PNWCG TWT MINUTES:
1/17/01
In attendance:
Dave Luse (WDNR), Andy Anderson (F&WS), Era Horton (OR Dept. of Public Safety Standards & Training), Dale Kamrath (Oregon Fire Service), Dick Gormley (Washington State Fire Service), Diana VanCurler (PNW Training Center), Mike Spencer (BLM/FS), Ed Daniels (ODF), Bill Donaghu (BIA), Scott Sorrenson (Guest from the Clark County Fire Dist. #3)
Julia Genre (Siskiyou NF, Meeting Manager)
Christina Starcher (Umpqua NF, notetaker)
Commencement: 09:21
ACTION ITEMS:
- Era Horton
–Recruiting for instructors for S-330, 244, 245, 260, 234.
–Update on FEMA 300 on-line course
- Dave Luse
–S-420 team nominations to be in to Era by March 31.
- Dave Luse
–To prepare a letter to NWCG with PNWCG Terry Hueth signature on the HECM taskbook, to be completed by Feb.
- Mike Spencer
–Letter to PNWCG request for CD-ROM for I-100, 200, 300 level courses.
–Takes lead on gathering RFP, TWT members will brainstorm on formulating the RFP for the strategic business plan
–Re-present training specialist liaison position to the PNWCG steering committee. TWT to develop strategic plan to show the need for the training specialist liaison position.
–Push training mobilization letter through again.
- Ed Daniels
–Working with Jim Brain on developing NFDRS courses, 1 short version and 1 national equivalency.
–Also working with Jim on identifying and training cadre for NFDRS.
–Ed will give a progress report at February conference call.
- Julia Genre
–Draft a letter to Rx fire team addressing 340’s complexity and training needs concerns.
–Gather similar position descriptions on training specialist liaisons
–Give update on website by April, draft letter for wide distribution on the new page.
–Draft letter and form (for Dale and Mike) requesting information on completed taskbooks, training, etc.
Consensus made at meeting
–TWT approved continuations of S-420 development
–Approval of developing Rx fire modeling techniques into a train-the-trainer course.
–Each unit needs to develop a method for tracking trained/cert. ratio. Team will implement this tracking for 1 year, will continue if successful.
–TWT to come back to steering committee with a concept and proposal for an all risk conference.
Area Training Meetings
Era attended the East Slope meeting. East Slope (COCC) needs instructors for S-330, S-244 (Field Observer), S-245 Display Processor, S-260, business mgt, S-234, all responses should be emailed to Era Horton.
TWT Charter
PNWCG to still approve charter.
HECM taskbook
HECM taskbook variant was approved. Dave Luse to prepare the letter to the steering committee to sign with emphasis on issues regarding/allowing agencies to take care of taskbooks the way they choose, inconsistencies should be brought to their attention, request them to change a specific inconsistency (demob). Dave will have completed by February 22.
Strategic Business planning proposal
Steering committee liked idea, but unsure of the source of funding or specific person to take lead. Mike Spencer to go out and contract Request for Proposal (RFP) for business planning proposal by April 4-5 meeting. Estimated costs are at $9800+.
RFP to be developed by group (or several people in the committee). 09:00 mtg. tomorrow (1-18) on brainstorming RFP. Feb. 1 will be the deadline to Spencer.
Fire Services training specialist liaison
Steering committee came back to TWT asking for very specific position description, what is it going to do, what’s the benefits, etc. Idea is for the person to go out to the fire services, introduce them to the PNWCG and how they can help them train their folks and where to go to get networking established for qualified instructors, materials, and cross training.
Fire Services were confused at idea of a person from the TWT representing all of the fire services, and some concerns about funding a new position when fire services are having trouble funding current positions.
Julia to gather position descriptions of similar positions for Fire services training specialist . Information will help with the strategic plan.
TWT will rescind the request from PNWCG and develop the strategic plan to show the need for the Fire Service Training Specialist. State and Fire Services support will be needed to be successful.
S-420
Missoula is currently doing alpha test, new materials for the course are not available, target date for new course is March 2002 in Spokane.
Concerns on finding qualified instructors, need to stay within PNWCG standards, instructors need to be approved by TWT.
3 conflagrations overhead teams are being developed in Oregon, it is suggested that one more interagency team be developed as a backup, interagency nominations to Dale by March 31.
S-420 class must meet PNWCG standards, using interagency cadre and having interagency students.
Consensus, the TWT has approved the continuation of S-420 training development.
Letter to PNWCG, request CD-Rom for I-100, 200, and 300 courses
Status – still working on this, Mike will draft letter by April meeting.
Previous discussion - TWT not wanting to try to develop something that Boise is already developing.
NFDRS
Redmond has currently not received pre-work results back as of yet, they are going to continue to put on the course, scheduled for May 7-11.
5 RX courses are currently being given every year, it has been suggested that RX fire modeling techniques course be kicked down to the local GACC level and that next year the course be presented as a train-the-trainer course in 2002. In 2003 the course will be moved to the local level.
There is currently not any information available for percentage of success rate being greater or less with a train the trainer course.
ODF has a strong interest and need to getting people trained, NE Oregon has requested that Jim Brain provide a shorter NFDRS course targeted to IA folks, it is believed that Jim has agreed to do this. It is desired that Jim design his course in a way that can be canned and easily passed along to other instructors. Jim is also presenting an NFDRS course equivalent to the national level in addition to the shorter “200” level NFDRS course.
Oregon Fire Service believes that there will be a strong need and interest for the NFDRS course as well.
There is a CD-ROM or presentation available for “Intro to NFDRS”; ODF is planning on using this for the pretest and/or precourse study.
Consensus that the Rx fire modeling techniques has been approved to become a train-the-trainer course.
NWCG states that qualified instructors need to present under a qualified supervisor, we need to allow instructors more opportunity to qualify.
Ed Daniels is willing to work with Jim Brain to identify shadow cadres to develop and train more folks this May for NFDRS (the full version). Ed will give an update during the February conference call on the progress of these shadow cadre.
S-301
It is believed to be a required course for 5109.
301 have had many improvements, which is causing more people to want the course.
There is a possibility of farming out 301, but it should not be farmed out without a solid plan, strong cadre, and well-designed course plan. Currently there is a need for 2 courses a year, the needs analysis and Redmond’s workload will determine whether a 2nd course will be put on in 2002.
RX-340
Can we accommodate more if we do this course off site, or are it too difficult to put on off Redmond. Course already given off-site in Portland. There was a previous discussion that revealed that it is very expensive to put on this course due to the computers, doctor certified instructors and equipment needed. WA Institute required $550 tuition, Redmond costs about $250, the difference is mainly in lodging and perdiem.
If there is enough number 1 priorities for the course, a second course should be put on, currently there are 24 number 1’s. The priority list may be an inaccurate indicator because some units/agencies combine priorities differently, making number 2’s as important as number 1’s.
340’s complexity makes keeping the instructors in house seem like a better decision than farming the course out to contractors.
A letter to the PNWCG Prescribed Fire Working Team should be formulated about TWT’s concerns on course instructors, complexity, additional training for prescribed fire needs, efficiency in delivery, and the funding needed. Julia will draw up this letter.
Needs analysis tracking
We need to establish a reporting system that states how many people that were trained became certified. This information will be sent to the units, consolidated by the training representatives, and submitted in the accomplishments report to PNWCG.
Tracking (300-400 levels) should indicate: classroom training by courses, taskbooks issued by positions, person’s certified by position, and training assignments by positions.
Consensus, the TWT has decided to implement this tracking for a year, if successful, they will continue. Information should be collected and report processed by Nov. 1 (due to no December meeting). Julia to draft letter and forward to Luse and Spencer for final edits.
Local Interagency Fire Management
Consensus: This course will be delivered on an alternate schedule because there are more people needing this course. The limiting factor for running 2 courses at the same time is instructors.
PNWCG wildland fire conference
Original objectives and purpose was to network, build teamwork, comorodity, and training between fire services and agencies. PNWCG felt that mission was met and not to have another “wildland fire” conference again.
The steering committee wants the TWT to look at some more specific needs for the PNWCG wildland fire conference and come back with a concept and a proposal more oriented towards “all risk emergency” conference (basically a different name).
Was concern from the steering committee, that another trade show is not wanted. Several TWT members feel that the conference was never a tradeshow, but an information-sharing forum.
Some concerns from the steering committee was the fear that some units/agencies would not send people to a conference that was not going to give some sort of certification. Response from TWT was that the conference was never meant to certify anyone, it is a place to share information and for people to learn new ideas and concepts.
TWT members have a full workload, they would rather hire someone to do the work (and not get funded) rather than waste TWT time doing the work (and not get funded). Reminder to talk with Charlie Phenix, Siskiyou NF who was the IC putting that conference on for ideas and suggestions. Also talked about adding more days to the Annual Training Officers Meeting.
Consensus that this conference should be a bullet item in the RFP for the strategic planning.
MAWD (Multi Agency Wildland Drill)
BIA and WA Fire Service in Spokane originated 2-day event that allowed people to get taskbooks filled out, trained, etc. There is talk about making this a weeklong event open to everyone (fire services, agencies, states, feds, etc.) May 15th is approximate date.
Spokane needs to burn – they are trying to figure out a way to combine the MAWD and the burning. They are going to need support from outside agencies to coordinate and pull this off.
Consideration needs to be made for the hosting agency and the entire breadth of the drill should be clearly understood by the host.
2001 is a “test” to see if it can grow larger for 2002 and be able to take the scenario anywhere.
300 FEMA course
Era reported that the objectives for this on-line course are being reviewed by a qualified instructor at this time; the course is looking like it is more at the 200 level. An update should be available by the next conference call.
PNWCG website: (
Julia followed the same formats as the other pages, question to the Team, should we keep the same format or branch of to something more unique? Training Information Communication System (TICS) studies show that consistency is very important.
Consensus from the Team that the layout should be the same, background could be different, continue to move forward with access to the Portland server.
Julia will have a final update before April and a draft send-off letter for announcing the new page.
Next TWT Meeting
February 22 at 1300, conference call.
April 4-5 at 0900 meeting will be at Redmond – Smoke Jumpers Room, not in Medford.
Training Mobilization
Spencer to push training mobilization letter through again.
Supervisory Training Specialist
Will not be filled until August, Beams doing a partial acting.
Spencer has talked with Torrence and explained that the position needs to be functional ASAP, even if it means a detailer. Will work on a letter for Dan.
Adjourned at 15:40
February 22, 2001 CONFERENCE CALL
AGENDA
Start at 1300 on Thursday
INTRODUCTIONS/GUEST MEMBERS
Welcome, Grounding, Updates, Review Agenda
Attend Local Training Meetings?
OLD BUSINESS
PNWCG feedback from 1/17 presentation – Spencer
TWT Charter, has it been approved?
Status of the S-420 Equivalency Course – Donaghu
Update from the Fuels Working Team
Supervisory Training Specialist position - Spencer
Finalize letter to Dan Torrence on having a TWT member part of the detailing process
(DRAFT letter by email)
Letter to NWCG asking the status of I-100, I-200 and I-300 level courses
Efforts on creating CD-ROM courses (Deb Eps)
(DRAFT letter by email)
Strategic Planning, RFP – Spencer
Update. Get RFP into contracting? Next step?
HECM TB letter to NWCG – Luse
Completed?
NFDRS - Daniels
Update. Jim Brain short course and identify shadow cadre
Recruiting cadre – Horton
Instructors, need more?
S-420
REMINDER to get nominations to Dale for 420
FEMA on-line S-300 course – Horton
Update on progress
PTB upward reporting – Luse, Genre
Update, review DRAFT letter for discussion
NEW BUSINESS
Training Center
Any updates, comments
CLOSE-OUT and CRITIQUE
First conference call, how did you like?
NEXT MEETING
April 4-5, 2001 – Training Center in Redmond, Smoke Jumper Room
NEXT FOUR MONTHS
February
5-9, Intermediate Air Operations
12-16, Facilitative Instruction-OR
20-23, I-400 Advance Incident Command System
20-23, S-300 Incident Commander Multi-Resource
22, TWT Conference Call
26-3/2, Facilitative Instructor-WA
March
5-9, RX-300 Prescribed Fire Burn Boss
12-16, S-300 with simulator, train-the-trainers
26-30, S-490 Advanced Fire Behavior
April
2-6, Fireline Leadership
4-5, TWT meeting Redmond Training Center, Smoke Jumper Room (course selections)
TWT Operating Plan
Web page
9-13, Local Fire Management for Agency Administrator
9-13, Computer Technical Specialist
16-20, Fire for Program Managers
23-27, Logistics Section Group
May
10/6/18PNWCG TWT MINUTESPage 1 of 8