshal
Terry Hueth, BLM/USFS
Barbara Kennedy, BLM/SORO
Cliff Leidtke, ODF (Guest)
Laurie Parrett for Mike Edrington, BLM/SORO
Lanny Quackenbush, ODF
Ken Till, NPS
John Viada, WDNR
Introduction – Barbara Kennedy
Barbara Kennedy called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. Cory Winnie was unable to attend and
designated Pam Ensley as his proxy. Agenda topics were proposed and it was agreed that the
National Fire Plan would be a full agenda item.
215 vs. 205 - Earl Cordes
At Earl Cordes' request, Bob Anderson explained the training requirements for strike team boss.
Training courses need to be developed and may not be ready for two years. The 205 course will be
modified and would no longer be a requirement for single resource bosses. The 215 course needs
to be developed and would be a prerequisite for strike team boss positions.
National Fire Plan - All
It was suggested that items identified in the National Plan that need response from the states, local
governments, or PNWCG be communicated so agencies can organize their responses. Because of
the importance of cooperative projects, Lanny Quackenbush requested that the federal agency
representatives share some background about their agencies’ plans.
Laurie Parrett discussed the BLM/Forest Service portions of the National Fire Plan, including
additional preparedness resources for Oregon. BLM is looking at fireproofing green acres and
restoring black acres. The Forest Service would like to tie into its ongoing activities on healthy
communities and healthy watersheds. The primary focus is wildland urban interface. Laurie
reported that money for fire research would double to $16 million.
Terry Hueth reported that $68 million in Interior dollars was expected for Communities at Risk
and $8 million to Rural Community Assistance. PNWCG should have information in a week
about what money will be available, the direction it is going, and an implementation strategy.
Pam Ensley reported that, unlike the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service is growing and
getting money for all of its programs. At this point, money would be allocated to the different
agencies, and each agency would determine the allocation to communities and wildland urban
interface. The proposal last week was that BIA has $24 million of the $68 million Terry
discussed; FWS has $12 million; National Park Service has $18 million; and the rest goes to BLM.
Ken Till reported the National Park Service is working on an implementation strategy to be
completed by November 16. By the end of November, he will provide PNWCG what has been
approved for the Pacific Northwest that would affect the Forest Service and other agencies. They
also have concerns about staff development and not growing too fast.
PNWCG Steering Committee
October 25, 2000
Page 2
Other Business - Lanny Quackenbush
Lanny Quackenbush announced that his term as chair was up at the end of December. He
recommended that Pam be given more time before she takes the role of chair. The new chair is to
provide the notetaker. Ken Till mentioned that some working teams were considering a two-year
term for working team chairs to provide more continuity. This will be an agenda topic at the next
meeting.
Forest Service State and Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Programs - Barbara Kennedy
Barbara Kennedy provided background information on money the Forest Service distributes to
states through its Cooperative Fire Program, which includes the state Fire Assistance and
Volunteer Fire Assistance Programs. Barbara reported that the allocation to the 17 western states
is about $7.4 million. The funds are to be used for regular preparedness to help the states improve
their fire protection programs. An additional $8 1/4 million will be allocated to states in
emergency funds for Volunteer Fire Assistance. Lanny and Barbara proposed discussing statewide
needs that might be addressed with the money.
Barbara reported that nationally, there is about $50.4 million additional dollars in State Fire
Assistance in the emergency appropriation. The western states will receive $36.8 million, roughly
a 50% increase in their base preparedness grant program. Seventy-five percent is for competitive
grants across the 17 western states, using the same competitive process as last year. The
recommendations for the grants need to be determined by the first of December. Lanny proposed
thinking in terms of partnerships with federal agencies or other ongoing activities to be
competitive for the Northwest's share of the money. Barbara reviewed the three categories for
projects: 1) hazardous fuels reduction; 2) information and education programs targeting mitigation
and prevention; and 3) defensible space/risk reduction hazard mitigation for homeowners and
communities. Partnerships would mean high points on a grant application. Last year there was a
lot of focus on assessments; this year the focus is action-oriented, getting projects done. Planning
can occur but it needs to show that in the near future, a project will be implemented. There will be
additional reporting requirements. Barbara will send out information on the grant process in the
next week. She will be on the review panel.
DOD Legislation - All
The committee discussed potential problems with legislation to allow any fire department to
purchase directly from the Department of Defense. This could have a negative impact on
departments that can not afford to take advantage of the Federal Excess Property Program.
Training Delivery/New Employees - All
The committee discussed anticipating training needs and changes in the customer base and tasking
the Training Working Team to begin develop strategies to anticipate an unusual training season.
Opportunities - All
The committee next discussed and charted opportunities related to the National Plan (see
Attachment A). At the November meeting, the committee will have better information to share
and can decide in what direction PNWCG should go; in the meantime, members should encourage
joint conversations. Members discussed reexamining the strategic plan at the December. Bob
PNWCG Steering Committee
October 25, 2000
Page 3
Anderson proposed and it was agreed to take the list of Opportunities and the Strategic Plan, relist
the issues, and go through the prioritization process again; then decide what to tackle with the
resources available. The chairs of the working teams will be invited to the December meeting.
GIS Working Team - John Viada
John Viada suggested that coordination of GIS groups to share data could be a project to consider
for the available money. Work needs to be done with the database to make it useful.
1/4 Couplings - Lanny Quackenbush
Lanny Quackenbush shared that he had heard that all federal agencies are supposed to start using
1/4 turn couplings. He asked if others had heard the same thing; they had not.
NWCG Joint Meeting
Lanny reported that the NWCG would like PNWCG to host a joint meeting June 6 and 7. The first
day would be a meeting of representatives from all the GACs and the second day would be a
meeting to report to NWCG. This will be a task for the next chair.
PNWCC - Terry Hueth
Terry Hueth reported that Gerry Day has a list of awards he would like to give out this year, but
they require approval from each of the agencies. Terry proposed a conference call to have the
steering committee review the awards being recommended and approve them, so that Gerry can
have them processed through the agencies.
Communications - Bob Anderson/All
Bob Anderson asked if clear direction had been given from the Communications group approved
this summer. Terry Hueth explained that the intent from DOI is to have a backward compatible
digital radio that can go digital analog. The message to the rurals is that the future direction is
narrow band, but the next few years will be analog. Bob recommended tasking the
Communications group with developing an implementation strategy for the transition to narrow
band, with timelines, so it can be communicated to all interested parties of the PNWCG. Barbara
reminded the steering committee she had not yet received the all the names of the individuals for
this group.
Future Meetings - All
The committee agreed to change the date of the November meeting to November 17; the meeting
will be at the Marshall House if it is available.
Lanny proposed and the committee agreed to hold a two-day meeting December 19-20 to make
more concrete plans after additional information was available regarding the National Fire Plan.
The meeting will be at the Marshall House.
The meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
PNWCG Minutes 092700 edtd.doc
Attachment A
OPPORTUNITIES
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Training – Strategy.
Joint recruitment/hiring using all authorities.
Timing to minimize impact.
Encourage the joint conversations (PNWCG facilitate).
Program Review - Agreements/contracts offset, etc.
Working teams - Are the strategies the priorities now? Use working teams Sub-geo areas (review in Dec.).
Type 1 resources - Where strategically shall we place them?
Fuels Strategy - Is it a comprehensive look at where the problem is?
Is our strategy an interagency approach across the geo. area?
Are the studies/strategies done that will result in us treating the right areas
(i.e., put WVI in critical areas?)
Can we coordinate the grant process among agencies?
Is our strategic plan aligned with national fire plan?
Are there technological things (re: mobile communication vans) that we
ought to consider?
PNWCG Minutes 102500 edtd.doc