PNWCG STEERING COMMITTEE
Meeting Notes
December 19, 2000
In Attendance:
Terry Hueth, SORO
Pam Ensley, NFWS
Bob Anderson, Spokane Fire District
Mike Dykzeul, OFIC
Bob Garrison, OR State Fire Marshal
Mike Ziolko, ODF
Bob Bannon, DNR
Earl Cordes, Jefferson Co.
Ken Till, NPS
Mike Spenser, BLM/USFS
Era Horton, OR Dept. of Public Safety
Standards and Training
Lanny Quackenbush, ODF
Mike Edrington, BLM/USFS
John Viada, DNR
Mark Forbes, NPS
Jim Payne, USFS
Introduction
Lanny Quackenbush convened the meeting and asked Joe Stoetler to facilitate the meeting since
Barbara Kennedy would be arriving later. Joe reviewed the day's agenda. Presenters from the
working teams were asked to present their team's program of work for 2000 and the program
planned for 2001.
Prevention Working Team - Bob Bannon
Bob Bannon, outgoing chair, presented the Prevention Working Team’s 2000 Accomplishment
Report. Bob reported that a key item for 2000 was the activation of a Prevention Education Team.
The team created and hosted an information website where users could find out what restrictions
were applicable to any location in Oregon and Washington. In 2001, the team hopes to refine this
site. The team has also been involved in the Firewise Workshops.
Bob noted that an outstanding task order is the Prescribed Fire Awareness campaign. They are
due to present a formal proposal with budget to the steering committee in February or March and
are prepared to do so. Bob responded to questions from the committee about risk assessments. He
reported that a key recommendation of both the Prevention and Fuels Working Teams was that
there needed to be a standard risk assessment methodology for all lands in both states. It was
suggested that representatives of all the agencies meet and review areas which had been assessed
for risk to make sure that no area was left uncovered. The committee discussed considering this at
the strategic plan review at the meeting on December 20.
Aviation Working Team - Jim Payne
Jim Payne, the team's outgoing chair, distributed an Aviation 2000 Frequency Guide, a roster for
the working team, and an accomplishment report/program of work handout for the Aviation
Working Team. Jim reported that the team's accomplishments included the Frequency Guide, the
establishment of an Aviation Team website linked to the PNWCG website, revision of the
Aviation Standards Matrix, and providing a working team representative at most if not all aviation
training sessions in the Northwest. Jim reviewed the program of work for 2001, including the
review, update and publishing of the Matrix and the Frequency Guide, and the development of a
Power Point presentation on aviation policies on interagency incidents. A task group is working
on single engine air tanker opportunities and alternatives throughout the Northwest; the intent is to
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December 19, 2000
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come back to the PNWCG with a recommendation in late spring. Jim responded to questions
from the committee.
Weather Working Team - Mike Ziolko
Mike Ziolko distributed copies of the working team’s report. Mike reported there are just a few
remaining issues the National Weather Service (NWS). The team did some statistical work on the
weather network and reviewed Paul Wirth's Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch
Verification Study for accuracy of information from the NWS during the 2000 fire season. The
team started looking at GIS layers developed by the Weather Service for existing and proposed
fire weather zones.
Mike reported that activities planned for 2001 included work on the weather network project,
implementation of the agreement with the weather service, developing the annual operating plan,
looking at the Red Flag criteria, the fire weather zones, and GIS overlays, and continuing work on
coordination with the California Wildfire Coordinating Group. Mike responded to questions from
the steering committee. Mike will send Barbara Kennedy a copy of Paul Wirth's report and she
will distribute it to the steering committee.
The steering committee discussed wording changes in the agreement with the NWS. Several
members agreed to review the language during lunch.
Training Working Team - Mike Spencer
Mike Spencer, outgoing chair, presented the report of the Training Working Team's 2000
accomplishments, which include the addition of two new voting members; a study verifying the
value of the S290 CD-Rom course; and creation of a standardized national website to get
information out about available training. For 2001, the team is asking for three decisions from the
steering committee: a three-year work plan; the establishment of an Oregon/Washington Fire
Services training specialist/liaison position, and the reestablishment of a PNW Wildfire
Conference in 2002. Mike discussed the increasing demand for courses and said the goal is to
strengthen the integration of the training resources and staff of fire services with PNWCG
resources. The team feels strongly they need to undertake a strategic business effort and produce a
business plan.
Mike responded to questions from the committee. Barbara noted that the decision items contained
in the working team’s report will be part of a future committee agenda. The committee discussed
the demand for training, possible alternatives for providing training, and the need to provide a
budget if the team's revised charter was approved.
Prescribed Fire and Fuels Treatment Working Team - Gene Lonning
Chair Gene Lonning distributed copies of “Increasing Fuels Treatment on Federal & Non-Federal
Lands in the Pacific Northwest: A Collaborative Strategy,” noting that it was the same basic
document as was presented in June, with minor revisions. The team feels it is time to present it to
the steering committee with the understanding that it is a dynamic, two-year plan to begin in
spring if the committee approves. Gene discussed the team’s six key action items for 2001 (pages
19-21 of “A Collaborative Strategy,” Items 11-13, 18, 19 and 20). Barbara recommended that the
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December 19, 2000
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committee take time to review the document and not make a decision until possibly the January
meeting.
Gene said the team felt it needed to work on the six objectives whether the document is approved
or changed during the next couple of months. He asked if a task order was needed; Pam said it
was in draft and she would write it up. Gene responded to questions from the committee. He
offered to e-mail the committee the Fuel Treatment Collaboration Strategy and asked the
committee to send their comments back to him.
Finance Working Team - Paul Rose
Paul Rose discussed the team's work for 2000, including the establishment of the proposed AD5
rates. The team has a proposal for the 2001 AD5 rates and would like to present them at the
January meeting if committee wishes to review them. Paul proposed publishing the rates in
January since the old rates would expire. Barbara asked Paul to get the information to the
committee ahead of time.
In 2000, the working team test taught the courses developed at Boise for Finance Section Chief
and Unit leader. The team worked on an agreement to reimburse the rural fire districts for their
personnel on INTs. The team has also worked on a website.
Paul reported that members have been chosen for 2001 to establish the equipment rates, and they
have been asked to have the rates ready by March. For 2001, the team will work on planning a
geographic meeting and a task order to work with the state of Oregon on an agreement for paying
rural resources.
Operations Working Team - Joe Stoetler
Joe Stoetler, outgoing chair, discussed the team's program of work for 2000 and provided a
handout to the committee. Highlights included sponsoring a national INT meeting in Portland and
a PNW ICs meeting in the Dalles, completion of the PNW Cache Study, and formation of an
implementation task group for 2001. The team expects to report to the committee on the Cache
study in May. The team completed a reimbursement process with a formal agreement for local
government agencies and personnel for the Pacific Northwest. The team developed a mentoring
process for candidates attending the 2001 520 course, an INT evaluation process for when national
teams are activated, and a new recruitment and selection process for the national teams in the
Pacific Northwest. The team worked with the state of Washington on their team integration
efforts. They proposed an INT integration process for all agencies in the Pacific Northwest, which
was a specific task item delivered to and approved by the committee in March 1999.
Joe mentioned that the letter from PNWCG proposing that agencies move forward with team
integration has not yet been finaled and signed. Joe also reported that the team had not had time to
bring Item 13 to the committee but chose to respond to NWCG. The team disagreed with the
NWCG proposal for Type 3 areas; NWCG has accepted the team's position and the Type 3 crew
proposal will not go forward. Joe discussed the bottleneck with the 420 course and the team's
proposal to NWCG to have training occur at an actual fire rather than in the classroom. Item 10
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December 19, 2000
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was planned under a task order for 2000 but was not accomplished; the team will attempt to
complete it in 2001.
Joe matched the program of work for 2001 with the strategic plan and the National Fire Plan and
provided information about where the items tied together. Joe then responded to questions from
the committee.
Contracts - Ken Till
Ken Till gave a presentation on contracts and agreements related to the National Fire Plan. He is
the team leader for the contracts and agreements team for the NPS. Ken handed out an contract
agreement implementation action plan finalized December 16.
Ken reported on a recent meeting in Boise of contracting officers from throughout the U.S. to
discuss implementing contracts and developing an easy-to-use action plan. Key dates are
March 1, to issue and award contracts, and January 15, to have the process in place, and GACCs
and the local agency coordination identified. Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
Contracts have been set up through an e-commerce or electronic acquisition procurement process
which allows task orders to be issued against the master contract.
Ken reviewed the action plan and said in view of Title IV, it will not be business as usual, it is
about getting the money down to the lowest common denominator. A key component for success
is having all use the process. There will be a joint DOI/USDA FS memo issued on procurement
and assistance agreement policies and strategies. The committee discussed concerns about using
model agreements and having a district contract with more than one agency. Ken thought a
pending memo would clarify the situation, and Mike suggested getting the word out on how things
would be handled in the NW.
Other Items
Mike Edrington reported that the five federal agencies have all been contacted about having job
fairs for the temporary, permanent and seasonal positions that will be advertised for the National
Fire Plan. The idea is to increase diversity in the work force and get a lot of applicants.
Joe Stoetler reviewed the plan for the meeting on December 20. First the committee will look at
what it wanted to accomplish since the last review of the strategic plan. The committee will then
look at the planning items to consider if there are any that no longer apply. Next, based on the
National Fire Plan and any other factors, it will identify the top three goals or planning items, and
then perhaps a strategy and tactics. He asked if the committee agreed to his proposal on how to
approach the strategic plan. The committee agreed with this proposal.
The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.