Pacific Northwest Training Officers Meeting

PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANNUAL UNIT TRAINING OFFICER’S MEETING

OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 1, 2000

LOCATION: PORTLAND, OREGON FACILITY: Robert Lloyd Duncan Building, 3rd Floor

Target Group: Unit Training Officers, Forest Training Officers, ICS Training Specialists, Fire Management Officers, other Geographic Area Training Officers and representatives

Objectives: 1. Share new training information 2. Begin Developing 3-year PNW Training Strategic Plan

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2000

1300 Meeting Begins, Introductions Spencer

1330-1400 “Lessons Learned” program Rich Wands

1400-1500 National Fire Plan: Training Implications Laurie Perrett

1500-1600 Training Area Round-up Training Area Chairs Pacific Northwest Training Area Round-up ( Lessons Learned: What went well, areas to improve, ideas for the future. Training Planning, Course Delivery, Incident Training) Eastern Oregon Dave Quinn East Slope Oregon Ricky Smith Northwest Oregon Southwest Oregon Mike Weltch Western Washington Chuck Frame Eastern Washington Steve Baumann

1600-1630 Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program Shirley Sutliffe

1630-1730 Performance Based Qualification System/ Ed Daniels/ Incident Qualification System Powerpoint Dave Luse Presentation

* PNWCG TWT Meeting 1730-1830 with Pat McVicker

1 of 18 PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANNUAL UNIT TRAINING OFFICER’S MEETING

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2000

0800-0815 TWT Strategic Planning: Why? TWT

0830-1130 PNW Training Strategic Planning Pat McVicker

1130-1230 Lunch

1230-1530 Strategic Planning Process Continued Pat McVicker

1530-1630 Training Information Communication System Renee Beams and (TICS) – Training Website, Registar Program Kerry Kerr

1630-1700 FY 2001 Curriculum Specifics PNW Training Group  RX-340 Fire Effects for Resource Specialists  S-300 IC, Multi-Resource Train-the-Trainer  National Fire Danger Rating System  Logistics Group Training Include presentation from Rhonda Toronto, National Communications Training Specialist  S-420 Command & General Staff/Northern Rockies

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2000

0800-1000 Modifications in San Dimas Simulator Ralph Taylor Course Application S-300 Incident Commander, Multi-Resource

1000.1130 NWCG TWT Update Jim Glenn (cancelled) BLM N.O. Div. of Training Program Larry Sutton (cancelled)

1130-1200 Meeting Critique

1200 Meeting ends

IN ATTENDANCE:

Elwood Stout Malheur NF [email protected] Ed Daniels * ODF, Salem [email protected] Dick Gormley * WA State Fire Service [email protected] Chris Johnson Medford, BLM [email protected] Mike Hannan Medford, BLM [email protected] Dennis Sifford Douglas Forest Protective Assn. Roseburg [email protected] Kathy Robbins ODF, NWOA office/Forest Grove [email protected] Sally Estes OKF- WEF NF OKF Dispatch [email protected] Jack Ellinger OKF-WEF NF Methow Fire [email protected] Kathy Pipkin OKF-WEF CWICC [email protected] Steve Baumann OKF-WEF NF [email protected] Don Deese Colville NF Colville, WA [email protected] Myrna Duke OKF-WEF CWICC [email protected] Bea Guerrero Mt. Hood NF 16400 Champion Way, Sandy, Or [email protected] 97030 Andy Anderson * FWS/R.O., 911 NE llth Ave., Portland, Or 97232 [email protected] Bill Donaghu * NWRO/BIA ., 911 NE llth Ave., Portland, Or [email protected] 97232 Nancy Ashlock Eugene BLM [email protected] Carl West Siuslaw NF/Salem BLM, Corvallis, Or [email protected] Dale Kamrath Lane Co F.D #1, PO Box 275, Veneta, Or 97487 [email protected] Era Horton * DPSST – Or Fire Training, PO 2782 Lapine, Or [email protected] 97739 Pete Peterson US Forest Service, CRGNSA 902 Wasco Ave., [email protected] HR, OR James Holroyd Deschutes-Ochoco/ COIDC 4550 Airport Way, [email protected] Prineville, Or Phil Rapp Oregon Dept. of Forestry, Central Oregon Dist., [email protected] 4550 Airport Way, Prineville, Or Diana Van Curler Deschutes-Ochoco, RAC 1740 SE Ochoco Way, [email protected] Redmond, Or Rich Wands NARTC [email protected] Dan Torrence Redmond Air Center [email protected] Ron Fritsch BLM-Spokane [email protected] Katie McConnell Burns Interagency Fire Zone [email protected] ov David C. Quinn NE Oregon/LaGrande, Or [email protected] Mike Larsen PICC/UMF [email protected] Mindy Sherrieb ODF Klamath-Lake Dist., 3200 DeLap Rd., [email protected] Klamath Falls, OR 97601 Jim Walker CFPA/ODF Coos Bay, Or [email protected] Daryl Grenz Umpqua NF [email protected] Neal Laugle ODF Astoria Dist. [email protected] Ricky Smith Lakeview Interagency Fire Center [email protected] 3 of 18 PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANNUAL UNIT TRAINING OFFICER’S MEETING

Carmen Thomas Lakeview Interagency Fire Center [email protected] Earl Burke Coos Bay BLM [email protected] Adrienne Hall PSICC-Paine Field, Everret, WA [email protected] Bob Reis WA DNR-NW Region, Sedro-Wooley WA [email protected] David Luse * WA/DNR Olympia [email protected] Roald Bendixen USCG (D13) Seattle Rbendixen@PACNORWES T.uscg.mil Dave LaFave Longview/Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue [email protected] .us Mike Gomez DOI/PNWTC Redmond Air Center [email protected] Kerry Kerr Redmond Air Center [email protected] Lauri Bartel Medford Fire Center, Rogue River NF [email protected] Christina Starcher Umpqua NF, Diamond Lake Dispatch [email protected] Michael Spencer * USFS/BLM State/Regional Office [email protected]

* = Pacific Northwest Coordinating Group, Training Working Team

10/30/00-11/10/00 DRAFT UN-CUT, UN-EDITED, UN-REVIEWED NOTES

A. LESSON’S LEARNED: www.nartc.net a. Rich Wands (NARTC) Review the year, replicate the incidents that worked well and avoid those that did not.

b. Goal is to establish and incorporate lessons learned into the wildland fire training curriculum. (Fight as you train, train as you fight) Origin began with the realization that our agency needed to establish a center for lessons learned. Current focus are: application to wildland fire training curriculum, improving safety, incident mgt., and establishing a web based system that allows access to everyone. November 6th will be the introduction of www.nartc.net .

c. Lessons learned is a system of collecting, storing , and transferring to training actual experiences, and observances. The “lessons learned” are captured through individual team subimissions (see attachment) and information collection teams.

B. What was learned in 2000: a. (Success) i. Increased safety awareness ii. Better structural contingency planning iii. IMT oversight teams iv. Use of unified command v. Agency administrator involvement vi. Expanding the use of local hires b. (Problem areas) i. Policy adherence ii. Obsolete radio systems iii. Using contract resources iv. 14 day policy v. 215 A process vi. WFSA process vii. Lack of SOP’s between teams viii. Resource ordering process ix. Cost effectiveness and accountability x. Military battalions and IMT’s xi. Infra-red couldn’t meet the need xii. Some cases of (still catching fire at the next ridge versus best ridge) xiii. Incorporating rural, local, and volunteer depts. into incident management c. (Training areas) i. Training of IMT’s on contract requirements ii. Transfer of command process iii. Training on military use iv. IAP development v. Teams working with the public and media vi. Rehab process and policies vii. Expanding the use of GIS

d. Contact: i. Rich Wands [email protected]

C. NATIONAL FIRE PLAN: TRAINING IMPLICATIONS Laurie Perret: a. Congress has passed a $1.8 billion dollar appropriations bill to correct the resource shortages, and ecosystem problems.

i. Money will add additional people to the fire workforce: ii. FS = 500 people iii. BLM = 100 iv. F&W = 60 v. BIA = 30-50 vi. NPS = 50 vii. Total for PNW = 750 new people this year

b. Many positions will be entry level. Note - these numbers are very rough. These numbers are projected to reach our most efficient level (MEL) of funding and resources.

c. The FS is looking to balance the workforce and looking at utilizing contractors more efficiently. The goal is to protect communities and improve ecosystem health.

d. There will be a lot of 100 – 200 level courses and on the job training courses to meet the needs of the new work force. Safety and supervision are going to be crucial this year. New training needs will be learning how to work, talk, and listen to communities.

e. The budget is very tightly controlled, because a lot of the dollars are assigned to emergency contingency only. As a result, release of funds will be contigent upon submission of request detailing expenditures.

f. Integration needs to take place between federal, state, and local agencies, and just as importantly, communities. Confusion on grant requests and processes could be a result of lack of integration.

g. FireWise is a wildland urban interface training package designed to address the problems in the interface, and these types of training packages should be the direction of many trainings. Resource advisor groups, local stewardship counsels are good links to working with the communities.

D. Q&A for Laurie Perret:

a. 5109.17 versus 310-1 i. FS problem, 5109.17 is a FS manual and does not fit 310-1, causing problems. National Office is working on it. NWCG says that any agency can add quals. to national standards, the FS did add additional quals (5109.17), which is why they are higher than the 310-1.

b. Are structural Fire Department’s available for grants i. It is believed so, VFD’s assistance is included in this money. Grants are looking for fuel treatments on non-fed. lands and education of communities in understanding interface.

c. 3 yr. money process, when are we expected to meet MEL i. Because some agencies may require a huge step to reach 100%, the FS national office realizes that 2001 may be more of a transitional period. Intent and expectation to meet MEL is ASAP.

d. Impacts on personnel, will there be an establishment of an IMT to handle Natl. Fire Plan i. Many geographic areas are leaning towards initiating an IMT, Northwest is viewing it as a normal course of business, and we are not going to establish an IMT.

e. FS staffing requesting an additional 500 personnel to meet this workforce development i. Because of the loss of experience in fire leadership, the national office is going to throw an additional 500 positions to make up for this loss, 500 more in 2002, and 500 more in 2003.

f. 9214 standards within 2 yrs. i. Advised that the PNWCG training group take a look at this.

g. Firewise class, can it be incorporated with I-401 (multiple interagency training) i. Yes.

h. Competitive in hiring these 500 people, or will they make more money in the private sector i. Yes, PNW has a good reputation for hiring and training a diverse group of people. ii. Is there a way to retain personnel without the private sector stealing upcoming stars? None known at this time, PNW looks at it as building a larger fire community.

i. Link between the NFP appropriation and the fed bill that provides more money to fire service (FEMA). FEMA grant is an additional 3.1 billion dollars in addition to NFP i. It is believed that the language in the congress bill will not necessarily be approved when it comes down to allocation. It is not believed that FEMA will provide an additional 3.1 billion to the fire community.

j. Where is planning $ coming from (BLM) i. FS = WFHF ii. BLM = 2823 iii. Tightly controlled national strings will directly equate to accomplishment on the ground. Money is coming for action and not so much planning.

E. TRAINING AREA ROUND UP: a. Eastern Oregon - Dave Quinn i. Curious as to what is the status of Aviation 2000? (It is a program set up by the interagency aviation folks, to supplement or take the place of training that is now in

place) the current training requires too many years to acquire the necessary training – up to 15 years. An aviation committee is working on writing up a plan; if it is successful it may be implemented. The packet has been handed off to Hugh Carson in Nevada, he is supposed to be finishing this document, but it is not known for sure. There is a draft taskbook out for aircraft dispatching. Part of the problem is, that state has different standards that allow them to move folks through much faster; the Federal side is not allowed to move at the same pace. NWCG is moving towards all risk, they are rewriting taskbooks constantly; anyone with a recommendation needs to make sure to relay it up to PNWCG.

b. East Slope – Rick Smith i. Getting better organized in training, now trying to get all agencies to share and help each other in training courses, rather than going strictly to COCC. They are developing a training website. They are also trying to share instructors; they are currently struggling with getting qualified instructors. East slope put on 25 courses last year, they are looking at doubling the lower level courses in 2001. Have not addressed the issue of no infrastructure money yet.

c. NW Oregon – John i. Needs analysis for courses are being developed, will try to get it put on the Willamette web page. They are looking at getting a qualified instructor for S-300. S-336 is still a valid course.

d. SW Oregon – Daryl Grenz i. Offering 10 courses in 2001. Course schedule has been put together, not on the web page yet, but working on it. D-110, S-205, S-215, S-200, P-151, S-234, S-260, S-290, I-300, S-390, S-490 will be offered. Anyone requesting training for students need to go through Brett Phylis.

e. W. Washington – i. Training is on the web. Have 16 + classes scheduled this season. Planning on coordinating a guard school this year. S-130/190 may be presented to fire districts on CD-rom, if they pass the classwork, then they can go onto the field portion of the class.

f. E. Washington – Steve Baumann i. Offered 65 courses last year, will offer 94 this year including guard school. Looked at needs analysis and took anything that had 40 or more people. A lot of training taking place doesn’t seem to have the time to monitor courses the way it is needed. Comment – need to be aware of the fact that people don’t have enough work time to get training in, when money comes in, we need to remember the folks we have now.

F. WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM: Shirley Sutliffe, R5 program coordinator a. Originated in 1990, handled and managed by a contractor. In 1997 the FS felt it was time to manage the program. Folks are hired at GS-4’s through student co-op. Program is a 4000 hour program with 2000 hours being work experience. Formal training consist of a 4 week basic academy (hand crew skills), then spending the summer working on a module, with the

following year they have an advanced academy of 4 weeks. There are 213 hours of supplemental and related training in addition to the 2000 hrs, - the sponsoring unit puts on these trainings. An academic standard has been established, it is 80% pass or fail, and they are removed from the academy if they fail. If someone does fail, it does not keep them from reapplying and trying again next year, many failures were directly and admittedly related to the individual not being prepared. Once students complete all training and on ground tasks, they can be converted into GS-5’s. All courses are accredited; they will receive approximately 11 credits per academy. This is a fully nationally recognized program. Once students complete the program, they will have everything they need to be a qualified single resource.

b. An additional 500 new folks are to be trained through the WFAP this year; these 500 are different from the 500 that are to be hired nationally to fill in behind those who are retiring.

c. Concerns are that current facilities will not allow for the training of 250 new apprentices concurrently. Shirley is currently seeking and reviewing locations to train these students while retaining quality training.

d. Crewboss, single resource, and cadre type people are needed to help put on the academies desperately. The WFAP funding pays for salary, perdiem, travel, and OT.

G. PERFORMANCE BASED QUALIFICATION SYSTEM/ INCIDENT QUALIFICATION SYSTEM POWERPOINT PRESENTATION a. To be rebuilt. b. The presentation describes necessary requirements, documentation, standards and expectations for training assignments. It is an especially good presentation for folks who do not have firefighting as a primary job, (i.e. time recorder, finance section chief, etc.). Total presentation time is approx. 2 hrs. The whole presentation is in PowerPoint and fits on a 3 ½ floppy. People interested in the program should contact Dave Luse or Ed Daniels.

Tuesday 10/31/00

H. STRATEGIC PLANNING Pat McVicker a. The customer 12 years ago was the FS, now it is everyone, public, law enforcement, etc. The need 12 years ago was wildfire, now it is all risk. Curriculums have changed as well, some meet customers needs, others don’t. i. Organizational analysis 1. Curriculums have been changed and developed, but there are no feedback loops to tell trainers weather the training programs are effective or not. ii. Assess the team 1. Id who is running what part of the programs iii. ID values 1. It is important for all in an organization to state and agree upon what is important to the organization iv. Create the Org. vision 1. Describe where the org. wants to be in the future, describe what is envisioned in your minds eye right now v. Review the mission 1. Keep up with changing needs and customers vi. Strategic issue and opportunities 1. ID what your concerns are, then develop a strategy to avoid these problems vii. Develop goals viii. Develop mission orientated goals ix. Develop strategic goals x. Consolidate & prioritize goals xi. Develop strategies, objectives, action plans, and resources

b. An organizational diagnosis questionnaire showed that the organization needed work in all areas: purpose, structure, leadership, relationships, rewards, helpful mechanisms, and attitudes towards change.

c. Another issue is that there really isn’t any incentive for people to take on the extra duties of training others. Being an instructor usually just gets people behind in their home duties, this is directly relating to the quality of training courses.

d. Concerns on training courses being poorly put on due to consolidated jobs, downsizing, people doing jobs that are not their primary positions, etc.

e. Results of pure brainstorming of issues, concerns, opportunities. Not weighed or discussed. i. Training is not our primary job ii. Prep. time is not budgeted by training mgr. or allowed by managers ( done on own) iii. last courses in a season start getting watered down and higher level courses get the quality instructors while the lower levels may not iv. not enough time to monitor the quality of instruction by the training officers v. due to downsizing, managers are prioritizing training as a lower rating, training is the first thing that gets cut first during budget crunches

vi. training is not an identified program in the org. (we have suppression, fuels, etc., but not training) vii. philosophies have changed (we aren’t cutting trees, and burning slash, so people aren’t getting the exp., esp. non-firefighters, this is also not giving “ologists” correct or expanded perspectives) viii. “ologists” don’t have interest in fire, they don’t have the same value set ix. agencies have not specifically recruited trainers, trainers are found by default x. agency line officers feel that they have less of an obligation to fire because they have less of a background in timber and fire xi. 4 month training shift versus year around training xii. different qualifications standards between agencies xiii. different qualification tracking systems xiv. mgrs. unwilling to accept the amount of formal trn. Required xv. seasonals miss on higher quality trn, due to finance and scheduling xvi. higher level courses are limited in size xvii. have not explored all available resources to put on training yet xviii. different level of students showing up in classes due to different standards in qualifications, this makes it extremely tough for the cadre to meet all the needs xix. scheduled training and ground applications are to far apart and not allowing retention xx. mgr.s will allow students to go to training, but then not let them go out onto the ground, loss of dollar value xxi. fires not taking trainees xxii. budget constraints xxiii. to many self paced courses, CD-roms, e-college, etc. (21st century technology in training) xxiv. need more follow up by TWT on lower level courses taught locally xxv. students need more career direction xxvi. need more people in mentoring positions xxvii. lack of acceptance and understanding of performance based qualifications xxviii. trainers overwhelmed with numbers of student they have to deal with/train xxix. consistency in the message that is being taught xxx. PTB orientation is lacking, issuer not briefing receiver xxxi. Opportunities fall short of need xxxii. Needs analysis is not an accurate tool, mass nominations, but actual shows do not match xxxiii. Lack of mgt. to support interagency trn. xxxiv. Because of time restraints, agencies are depending more on community colleges which raise the costs xxxv. Network is not large enough to get training to smaller private groups xxxvi. Interagency and out of region trainers and trainees are needed because it is better training experience xxxvii. Not flexible in number of hours allowed for training xxxviii. Not enough time for lead instructor to put together a quality cadre xxxix. Other training of “ologist” and field assignments are competing with fire training xl. Materials/products updates are cumbersome (3-5 year cycles) xli. Find a way to make the update of courses faster, contract it out, make the updates all risk xlii. Area specific courses, SE has unique problems that NW does not, etc.

xliii. Limited $ resources for all risk trn. xliv. “breakfast club” bottle necks training update movements xlv. lack of technology advancements xlvi. agency is not recognizing wildland folks that have a lot of VFD exp., untapped resources xlvii. OR/WA not integrating well xlviii. Technology/Idea sharing xlix. Good programs or conferences are cut due to money l. Too many groups within sub geographic area committees going in different directions li. training coordination jurisdictions and processes are not clear or well advertised lii. poor communications between GACC’s liii. wildland agencies not willing to learn structure side of fire liv. project work not emphasizing what is taught in class lv. no train the trainer courses lvi. trainers not allowing trainees to practice (no real coaching) lvii. delivering site specific training to communities lviii. contracting community may not be getting quality training (retirees who have been out of the game are doing training and are not updated) lix. mgrs out of game for to long, problems getting them to accept new ideas or update their knowledge lx. contract trainers do not work with training officers at all lxi. no one is trained as COR’s to deal with contractor training lxii. contractors are kept separate in the training arena, they do a self-certification process lxiii. extremely difficult to pick up AD trainers to train agency personnel lxiv. statutory constraints prevent opportunities lxv. local unwritten policies/procedures that conflict lxvi. training officers definitions differ lxvii. training officers may have little training experience lxviii. we don’t have training officers, we have training coordinators lxix. PTB’s experience not tied back to training lxx. No feedback provided to instructors on success or failures of students lxxi. Equipment design problems, engine conversion from wild to structure, over weight, this is a barrier to learning structure side lxxii. All risk training conversion is attracting more customers which puts a bigger strain on trainers lxxiii. Need to establish positions for strictly training (training coordinators/officers/managers) lxxiv. Training working team doesn’t have enough resources (training is not primary for them either) lxxv. All customers are not represented on the TWT lxxvi. TWT doesn’t have the budget to implement plans, current budget is $0.00 lxxvii. TWT has responsibility to do things, but not the authority to execute lxxviii. TWT priorities are secondary to natl. priorities, so goals are not accomplished timely lxxix. TWT should go to the area meetings more (liaisons) lxxx. Some “players” do not recognize their role (Police depts. Don’t realize that they should be attending mtgs., etc.) lxxxi. Training season not catching seasonal workforce lxxxii. New money influx

lxxxiii. New positions, facilities, hazardous fuels reduction, coming with money, this equates into more training lxxxiv. Should we develop more positions when we know that we will not be able to support them in a few years after the moneys gone lxxxv. Need to mentor people to fill in TWT or training officers for those retiring lxxxvi. Agencies can be participators in training, we don’t have to be leaders only lxxxvii. Use outside existing ideas in all risk services lxxxviii. Need to take advantage of technology lxxxix. Use new money to catch up with technology xc. Need to train instructors on how to use this new technology xci. “Vultures” are noticing new money and wanting the money f. Prioritize and categorize brainstorming ideas i. Identified groups were: 1. establish training programs and prioritization 2. develop continuity within the training program a. consistent standards and feedback 3. better use of technology 4. maximized training opportunities for seasonal work force 5. accomplish true interagency training, vertically and horizontally g. TWT feedback on session i. Have never had direct input from customers (us), will feed it back up the ladder ii. Hoping that folks in fire service will cause us to look at new and different ways to do things iii. Agency issues are the same as fire service/ and structure issues iv. Learned a lot of new issues that people had v. A lot of issues that folks talked about have reinforced the same issues with TWT

I. TRAINING INFORMATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Renee Beams, Kerry Kerr a. TICS is a national wildland webpage, this is a national program i. Alaska, California, Eastern, Great Basin, Northern Rockies, Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Southern, and Southwest are the players. ii. Objective is to improve service to the customer and to reduce duplication of training admin. services. iii. Phase 2 of the program is to help all geo. areas to come on line. iv. Benefits include up to the minute data, telephone traffic workload cut down, faster delivery of products

b. Send nominations to r6 pnwcg [email protected], send all electronic noms for one class in one message

c. New Registrar (course database program) will save lots of typing if noms are sent in electronically and fields are filled in correctly on nomination forms

d. IQCS (inter-agency Database Project) i. It is being worked on, 2 years out to completion

e. S-300 – target audience are people who are going back to their home unit to train a course

13 of 18 PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANNUAL UNIT TRAINING OFFICER’S MEETING f. NFDRS has been totally rewritten, look at the prerequisites on the web g. Communication Unit leader does not have enough noms, if number doesn’t come up, the class will be cancelled h. All out of region noms have to go through the regional training center, so the TWT can prioritize them i. There is a place on the web page that states policies, procedures, and processes for doing this. i. RX-340 – having problems finding a facility that can support the technology needed to put on the course. The plan is to put on 2 classes at once where the instructors will be tag teaming back and forth. Class schedule is Feb. 11th, new instructor is Ken Paul. Ken has asked for burn boss types to be evaluators, contact him if you have folks interested j. Let Mike Gomez know if you have any folks who could help be fuels instructors for any type of fuel courses. k. RX-300 - Al Augustine will take over, John Holcomb will assist

11/01/00

J. S-300 INCIDENT COMMANDER, MULTIPLE RESOURCES, SAN DIMAS SIMULATOR Ralph Taylor & Carl Bambarger a. 400 firefighters have been tested across the country

b. Technology was taken from a Canadian system, price was $50,000. Entire system is now on a CD-rom. The purpose of the CD is to teach personnel how to organize and manage an incident.

c. The project has been completed with the exception of an operator’s manual, which is being developed; it is expected to be done in January/Feb.

d. The simulator has been used to refresh troops before the fires season, at engine academies, prior to dispatches out of region/state, and for exercises in other courses.

e. There are some vendors that are making simulators that can be accessed via internet, the concerns are slow phone lines, getting bumped off line, and lack of internet hook-ups in remote areas. The CD-rom provided with the San Dimas system will alleviate these problems.

f. Farsite has been integrated with the system. This allows instructors to quickly (without the student knowing) go into the program and change fire weather so that the student must eventually call in a Type 1 or 2 Overhead team (which is the purpose of the class – to learn how to transition).

g. The program allows for single or multiple player simulations. It also allows for instructors to speed up or slow down matching each student’s capabilities. You can also change fuels types to train students to fight fire in different fuels.

h. Requirements are: i. Computer with a CD-rom drive, ii. recommended large hard drive, iii. has to be Windows 98 or better, iv. second video card, v. sound system, vi. display system (projector/big screen TV), vii. radios (handheld, or integrated radio system), 1. they are still working on developing a better system for audio input for the simulation. Jan/Feb is the projected date for completing the development of the better audio system; the current system will work fully as it is now.

i. What you get with the system: i. 1 development CD system ii. program and associated files iii. two scripts (S200-S300) iv. User guide v. FarSite and associated files

vi. development video files vii. read Me file viii. 4 fuel type video Media CD’s ix. video media for user application 1. Some strobe effect may be found in the program, this is solved by lowering your resolution j. Networking website i. ability to swap media with people from other areas, fuel types, etc., it will be set up as a bulletin board were people can make requests for video clips and others may download files. It is also a place were new ideas and uses may be shared. ii. Contact Information 1. Carl Bambarger, (909) 599-1267 ext. 253, [email protected] , 2. Ralph Taylor email = [email protected] 3. webpage – http://fsweb.sdtdc.wo.fs.fed.us

K. HAZARDOUS FUELS UPDATE Tim Rich a. Burn plan writing course is being put on this year by BLM, it is a beta course. The BLM is going to test run it this year in Boise b. Elements of fuels mgt., going to be made into a PNWCG course, it is planned to be contracted out. When it comes on line, it will be interagency. Target date is in 2002. i. Some critique has stated that the course is too elementary. TWT is planning on contracting out the development of the course, these issues will be addressed. c. NPS had some fuels courses that went national, last known information is that they still are putting on a monitoring course, it is believed to be somewhere East. d. The fuels appraisal course was FS only, it currently is not planned to be resurrected. L. MEETING CRITIQUE a. CRITIQUE i. The meeting gave a lot more than the agenda announced ii. Would like a better sound system, can’t hear in the back 1. suggested that back room people move up iii. strategic planning was good, it will be much better to see implementation of it iv. new comers to training had difficulty following issues in meeting v. need more participation from management, there could be more discussions if they were here to address some of the issues vi. need to send out agenda vii. enjoyed the TICS presentation, very excited to see it get on line fully viii. new info. and tech. sharing was very beneficial ix. strategic planning – more direction, better direction from TWT to meet the training needs regionally and locally x. need representation for training and developments from contractors, 1. would like to see a presentation on the issues in contract training COR’s xi. training area round-up needed better direction, what is supposed to be represented on this topic xii. sharing of ideas and info. that work is very important xiii. RAC would like to hear on how they are interacting with others xiv. “TRADE” conference – every area is asked to bring something new that works for them.

xv. Have course schedules/catalogs up early on internet, before the meeting, so that it can be reviewed and other areas can see where they might be of assistances to others. 1. trainees, trainers, etc. xvi. Need to make a harder push to get other partners to do training, esp. in all risk areas? 1. make a better effort to inviting and getting them to our mtg. 2. include items in the agenda that have meaning to other partners xvii. get more info. out early so states, districts can invite their training officers here xviii. As we expand, there still needs to be core times that deal with agency issues 1. have designated breakouts xix. TWT should develop a registration process, so they can have an idea of how large of a turnout the conf. will be and who’s coming xx. No time to put together conference, yet it turned out very well, hopefully we can plan better next year, maybe timing will be different depending to severity of season xxi. Would like to see a presentation on how the whole training gammet is structured, including the different agencies xxii. Would like to see NWCG and state reps appear at mtg. xxiii. How do you send feedback up the line to the right person xxiv. How does the system work in general xxv. Appropriate agenda items for mgt. involvement (budget) xxvi. Needs analysis comparison was not talked about xxvii. Would rather see the meeting 1-2 weeks after the training noms. crunch, this will also allow us the ability to look at the numbers and how it compares to the analysis xxviii. Need closer communication and or representation with the TWT and the fuels working group. Want to ensure that fuels are properly represented with the TWT. xxix. Fuels courses need to be out before 2002, if the TWT can push Elements of Fuels Mgt along, they really need to do so 1. maybe create a task group to focus only on getting that training out for ground pounders next year b. Objectives i. Should we change the name from Unit training Officers 1. training officers 2. training managers 3. interagency training delivery systems a. everyone has a different name for the same job 4. interagency training workshop/meeting c. suggestion was made to add an additional day to the dispatch workshop for TWT d. after the needs analysis is done, there should be a conference call with the areas e.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST COORDINATING GROUP TRAINING WORKING TEAM NOTES 11/01/00

A. DECISIONS a. Proceed with strategic business planning task. i. Contract Out 1. Responsibility: Mike Spencer b. Begin direct involvement in the recruitment and filling of Supervisory Training Specialist position at Redmond (vice Brick). i. Responsibility: TWT c. Recruit and fill PNW S-420 Lead Instructor position i. Responsibility: TWT d. Develop proposal for administrative assistant detail opportunity to staff work for TWT. e. Forward recommendation to NWCG that the two “Incident” (I) taskbook codes for helicopter crewmembers be changed to “O” classroom. f. Conduct joint TWT, OPWT meeting in Redmond on Nov. 16th & 17th, i. 09:00-17:00 on 16th, ii. 07:30-12:00 on 17th. iii. Topic – current agenda items: 1. Student selection for FY 2001 PNWCG sponsored courses. a. Responsibility: (Brick, TWT) 2. Develop standard reporting procedure and due date for agencies to report numbers by position of Performance task books completed and with certification recommended. a. Responsibility: (Luse) 3. Strategic planning project update a. Responsibility: (Spencer) 4. Conference call scheduling a. Responsibility: (Spencer) 5. Finalize FY2001 Program of Work a. Responsibility: (TWT) 6. Adopted interagency position that S-205 will be recognized and equivalent to the replacement of S-215. Once S-215 is released, units are encouraged to deliver the course, with option of using S-205, if release date is very much into training season.

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