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Wildland Fire Leadership Council Meetings

Wildland Fire Leadership Council Meeting
October 16, 2003

Implementation Plan Status Report:

Information topic; no decisions made.

Large Fire Cost Containment

Decision: Convene a high level Blue Ribbon Panel comprised of state, local, tribal and federal representatives, and incident team members representing a mix of on-the-ground and policy expertise to examine cost containment issues in a broader, land management-based scope to integrate suppression and vegetation management. Specific operational measures, such as aviation, can be addressed by agency fire directors.

  • Lead: Tim Hartzell, Corbin Newman
  • Target Completion Date: October 30, 2003
  • Action:
    • Develop a draft charter and implementation plan for the Blue Ribbon Panel. The charter will delineate the composition of the panel, define the panel's purpose and mission, indicate when panel mission is complete, outline a list of the issues to be addressed, describe the relationship of the panel with the fire directors, define the chain of command/who the panel reports to, and present a timeline for the project.
    • Issues to be addressed by the panel: measuring cost containment success; cost share agreements/apportionment (Finding 2); roles of all participants in cost share agreements (Finding 3); strategy regarding the use of local resources; fire suppression expenses in the larger context of landscape level management (Finding 9); targeting vegetation management activities to reduce condition class in Fire Regimes I, II, and III; and follow up on other findings as appropriate.

Decision: Adopt near-term action items to address Large Incident Strategic Decision and Assessment Oversight Review findings.

  • Lead: See Potential Actions.
  • Target Completion Date: See Potential Actions.
  • Potential Actions:
    • Finding 3 - Cost-share agreements were inconsistent and inequitable in many cases. 1) Develop guidelines for incident cost-share agreements. 2) Agreements need to be in place prior to start of the local fire season. 3) Make specialists available to area or incident command to oversee cost-share agreement development.
      • Lead: Fire Directors/ For broader discussion - Blue Ribbon Panel
      • Target Completion Date: April 1, 2004
    • Finding 4 - Wildland Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA) process is overly complicated and does not meet the needs of complex fires. 1) Make WFSA more practical for field use. 2) Resolve problems that make WFSA ineffective.
      • Lead: Fire Directors
      • Target Completion Date: March 1, 2004
    • Finding 5 - Though it was successful for the most part, the Resource Ordering and Status System (ROSS) created significant technical obstacles at the incident level. 1) Correct problems identified with ROSS in first year of use.
      • Lead: Fire Directors working with NWCG
      • Target Completion Date: March 1, 2004
    • Finding 6 - The length of Incident Management Team (IMT) assignments must be evaluated. 1) Conduct an analysis and provide recommendations to tailor work/rest guidelines to meet the needs of crews, IMTs, and Area Command teams.
      • Lead: Fire Directors
      • Target Completion Date: March 1, 2004
    • Finding 7 - Oversight and financial management on IMTs need to be strengthened. A larger cadre of trained incident business advisors and contract officer's representatives need to be available. 1) Develop a policy and strategy to increase the depth in these critical positions.
      • Lead: Fire Directors and Agency Administrative Chiefs
      • Target Completion Date: April 1, 2004
    • Finding 8 - It is unclear to what extent the reliance upon contract services, particularly contract crews, affect incident costs. 1) Commission a thorough, objective study to provide findings and recommendations to strengthen the appropriate use of contract crews.
      • Lead: Fire Directors
      • Target Completion Date: June 1, 2004
    • Finding 10 - The effectiveness and cost efficiency of aviation resources is unclear. 1) Conduct an analysis of the use of aviation resources and the associated costs. 2) Develop strategies to ensure that cost efficiency and effectiveness are considered when using aviation resources.
      • Lead: Fire Directors
      • Target Completion Date: May 1, 2004
    • Developing a more efficient multi-agency coordinating (MAC) group command model for Preparedness Level 5.
      • Lead: Fire Directors
      • Target Completion Date: March 1, 2004
    • Re-issue interagency cost containment policy directive for FY 2004.
      • Lead: Tim Hartzell, Corbin Newman
      • Target Completion Date: June 1, 2004
    • Fire Directors will apprise the Blue Ribbon Panel on status of near-term actions.
      • Lead: Fire Directors
      • Target Completion Date: Ongoing

Local, Rural, Volunteer Fire Department Needs Assessment

Decision: National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) will develop an action plan based on the issues and recommendations contained in the "Changing Role and Needs of Local, Rural, and Volunteer Fire Departments in the Wildland Urban Interface" report. The plan will be presented to WFLC based on prioritized actions that a) require WFLC discussion/approval and b) actions to be taken by other agencies or entities.

  • Lead: Jim Hubbard
  • Target Completion Date: Next WFLC Meeting (February 2004)

Decision: National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) will deliver the "Changing Role and Needs of Local, Rural, and Volunteer Fire Departments in the Wildland Urban Interface" report to Congress with the understanding that WFLC has reviewed the report and will be exploring its recommendations and actions with NASF and IAFC.

  • Lead: Jim Hubbard
  • Target Completion Date: Next WFLC Meeting (February 2004)

Review of Mechanical Treatment Component of FY 2004 Fuels Program

Decision: Topic deferred to next WFLC conference call agenda. Tim Hartzell and Corbin Newman will prepare a briefing for WFLC with background information, final FY 2003 accomplishments, including mechanical treatments, and a set of options for establishing mechanical treatment targets.

  • Lead: Tim Hartzell/Corbin Newman
  • Target Completion Date: Next WFLC Meeting (February 2004)

Decision: Tim Hartzell and Corbin Newman will circulate final fuels treatment statistics to all WFLC members as these become available.

  • Lead: Tim Hartzell/Corbin Newman
  • Target Completion Date: As soon as available

WFLC Communication Plan

Decision: On an interim basis, Lynn Scarlett's Communication Director will serve as the lead for external WFLC communications; establish WFLC communication points of contact; work with Corbin Newman and Tim Hartzell to summarize communications and disseminate to all members for action; disseminate information/action items to WFLC members as needed; and collaborate with National Fire Plan/Office of Wildland Fire Coordination staff on external communications.

  • Objectives for this position will include communicating the value of WFLC and reporting key accomplishments. This communications specialist will also provide communications direction to the field by developing and distributing internal talking points/action items/decisions through the council members' respective communication staffs and develop WFLC summaries for the National Fire Plan annual report.
  • Actions:
    • Agencies will disseminate WFLC decisions through their communication channels.
      • Lead: Each agency
      • Target Completion Date: Ongoing
    • Each WFLC member will establish a point to contact within their respective agency/department for WFLC communications.
      • Lead: Each agency
      • Target Completion Date: Completed; attached.
    • Develop a document that describes what WFLC is, its purpose and accomplishments, and prepare an annual report.
      • Lead: DOI Assistant Secretary Lynn Scarlett's Communication Director with assistance from agencies.
      • Target Completion Date: December 31, 2003
    • Develop a process to communicate to the field decisions that have been made and to ensure consistent interagency implementation guidance regarding WFLC decisions.
      • Lead: DOI Assistant Secretary Lynn Scarlett's Communication Director with assistance from agencies
      • Target Completion Date: October 30, 2003

Monitoring the Environmental Effects of Implementing the National Fire Plan

Decision: WFLC will proceed with "Phase 1" as presented by the Joint Fire Science Program (this phase will identify and develop through workshops a monitoring framework congruent with the goals laid out in the Ten Year Implementation Plan).

  • Action: The Joint Fire Science Program will prepare a report for WFLC.
  • Lead: Bob Clark / Sue Conard
  • Target Completion Date: Workshops will be completed by March/April 2004. A report will be provided to WFLC with findings and recommendations at its spring 2004 meeting.

Use of Healthy Forest Initiative Tools

Information topic; no decisions made.

Update on Healthy Forests Initiative Legislation

Information topic; no decisions made.

Smoke Management / Air Issues Group

Decision: Smoke management / Air Issues Group will prepare a briefing paper recommending actions to be taken in priority order for WFLC consideration prior to next WFLC meeting. WFLC will review briefing materials and determine next steps based on Smoke Management/Air Issues Group recommendations.

  • Lead: Smoke Management / Air Issues Group - Dennis Haddow
  • Target Completion Date: December 31, 2003

Biomass: Implementation Challenges

Decision: Topic will be discussed on the next WFLC conference call.

  • Action: Forest Service NFP staff/DOI OWFC will prepare background information for WFLC, including options for setting biomass targets, identification of centers or areas where biomass opportunities exist, and locations of biomass projects completed or in progress.
  • Lead: Tim Hartzell/Corbin Newman
  • Target Completion Date: November 30, 2003

Decision: Topic will be discussed on the next WFLC conference call.

  • Action: DOI will seek WFLC partners to set an agenda for a biomass conference in January 2004.
  • Lead: OWFC - John Stewart
  • Target Completion Date: November 30, 2003

LANDFIRE

Decision: WFLC agreed to move forward with LANDFIRE.

  • Action: WFLC will work with LANDFIRE team examine proposed LANDFIRE Organizational Chart and corresponding to budgetary considerations. Recommendations will be provide to WFLC.
    • Lead: Corbin Newman / Tim Hartzell
    • Target Completion Date: November 15, 2003
  • Action: Explore the possibility of integrating the concepts of LANDFIRE within the cohesive fuels strategy to aid with strategic prioritization.
    • Lead: Lynn Scarlett / Mark Finney
    • Target Completion Date: November 15, 2003

Additional Topics

Prescribed Fire

Decision: Tim Hartzell and Corbin Newman will draft an issue paper on current practices of cross-billing for prescribed fire and options for solution to present at the February WFLC meeting.

  • Lead: Tim Hartzell/Corbin Newman
  • Target Completion Date: December 2003

Media on the Fireline

Federal wildland agencies do not have consistent, national policy for media representatives on the fireline. Decision: NWCG will develop guidelines for media visits to the fireline and present these draft guidelines to WFLC at its February meeting for discussion/approval.

  • Lead: Jim Stires, Chair, NWCG
  • Target Completion Date: February 2004

Prioritizing fuel treatment in the WUI

Decision: Tim Hartzell and Corbin Newman will draft joint guidance on principles of stakeholder collaboration and append the State Foresters' "Field Guidance for Communities at Risk."

  • Lead: Tim Hartzell/Corbin Newman
  • Target Completion Date: November 2003

WFLC Acceptance of Wildland Fire Policy

Decision: Jerry Williams and Tim Hartzell will prepare a joint Forest Service/DOI letter to all field offices announcing modifications to the 2001 Fire Policy approved at the June 2003 WFLC meeting.

  • Lead: Jerry Williams/Tim Hartzell
  • Target Completion Date: December 2003

Competitive sourcing in the fire program

A consistent Forest Service/DOI approach is required. Decision: Tim Hartzell and Corbin Newman will prepare an issue paper with the Forest Service/DOI perspectives. The federal component of WFLC will meet to discuss the issue and reach a uniform position.

  • Lead: Tim Hartzell/Corbin Newman
  • Target Completion Date: December 2003

Performance measures to capture fuel treatments funded outside the NFP

The WFLC received a briefing paper from an interagency DOI team recommending performance measures to capture fuels treatments funded outside of the National Fire Plan. Decision: Broaden the briefing paper to include interdepartmental recommendation and present at the next WFLC meeting. Corbin Newman and Tim Hartzell will direct staff to prepare for the meeting.

  • Lead: Corbin Newman/Tim Hartzell
  • Target Completion Date: December 2003

WFLC Meetings

Decision: There will be four WFLC meetings per year and two will include field trips. One meeting per year will be held near Washington, D.C. and include a roundtable with stakeholders; one meeting per year will be held to include entities such as NWCG, and agency employees. Staff will develop a brief analysis to support further discussion of this topic on a future conference call.

  • Lead: Tim Hartzell/Corbin Newman
  • Target Completion Date: December 2003

Next WFLC Meeting

The next WFLC meeting will be held sometime mid-January to February (exact date to be determined) in Florida hosted by the Florida State Forester and Southern Group of State Foresters. Tim Hartzell will coordinate dates with WFLC members.

  • Lead: Tim Hartzell
  • Target Completion Date: October 31, 2003

Red Cross Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by WFLC members and the American Red Cross formalizing a partnership among wildland fire agencies, National Fire Protection Association and American Red Cross to reduce loss from wildland fire in communities through cooperative education efforts.

Wildland Fire Leadership Council Members' Points of Contact - Fall 2003
Member Point Of Contact Phone
Lynn Scarlett Dan Jorjani
Tim Hartzell 		(202) 208-4203
(202) 606-3447
Dale Bosworth Corbin Newman (202) 205-1332
Terry Virden Jim Stires (202) 387-5697
Charlie Dickenson Tom Olshanski (301) 221-1499
Steve Williams Phil Streeter (202) 208-4717
Rebecca Watson Peter Teensma (202) 208-6734
Western Governors' Association Paul Orbuch (303) 623-9378
Ron Christensen Paul Beddoe (202) 942-4234
Kathleen Clarke Con Lass/Selma Sierra (202) 208-3801
Jim Erickson Jim Erickson (509) 633-1067
Dave Tenny Corbin Newman (202) 205-1332
Jim Hull Jim Hubbard (970) 491-6303
Fran Mainella Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini (202) 208-3818