1.       SUBJECT: Fire weather meteorologist

DISCUSSION: A portion of the National Fire Plan provided funding for agency meteorologists. BLM and FS have proceeded to fill these position with 2 meteorologists targeted for all geographic areas.

The National Agreement with the Fire Weather Service (FWS) expired in 1986 and is being  updated. The National Agreement should provide guidance for geographic areas in the coordination between agency and FWS meteorologists. We need to have close cooperation at all levels between the NWS and GACGs as we develop the National Agreement.

2.       SUBJECT: FIREWISE Briefing

DISCUSSION: The FIREWISE program objectives are to improve safety in the interface through collaborative efforts and local partnerships and to integrate FIREWISE principles into community planning. Ten community workshops have been presented throughout the United States with participation from agencies, home owners, insurance companies and other partners. A total of 850 participants have been involved representing 450 communities in 41 states. All NWCG and GACG agencies need to support the FIREWISE concepts.

3.       SUBJECT: Quarter turn-Quick connect couplings

DISCUSSION: At this time NWCG has delayed on the quarter turn coupling conversion. NASF has presented numerous problems with this change. NWCG plans to review the proposal again at the January 2002 meeting.

4.       SUBJECT: Contracting Guide

DISCUSSION: The Contracting Guide was developed to provide guidelines and better integrate contractors into the dispatch system to better utilize contractors for suppression activities. The guide as presented is still in draft form with a comment period closing June 18, 2001. The final version of the Contracting Guide will be posted on the NWCG website.

5.       SUBJECT: National Preparedness Planning Process

DISCUSSION: All geographic areas do preparedness planning but there is currently no standard way to accomplish the task. Advanced tools are coming on line that will better enable us to consider existing fire plans, lessons learned, resource prioritization and predictive services. The intent of the preparedness planning is to better gauge the expected workloads and capability to respond to emergencies.

The project has been presented to the Joint Fire Sciences program for phase one funding of  approximately $117,000. The total cost of the project will be determined as a part of the first phase.

6.       SUBJECT: Trainee assignments

DISCUSSION: The appropriate use of trainees appears to be a problem in all geographic areas. The EACG presented one possible method for the use of trainees. The expanded use of trainees may depend on Agency Administrator acceptance and agency encouragement. NWCG supports the use of trainees but needs the coordination groups to establish the mechanism to develop these procedures. Jim Stires will discuss this with Neil Hitchcock, NICC.

7.       SUBJECT: National Fire Plan

DISCUSSION: This subject was discussed to provide the opportunity for feedback and concerns on the critical issues on the implementation of the National Fire Plan.

• Expectations on accomplishments do not appear to be realistic.
• State Governors may be able to provide the message to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior on the accomplishments in the NFP.
• We all need to accomplish portions of the NFP as seamlessly as possible.
• Perception in National Offices that we are not coordinated between agencies.
• Some initiatives within the NFP have some long term results, not immediate results.
• There are differences between Interior and Agriculture agencies in funding projects.

8.       SUBJECT: Increase meeting opportunities between NWCG and GACG

DISCUSSION: The GACG provided a suggestion that the GACG be more formally represented on the NWCG. They suggest that GACGs become a working team to bring issues forward to NWCG. This will be carried forward to the NWCG work meeting this Fall. Mark Forbes, PNWCG, will be the contact for the GACGs.

9.       SUBJECT: Fire use teams

DISCUSSION: Fire use teams may have a place in the broad spectrum of use. Currently, they are only used within geographical areas but have not been formalized as a national resource. There is currently no standard ordering process, standards of performance, etc. Do we need to continue to maintain fire use and normal Incident Management Teams? 

For 2001 we will continue to use Fire Use Teams as we have in the past.  Don Artley will deal within the NASF to determine if there is a problem with the states. NWCG will discuss this at the October 2001 meeting as an emerging issue.

10.     SUBJECT: 14 day policy

DISCUSSION: It is recommended by the GBCG that NWCG and the National MAC Group return to the 1999 14-day policy for suppression activities. This limitation is based on fatigue factors and safety of personnel. There are additional safety issues that are not addressed concerning transition of IMTs on assignments.

11.     SUBJECT: Radio Narrow Band

DISCUSSION: California perceives a continuing problem with the requirement for narrow band radios because of incompatibility among all agencies and departments. The state will continue to use analog radios to ensure compatibility. The Department of the Interior has approved the use of analog radios on a yearly basis.

12.     SUBJECT: NWCG/GACG standards

DISCUSSION: There were several discussion items on standards brought forward by the GACGs. These include:

• NWCG needs to communicate early with the GACGs on decisions and problem areas.
• We need to expand communication and develop standards between agencies and contractors used to support fire. EERAs and contracts need to address work-rest guidelines. 
• 310-1 is not the only location where standards are found. There are other publications, such as Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide (IHOG), that also have standards. The dual standards make it difficult for the GACGs to implement a series of standards. Some of the GACGs have established standards that exceed national standards making it difficult to administer standards across GACG boundaries.
• Type I and II team composition make up and configuration needs to be communicated to the GACGs before it is acted on by NWCG.
• ICQS needs to be compatible with the IQS
• Some of the direction are in the Federal Fire Policy. Do other requirements reinforce or conflict with this policy?

13.     SUBJECT: Role of FEMA

DISCUSSION: FEMA has drafted a liaison position description for the potential addition of a person to be at NIFC on a year round basis.

14.     SUBJECT: Confusion between NRCG and some of the zone groups in their area lead them to develop a matrix of activities.

DISCUSSION: The geographic area has developed a position paper outlining the roles and responsibilities at the various preparedness levels in the area. Their direction also provided the relationship that all agencies within the state need to meet with for coordination of activities.

15.     SUBJECT: Predictive Services

DISCUSSION: The predictive services serves as a tool for fire assessment and intelligence matters. The process will help make go-no-go decisions on prescribed burns and other activities we are involved with. It should discuss: