Issues/Discussions/Actions:

November Bin Items

• Approve past month notes for release, reiterate procedure
  • Sept 23 notes approved.
  • Jeff will send final approved notes to Tammy Denney

December Agenda Items

Topic #1 > WFDSS Presentation Follow-Up

• What next regarding defining terms?
  • “Firewords” – new glossary – fire behavior focused. Separate set of terms and definitions. Some like the technical delivery of firewords (google ‘firewords’ to view). Similar to a Wiki format.
  • Frank thinks summarizing from forest plans & referencing full source in WFDSS without copying directly from forest plans is adequate.
  • DAWG is dead.
  • Data Standards & Terminology Subcommittee (DSTS – sub to IT committee) is new entity replacing DAWG and glossary terminology steward. Alan Dietz is advisory. (Roshelle Pederson)
    • DSTS is process developer and process manager
      o Need to reconvene WFDSS, DSTS, to discuss which terms and work through new process
    • Action: Contact WFDSS & DSTS to set up follow-up meeting to WFDSS demo conducted in August, and chart the way forward; revisit terms needing definition, needs for ‘adopting’ existing terms, and moving through new process. Becky will approach WFDSS & DSS to set up meeting date by end of January.

Topic #2 > Montrose Field Trip (Topic should be relabeled in future to ‘collaborative planning’ in future)

• Still worth pursuing based on budgets and travel caps?
  • Still worth pursuing
  • May be lower priority for trip
  • May be worth a conference call or vid conference to initiate discussions (Ted)
• Tate will follow-up with the Montrose personnel involved re: potential for conference call in place of visit.
• Mary suggestion – webinars by field to IFPC to demonstrate/discuss different approaches to collaborative planning.
  • Mary will suggest some candidates and will take any recommendations.
• Develop goals and objectives for conference calls with field units.
  • Mary will draft first cut.

Topic #3 > NWCG IT Proposals

• STARfire and FMaps
• Jan 10th – is it NWCG proposal due date for submission, or opening of the call
  • Tate will follow up on what Jan 10th date means
• Decision on IFPC sponsorship of FMAPS/STARFire framework to NWCG on hold till after the meeting with IFT-DSS on Dec. 14.
  • Following Dec 14, IFPC & James Newman will discuss findings and opportunities

Topic #4 > Planner Curricula – Mary Huffman

• Field level participation discussion
  • James Newman email.
  • Need to incorporate more FMO, AFMO folks into focus group discussions who may be responsible for fire/land management planning
  • How do we reach those folks?
    • Contact regional folks to generate a list of potential field personnel
• Progress report from Mary
  • 2 NPS, 1 BLM, 1 FWS conducted. 1 FWS and 1 BIA scheduled
  • FS - still no name list
    • Sue Weber committed to get list to Mary
  • Group sizes generally 4-5 (ideal), but up to 12 (too many)
  • Preliminary summary of findings to-date
    • Follow-up with field level planners is indicated
    • Fire planner roles not well defined, even among people doing fire planning
    • Playing field and expectations have been fluid over past five years or so
    • Proficiency self-rated as medium or lower, with planners being highly proficient in some areas, but few being proficient in all areas.
    • Not specific fire planner courses, NEPA available, some NWCG courses helpful
    • Dichotomy of modeling skills vs. writing skills
    • Lots of trial and error, planners sometimes go forward until somebody says they’re wrong or need to do something differently.
    • Desire for training mixed – NPS most vocally in favor, but some participants okay with existing ad-hoc situation
    • Question from IFPC: is that because they don’t understand what professional planning could be?
    • Planners say in the future, planners will need more – GIS, good writing, self-starter adaptable types
  • Field needs clear definition of planner, and set of competencies
    • IFPC needs to develop planner definition (along with various flavors) along with idea’s of competencies and skills
    • Define characteristics of good planners
    • IFPC members identify some exemplary planners (regardless of level) and get names to Mary for in-depth interviews.
  • Can be people that have been already identified – about 6 people.

Bin Items

• Still need formal FS rep for IFPC
  • Frank Rowley – USFS fire & fuels ecology lead (Pete Lahm off detail)
• IFPC will keep Sue Weber in the loop regarding planning issues, specially FPA related in addition to Frank Fay who will act as primary planning representative for FS.
• Paula Seamon – TNC moving on. Position will be filled.

Upcoming Meetings/Dates

• FPA SWT Inaugural Meeting - December 8-9
• December FPA GA Lead CC - December 9
• DOI Decision Support CC - December 13

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