All NWCG Announcements

Date: June 24, 2024
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee 

The June 2024 update of the NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236, is now available to meet the current needs for incident management typing.

The NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment should be used to evaluate firefighter safety issues, assess risk, and identify the appropriate incident management organization based on incident complexity. Assessing risk, determining incident complexity, and identifying an appropriate incident management organization is a subjective process based on examining a combination of indicators or factors, which can change over time.

References:

NWCG Wildland Fire Risk and Complexity Assessment, PMS 236

Date: June 10, 2024
Contact: NWCG Feedback 

The NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Branch Director (OPBD), PMS 311-109 is now available for use within the OPBD position qualification pathway. As part of the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), the OPBD Next Gen PTB was developed and the position qualification pathway updated.

More information about the Next Gen PTB format can be found on the NWCG Position Task Book webpage.

References:

Operations Branch Director Position Page

Operations Branch Director Next Gen PTB

NWCG Position Task Books

Date: June 5, 2024
Contact: NWCG Incident Business Committee 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, PMS 902 is now available. The uniform application of interagency incident business management standards is critical to interagency fire operations. PMS 902 assists NWCG agencies in constructively working together to provide effective execution of each agency's incident business management program.

References:

PMS 902

Date: June 4, 2024
Contact: NWCG Equipment Technology Committee 

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide NWCG direction on the discontinued use of hot/cold beverage kits for the 2024 field season due to spout failures and risk of burn injury. As an alternative, coffee heating kits are available for ordering through the cache system to support spike camps and remote resources.

If personnel see hot/cold beverage kits at an incident, these should not be used. Equipment specialists with the National Technology and Development Program are evaluating available alternative options to replace the faulty spouts and continue to coordinate with industry experts.

References:

Equipment Bulletin 24-001: Discontinued Use of Hot/Cold Beverage Kits – 2024 Field Season

NWCG Alerts

Date: June 4, 2024
Contact: NWCG Incident Business Committee 

The 1990 version of the Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297, has been replaced by the updated May 2024 version. The new version of the OF 297 has been modified and improved to meet current incident management needs. The form now has areas to document the staffing of equipment and special rates. IBC has created a one-page help document and 3 completed sample OF-297 forms to assist in this transition, available on the IBC webpage.

References:

Incident Business Committee

Emergency Equipment Shift Ticket, OF 297

Date: May 24, 2024
Contact: NWCG Emergency Medical Committee 

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2023 Wildland Fire EMS Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2023 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

NWCG Emergency Medical Committee

Date: May 21, 2024
Contact: NWCG Training 

NWCG is excited to announce the release of Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs). The Next Gen PTB is part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. Next Gen PTBs are intended to be used in conjunction with Incident Position Standards to support constructive conversations between trainees and evaluators, set baseline standards, and enhance speed to competency.

Next Gen PTBs and Incident Position Standards are now available for Crew Boss, Single Resource (CRWB) and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2). As positions go through IPTM, Next Gen PTBs will be developed and published.

References:

NWCG Position Task Books

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

Date: May 10, 2024
Contact: IFUASS Qualification and Curriculum Board (IFUASS) 

The 2024 revision of the NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 is now available. PMS 515 standardizes the processes and procedures for interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This publication is now available as a PDF for easy use offline.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: May 10, 2024
Contact: Aitor Bidaburu 

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide NWCG direction for removal of the Type 1 Command and General Staff (C&G) incident position qualification pathways to transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM). Responders may continue to utilize available NWCG pathways to attain Type 1 C&G qualifications until December 31, 2024.

References:

Memorandum 24-003

CIM Story Map

Date: April 26, 2024
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP) 

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2024 Professional Reading list! The intent of the Professional Reading Program is to promote the reading and discussion of these books throughout the year. Discussion guides are provided and the corresponding Wildland Fire Leadership Levels have been identified.

The five books chosen for this year are: Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by William H. McRaven, The Art of Clear Thinking by Hasard Lee, Emotional Agility by Susan David, and Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Wildland Fire Leadership Levels