National WildLand Fire Coordinating Group
Fire Investigator Working Team

Meeting Minutes: December 3-5, 2002

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Location:        Bureau of Land Management National Training Center - Phoenix, AZ

Dates:             December 3-5, 2002

• Introduction of new Members

  • Chris Parker - California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (representing the Western States Fire Mgrs. Association)

  • Gary Hilton - Bureau of Indian Affairs

  • Gary Jagodzinski - US Fish and Wildlife Service
     

  • Members Present:

  • Paul Steensland - US Forest Service, FIWT Chair

  • Pete Norkeveck - Oregon Dept. of Forestry, FIWT Co-Chair

  • Gary White - US Bureau of Land Management

  • Brian Garvey - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

  • Howard Herman - Alberta Environmental Protection, Environmental Training Centre, Alberta, Canada

  • Mike Heath - South Carolina Forestry Commission

  • Chris Parker - California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

  • Gary Hilton - Bureau of Indian Affairs

  • Gary Jagodzinski - US Fish and Wildlife Service

  • Ken Ness - Saskatchewan Environment, Saskatchewan, Canada

  • Alan Foster -  US National Park Service

  • John Carpenter - US Forest Service / Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
     

  • Representatives from Australia and New Zealand have been added as ad hoc members, joining our other international members from Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada.
     

• Discussion of article in IAAI journal by STEENSLAND and NORKEVECK has generated considerable interest and discussion in the fire community.
     

• Continued discussion of the Los Alamos scientific research on microscale fire behavior analysis for forensic application in a fire investigation.  System tested on a major fire incident with good success and verification, however, system developers have not sufficiently verified the system to apply it to criminal prosecution.  More research and funding is needed before this research will be useable.
   

• NORKEVECK presented draft position paper on “Fire Science Research and Development Needs to Support Wildland Fire Investigation.”  Discussion of merits of and methods for proposing funding requests through NWCG for various aspects of scientific research currently needed to advance the state of the art for fire investigation.  Paper will be reworked and presented later in the week, based on discussion within group.
   

• STEENSLAND and CARPENTER to update the NWCG web site concerning FIWT in near future.
   

• WHITE presented and led discussion concerning the DAWG glossary revisions

  • FIWT has received official sanction for custody of listing of glossary terms relating to fire investigation.

  • WHITE identified process for refining current glossary and expanding listing to encompass the entire field of terms relating to fire investigation.

  • Call for lists and refinement of definitions will come in January 2003.  FIWT members should be preparing their choices of terms, including source references, to submit to WHITE by the first of the year.
     

• IOS Implementation Path

  • Discussion of standardized training presentation

  • Discussion of Alpha and Beta testing of course presentation.

  • Discussion of train-the-trainer courses for Type III course.

  • Discussion of development of training cadres for course implementation.

  • NORKEVECK presented draft proposal for regional working teams to augment and assist FIWT for local issues, particularly relating to implementation of training standards.
     

• Review of Type III Pre-course PowerPoint material reviewed by group, on screen as would be viewed by students incident to delivery of Alpha version in 2003

  • Fire Behavior (HERMAN/VAN NEST)

  • Legal Topics (WHITE)

  • Investigative Equipment (STEENSLAND)

  • Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for Fire Responders (GARVEY)

  • Law Enforcement Safety (FOSTER)
     

• Discussion of review of Type III PTB tabled to tomorrow
   

• Review of Unit 1: Professional Standards for Wildland Fire Investigators FI-210 Certification Process (NORKEVECK)

  • Review and critique of Power Point presentation completed and approved.

   

Date:  December 4, 2002

• NWCG Training Development representatives present today introduced:

  • Marion Matthews - NWCG

  • Noble Dunn - NWCG
     

• Geographic Utility for Mitigation and Planning (GUMP) presentation by JB AKIN, DESC Inc.

  • Arcview based mapping software utility for documenting and evaluating chronological, spatial and data relationships of serial arson occurrences. System applied during a recent major serial arson investigation with good success and verification of investigators findings.  Further refinement of the software is anticipated as a result of the discussion with the working team.
     

• Discussion of public domain GIS-based software under development by Oregon Department of Forestry (NORKEVECK)

  • Analysis chronological / spatial relationships

  • Scene diagramming (CAD)

  • Micro analysis / video micrometer / microscopy
     

• Ongoing discussion of merits of GIS / CAD systems for use as investigative tools in support of Type 2 and Type 1 level case management. Consensus to input analysis of various systems and their utility to research funding proposal paper for NWCG.
   

• Discussion of implementation of formal FI-210 approved by NWCG training staff (MATTHEWS/DUNN).

  • Estimate 4-6 months for NWCG to review, process and upgrade FI-210 from initial handoff to full implementation.

  • Alpha testing scheduled for March 2003.  Beta testing will occur in July,  2003, in Oregon.

Schedule of Course Development

         FI-110                FI-210             FI-310             FI-410

            Delivery to                  1/03                 1/03                CY/05             CY/06
            NWCG Training
            Development
            Staff

 Alpha Test                  TBD                03/03/03         CY/05             CY/07
 (FLETC)

Field Review              TBD                X                     “                       ”

  Beta Test                   TBD                07/03             ”                       “
  (Oregon)

Task Book                 N/A                  07/03              “                       ”

Certification               10/03              10/03              CY/06             ”

  Instructor                     Fall ‘03 /         Fall ‘03 /         “                       ”
  Handoff                       Winter ‘04      Winter ‘04

• Discussion of Task Book - Qualification Record for Wildland Fire Investigator Type III (MATTHEWS/DUNN)

  • Task Book has been edited to more clearly indicate the things to be accomplished.

  • Discussion of certification requirements as they relate to actual proficiency.  Intent of team remains to implement proficiency exam in order to define capability of certification candidates.  WHITE, MATTHEWS and DUNN will finish final edits of PTB for Type III.
     

• Review of FI210 PowerPoint unit drafts for input to course presentation: recommendations for revision made by Team

  • Wildland Fire Cause (STEENSLAND)  Approved

  • NORKEVECK, GARVEY and WHITE to submit by 1/03 additional materials to STEENSLAND for inclusion in Fire Cause section.

  • All outstanding course materials to be to STEENSLAND/DUNN by NLT 1/03.

  • STEENSLAND will meet with DUNN in Boise for handoff of materials.
     

• Next meeting will be scheduled for early spring, following the Alpha test at FLETC.  Tentative dates will be transmitted shortly.

Date:  December 5, 2002

• Continuation of review of FI210 PowerPoint unit drafts for input to course presentation: recommendations for revision made by Team

  • Wildland Fire Cause
     

• Meeting Adjourned