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.
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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
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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.
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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
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