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1. Background

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) was formed in January 1974, to expand operational cooperation and coordination between various public agencies having jurisdictional responsibility for wildland fire management.

In 2007, NWCG was re-chartered, expanding its responsibility and adding new partners. The subcommittee chartered herein is one of a number of support groups established by the NWCG to provide stewardship for specific business segment areas in fire management.

Historically, most of the functional business areas to be addressed by this subcommittee were the responsibility of the former Fire Danger Committee under the Fire Environment Working Team.

2. Name

The name of this subcommittee, hereinafter referred to as the Subcommittee, is the Fire Danger Subcommittee (FDS) of the Fire Environment Committee.

3. Authority

The Subcommittee is established pursuant to the authorities granted in the Fire Environment Committee Charter.

The deliberations of this Subcommittee are exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act under section 204 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

The Subcommittee Chair is authorized to convene meetings and schedule agenda items. The Chair is also authorized to make contacts, negotiate work assignments, and make commitments on behalf of the Subcommittee. The Chair may also commit such resources as are available within the Subcommittee or as authorized by the Fire Environment Committee.

4. Purpose

The Subcommittee is established to provide interagency leadership, vision and strategic direction to improve fire danger rating in support of operations and decision support of effective fire management.

5. Membership

Subcommittee membership will reflect a mix of people who are knowledgeable in the subject area of the Subcommittee and who are from NWCG member agencies and organizations. With NWCG Executive Board approval, other agencies or organizations that are not NWCG members may be selected for Subcommittee membership.

The Fire Environment Committee will appoint a Subcommittee Chair. The term of the Chair appointment will be 2 years and may be extended at the discretion of the Fire Environment Committee.

Primary Subcommittee members will be selected by the Chair. The terms of each primary member will be 2 years and may be extended at the discretion of the Chair. Technical advisors may be added as associate members with Chair approval.

6. Organization

The Subcommittee is under the direction of the Fire Environment Committee.

The Subcommittee may create units and task teams.

7. Cooperation and Coordination

The Subcommittee will work through the Fire Environment Committee to ensure appropriate coordination, collaboration, and information sharing with other groups and organizations for the subject matter and specific tasks of the Subcommittee.

8. Responsibility

The Subcommittee is primarily responsible for supporting the Fire Environment Committee in advancing the mission of NWCG in providing stewardship for fire danger related products and services.

Responsibilities include the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS):

- Fire Danger applications and use

a. Weather Information Management System (WIMS)
b. FireFamily Plus
c. Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS)
d. Pocket Cards
e. Data Warehouse

- Training
- Enhancements
- Future developments.

9. Deliverables

Standards
Guidelines
Review, Assessments and Recommendations
Training Course content

10. Meetings

The Subcommittee shall document in a standard operating procedure the specific protocols and procedures for conducting subcommittee business.

11. Charter Amendments

Changes to, or revocation of, this charter must follow the process outlined in the NWCG Operating Principles and Guidelines.

12. Charter Approval

This charter is effective as of the date of approval by the Chair of the Fire Environment Committee and shall remain in effect until revised or revoked.

Approved:

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