Minutes from April meeting approved.

Agenda distributed by Diana Martin.

Zone Committee Updates:

Communications - Rita - Communications plan needs to be distributed each spring and remind everyone to switch off to the plan during extended incidents. Gallatin County will have 3 new fire repeater frequencies for use next spring. We need to update licenses on state frequencies.

Training - Bryan Connelley - Training nominations will be done after meeting today - Yearly review - The engine academy training was extremely successful and we are looking at doing it again this year, first meeting Jan 5 at 7P at Belgrade Training facility - Need a fire investigation training - S290 & 390 will be done in YNP as usual - S270 &S217 by USFS & YNP - S205 by Park & Gallatin - water handling and pump operations course by Gallatin - 1200 ICS by Park - Time recorder for personnel and equipment by DNRC & USFS - Normal yearly training including Basic, SOS, and guard school. There is a Haz-Mat awareness course going on 10-28 at 6p, Phil Lawson is the contact 333-4394 - The NTC catalog is on the web.

Operations - Jim Kitchens - fireline handbook updates should be out - team selection process is being updated.

Business Management - Diana Martin - Mike will be staying on the committee

Prevention - No report

Fire Use committee - Bill Breedlove - general update - at spring meeting will try and bring map overlay showing areas to burn

NRCG meeting report - Diana - handed out several handouts NTCG guideline changes - reviewed fire shelter alert

Big Sky Fire Plan committee update - Bill Breedlove - plan is just about finished - distribution should be next spring

Mobilization Board - Diana - System we set up worked fairly well with only one small problem - discussion on the rotation and private freelancing

Agency Updates

USFS - Bill Breedlove - Discussed Montana airshed and open burning issues. Federal dollars are way down for fighting fire and will affect operations in the future - doing some engine replacements - need discussion on having a zone MAC

Gallatin County - Bryan Connelley - new heavy Type 6 is running - Also have a truck which can pull the Cache - Cache has a list of needs which can be distributed, needs are PPE, hose, fittings, and a good medical kit

Park County - Bob Fry - Training room at RFD#1 should be finished for spring training this year

Meagher County - Rick Seidlitz - good cooperation with USFS this past year

Chair change - Rick Seidlitz is next chairman. Rotation for deputy chair should be federal. Jim Kitchens of YNP agreed to deputy.

Next meeting date and location:

April 26, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. at the National Guard Armory in Livingston, 24 Fleshman Creek Road, Suite 1.

Meeting ended 1300

TO ADD AGENDA ITEMS OR ISSUE FEEDBACK, CONTACT RICK SEIDLITZ AT 547-3397 OR FAX HIM AT 547-3721.