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Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee

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FPETSC header graphic. Decorative. One image of a poster that says Avoid Dry Grass. Three photo on the right showing; a man pointing to a information display with children listening; two forest service rangers flanking Smokey Bear, and a fire fighter representative giving an interview to a man holding a recording device.
Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee (FPETSC) provides national leadership in all areas of wildland Fire Prevention Education Team (FPET) management.

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Primary Objectives

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  • Establish and regularly update wildland fire incident position standards for FPET positions. This includes incident position description and position requirements for training, experience, physical fitness, and position currency.
  • Establish and regularly update training and performance support materials such as job aids, training courses, and position task books for FPET positions.
  • Develop FPET best practices that ensure timely, accurate and reliable information.
  • Coordinate with pertinent stakeholders and cooperators to provide all-inclusive messaging, information, assistance and subject matter expertise in fire prevention education team management.
  • Develop and maintain an inventory of FPET resources and tools.

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Fire Prevention Education Team Digital Library

This digital library is a database of wildland fire prevention and education materials that have been developed by Fire Prevention Education Teams (FPET) and wildland fire prevention professionals. Each item has been reviewed for appropriate content and is approved for use. The files that are in a searchable database are available for use by anyone. The database includes different types of file formats depending on the use and presentation of the final product, e.g. slide show; printable item or sign; other handout; etc. Go the  FPET Digital Library.

Guidance Documents

Fire Prevention Education Team Brochure

Email your shipping address and requested order in quantities of 100 to sm.fs.symbols@usda.gov (note that they cannot be shipped to P.O. Boxes).

Wildland Fire Prevention and Education Teams: How They Can Help in Extreme Situations

When severe wildland fire situations occur as a result of extreme fire weather, wildland fires can cause extensive loss of life, property, and resources. As extreme conditions approach or worsen, wildland fire prevention/education is often overlooked as a possible source of help. Because fire weather conditions are predictable, wildland fire prevention/education teams can be mobilized in advance of fires, when fire danger becomes extreme. Prevention/education teams are available to support any geographic area preceding and during periods of high fire danger or fire activity. The requesting unit may use severity dollars in support of a prevention/education team.

Purpose of Wildland Fire Prevention/Education Teams

Teams assist the local unit in the prevention of unwanted human-caused wildfires. This involves working together to

  • Complete fire risk assessments
  • Determine the severity of the situation
  • Facilitate community awareness and education in fire prevention including prescribed burning
  • Coordinate announcement of interagency restrictions and closures
  • Coordinate fire prevention efforts with the public, special target groups, state and local agencies, and elected officials
  • Promote public and personal responsibility regarding fire prevention in the wildland/urban interface
  • Assist Incident Management Teams in accomplishing their objectives in working with the public develop fire protection plans

Mobilization of a team may occur when an unusual event or circumstance warrants or is predicted

Examples

  • Severe burning conditions
  • Unusually high fire occurrence
  • Majority of firefighting resources committed
  • Preparedness levels above normal

Benefits of Wildland Fire Prevention Education Teams

  • Reduce the loss of human life and property
  • Reduce resource losses
  • Reduce the cost of suppression
  • Improve interagency relations

Organization and Ordering

A team consists of a Team Leader, a Public Affairs Officer, Prevention Specialist(s), and an optional trainee or other team members as the situation dictates (Finance Officer, Logistics Specialist, etc.). Trained interagency personnel can be mobilized through normal dispatch channels to assist in fire prevention/education at any level of an organization. The individuals ordered for prevention/education teams must have the skills required to fill the position for which they have been ordered.

Refer to the National Mobilization Guide, Chapter 20, 22.9.10, Cooperative Fire Prevention/Education Teams, for ordering information.

For More Information See: National Wildland Fire Prevention and Education Teams.

National Fire Prevention Education Teams Oversight and Virtual Teams Concepts, April 2020.

2024 National Fire Prevention Education Team Schedule

This schedule represents the 2024 National Fire Prevention Education Team Rotation. We are working with all agencies and states to ensure that opportunities for interagency participation are provided. Please feel free to contact the Team Leader for more information. View the 2024 schedule.

FPET BrochureFree brochures are available for sharing information about FPETs with Fire Management Officers, fire directors, potential host agencies, and others.

National Wildfire Prevention Strategy March 2021 (USDA Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management)

 

2022 Fire Prevention Education Team Annual Webinar

Time 1:30:34

Chair: Mark Thibideau

NWCG Coordinator: Katy O'Hara

Parent Committee: Communication Education and Prevention Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

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 procesures 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

Memorandum 24-003: Removal of Type 1 Command and General Staff (C&G) Incident Position Qualification Pathways

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

2024 Professional Reading Program

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

NWCG Training Catalog now on Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Date: April 25, 2023
Contact: NWCG Training  

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has migrated the training catalog from the NWCG website to the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes and improve efficiency. To facilitate this transition, the training catalog remains available on www.nwcg.gov through April 2024.

Starting May 2024, the training catalog will no longer be accessible on www.nwcg.gov. However, you can still access the complete training catalog by logging in as a guest to the WFLP.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal