All NWCG Announcements

Date: December 7, 2023
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee (IASS) 

An updated NWCG Work Capacity Test Administrator's Guide is now available. This publication is intended to aid WCT Administrators in preparing and performing a WCT. 

The WCT Administrator will be able to complete proper paperwork and administer respective job-related field tests to determine a worker's capacity to meet NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Work Capacity Test Administrator's Guide, PMS 307

Date: December 6, 2023
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee (IASS) 

The December 2023 revision of the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505, is now available for download. No changes have been made to the associated forms and documents.

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: October 23, 2023
Contact: NWCG Training 

In November 2023, the training catalog will be migrated from the NWCG website to the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) as part of a streamlining and process improvement effort. This will first occur for all training that is required for positions, followed by training that has been recommended for positions.

References:

NWCG Training Courses

Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP)

Date: September 8, 2023
Contact: Mental Health Subcommittee (MHSC) 

In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week, the NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee has created daily messages to share resources and mental health information to prevent suicide in our community.

We encourage you to use these materials to start conversations with coworkers about maintaining mental health and wellness. Each short piece takes only a few minutes to review, but it could provide information that makes a difference for you or someone else. Please share these widely.

References:

MHSC Suicide Prevention Week 

Opening Letter

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Date: October 25, 2023
Contact: Wildland fire Leadership Development Program

The NWCG Wildland Fire Staff Ride Guide, PMS 470, is now available. This publication establishes the standards for developing and carrying out staff rides, and incorporates best practices learned through the development of multiple staff rides.

Staff rides are excellent learning events, and the intent of this publication is to provide information that will expand the use of staff rides within the wildland fire service.

References:

NWCG Wildland Fire Staff Ride Guide, PMS 470

Date: August 23, 2023
Contact: Emergency Medical Committee

NWCG announces the recipients of the 2022 Wildland Fire EMS Awards. The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (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. Through leadership and initiative, they made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community.

• Kevin Knight – Outstanding Wildland Fire EMS Individual of the Year
• Silver City Interagency Hotshot Crew – Outstanding Wildland Fire EMS Crew of the Year
• Prescribed Fire Crew, Hoosier National Forest – Outstanding Wildland Fire EMS Crew of the Year
• Scott Phillips – Outstanding Wildland Fire EMS Distinguished Service Award
• Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District– Award of Excellence in Wildland Fire EMS/Rescue
• Idaho City Hotshot Crew – Award of Excellence in Wildland Fire EMS/Rescue

References:

2022 Wildland Fire EMS Awards Announcement

Submit 2023 Nominations

Date: August 02, 2023
Contact: Patrick Morgan and Keith Mitchell

The IOSC is seeking requests for revisions to the IRPG. The IRPG is updated periodically to reflect current standards and to add new information as needed. The current version of the IRPG was released January 2022, and the IOSC is targeting the next version of the IRPG to be available to the field by January 2025.

All requests should be submitted by October 31, 2023, to be considered for the next version of the IRPG.

References:

Memo 23-01

IRPG Request for Change

Date: July 10, 2023
Contact: Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee (FPETSC)

Two new publications from the Fire Prevention Education Team Subcommittee (FPETSC) are now available. The NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Host Unit Guide, PMS 464, aids the interaction between host units requesting Fire Prevention Education Teams (FPETs) and the FPET itself and second, to clarify the different aspects of logistics, operations, information, safety, and business and finance support needed for FPETs.

The NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Guide, PMS 474, provides information and guidance for successful use, management, and outcomes for FPET assignments and highlights the responsibilities and protocols related to FPETs.

References:

NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Host Unit Guide, PMS 464

NWCG Fire Prevention Education Team Guide, PMS 474

Date: June 30, 2023
Contact: Incident Business Committee (IBC)

Currently, a fleet rate has not been established for agency or cooperator owned UAS. Most UAS and related support equipment are purchased and maintained at a local unit level with base funding. Therefore, unlike manned aircraft, a daily availability rate or applicable hourly flight rate for operations is not being assessed when a UAS is assigned to an incident. Incident replacement guidance for UAS is outlined is memo 23-09.

References:

Memo 23-09

Date: June 30, 2023
Contact: Interagency Airtanker Base Subcommittee (IABS)

The updated 2023 NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508 standardizes operations and procedures at interagency airtanker bases to ensure safe, efficient, and effective operations in support of interagency goals and objectives.

References:

• 2023 NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508