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Sleep Health

Is all sleep, good sleep?

What is “good sleep” to you and your crew? Fireline work and life in fire camp raise barriers to mitigating the physical and mental stresses that accumulate during an extended fire assignment. Improving sleep quality is a powerful lever to manage fatigue. This daily topic aims to highlight the impacts of poor sleep and then generate conversation around what actions we can take to improve sleep while on assignment.

The Challenges (or Barriers?)

Challenges to a good night’s sleep in fire camp include unfamiliar surroundings, noise, lighting, smoke, uncomfortable bedding, temperature fluctuations, and exposure to the elements. Fatigue caused by poor sleep can slow reaction times, reduce capacity of attention and focus, limit short-term memory, and impair judgment. As sleep deprivation and fatigue compound, the resulting declines in cognitive performance can increase the risk for injury and accidents.

Cumulative Fatigue

Fatigue from poor sleep on a long assignment builds up and follows us home. Cumulative fatigue is defined as fatigue from which normal rest does not produce recovery—it remains a core problem among wildland firefighters, and sleep deprivation is a main contributor. Cumulative fatigue can make it difficult to shift from work to home life. Transitioning from the high tempo of a fire assignment to the slower pace of home often requires several nights of restorative sleep to recover mentally, emotionally, and physically. Over the course of a fire season, maintaining honest, open communication about crew member fatigue and a willingness to prioritize sleep and recovery stand to benefit firefighter health, wellbeing, morale, and performance.

Discussion Questions:

•    What are some sleep variables that we can control?
•    How can we maintain good sleep health as we transition from home life to work life?
•    What are some of your personal practices in obtaining good sleep and mitigating fatigue?
•    What are some practices that a crew can put in place?
•    What can a crew achieve by being intentional about where they set up camp?

References:

Category
Firefighter Health and First Aid, Miscellaneous Fireline Hazards

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NWCG Latest Announcements

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species – Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

Date:  July 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics and Equipment Management Committee (LMC) issued Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels, reminding the wildland fire community that aquatic mussels continue to be a problem. Mussels rapidly colonize hard and soft surfaces, including aquatic plants and fire equipment, clogging pipes, fouling motors, disrupting water systems, and impacting native species.

To help prevent their spread, fire personnel must follow the decontamination procedures outlined in the NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444. Additionally, report any sightings immediately to your Lead Resource Advisor and include clear, close-up photos (with a pen or your hand for size reference) and location details.”

Read the complete LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001, to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

LMC Equipment Bulletin 26-001: Aquatic Invasive Species - Seasonal Reminder for Mussels

NWCG Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, PMS 444

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Task Book Update

Date:  July 24, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG Operations Management Committee (OMC) has issued an update to the NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91. To ensure clarity for both trainees and evaluators, the updated FAL2 Position Task Book (PTB) explicitly states who is authorized to sign off on your tasks:

“Evaluators must be qualified as a FAL2, or an Advanced Faller (FAL1).”

If you are currently working out of a previously published version of the FAL2 PTB, you do not need to restart. However, OMC highly encourages you to take the following step to prevent any confusion in the field:

  • Print and replace the updated evaluator information page (page 2) in your current physical PTB.

References:

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

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

NWCG Position Task Book for Intermediate Faller (FAL2), PMS 311-91

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Date:  July 10, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Equipment and Technology Subcommittee

The Logistics/Equipment Management Committee (LMC) has released Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups. This advisory highlights multiple U.S. Forest Service regions reporting front driveline joint failure incidents.

This advisory recommends firefighters and fire managers to: 

  • Follow all Ram-issued inspection, maintenance, and service guidance for front driveline joints. 
  • Consider installing a driveline loop. 
  • Coordinate with fleet managers and service providers to determine the most appropriate driveline loop kit for each pickup.

For further details, please refer to the complete advisory.

References:

Equipment Advisory 26-001: Potential Front Driveline Joint Failure on 2018 and Earlier Ram Pickups

Technical Service Bulletin: 03-002-21

NEW! NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900

Date:  July 9, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: NWCG Staff

NWCG is excited to announce the publication of the NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900.

The new publication establishes general, consistent, and uniform standards for conducting business with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

References:

NWCG Standard Operating Procedures, PMS 900