MNICS Organization

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors consists of the supervisors of each of the following MNICS partners: the supervisors of the Superior and Chippewa National Forests, Fire Supervisor from the Department of Natural Resources, Director of the MN Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Superintendent of Voyageurs National Park, Regional Fire Director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Regional Director for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Board meets at least once a year to set direction, solve problems and look at future issues in emergency response in Minnesota. Agreements and memorandums of understanding are passed to them for their signatures. This allows response to incidents and prescribed burning to be done on an interagency basis. Other agreements center around the operation of the Interagency Fire Center.

Task Force
The Task Force is comprised of the managers in each of the MNICS organizations, the MIFC Coordinator and and a Public Affairs representative. The Task Force meets monthly to deal with day to day operations of MIFC and the emergency response organizations. The group coordinates and hosts an annual meeting for the MNICS organization. The MN Incident Management Teams and training of personnel are under the guidance of the Task Force.

In addition to solving operational issues, the Task Force decides which issues may need further research and recommendations. These issues are often referred to a working team. They also determine which issues require Board of Directors actions.

Working Teams
Working Teams are set up from individuals who are on the Incident Management Teams or are otherwise involved in the emergency response organization. The working teams meet yearly at the annual meeting and some meet throughout the year as well. Most teams are established and work on a list of items given to them by the Task Force at the annual meeting. Items such as interagency training calendars, operational procedures for the teams and prescribed fire policies and operations are the types of issues the working teams discuss at their meetings.

Currently the MNICS working teams are as follows: Communications, Training, Logistics, Prevention, Finance, Operations, Prescribed Fire, GIS, Information Management Systems, Air Operations