National Wildfire Coordinating Group

National Interagency Fire Center
3833 S. Development Avenue
Boise, ID 83705

This memorandum is to inform you of an important National Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (NWCG) initiative regarding a Pilot Program with the U.S. Fire Administration’s Type 3 All-Hazard Incident Management Teams (IMT’s).

The NWCG has recognized the need to better leverage resources from the all-hazard community to support wildland fire incidents and build all-hazard response capabilities. The 2009 Quadrennial Fire Review (QFR) states, “a more interactive and robust approach enabling fire agencies to work more effectively with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state and local community emergency response forces will be needed.”

Subsequently, NWCG has established an Oversight Team to address issues related to all-hazard IMT’s and to conduct a Pilot Program in 2010. The intent of the pilot will be to provide recommendations on potential integration of all-hazard resources in support of wildland fire incidents.

Since 2003, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), under the direction of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, is responsible for the Type 3 All-Hazard Technical Assistance Program. The program includes Basic (I-100) through Advanced (I-400) ICS training, as well as the development of ICS position-specific training and task books that match NWCG competencies. Since the inception of this program, Type 3 teams have been shadowing Type 1 and 2 IMT’s to gain valuable experience and enhance response capabilities. Currently, there are approximately 70 teams developed nationally with the intent to build more.

The pilot will include working with a representative group of all-hazard teams for the 2010 season. The supervisory to trainee mentoring relationship will be similar to the existing use of trainees on incidents. Type 1 and 2 IMT’s are expected to perform the full supervisory duties with Type 3 teams on incidents or exercises. This includes signing off on task books, completing performance evaluations, and mentoring. Qualified NWCG personnel are encouraged to mentor and sign off on USFA task books, following the guidelines established in the National Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1), whether all-hazard response personnel are assigned under the Pilot Program or not.

A typical Type 3 team will have Command and General Staff positions filled, with some unit level positions also filled. Team size is similar to a NWCG “short team” configuration. Cost to support trainee assignments will be absorbed by Type 3 team member agencies and the USFA - no cost will be charged to the incident.

The goal will be to evaluate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/USFA program as a nationally viable program to be validated, endorsed and utilized for future national deployment in support of wildland teams or other national mobilizations under ESF4 or other auspices.

It is important to recognize that the intent of this pilot is not to have the FEMA/USFA Program qualify or endorse state and local resources to manage wildfire incidents independently. This would require meeting the National Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1); rather, it is to help build all-hazard response capabilities and boost resource availability to support large scale incidents.

The successful outcome of this Pilot Program will enable the wildland and the all-hazard communities to work more effectively together, thereby enhancing the overall national response capabilities.

For more information and periodic updates, a link will be established on the NWCG home page for: All-Hazard Incident Management Oversight Group.

cc: NWCG Executive Board

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