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

RT-130 Decorative banner. Group of photos depicting wildland firefighters performing various duties.

2023 Fire Year in Review

Revisit significant events and statistics from the 2023 fire season. Identify lessons learned to prepare for the future. Explore intelligence sources to independently enhance big picture situational awareness.
Category: Operations
Core Component(s):
Local Topics, Incident Reviews and Lessons Learned, Fire and Aviation Operational Safety
Estimated Delivery Time: 30 minutes
Video Length: 11:53

Intent

Revisit significant events and statistics from the 2023 fire season. Identify lessons learned to prepare for the future. Explore intelligence sources to independently enhance big picture situational awareness.

Facilitator Preparation

  • Review the video, module tools, and additional resources.
  • Review significant events and statistics from 2023 for your local area.
  • Print or display the current National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook from Predictive Services.
    • Optional: Print or Display additional fire potential outlooks for your Geographic Area (links on Geographic Area Coordination Centers – Outlooks) or your local response area (local dispatch center).
  • From the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) website, print, or display the 2023 Incident Review Summary and 2023 Year-End Infographic.
  • Consider additional activities and discussion questions pertinent to the location and agency.

Facilitating the Discussion

  • Show the video.
  • Facilitate a small or large group discussion using the activity and discussion questions.

Questions / Scenario / Directions

  1. Discuss significant events and trends from your local response area in 2023. How did last year compare to a typical fire year? What is the outlook for 2024?
  2. The LLC segment introduced three topics from the 2023 fire year: Burn injuries, UTV Incidents, and Entrapments. Choose another topic from the 2023 LLC Incident Review Summary, review the information, and discuss how you/your crew can apply the Action Items in 2023.
  3. The video introduced two sources of information for the Year in Review: The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC). Using the links under Resources, identify and discuss a product or topic not covered in the video that you/your crew will use to be students of fire.

Resources

Additional Video Information

  • This video and .srt file (for closed captioning) are also available as a download.  (Size 1.2GB)  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.
  • Note: For Chrome and Firefox, right click the word download and select Save Link As; for IE, right click and select Save Target As.

 

Page Last Modified / Reviewed:

USWDS Paragraph Bundles

 

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