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Crews Typing Standard

Steward: Operations and Training Committee

Intro paragraph

Minimum Crew Standards for National Mobilization

Minimum Standards Type 1* Type 2 with Initial Attack Capability Type 2
Fireline Capability Initial Attack – Can be broken up into squads, fireline construction, complex firing operations (backfire). Initial Attack – Can be broken up into squads, fireline construction, firing to include burnout. Initial Attack – Fireline construction, firing as directed
Crew Size 18 - 20
Leadership Qualifications Permanent supervision: Supt.: TFLD, ICT4, FIRB Asst. Supt.: STCR, ICT4 3 Squad Bosses: ICT5 2 Senior Firefighters: FFT1 Crew Boss: CRWB 3 Squad Bosses: ICT5 Crew Boss: CRWB 3 Squad Bosses: FFT1
Language Requirement All senior leadership, including Squad Bosses and higher, must be able to read and interpret the language of the crew as well as English.
Experience 80% 1 season 60% 1 season 20% 1 season
Full-Time Organized Crew Yes (work and train as a unit 40 hours per week. No No
Communications 5 programmable radios 4 programmable radios
Sawyers 3 agency-qualified 3 agency-qualified None
Training As required by the Interagency Hotshot Crew Guide or agency policy before assignment Basic firefighter training and/or Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training before assignment Basic firefighter training and/or Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training before assignment
Logistics Crew level agency purchasing authority No purchasing authority No purchasing authority
Maximum Weight 5,300 lb
Dispatch Availability Available nationally Available nationally Variable
Production Factor 1.0 .8 .8
Transportation Own transportation Transporation needed Transportatio
Tools & Equipment Fully equipped Not equipped Not equipped
Personal Gear Arrives with: Crew first aid kit, personal first aid kit, headlamp, 1-qt canteen, web gear, sleeping bag
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) All standard designated fireline PPE
Certification Must be annually certified by the local host Unit Agency Administrator or designee before being made available for assignment. N/A N/A

*An Interagency Hotshot Crew (IHC) is a Type I crew that exceeds the Type I standards as required by the Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations Guide (2011) in the following categories:

  • Permanent supervision with 7 career appointments (Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, 3 Squad Bosses).
  • IHCs work and train as a unit 40 hours per week.
  • IHCs are a national resource.

N/A = Not applicable

Sustained Line Production Rates of 20-Person Crews in Feet per Hour*

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Type 1 Direct Type 1 Indirect Type 2 and 2 IA Direct Type 2 and 2 IA Indirect
1. Short Grass
2. Open Timber Grass		 1,122
(792 - 1,386)**		 627
(508–746)		 627
(174–660)		 285
(174–380)
4. Chaparral 436
(330–528)		 330
(178–482)		 449
(80–640)		 272
(178–376)
5. Brush 1,089
(924–1,254)		 323
(244–403)		 471
(304–682)		 277
(178–376)
6. Dormant Brush/Hardwood Slash 1,089
(924–1,254)		 323
(244–403)		 471
(304–682)		 277
(178–376)
8. Closed Timber Litter
9. Hardwood Litter
10. Timber (Litter & Understory)		 693
(594–792)		 455
(396–515)		 447
(370–448)		 378
(255–452)

*Based on San Dimas Technology & Development Center, Tech Tip – 1151-1805P, Fireline Production Rates, 2011. No data was collected in fuel models 3, 7, and 11 – 13.

**Numbers in parentheses are expected ranges of line production.

IA = Initial Attack

Sustained Line Production Rates of 20-Person Crews in Feet per Hour*

Fire Behavior Fuel Model Crew Type 1 Crew Type 2
7. Southern Rough 264 132
11. Logging Slash, Light 990 594
12. Logging Slash, Medium 462 264
13. Logging Slash, Heavy 330 198

**Based on various sources from pre-1980.

 

and so on...

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

Leadership Committee IAP Flyer Now Available

Date:  May 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee promotes and enables leadership development across the wildland fire service. The committee provides education, training opportunities, and support for leadership innovation and best practices throughout the community.

A new IAP flyer is now available on the committee website, offering an overview of the products, curriculum, and learning opportunities the Leadership Committee develops. This resource is ideal for posting in your office, sharing with new employees, or distributing through your incident management teams to engage new voices in the leadership journey and reinforce a culture of self‑reflection, development, and growth.

References:

Leadership Committee 2026 IAP Flyer

Incident Operations Subcommittee Updates the Next Generation Position Task Book for FFT1

Date:  May 7, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

The NWCG Incident Operations Subcommittee (IOSC) has updated the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14. The FFT1 Position Task Book transitioned to the Next Generation (Next Gen PTB) format in June 2025 through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. Since then, IOSC has received feedback from the wildland fire community regarding coding for one of the tasks. Task #13 has been updated to include the option of evaluation in a simulation.

See IOSC Memorandum 26‑01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14 for more information.

References:

IOSC Memorandum 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Postion Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page 

NEW! S-212, Intermediate Faller (Online) Course Available Now 

Date:  April 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S‑212, Intermediate Faller (Online), course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). This second course in the series provides students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of an Intermediate Faller (FAL2), as described in the FAL2 Incident Position Description. This course is intended for individuals seeking to advance from Basic Faller (FAL3) to FAL2.

S‑212, Intermediate Faller is a fully online, self‑paced training program consisting of 13 units. Learners will engage with interactive, scenario‑based content designed to progressively build foundational skills and knowledge essential for the FAL2 role.

Students must be qualified as a Basic Faller (FAL3) prior to enrolling in S‑212, Intermediate Faller course.

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 2027.

References:

S-212 Intermediate Faller (Online)

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

New Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

Date:  April 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: National Coordination System Committee

A new publication from the National Coordination System Committee (NCSC) is now available. The NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249, will be used for aviation crews and dispatch to share flight information that is needed for resource tracking, and if needed, for emergency procedures.

For further details, please contact your NCSC representative. 

References:

NCSC Memo 26-01: Implementation of NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249