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Mental Health

Mental Health in Wildland Fire

Mental health is a key component to overall health, no different than physical health. Mental health issues can impact your ability to focus and make critical decisions on the fireline. They also impact overall quality of life. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) established the Mental Health Subcommittee to help firefighters and fire managers better recognize hazards to mental health and wellness, implement preventative strategies, and promote resources available to firefighters.

Mental Health Subcommittee Logo and Banner

Below is an introduction to some of the resources available that may help you prepare for, recognize, and navigate stressors at work and at home.

Resources Available

  • NWCG Mental Health Subcommittee
  • A Preparedness Guide for Firefighters and Their Families, PMS 600 
    Provides honest information, resources, and conversation starters to give you, the wildland firefighter, tools that will be helpful in preparing yourself and your support network for the realities of your career.
  • Reset: Firefighter and Family Members’ Reintegration Guide
    This serves as a companion document to the Preparedness Guide. This guide provides information about the reintegration process to help you reunite with your family, friends, and communities. Whether you went on a single assignment or have been on the road all season, this guide provides useful tips for resetting, keeping connections and relationships, managing stress, and navigating end of season closeouts.
  • Wildland Fire Mental Health
    This video highlights the importance of mental health, risk factors, recognition of symptoms, and resources available to wildland firefighters. Open communication and willingness to have hard conversations are foundational to breaking stigmas to mental health.
  • Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Desk Reference
    The CISM program provides crisis intervention techniques and trained peer support to assist employees after a critical injury or fatality. The CISM Desk Reference provides a high-level introduction to the program, including pre-incident education to promote resiliency and awareness, incident response to aid recovery, and involvement through peer support.
  • Stress First Aid
    This curriculum emphasizes basic steps in recognizing stress and simple tools for addressing stress.

Discussion Questions:

  • How do you prepare for the season or an assignment?
  • How do you regroup after the season or assignment?
  • How does your resource or unit support each other through the season or through stressful events?
  • How do you show signs of stress? How do you handle stress? How do you like to be helped?
     

References: 

Category
Firefighter Health and First Aid

6MFS Suggestion Form


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NWCG Latest Announcements

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

Date:  May 28, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) has issued Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters. Research from 2016 to 2025 shows that 88 cases of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) were reported. Analysis of reports from eSafety, the Safety Management Information System (SMIS), and the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) indicates that rhabdo is common during this time of year due to Work Capacity Tests and contributing factors such as weather, hydration, nutrition, and medication or supplement use.

RMC issued this safety bulletin to raise awareness in the Wildland Fire Community, and to provide research findings and educational resources that support reducing future cases of rhabdo.

References:

NWCG Alerts

RMC Safety Bulletin 26-001: Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland Firefighters

NEW! D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder Course Available Now

Date:  May 15, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Dispatch Position and Curriculum Management Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce the new D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-led) course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Developed through the National Coordination System Committee, this course introduces the structure and function of expanded dispatch, the qualities of an effective dispatcher, and provides hands-on experience with the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) system. 

The D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder course aligns with the competencies and duties outlined in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59, and is designed for individuals with no prior experience who may be called upon to support dispatch operations.

References:

D-110, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (Instructor-Led)

Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC), Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Expanded Dispatch Recorder, PMS 350-59

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

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 Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page