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Creating a Local Copy

The National Incident Feature Services (NIFS) are designed to be used on fires and incidents of any size. This will help with streamlining data sharing, quick deployment of ArcGIS Online and Collector, and transitioning between teams. This service is hosted by the Fire Enterprise Geospatial Portal (EGP). As hosted data, it can easily be shared near-real time with fire personnel at any time or location.

Editing the National Incident Feature Services is essential to the role of a GISS. This is accomplished primarily through the use of Local Copies. A Local copy is a downloaded subset of data from the NIFS which can be edited like a regular geodatabase and then synced back to the service to apply the changes.

Even though it allows for multiple simultaneous editors, a Feature Service and Local Copy edits have none of the conflict protection or resolution capabilities of a truly versioned environment. Great care must be taken not to overwrite other user data.

Best practices for editing the NIFS include:

  • Only ever download and/or edit an incident you are assigned to.
  • Keep Local Copies only as long as necessary to make edits.
  • If there are multiple editors, establish clear geographic boundaries and communicate frequently.
  • Educate field collectors on editing conflicts and coordinate their assignments to avoid them.

For examples of conflicts and GISS Watch-Out situations, see the document Offline-Editing Conflict Resolution in the National Incident Feature Services and Hosted Feature Services.

Pro

Because Pro has two-way sync capability, remember to always sync before starting an edit session to pull in the most recent data. Otherwise the data in the map is as old as your last sync.

  • Create a Local Copy with ArcGIS Pro [Draft] - Basic workflow to connect to the EGP ArcGISIMT server and download a Local Copy.
  • Utilizing Local Copies with the Pro Project Template [Draft] - Instructions on efficiently implementing a Local Copy workflow with the Pro Project Template, including editing multiple areas at once.

Add the NIFS and Configure Feature Templates in ArcGIS Pro

 

ArcMap

Connecting to the NIFS Services in ArcMap

Update: The National Incident Feature Service name has been changed from Event_GISSEdit_Open to Event_GISSEdit. It is still on the same server in the same folder.

Create a Local Copy in ArcMap

 

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign: "Leadership Levels" Now Available

Date: October 15, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce the release of the Leadership Committee’s 2025–2026 Leadership Campaign, themed “Leadership Levels.” This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

The campaign is structured into four quarters and may be completed at any time between October 1, 2025 -December 31, 2026. Leadership levels will be released quarterly.

Quarter One materials are now available on the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program website and focus on Leadership Level 1, Follower (Self-Leadership).

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Leadership Committee

Updated! L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led) Course

Date: October 3, 2024
Questions? Please contact:
Leadership Committee

NWCG is pleased to announce the updated L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led) course is now available. L-280 is intended for operational personnel at the Firefighter Type 1 level, and for individuals pursuing Leadership Level 2, New Leader. 

This instructor-led course is a primer on leadership and the second formal course in the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program. It helps emerging leaders build the confidence, skills, and mindset needed to lead effectively in high-risk environments. 

For more information about leadership development and available courses, visit the Leadership Committee Web Portal.

References:

L-280, Followership to Leadership (Instructor-led)

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Equipment Advisory 25-01: Pre-2006 Fire Shelter Degradation and Discontinuation of Use

Date: Sept 26, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee 

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Equipment Advisory 25-01: Pre-2006 Fire Shelter Degradation and Discontinuation of Use. This advisory recommends all pre-2006 fire shelters should be removed from service by January 1, 2026.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to:

  • Inspect fire shelters immediately
  • Replace and destroy any pre-2006 shelters (identified by white or pink insert label)
  • Order replacements as needed

For further details, please refer to the complete advisory. 

References:

Equipment Advisory 25-01: Pre-2006 Fire Shelter Degradation and Discontinuation of Use

NWCG Fire Inspection Flowchart, PMS 411-1

NWCG Alerts

NEW! S-219, Firing Operations (Blended) Now Available

Date: Sept 11, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fuels Management Committee 

The S-219, Firing Operations (Blended) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Firing Boss, Single Resource (FIRB) incident qualifications.

This blended course combines online and instructor-led training to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of the FIRB, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Firing Boss, Single Resource, PMS 350-105.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

S-219, Firing Operations (Blended)

NWCG Firing Boss, Single Resource Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal