PNW-Fire Environment Working Team
Meeting Notes: June 4-5, 2008
Attendees:
Dan O’Brien
Brian Goff
Teresa Vaughn
Brian Potter
Thomas Skinner
Todd Rankin
Karrie Stevens
Steve Todd
Geoff Babb (via teleconference)
John Saltenberger
Terry Marsha
Cory Winnie
Wednesday, June 4
Dan O’Brien updated the group as to accomplishments since the February teleconference: formation of
FBAN/LTAN page on the NWCC website, coordinating FENWT newsletter w/ PNWCG Info Working Team,
shelving of smoke dispersion guidance for the time being.
Brian Goff briefed the group on NFDR Operating Plans, their process, purpose, and submitted a briefing
paper outlining a strategy for implementation of operating plans across Oregon and Washington.
Terry Marsha (meteorologist, NWCC Predictive Services) provided an overview of the 7-Day Significant
Fire Potential Forecast and its operating plan, citing similarities and differences with the NFDR Ops plan.
John Saltenberger followed, highlighting next generation changes to the NFDRS/7-Day and the possible
integration of NDFD (National Digital Forecast Data) information available through the National Weather
Service via Matt Jolly’s NFDRS forecast products.
Group Consensus: NFDR Operating Plans function as a decision tool for local agency administrators and
fire managers. They establish expectations and document decisions related to fire danger,
preparedness, and agency/public/industry use of protected lands, using observation day + 1 data to
make determinations. They also provide guidance for a data collection network and data quality
control, as well as a communication network for necessary feedback. The Ops Plans also serve as an
interagency arena in which different agency administrators can discuss and reach consensus on how
best to administrate public lands. The 7-Day product is a relatively new forecast tool used for estimating
fire potential and primarily informing decision-making relative to resource mobilization and allocation
at, but not limited to, national/regional levels.
Thursday, June 5
Brian Potter overviewed changes/updates to SMARTFIRE, its interface with FAMWEB 209s, and ability to
spatially chart, pixel by pixel, large fire spread from its initial reporting location.
John Saltenberger and Robin Heffernan (NICC Predictive Services Meteorologist, via teleconference)
shared information on the National MOU between NWS and the fire agencies. In short, much of the
information in the MOU covers activities that occur in the PNW, so that the Regional MOU will only
address the issues specific to the region, namely, the location of an NWS meteorologist at NWCC for 8
months to supplement the Predictive Services meteorologist staff.
The group discussed the strategic plan and talk centered on the general shortage of FBAN/LTANs in the
geographic area. Discussion resulted in two action items:
1.
Quantify shortage of FBAN/LTANs in OR and WA. Articulate the role of an FBAN/LTAN on an
incident and how fire behavior information is used—does the presence of an FBAN on an
incident, vs a Fire Behavior Specialist overseen by an FBAN, make a difference to operations or
safety? Can we use analysts differently than we do now? Geoff Babb, Dan O’Brien, Todd Rankin
will chase this info down and report back to the group by the middle of September.
2. Develop a communication strategy/network for FENWT for the purpose of disseminating info to
consumers and to raise awareness of fire behavior roles among developing fire mgmt
employees. Contact individuals outside FENWT for the purpose of developing a Fire
Environment Workshop late winter/early spring; use this as one method of facilitating
communications with potential fire analysts. John Saltenberger, Teresa Vaughn and Brian Potter
will report back to the group by June 25 with an update on the conference, otherwise they’ll
brief the group on their findings in mid-September.
Other items listed for the strategic plan but not discussed include:
1. Develop comprehensive decision support tools/methods for long-term fire planning/AMR and
methods of evaluating the tools. (K. Stevens)
2. Guidance for quality control of data supporting decision tools, including ways of corporatizing or
centralizing data. (T.Rankin)
3. Affects of climate change on analyses utilizing historic wx data. Analysis tool access, design, and
support. Air quality relative to land mgmt objectives and AMR. (B. Potter).
4. Support of Interagency Fire Danger Operating Plans and, in the future, a Fire Danger Operating
Plan Workshop (B.Goff).
5. Develop tools that provide seamless decision-support through the full range of fire management
activities: prescribed fire through fire use through perimeter control fire suppression.
6. Develop best business practices for utilizing IMETs on prescribed burns.
Group adjourned at 1200 hours. A conference call/web meeting is tentatively scheduled for midSeptember.
D. O’Brien, PNW-FENWT chair