PNWCG STEERING COMMITTEE
Meeting Notes
December 15, 1999
In Attendance:
Andy Anderson, FWS
Bob Anderson, Spokane City Fire Dist. #9
John Boro, ODF
Earl Cordes, OR Fire Service
Gerry Day, BLM
Mike Dimmick, SORO
Mike Dykzuel, OFIC (Guest)
Mike Edrington, SORO
Mark Forbes, National Park Service
Fred Gonzales, WA District Ranger
Terry Hueth, USFS
Barbara Kennedy, SORO
Jim Payne, FS
Lanny Quackenbush, ODF
Tim Rich, SORO
Paul Rose, FS
Dewey Tate, BLM FS
Jerry Williams, BLM
Cory Winnie, BIA
Mike Ziolko
John Viada, WDNR
Amanda Kaplan, NPS
Introduction – Barbara Kennedy
The meeting began at 9:35 a.m. After explaining the agenda, Barbara Kennedy passed around items
to be signed by the committee members, including the charter and a Memorandum of Understanding
to allow a forecaster to use space at the NWC.
Working Team Reports
The committee heard reports presented by the chairs of the working teams outlining their group’s
accomplishments, issues, and program of work for 2000. The working teams, presenters, and
highlights or decisions from the group discussion are summarized below. For more details, refer to
the complete reports posted on the PNWCG website.
Interagency Contract - Michelle Remmy
The following decisions were made by the steering committee: 1) the steering committee will review
the draft letter to the contractors and the final letter will be signed by the chair of the working
committee; 2) the steering committee would correspond with neighboring geographic areas; 3) the
steering committee would work with the NWCG to establish futuring strategy.
Operations - John Boro
John Boro stated that the task order to develop a process for total integration of all wildland fire
fighting agencies in the Pacific Northwest into interagency teams is the Operation team’s number one
priority. John also reported on the situation with Alaska regarding Pacific Northwest National
Incident Management Teams. Terry Hueth recommended that everyone be represented in any
discussions so that any decisions will be supported, and John indicated this is how he is proceeding.
John strongly recommended having the Training and Operations Working Groups working together.
Joe Stoetler from Forest Service is the new Operations chairperson; the vice chair will by Larry
Nicky from the National Park Service.
PNWCG Steering Committee
December 15, 1999
Page 2
Fire Business Management - Paul Rose
Paul Rose reviewed changes to the Fire Business Management Team’s mission and objectives
document. A representative from Fish and Wildlife has joined the team, and they now have a
representative from every agency. The chair position has been left with the Forest Service until the
Committee decides they want to make a change.
Barbara Kennedy suggested that if there are any concerns about AD-5 rates, individuals need to
discuss them with Paul or Barbara.
Aviation – Mike Dimmick (for Chair Phil Hufstader)
The Aviation Working Team will be adjusting their charter to allow them to handle the chairmanship
differently and will bring it to the steering committee for signature. Next year the team would like to
focus on non-fire issues, such as managing resources. The Aviation Team will come to the steering
committee with a recommendation of about qualifications for aviation personnel being assigned to
incidents regardless of which agency they are from, so that there is a standard that will be recognized
by the dispatch community when they have issues which come back through the ranks. They will
looking at places where airplanes can be shared.
Bob Anderson proposed supporting the recommendation of the Aviation Working Team to close the
Medford Air Tanker Base. Cory Winnie seconded the proposal. Lanny stated he could not support
the recommendation. Jim Payne suggested and the steering committee agreed that a cover letter
signed by Terry Heuth would be written to the Regional Forester supporting the Aviation Working
Team’s recommendations.
Training Working Team – Mike Spenser (for Chair Dave Luse)
Two issues of concern discussed were the changing and decreasing federal student population. The
importance of finding state and federal people to teach the 290 class was also discussed; it is an
impediment to getting enough people to work on wildland fires.
The working team staff will present to PNWCG Steering Committee their work and recommendation
on a training mobilization policy and delivery of training in the Pacific Northwest to today’s
customer base at a future meeting.
Fire Use and Fuels Management - Tim Rich
The federal wildland fire policy is the anchor point of the team’s draft strategy for increasing
hazardous fuels on federal lands in the Pacific Northwest. The goals are similar but not the same as
BLM’s. The team’s top priority will be to finish its strategies by May and then present the final
strategies to the Steering Committee.
Prevention - Dewey Tate
Dewey Tate expressed support for having the Information Working Team become active again. The
Prevention Working Team has a need to work with them.
The Arson Task Force is now working with the State Police and the Fire Marshals from both states
and with federal agencies to improve interagency cooperative efforts. Fire Marshals from both states
were invited to become involved with the Prevention Working Team. Oregon has accepted; there has
not yet been a response from Washington.
PNWCG Steering Committee
December 15, 1999
Page 3
Fire Weather - Gerry Day (for Chair Mike Ziolko)
Gerry Day reported that the national coordinators who met in St. Louis in December primarily
discussed the implementation of the Resource Ordering Status System. Gerry felt the system would
be successfully implemented by January 2001, and that it was the single most important issue in front
of the dispatch and coordination community nationally in the next few years.
Gerry summed up the meeting and agreement reached with the Weather Service to continue
forecasting and issuing products from their office on 122nd Avenue and to provide a 40-hour position
(from March 1 until the end of October or the fire season) to be located at the Coordination Center.
The Coordination Center will determine what that person works on and the work schedule. The
details are to be worked out.
Cory Winnie reported that the MTC had agreed to certify the closure contingent upon approved
agreement between the PNWCG and the Weather Service.
Gerry distributed a copy of a draft proposal from the Fire Weather Working Team to the National
Wildfire Coordinating Group on weather station standards; comments need to be submitted by
January 15, 2000.
Final Discussion - All
Mike Edrington reported that Roy Montgomery has volunteered to assist with wildland fire projects.
He may be utilized on the next Operations Working Team task or on interagency/working team
issues. Mike also reported that the Forest Service’s workforce diversity council has asked if the
PNWCG would be interested in looking at workforce diversity and human resource issues. The
group decided that if the Forest Service and other groups were interested in these issues, than the
PNWCG needed to be involved. Mark Forbes requested that Mike have a short proposal presented at
the next meeting for the group to consider.
Agenda Items for Future Meetings
The January 19 meeting will be at the Coordination Center. Joel Green, DNR, will be a guest at this
meeting. Bob Paduccio, Oregon Fire Marshal’s Office, will also attend and present his agency’s
strategy for Life Safety 2000. Dan Torrence will present the program of work for the Training
Center. The establishment of two new working teams, GIS and Dispatch Working Teams, will be
discussed. A proposal on workforce diversity will be presented by Mike Edrington.
Agenda items suggested for future meetings include:
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February: Review of strategic plan.
Clarification of new R & R policy for the Northwest. Group needs to discuss/clarify how the 14day rule will be implemented (proposed by Terry Hueth).
Discussion item: Organization of working teams and task groups and span of control.
March: Presentation to PNWCG Steering Committee on work order related to fire.
A managers’ meeting in April or May.
Meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.