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National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

History

NFPA history goes back into the late 1800s. However, wildland fire was not included until 1993 when the first edition of NFPA 1977, the Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting was published. 

What does NFPA 1977 certification mean? Personal protective equipment (PPE) certified to NFPA 1977 meets the minimum performances requirements set forth in the standard for wildland firefighting. When you see the NFPA 1977 label, it means that the item has been third-party tested for compliance with requirements for labeling, design criteria, performance standards, and user information specific to the issued item. PPE testing methods and procedures are stated in the NFPA 1977 standard to ensure consistency of testing across different third-party testing laboratories, see inset for testing examples.

Is your gear compliant with NFPA 1977?

Look to your label… There will be variances between labels based on the manufacturer and the year certified. All labeling will meet the minimum requirements specified by the NFPA 1977 edition year the item was certified to and will contain the third-party testing laboratory’s certification mark.

Of note, for the 2025 edition, the NFPA 1977 standard was consolidated with two other standards (NFPA 1951 and NFPA 1999) resulting in a name change to NFPA 1950, Standard on Personal Protective Equipment for Technical Rescue Incidents, Emergency Medical Operations, and Wildland and Urban Interface Firefighting (for wildland firefighting items, labels will have NFPA 1950 [1977]).  

Can you wear items certified to previous NFPA 1977 standards? Yes, those items met the requirements for certification at that time and there is no shelf life on wildland PPE. However, it is important to inspect your equipment and ensure it is still in good working condition (clean, free of holes and other damage, etc.).

It is important to note that other certifications exist. For example, you may see clothing labeled “flame-resistant.” Often these items are certified to NFPA 2112, a different standard that does not apply to wildland firefighting conditions.

Why is certification important? It ensures your equipment meets performance criteria to best protect you in the environment in which you work. 

Important things to note on each label:

  • NFPA certification year (typically at the top of the label) must specify NFPA 1977 for items certified to the 2022 edition and before, or NFPA 1950 (1977) for items certified to the 2025 edition.
  • Third-party certification mark (Safety Equipment Institute [SEI] or Underwriters Laboratory [UL]) and date of certification.
  • Manufacturer’s wear, care, or cleaning instructions.

Below are labels for a flame-resistant (FR) shirt (split label) with 1998 edition certification, a fireline pack with 2025 edition certification, and FR pants with a 2022 edition certification. 

NFPA Label 1
Figure 1: Split label, NFPA 1977, 1998 edition
NFPA Label 2
Figure 2: Split label, NFPA 1977,  1998 edition

A Snippet of NFPA testing:

  • Flame Resistance Testing – the ability of a material to self-extinguish once flame is removed
  • Melting Test –whether a component used in the construction of an item meets the same minimum heat resistance as the fabric (e.g., thread, components of fireline pack)
  • Total Heat Loss –the amount of heat that can be transferred out of the garment (sweat evaporation, think heat- related injuries)
  • Radiant Protective Performance – how quickly radiant heat is transferred from outside the garment to inside
NFPA Label 3
Figure 3: NFPA 1950 (1977), 2025 edition
NFPA Label 4
Figure 4: NFPA 1977, 2022 edition

Discussion Questions: 

  • Take a moment to inspect your PPE. Are your FR items certified to NFPA 1977 or NFPA 1950 (1977)? Flame resistant? What other certifications do you see?
  • What items do you use that must be certified to NFPA 1977 or NFPA 1950 (1977)? Review the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Red Book), to see what wildland firefighting PPE requires NFPA 1977 certification. 

References: 

Category
Firefighter Health and First Aid, Miscellaneous Fireline Hazards

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NWCG Latest Announcements

RMC Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNetX Launch

Date:  June 25, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) is pleased to announce the launch of SafeNetX, the modernized safety reporting system now available to the wildland fire community. Effective June 15, 2026, SafeNetX enables reporting of unsafe, unhealthy, near-miss, and high-risk operations across wildland fire, all-hazard incidents, training, and related work environments.

SafeNetX is the result of a multi-agency modernization effort led by RMC, which began evaluating improvements to the legacy SAFENET system in 2021. To learn more, read the full RMC memorandum in the links provided.

References:

SafeNetX

RMC Safety Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNet X Launch

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. 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 and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

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 release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee

Make an Impact: Serve the Wildland Fire Community as an IPTM SME!

Date:  June 11, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG SME Specialist

Note: Positions with an * will last approximately 6 months.
Positions with ** will last 12 - 18 months.

NWCG is seeking experienced wildland firefighters and support personnel to serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) initiative. IPTM aims to transition NWCG’s training and qualification system to a performance-based model by updating position descriptions, Incident Position Standards, Next Generation Position Task Books (Next Gen PTBs), and training where needed.

NWCG is currently recruiting SMEs for the Fall 2026 positions listed below:

  • Equipment Manager (EQPM)*
  • Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT)**
  • Mixmaster (MXMS)*
  • Public Information Officer Complex (PIOC)*
  • Retardant Crewmember (RTCM)*
  • Strike Team Leader Crew (STCR)*
  • Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN)*
  • Strike Team Leader Heavy Equipment (STEQ)*
  • Task Force Leader (TFLD)**
  • Wildland Fire Investigator (INVF)** 

Projects begin October 2026. Sign up by July 10, 2026, at the link below and review the attached document for additional details. 

References:

NWCG SME Interest Sign-up

IPTM Subject Matter Expert Duties and Expectations Document

Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM)