PNW Fire Environment Working Team January 14-15, 2009 Attendance: Dan Obrien (NPS) - Chair Brian Goff (USFS) – Vice Chair Geoff Babb (BLM) Brian Potter (PNW FERA/Air Fire) Carrie Stevens (BIA) Steve Todd (NWS) John Saltenberger (Predictive Services) Louisa Evers (Fire Ecologist, SORO) - visitor Brett Fay (USFWS) – replacing Thomas Skinner Conference Line: Greg Sinnet (WADNR) Roundtable and Bin Items None NWCG Reorganization and Effects on Charter Dan OBrien General review of current charter * Need member to attend PNWCG working team/steering committee meeting Feb 18-19, Dan O’Brien is going to the SC-WT mtg. Handout displaying NWCG re-organization o Working Teams became Committees o Organized under 3 Branches, with full-time managers o Branches work for NWCG Manager, working for NWCG Exec Board o Committees and subcommittees will update charters Not recommended for PNW FENWT to update charter at this time Predictive Services/NWS MOU Update John Saltenberger Previous regional MOU expired – managed by previous Fire Weather Working Team, duties rolled into PNW FENWT. New national MOU developed (5 year revision cycle)– now active Is there a need for a regional MOU, regional operating plan? o Handout – review of differences between current national MOU and previous regional MOU – discussion Considerable discussion over the issue of the NWS being the only source of IMETs, or allowing non-NWS IMETs. Currently not addressed in the National MOU, not known if or how it is likely to be covered in the National AOP. Page 1 of 4 Questions regarding IMET services for wildfire, prescribed fire, wildland fire use? Qualifications, what agency/contractor can provide the service? Option to inform the field on what is in place, to defer incorrect perceptions. o Decision question – Does this region need to pursue a regional MOU? John will monitor the National AOP, brief the group at a later date, the group will re-visit the need for a regional MOU after obtaining knowledge of the status and what is covered under the national MOU and AOP. Discussion regarding the level of understanding of prescribed burners in understanding smoke management regulation as it relates meteorlogical services. Issue relative to regulators, decision-makers, and field implementers. Possibility to bring issue to PNWCG, Dan will discuss with Greg. PNW Fire Environment Workshop Update John Saltenberger Handout – Template (input from NWCG FBSC) o Recommendation to maybe have new technologies and the future technologies. o Suggestion to maintain focus specifically on the PNW. o What is the target group? Interest in including fuels planners (tools and NEPA) as well as current qualified, trainees, and technical specialists, IMETS, others who may be interested in becoming – discussion. o Potential date in February, 2010? o Suggestion to include Interaction of FBAN/LTAN with host unit, line officers, IMTs o * Workgroup volunteers: John Saltenberger, Louisa Evers, Brian Potter Develop agenda by June 1 Set date (coordinate with PNW Training), timeline for announcements and to confirm speakers, identify potential speakers Dan will ask for money from PNWCG Number of participants? 40-50? FLAME: “Train the Trainer” John Saltenberger - discussion Description – change in environment that could cause a relative change in fire behavior … Not peer reviewed, credibly published Included as optional in S290? If it is going to be taught, may need a train the trainer workshop Page 2 of 4 Might be able to be used in refreshers? John will relate discussion of this group to the Fire Behavior Subcommittee John will check for more details on FLAME. Brian Potter will develop white paper on technical concerns with FLAME (Brian has completed this task---thanks Brian). Dan will take concerns for teaching FLAME option for S290 to PNWCG, possibly to stop presenting FLAME in the PNW Reviewing New Fire Mgmt Tools (Decision) Brian Potter Description - discussion Shall PNW FENWT incorporate a panel for reviewing and recommending newly developed fire mgmt tools? o Need for reviewing and tech transfer, not much agreement or proposal for how to accomplish. Support for describing a recommended tool to meet a specific task – somehow. o Need more discussion to flush out specific issue. Brett Fay, Geoff Babb, and Dan Obrien will discuss with Brian Potter, develop white paper. If not #1 (above), shall PNW FENWT develop testing procedures for new fire mgmt tools and then report findings up to PNWCG for official recommendation? o Probably not a regional issue, more of a national issue. o Interest in proposing to “My Fire Community”. o Could discuss with Paul Schlobaum, NWCG Branch Director. Fire Danger Operating Plans (Decision) Brian Goff Should PNW FENWT sponsor Interagency Fire Danger Operating Plans? o YES * Brian will develop a white paper on the peer review process. Dan will check into adding link to FENWT site for FDOPs, FDRA shapefiles/KMLs. WFDSS Implementation (Wildland Fire Decision Support System): Overview of purpose, organization, updates and training opportunities Dan Obrien – presentation - discussion Varying expected use by agencies Documents decision process, provides decision tools Planned to start training in March (webinar) Tools not fully functional yet This group may be able to provide an information sharing role, specifically related to the fire behavior/fire environment tools. That role is not particularly clear yet – stay tuned. Page 3 of 4 Fire Behavior Service Center: Organization and Function Dan Obrien- presentation Initiated in 2008, works for NW MAC Support, on request, analysts on specific incidents Can use as a training ground for trainees, needs a qualified lead Sunset as skill pool is deepened around the region * Dan will ask for assistance in developing a list of lead analysts and create roster. Bin Items/Review of Tasks Items in bold are for decisions/future products Items with * are high priority items Page 4 of 4