Engines

Engines

Steward: Equipment Technology Committee

The NWCG categorizes information on fire apparatus into logical groups and provides common options often requested by fire managers. The Incident Command System (ICS) uses this system based on the equipment capability. The table below shows NWCG minimum performance requirements for structure and, wildland engine resource types. Additional information for required crew training and equipment recommendations can be found at the position catalog.

Engine Types
Types 1 and 2 are structure; Types 3-7 are wildland
Requirements	Type 1	Type 2	Type 3	Type 4	Type 5	Type 6	Type 7
Tank minimum capacity (gal)	300	300	500	750	400	150	50
Pump minimum flow (gal/min)	1,000	500	150	50	50	50	10
Tank minimum capacity (gal)	300	300	500	750	400	150	50
At rated pressure (psi)	150	150	250	100	100	100	100
Hose: 2½-inch	1,200	1,000	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hose: 1½-inch	50	500	1,000	300	300	300	N/A
Hose: 1-inch	N/A	N/A	500	300	300	300	200
Ladders per NFPA 1901	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	50N/A
Master stream 500 gal/min.	Yes	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pump and roll	N/A	N/A	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maximum GVWR (lb)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	26,000	19,500	14,000
Personnel (minimum)	4	3	3	2	2	2	2
N/A = Not applicable NFPA = National Fire Protection Association GVWR = Gross vehicle weight rating

Notes:

All types shall meet Federal, state, and agency requirements for motor vehicle safety standards, including all gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) when fully loaded.
Type 3 engines and tactical water tenders shall be equipped with a foam proportioner system.
All water tenders and engine Types 3 through 6 shall be able to prime and pump water from a 10-foot lift.
Personnel shall meet the qualification requirements of NWCG’s NIMS Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide, PMS 310-1.

Common Additional Needs for Engines and Tenders (Request As Needed)

All-wheel drive (includes four-wheel drive)
High-pressure pump (250 psi at one-half flow of Type)
Foam proportioner
Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) 40 ft3/min minimum
Additional personnel

Need a heading for this part - Equipment examples? Equipment directory? This information is from the Water Handling Equipment Guide, PMS 447-1

This section lists many of the different initial attack engines used in the United States and describes the wide variety of vehicle sizes, pump, and tank size configurations. The data displayed in this section are intended to assist individuals interested in outfitting an initial attack wildland engine. Some of the following engines could possibly be reclassified from one NWCG ICS type to another by changing the basic equipment compliment, personnel staffing, or level of training.

Note: Click the agency link for a further description.

NWCG ICS Type	Tank Capacity (gallons)	Pump Rating (gal/min @150 psi)	Pump Drive	Equipment Designator	Agency
1	500	1500	Mid Ship	N/A	Los Angeles County Fire Department
1	750	1500	Mid Ship	N/A	Sacramento Metro Fire Department
1	700	1500	Mid Ship	N/A	Sacramento Metro Fire Department
3	500	500	Hydrostatic	CAL FIRE Model 14/15	CAL FIRE
And so on...

Line Production Rates for Initial Action by Engine Crews in Chains per Crew per Hour

Fire Behavior Fuel Model	Specific Conditions	Chains Per Crew Hour Number of Persons in Crew
Fire Behavior Fuel Model	Specific Conditions	1	2	3	4	5+
1. Short Grass	Grass	6	12	24	35	40
1. Short Grass	Tundra	2	8	15	24	30
2. Open Timber/Grass Understory	All	3	7	15	21	25
3. Tall Grass	All	2	5	10	14	16
4. Chaparrel	Chaparrel	2	3	8	15	20
4. Chaparrel	High Pocosin	2	4	10	15	18
5. Brush (minimum 2 ft. tall)	All	3	6	12	16	20
6. Dormant Brush/Hardwood Slash	Black Spruce	3	6	10	16	20
6. Dormant Brush/Hardwood Slash	Others	3	6	12	16	20
7. Southern Rough	All	2	5	12	16	20
8. Closed Timber Litter	Conifers	3	8	15	20	24
8. Closed Timber Litter	Hardwoods	10	30	40	50	60
9. Hardwood Litter	Conifers	3	7	12	18	22
9. Hardwood Litter	Hardwoods	8	25	40	50	60
10. Timber (Litter & Understory)	All	3	8	12	16	20
11. Logging Slash, Light	All	3	8	12	16	20
12. Logging Slash, Medium	All	3	5	10	16	20
13. Logging Slash, Heavy	All	2	4	8	15	20
Note: These rates are to be used for estimating initial action productivity only. Do not use these rates to estimate sustained line construction, burnout, and holding productivity. Initial action may consist of scratch line construction and hotspotting.

NWCG Latest Announcements

National Wildland Firefighter Day

Date: July 2, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
National Interagency Fire Center

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) recognizes July 2, 2025, as National Wildland Firefighter Day (NWFFD). Established in 2022, NWFFD honors the dedication of wildland firefighters and support personnel. This day falls within the 2025 Week of Remembrance (June 30 - July 6), providing an opportunity to renew our commitment to wildland firefighter safety while remembering those who have fallen in the line of duty.

NWCG provides leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. NWCG standards and training establish common practices to contribute to safe, effective, and coordinated interagency wildland fire operations nationwide.

References:

Week of Remembrance

National Wildland Firefighter Day

2025 Week of Remembrance

Date: June 27, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2025 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on the past incidents from 2015 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations—whether in briefing rooms or at tailgates—that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2025 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003 Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey

Date: June 12, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) is seeking input on the Forest Service-designed flame-resistant (FR) shirt, currently available through the National Interagency Support Cache system and FedMall.

NTDP is conducting a product review to improve future FR shirt designs. As part of this effort, a short survey is now open for federal employees who have worn any of three recent FR shirt models. Feedback will guide design improvements to better meet the needs of wildland firefighters.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, responses are limited to federal employees. The survey is open through September 12, 2025.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003

NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page.
If your question is not answered there, you can
submit your question using our Contact Us form.

The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).