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National Wildfire Coordinating Group
Fire Environment Working Team
Fire Behavior Committee
Teleconference

January 24, 2008

Members on call:

John Barborinas
Kyle Cannon
Kelly Close
Dan Jimenez
Risa Lange-Navarro
Punky Moore
Tami Parkinson
John Saltenberger
Paul Schlobohm
Larry VanBussum
R. Ziel

Minutes from Tucson Meeting, Nov. 27-30, 2007:
Approved and finalized for posting on NWCG website and MFC.

FENWT report:

Dan represented FBC at the FENWT meeting; related documents from the meeting have been posted on MyFireCommunity. One objective was to clarify communication channels with parent group and other entities. FENWT Operating Principles includes a communication component that gives us a starting point for developing communication needs between committee, parent group and other groups.

FBC Revised Charter:

The revised charter was presented at the FENWT meeting. Minor comments have been returned to the committee for final review. Also, information was provided to committee about future meeting locations and logistics.

RAWS/ROMAN:

Paul provided information about upcoming presentation to NWCG. The presentation power point is available for review. Recommendations include:

• Management strategy for the growing RAWS network
• What to do about ROMAN
• RAWS supporting high resolution applications like Fire Weather, Fire Behavior and Fire Planning
• Use of gridded data
• Short term and long term use of ROMAN, data access for all weather applications used today
• Continuity of operations
• RAWS partner group

It was suggested that Fire Directors be contacted before the presentation in order to have a better understanding of the recommendations that will be presented. Contact Paul for specific contact information.

NWCG Meeting:

TWT will be meeting with representatives of all of the subgroups and Training Development Group to discuss reorganization (combined NFAEB and NWCG into one group). Changes for FENWT and FBC are unknown. There is a process underway to lump the subgroups into five main categories. FENWT would be included in a group called Enabling Equipment and Technology. NWCG fire directors would have responsibility to oversee just one group. This reorganization is an ongoing process and will continue through this year.

Note: FBC should be poised to provide feedback on this topic after Paul’s update.

Budget:

We can expect to receive what we received last year. Paul will forward more information after next week’s meeting. Uncertain when funds will be available to spend.

Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training Steering Committee:

Zeke informed the committee that the steering committee’s proposal to have FBC representation on the steering committee was not accepted. FBC will continue to be involved informally. Tami is our liaison and will follow-up with Al King. Communication lines need to be clarified.

Fireline Refresher:

Kelly Close updated committee about training for this year, what is planned for next year and his involvement in the training development. This year’s refresher focuses on climate changes, fire behavior, 2007 mega fires. Included are many interviews about the changes in fire behavior experienced in recent years. The Refresher committee is eager to work with FBC on future course topics. FBC discussed the outcome of Fire Weather input for this year’s refresher. Kyle contacted Paul Chamberlin regarding the WFSTAR website.

Action Item #335: Ideas and proposals for future refreshers will be posted on MFC for discussion during spring meeting, due date April 1.

April Meeting Topic: Fireline Refresher Future Ideas

Research report:

The Landfire AAR was distributed and posted on LTAN/FBAN topic area on MFC. General consensus was it was worthwhile. Rapid Refresh is the way Landfire will be updated in the future. Discussed Landfire default for WFDSS. FBC is still interested in inviting a Landfire person to our next meeting.

Wind Wizard:

Dan sent the flyer to the MFC for posting. Search under Hot Tips for the flyer. Corporate license is still a topic. If a letter from the FBC would help we are willing to do that. Discussed FBC’s endorsement of Wind Wizard. All the wind models can be used but the intent of this project is for firefighters on the ground.

Nelson Fuel Model:

Dan will follow up with Matt Jolly to make a presentation at the next meeting. GoToMeeting is an option.

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Firefighter Math:

Dan continues to work on editing content. We need to know our budget allocation to move forward.

Fire Behavior Field Reference Guide:

Dan will provide an update about cost estimates to convert electronic file to html format on the next call, due date Feb. 14.

Viegas Model:

We need to finalize the draft letter to the Fire Lab for formal review of the model.

FLAME:

No update. Risa will continue to try and contact Noble for an update. Within the S290 order there is a booklet of FLAME but there is no mention whether it will be ready to go with the course. FBC discussed related communication from Jim Bishop and Wayne Cook about incorporating FLAME. FBC discussed FLAME material included in unit 12. Once the course gets certified, Noble will work on the stand alone module that does not require another course at this time. In addition to having Intro to FLAME in S290 course, he was working on a self paced interactive FLAME guide.

Taskbook Review:

As field reviewers, we will discuss further action depending on what the IOSWT does.

Course Curriculum:

Advanced Fire Behavior Assessment Progress

Zeke updated the committee on the letters sent about course restructuring. Laurie Kurth has been identified as the project lead; she will be the contact for the former S492/493 liaison positions with the committee. Roster will be updated. Paul mentioned there may be funding to start developing learning objectives and assembling SMEs to build the course content. Rob Seli is the liaison with WFDSS expectations. The biggest concern is the timeline. S492/493 cadres will be asked to help with the project.

S290:

FBC members received the course cds for review. Risa cautioned the committee that there are quite a few corrections that were submitted to the development group that were not incorporated in the course. There will probably be an errata sheet included.

S490:

Considering how website updates and revisions are done. This is related to further discussions with Sue Peterson and Paul about the S491 website.

Action Item #336: Risa will followup with Sue Peterson and Paul about S490 website, how it’s being used, etc. and report back to FBC, due date April 8.

Feedback from courses:

Deb Epps is working on an online evaluation form for course feedback. This is tied to previous S490 discussion. TWT hopes to have it on the TWT web site this spring. From the note Deb Epps sent Risa, Deb also talked with Noble about the way he wants to try and collect feedback on S-490 from instructor cadres and have the FBC validate the feedback before we republish it to the field.

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SMEs, revisions, interaction with TWT and Development group:

FBC continues to work toward ensuring corrections are incorporated. This topic ties into the feedback and website discussion. Corrections were not incorporated into the courses. FBC would like to further this discussion with Deb Epps and Mark Koontz. FBC promotes the establishment of a group of subject matter experts that have some interaction across all four courses. We will delve into whether there is interest in pursuing this discussion.

Action Item #336: Zeke and Risa will contact Deb and Mark about the prospect for further discussions, possibly during spring meeting in Boise, about SMEs, revisions and interaction with TWT and development group, due date Feb. 14.

NOAA Fire Wx Research WG:

John provided an update on the working group. Their meeting in Jan. resulted in draft recommendations for the NOAA, including improved forecasting, modeling, gridded forecasts to help with fire modeling programs and real time fire mapping with the use of satellites and unmanned aircraft systems. The next meeting is schedule for mid April in Boise.

IAWF Conference - The ‘88 Fires: Yellowstone and Beyond

FBC will develop a poster reflecting the committee’s work to present at the conference. FBC will consider additional ideas to incorporate after draft abstract is completed.

Action Item #337: Dan & Punky will develop abstract for the conference, due date Feb. 14.

Meeting in April:

A proposal was made to meet in Boise. This will help facilitate communication with the development group. Tami will make arrangements for a conference room for the meeting in Boise. She will check on Internet access for all members.

Round Robin:

Kelly: will not be able to make the April meeting.
Risa: Feb. 5-7 NR Fire Behavior workshop.
Punky: Will work with Chairs about posting information on NWCG site.

Fall Meeting:

We need to find out when the FENWT meeting is and propose dates for our fall meeting.

Next call February 14, 2008

Meeting adjourned 12:00

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