CHARTER

Pacific Northwest Incident Commander Council

Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group

I.  BACKGROUND

The Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group (PNWCG) has an on-going need to address incident related issues. PNWCG has determined that this need can be supported by formalizing the Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Commanders for the Interagency Teams in Oregon and Washington, the Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Commanders, the State of Oregon Fire Marshal Incident Commanders, the Portland NIMO Team Incident Commander, and Area Commanders in the Pacific Northwest Geographic Area into a recognized group managed by PNWCG.

II.  NAME

By this charter, PNWCG establishes and authorizes the Pacific Northwest Incident Commander Council, hereinafter referred to as the PNICC.

III.  MISSION

The mission of the PNICC is to serve the PNWCG as a body of resident experts, providing advice, and developing recommendations, processes, and procedures to improve the consistency and performance of the Pacific Northwest Geographic Area Incident Management Team operations.

IV.  OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the PNICC are as follows, but not limited to:

a.  Serve as a standing advisory council of practicing experts to provide timely advice to PNWCG on all incident management related issues.

b.  Identify, analyze, and develop recommendations, processes, and procedures to resolve incident management related issues as directed by PNWCG.

c.  Serve PNWCG as a formal source of advice and counsel on the validity and applicability of proposals from other formal groups that have a direct or indirect effect on incident management. Specifically, this council will need to coordinate with the PNWCG Operations Working Team (PNWCG OWT).

V.  ORGANIZATION

Voting Membership: The PNICC will be comprised of the Incident Commanders, Deputy Incident Commanders, and Trainee Incident Commanders assigned to the PNW Type 1 IMT’s, the Type 2 Interagency IMT’s in Oregon and Washington, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) IMT’s, the Oregon State Fire Marshal Teams, the Area Command Teams within the Pacific Northwest Geographic Area, and the Portland NIMO Team. At a minimum, a quorum for the PNICC will consist of five of the seven positions listed below:

•  The Chair and/or Vice Chair

•  One Incident Commander from an Oregon Interagency Team IMT

•  One Incident Commander from a Washington Interagency Team IMT

•  One Incident Commander from an ODF IMT

•  One Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Commander

•  One National Team Incident Commander

•  One Area Commander and/or NIMO Incident Commander

Non-Voting Membership: The PNICC recognizes and values participation by others who can contribute to the success of the PNICC. As such, the PNICC extends non-voting membership status to the chairs of the other PNWCG Working Teams and Advisory Councils, and the Oregon Forest Industries Council.

VI.  PNWICC AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

a. PNICC Chair will communicate to PNWCG.

b. The PNICC is a standing advisory council with authority to address issues provided by the PNWCG Chair.

c. PNICC will coordinate through PNWCG for the chartering of subordinate groups and assigning work on an ad hoc basis to address specific issues identified by PNWCG that may require additional expertise and/or in-depth analysis and review.

d. PNICC may make recommendations for changes in interagency processes and procedures to PNWCG. PNICC may assist PNWCG in moving issues to the National Incident Commander Area Commander Council (NICACC), or the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) as appropriate, and supporting those entities in issue resolution.

e. PNICC will make contacts and coordinate with other working teams, such as the Incident Operations Working Team, as needed to fulfill its roles and responsibilities.

f. PNICC will advise and make recommendations to PNWCG on issues relating to incident management.

VII. PNICC CHAIR AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

a.  Schedule agenda items, convene meetings and conference calls, and advise membership of time and location.

b.  Establish, maintain, and distribute meeting agendas and minutes.

c.  Serve as the primary contact between PNICC and PNWCG, and between NICACC and any subordinate groups.

d.  Ensure that communications between PNICC and other groups is documented, stored and made available to all PNICC members.

The PNICC chair will be elected by the PNICC membership at the Pacific Northwest IC’s annual spring meeting and will serve a minimum of a one year term. The Chair will normally be succeeded by the Vice Chair but may be reelected to additional terms.

VIII. PNWICC VICE CHAIR AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Vice Chair will be elected by the PNICC membership at the Pacific Northwest IC’s annual spring meeting, and serve a minimum of a one year term. The Vice Chair will assume the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair. The Vice Chair may also be reelected to additional terms.

IX. MEETINGS and REPORTS

a. The PNICC will meet at least once annually. Conference calls will be conducted as needed.

b. Each agency is responsible for funding their representative’s travel to meetings.

c. The PNICC will operate by consensus. Consensus decisions will be forwarded to the PNWCG in written format that will include all recommendations. If consensus is unreachable, the Chair will present an issue paper to PNWCG displaying the scope of the issue and alternative solutions that represent all viewpoints of the membership.

X. APPROVAL

/s/ Joseph P. Shramek 7/18/12

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Joe Shramek

PNWCG Chair

Updated 1/2012 Page 3 of 3