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RT-130 (WFSTAR)

WFSTAR Overview

WFSTAR Catalog

Course Delivery Information

Core Components

2025 Fire Year in Review

2026 Core Components Module Package

Target Audience

FAQ

Historical Modules (Archived)

 

RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR)

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of wildland firefighters hiking down a valley to a fire. Black topo map and WFSTAR logo on left.

WFSTAR 2026 Core Components Module Package

Local Topics

  • Fire Year in Review 2025
    • Revisit significant events and statistics from the 2025 fire season. Identify lessons learned to prepare for the future. Explore available intelligence sources to independently improve big-picture situational awareness.
    • Hear from Brian Fennessy, Chief of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service; Sarah Fisher, Deputy Chief of U.S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation; Scott Mayer from the National Interagency Coordination Center; Greg Smith, Fire Director for the National Association of State Foresters; Travis Touchette, Director of the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center; meteorologist Jim Wallmann; and Brandon Hankla from 6 Minutes for Safety.

Fire and Aviation Operational Safety

  • Module (Patient Assessment)
    • Firefighters learn how to use standardized checklists from the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, during emergency responses. These tools improve communication and guide responders through medical procedures. Firefighters with minimal medical experience can utilize the Patient Assessment and Medical Incident Response (MIR) checklists in the IRPG.
  • Module (Specific Treatments)
    • This module shows firefighters how to use the Specific Treatments page from the Emergency Medical Care section of the NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, to treat common injuries that occur during wildland fire operations. This module focuses on simple, effective treatments that can help firefighters stabilize patients and support successful outcomes.
  • Module (Deer Creek Fire Pyro-Vortex)
    • This module discusses the warning signs and hazards of a pyro-vortex by examining a well-documented pyro-vortex that occurred on the Deer Creek fire in Utah on July 12, 2025. This pyro-vortex was large enough and caused enough damage for the National Weather Service to classify the incident as an EF2 tornado.

Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned

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  • Module (Ransom Road Fire Immersive Case Study)
    • This module provides learners with an enhanced understanding of the Ransom Road Fire that occurred on June 8, 1981. This Storymap is a supplement to the Ransom Road Fire video that was released Fall 2025.

Fire Shelter and Entrapment Avoidance

  • Next Generation Fire Shelter Video (Updated 2026) 

    The Next Generation Fire Shelter video is also available as a download (Size 6.86 GB); with the .srt file for closed captioning (you may need to right click and Save As). For information on how to add closed captioning to a video, see this how to page.

  • PMS 411 Web Portal

Resources

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NWCG Latest Announcements

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NEW! S-420, Intermediate Incident Management Available Now
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Date:  October 26, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Qualifications Management Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that S-420, Intermediate Incident Management (Instructor-led) is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal! This performance-based course is designed to prepare individuals interested in serving on a Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT).

Prior to attending S-420, students must be qualified as a Type 3 Command and General Staff, Unit Leaders, or Division/Group Supervisor (DIVS). Students will also be required to complete the prerequisite trainings ICS-300, Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) for Expanding Incidents and one of the following:

  • S-320, Introduction to Incident Management Teams
  • O-305, Type 3 All-Hazards Incident Management Team Introduction
  • H-337, Command and General Staff Functions for Local Incident Management Teams

References:

S-420, Intermediate Incident Management (Instructor-led)

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  October 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Spring 2027 positions listed below:

  • Finance/Administration Section Chief Complex (FSCC) 
  • Incident Commander Complex (ICCI)
  • Logistics Section Chief Complex (LSCC)
  • Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC)
  • Planning Section Chief Complex (PSCC)
  • Safety Officer Complex (SOFC)
  • Base/Camp Manager (BCMG)
  • Infrared Interpreter (IRIN)
  • Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1)
  • Situation Unit Leader (SITL)
     

Projects begin mid-January 2027. Sign up by November 15, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details.

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)

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Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for FOBS
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Date:  October 22, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Fire Planning Management Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Field Observer (FOBS).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Field Observer Position Page

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Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for GISS
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Date:  October 22, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Integration Management Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Geographic Information System Specialist (GISS).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Geographic Information System Specialist Position Page